The Mena weekly star., 1907-05-30
T. J. CLAYTON GIVES
 HOSPITAL DETAILS
An Enthusiastic Gathering of Business Men Hear the Report and Take Steps to Carry Out All Work
 Expected of Them.

The meeting called tor last week to hear the report of T. I. Clayton, who had just returned from the meeting of the govern. ing board of the Kansas City Southern Employees Hospital Association in ksnsas City which decided that the hospital should be built in Mena, was atteaded by an interested body of Mena business men.
 Mr. Hal Norwood, president of the Commercial Club presided over the meeting, and after out. lining the purpose of the meeting, introduced Mir. Clayton.
 MT. Clayton outlined in a general way the history of the movement for the proposed rail- way hospital and entered into de- tail as to the reasons for the de- lay that has occurred since negotiations were begun about a year ago. He said that at ah times the majority of the govern ing board represented the railway company, aud for that reason it was clear that should the railroad desire, 1t could have the hospital located at any point 1t preferred. But that the company had made thorough canvass of its em- ployees from Port Arthur to Kan sas City and found that more than % per cent of them were in favor of accepting the proposition of the citizens of Mena, giving a site and 5000, and locating the hospital here.
 Ii was realized that it was to the interest of the road as cor poration, and to the interest of the head surgeon, the legal de- partr ent and other branches of service that the hospital should be located at headquarters in Kansas City, but when 1t was made plain that the employees were so largely in favor of Mena, the representatives of the road on the board and the officials deferred to the wishes of the employees and joined in the movement favoring Mena.
 Then arose the question that upset all plans for time-the permauacy of Mena as the central division point of the road. For months surveying corps worked through the mountains and all was uncertain until when, on March 9 last, the highest officials of the road called in number of preventative business men of Mena and told them it was to the "best interests of the road that the main line and central diuision point should alwaVs remain in Mena.
 When this was settled there seemed to be no further oppo- sition- and there was none. It was then only matter of secur- ing quorum of the governing board at meeting aud this was not found practical until May 20, when action was immediate and positive.
 Mir. Clayton stated that the hospital building is to be three stories with an alcove connecting three story annex and will ac- commodate hfty.Six patients ana fourteen attendants. It will cost $40, 900, and before ready for patients at least $5l,000 will have been expended for building and equipment, great portion of which will be spent in Mena
 The agreement entered into one year ago bet tweeu the hospi tai board provided, in addition t a bonus of $5, 900 from citizens o Mena, that the city should giv the site, S.ilwell park, furnisl free lights for the grounds, Ire water aud sewer connections an' build walks and pave streets t the grounds. Mir. Clayton state, that meeting of the city councl would be called soon to complet
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