The Mena star., 1899-02-08
SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES.
GOOD SCHOOLS AND A COLLEGE
 NOW BEING BUILT.
All Leading Church Organizations Represented by Societies With Resident Pastors and Hous-
 es of Worship.

The rapid growth of the town has caused our school population to n crease beyond the capacity of onr school buildings and to over run the limit of our school funds until such time as oih r assessments and other tax collection can be made This has compelled the renting of additional rooms and the over-crowding of those in use, also the cutting short of the school term to six mouths. The schools however, are well managed and a fixed determination pervades the minds of all our people to make them as good as those of any town in all the great West. As an evidence of growth, we refer to the fact that the school enum eration for lso7 was 605 while the enumeration for 1898 was S35 si,o ring and increase ot 230 in the children of school age This enumeration was taken during the month of April and it is entirely safe to say that the mum Der has increased fully l0) more by this time, owing to the continued in- crease of our population Follwing is list of the teachers now employed in the public schools: w. M. Wear, prin- cipal; J A. Faulkner, W. z McKean, Misses Bessie Feazell, Nora Dagg, Hel- en Porch, Annie Nedry.
 Along this lne we wilt ate that sufficient funds have been subscribed by the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Trust Company, the Townsite Company and others with which to build a college This is to be built upon tract of ground. also donated for the purpose, upon what is known as College Hill. a beautiful plateau winch rises about 100 feet above the town to the north. commanding a fine view of Mena and the beautiful valley and mountain seen cry surrounding. roadway has been constructed from Port Arthur avenue to these grounds and the foundation for the college star ed This work will be. commenced again as soon as the brick can be manu factnred nere the coming spring and the building completed and school started by the first of next Sep tenn Der for fall tenn.
 In addition the Catholic church has stablished and successfully conducted a school or convent under the charge of the Sisters of Mercy and other pri vate schools have been conducted in aid of the cause of ed ducatiou.
 NearIy every religious denomination is represented here by an organization and nearly all sustain pastors and have been given a lot upon which to erect q church building In these regards Mena, though a new town, stands high and is to be congratulated
 In musical culture she excells, having several accomplished musicians and teachers and brass band with a full set of instruments Many of the old and some of the newer benevolent and social orders have been organized each having a large mem bership and pre- senting evidences of prosperity.
 The society of Mena is such as to cause all to be justly proud Among the ladies are many possessing fine literary tastes and accomplishments and some of these have organized the Womar's Literary club of Mena. These ladies have taken as course of study Motley's History of the Dutch Republi together with current events. and have recently gone to work in earnest to establish library and erect a building therefor upon the library block set aside for that purpose by the townsite company. This club is member of the state federation of clubs and is taking an active interest in trying to