The Mena weekly star., 1909-11-25
The Kansas City Southern, Its
 Employees and the City of Mena


 on January figures being obtained by by committee from the employees and repre- sentative Of the
 additOnit fact that good of the heae investors have within the all of their holdings sacrifice solely because of threatened action Of the ra road company
 The figures shown shown do not however begin to Mena of those and their families Besides saving from their earnings and paying for their homes B home they have done their part build ing churches and public improvements such streets beautiful Jansen park Most of these men, too are members or and have joined building valuable homes for these a example Fellows and Eks They have contribu fair grounds for public roads and many other pupc of which make city, and all ot which are or realv value o all the citizens.
 In brief in no city the anywhere like proportion of the property had homes been well pleased with the conditions surrounding added city has had finer The officials of the Kansas City Southern have many that nowhere else there high class of railroad ployees.
 There could without and when the markedthere be them this the both strong and
 begin with 1896, the railroad reached nothing from which make town of any through the coming City Pttsbug Gulf the line needed and needed badly This knew that somewhere in this vicinity must have and maintain terminal division with roundhouse repair shops switching facilities etc Perhaps of the beautiful surroundings and heathfu climate and perhaps buy for chose the spot which Mena the place for it's Central Division
 advertised all the told of it's natural commercial advantages and told of what the rairoad and point would Mna-how would make city, excursions bring people to Mena and these people bought Division Point prices and the used the to build and maintain it's line
 All this time company it's people, It gave beended ena Mena be ende the employees the road learned of Mena advan build homes The off s glad because home made the most valued and reliable employees,
 through company City Southern with officials and But the hamped by that the railroad might do something hurt the town which had created might take what had sed and force employees and all it's citizens Despite all however kept growing until the fall of 19O6 when word went that calamity bea athat the railroad going be rebuilt another miles away the west
 Then Menas progress stoppedcame dead sandsti Material the ground for buildings allowed lie the streets Public terpse dead Months followed for whose all stake The condition acute that STRUGGLED FOR MENs REBUILDING DID NOT SURVIVE THE STRAIN TO SEE THE BRIGHT 
 came March lso7 highest road word mouth assured Mena that need fear harmful it might look the road lend Mena welfare that all might forth with renewed faith and renewed and work and homes business houses city in the safety of future.
 questioning only part officials yet power wording glad the fact that they such caused the hearers and all to whom the delivered forth and bdden the work of the proof their faith.
 strong twenty months maent substantial buildings of brick stone and outside of residences value times all existed the beginning of the period
 employees What did they think?
 the city inquire some built The answer will language and the story will be hs We the employees the Kansas City railroad heng the promise of it's highest officials that change harmful would by them be made placed earnings homes Mena"
 these liked Mena heathiest the the South they would have dared risk investing homes would
 
 whim necessity called.
 And after this what came?
 Two barely had passed since these that had brought such results had been made when began be circulated that these officials contemplated change the calamity and dire blow at the very heart of Mena
 At first almost would believe Their flashed back the words of that had would not believe that action pedous could be contemplated They fought
 
 fore the world honor would lack
 But the would Where had homes and other there almost Builders found themselves business anguhed and feeling of pevaded hearts of the baves Property became values became wholly unsettled Some the employees of the railroad themselves what they could hundreds less than savings of years
 And the the changes:
 When the highest