The Mena weekly star., 1911-02-23
Everybody Willing to Do Anything 10
Reason" mo Cheap John System
Wanted bis Time.' Said
Speakers.
PLAN NEW DISTRICT
Committee Of TIN Selected to Outline
Boundaries and Prepare Petition
to Council Covering the Legal
Requirements.

That the business interests of Mena
practically are unanimous in favor
of putting forth every effort to secure
an adequate and up-to-date water sys-
tenn was made clear at the meeting
held in the Harmon Opera House last
Friday night.
At no previous public gathering has
the financial and business interest
of Mena been more fully represented.
OF the city administration Mayor
w. p Parks. City Attorney Lundy
and Aldermen D. M. Watkins, Joseph
Robert and T. R. Jones were present.
On opening the meeting chairman
A. H. Scogein requested that City At
torney Lundy, who recently returned
from consultation with leading legal
authorities at Little Rock, should out
line the plans that seemed most feas-
ible for financing a new waterworks
system. Mr.. Lundy did so in detail,
in substance stating that the forma-I
ton of a new district was practically
the only solution, and that this should
be done in a manner to take up the
remaining unpaid obligations of the
old district and to furnish means to
put in new water mains and also ex-
tend the service and increase the
water supply.
G. l.. Lochridge spoke next, saying
that he had property both in and out
side of the old district. but that he
realized the vital necessity of regener-
ating the water system if Mena was to
amount to anything. and was willing to
include all his property in the propos-
ed new district.
C. A. Smith stated that his home
was outside the present district, but
he was willing to pay water taxes on
it providing the new system should be
no cheap John affair. He wanted
the best of cast iron pipes, even if by
so doing lines could only be laid down
the two main streets of the business
part of town.
Alderman D. M Watkins, said he
was, and always had been in favor of
any reasonable steps to get good
water system. He thought everyone
else understood the necessity and was
as willing as he.
E. C. Spence, proprietor OF the Ant
lers hotel, said that while he was not
property owner here he was vitality
interested, and he knew that many
people left here because of the lack of
conveniences that 60 with good water
system.
Father Gallagher was in favor of the
waterworks movement. but urged that
the city at the same time provide free
sewers to all, as that would not only
encourage sanitation but would add
largely to the water revenue. At
torney Lundy stated that that would
necessitate the formation of 0 sewer
improvement district, as it could not
be handled under the waterworks dis
trict.
DR.. j. r. Davis spoke of the ureen-
cy of the water situation, expressing
the wish that the movement be ex-
pedited to the utmost.
Judge j. |. Alley wanted water for
the city and was willing to pay the
tax, but desired that care be taken to
prevent any further expenditures OF
money without attaining proper results
A motion by DR.. Davis, seconded by
Attorney Lundy instructed chairman
Scoggin to appoint committee OF ten
representative property owners Of
Mena to outline the proposed new wa
ter district and bring the proper petit
ton for its formation before the coun-
Gil, which on notification of the com
mittee, will be called IN ADJOURNED
meeting by Mayor Parks.
The following were chosen:
G. l.. Lochridge
C. A. Smith.
Eugene Cox.
Clyde Cunningham.
G. w. Petty.
w. P. Harmon.
w. w. Townsend.
j. /. Alley.
M. Martiny.
Ed T. Wolfe.
This committee was also authorizes
to act in an advisory capacity with tn
city council in appointing waterwork