The Mena weekly star., 1907-09-26
THE men who first laid out the city of Mena had ideals.
 parhans they were brought

tiiSy WClO OlOdS ilI to life by the beautiful scenery of the surroundings, and perhaps by the practical knoweledge gained from the experience of older cities. They saw in the future time when Mena should grow and prosper and when her people, little children, girls and boys. maidens and youths, moth CTS and fathers, grandmothers and prandfathers, would receive the blessings of health and peace and joy from a beauty spot in the very heart of the city. As they quenched their thirst from the glorious spring of health-giving water, these men saw in the future thousands who would be made happy by like privilege.
 And when these ideals had taken shape, these first corners founders of Mena acted.
 This is what they did:
 When mapping out into blocks and lots the rough and unbroken land chosen for the yet unborn city, they set aside four blocks of ground, with the spring as the centerpiece, for park for the use of present and fu- ture generations. It was fenced and cleared of underbrush and little springhouse built.
 As the years went by there was done but little more than this in the actual Identification of the park. though it was always benefit to the city and a source of some pride.
 But in April, last, a few progress sive citizens became interested in ad- ding to Natures handiwork the fin ishing touches of man-in the dress ing up and improving of the park. With this in view the necessity of finding man of ability who would take charge of the work and give to it his time and attention merely for the love of the beautiful and of Mena had to be faced.
 Father Gallagher, whose interest in Mena dated almost from it's found ing, agreed to accept the task and was appointed as Park Commissioner by the city council and $500 placed in his hands as the beginning of a fund with which to carry out the work. In addition the council agreed to give S20 each month to the cause and later added the sum of $50.
 Actual work began about May l last. Father Gallagher planned and superintended each step of improve ment, in addition to soliciting funds for the purpose, and the amount of money which was raised IS evidence of the spirit with which the people responded.
 In all there has been expended in cash little over $1600, but that is not to be taken as an estimate of the actual value of the improvement. In addition to giving liberally of cash, business men of all classes furnished material at actual cost, mechanics and laborers vied in giv- ing of their labor, teamsters the use of their teams, and far from the least, the Kansas City Southern rail- way handled many carloads of freight free of charge, thus making possible valuable improvements that other wise would have been impossible. These things indicate that the im- provements would have cost under other conditions at least $2,500, to- say nothing of what it would have cost had it been necessary to have paid salary to park commissioner or director for the six months that have elapsed since Father Gallagher took up his work of love.
 An item in this connection that IS worthy of note, is that the great part of the money donated and ex- pended has been kept in Mena, less than $500 having been sent out of the city. This is a matter of especial pride to Father Gallagher.
 A pretty incident showing the gratitude of Mena's citizens for the man whose unselfishness has made possible the Identification of Jansen Park, occurred at the park open ing" in June, when almost all of Mena gathered to listen to a band and hear a few addresses.
 At about 6;30 D. m. of that day some thoughtful citizen suggested that it would be appropriate to give Father Gallagher memento ot some sort. Less than two hours later the necessary amount had been raised to purchase theafnest watch