The Mena weekly star., 1910-03-31
LAND CONGRESS- TO
 BE PERMANENT
Officers Elected and Plans Mapped Out for Developing Arkansas St. Louis Man Tells of Polk
 County Manganese.

pose of developing the state through organized effor: was as- sured Thursday when permanent organization was effected and steps were taken to secure legis- lation to aid the movement.
 Prof. George A. Cole, president of the Farmers Union and of the State Fair Association, and also connected with the agricultural department of the state univer- sity, was elected president of the congress. Judge E, K. Ratterree of Little Rock, who was the mov- ing spirit in the promotion of the present congress, was elected per mauent secretary.
 Other officers were elected as follows:
 First vice president-Bert John- son of Pike county.
 Treasurer-W. l.. Hemingway of Little Rock.
 Executive committee = Presi- dent Cole, Secretary Ratteree, Treasurer Hemingway, George B. Brown of Little Rock, and w. H. Langford of Jefferson county.
 Several resolutions of import ance were adopted, chief among which was one petitioning the next leg gislature to appropriate $50,000 for the advertisement of Arkansas. Without any effort $400 was raised for the treasury of the congress. This was con- tributed by four persons, who subscribed $100 each.
 To Meet at Little Rock Again.
 No fight was made over the next meeting place, all other cities which had been in the field withdrawing, it being recognized that to secure the best results the congress shonld be held Tn the capital city.
 The enthusiasm which marked the opening day of the congress was manifested yesterday.
 Despite the fact that such business was transacted, the con. gress also listened to addresses by citizens of Arkansas and prominent men from outside the state. Probably the most inter esting address of the day was de- livered iu the afternoon by Thom- as l.. Cannon, secretary and man. ager of the Business Mems League of St. Louis. Mo-. whose figures and direct declarations concerning the extensive resources of Arkansas in many respects prove surprise to many who have considered themselves well posted on the subject.
 He began by stating that Forty years ago it was supposed outside of your state that only a limited amount of hominy, hogs and hell were raised in Arkan- sas."
 "Now," he declared, "it is diff. ferent. No state in the Union, acre for acre, offers more advan- tages. God distributed things over the world, but congested values in this state
 Manganese Near Mena.
 Mir. Cannon predicted that within the next few years the great steel industries of the coun- try will be drawing their materi- al from Mena. He pictured a deep path winding around the vicinity of Mena, and declared that three feet below the surface of that path and all around that vicinity there is the richest vein oi anganese be had ever seen.
 "The entire slate fields of Pennsylvania are inferior to the slate fields of Arkansas, yet one has made millions and the other has been without value" contin- ued the speaker. 1.-The granite fields of Vermont are not superior to the granite mountains of Ar kansas. Missouri has developed her lead and zinc fields and Ar kansas has not.
 "The finest body of coal to be found anywhere is located around Sugar Loaf mountain ia North west Arkansas.
 "The great apple orchards of Michigan are not equal to the ap- pie orchards found in the Ozarks of this state.'
 Advantages of Farm Life.
 The speaker pictured vivid contrast between the city and farm life.
 Figures show that only three men out of every 100 in the city save their home for their chil- dren, and only one out of every five IS able to avoid public aid in his life. There is 10 times as much money seeking land invest ments today as there is seeking any other kind of au investment. taThare te m ua0er .s so,,.a