The Mena weekly star., 1916-09-07
Th l9tsttor G1arttes 1 x of @ena x

l have lived for the last twenty two years in this grand old State Oi Arkansas. about half of which wa spent in Sebastian county. ] have lived in Fort smith. Clarksville RussellNille and Hope hav' passed thru your city a soedl number of times. g0ng North ant South on the Kansas City southern but never until recently did ] ai- low myself the pleasure ot a stop of.
 l have been hearing ana readns of Meua for several years, and al ways heard 1t spoken of as a live progressive, hustling, little city. hu as is usually the case. took it iol granted that a good deal of lt Wal for booster and advertising effect and while l was prepared n measure Co see good up- to-dal' community with wide-awake, pub. lie spirited citizens at the helm. must confess that l was most agree. ably surprised t0 find Mena and the citizens with whom l came in con tact, better in every respect, in my opinion. than report had credited them with.
 
 ness for the firm l represent failed to secure any, but l feel that 1 was amply repaid for my trouble and expense. inasmuch as | met a number of former ae- qualntances and friends, and mel and made new ones, men whom consider 1t an honor to know ano meet: men whom l believe to bt men in all the term implies; men who are public spirited and whose ambition is to build up, not only themselves, but their neighbors and their definition of "neighbor' does not stop at the next door, but entends to the corporate limits, and goes to the county lines. and even beyond.
 A visit to your beautiful city park evidenced the kind of men you have in Mena. It speaks not only for the leading citizens, but for the pro- gressive spirit of the whole com munity have had occasion tc visit a great many cities of the United States, from the Lakes al- most to the Gulf, and from New York Co Utah on the West, and can truthfully say that the city park of Mena would be a credit tC a city of ten times it's size. Some larger and older cities have larger parks, but none of them exceed il in beauty.
 felt for the business interest oi the city in the blow delivered it by the Kansas City Southern in movinl the division away. but l feel thai in time it will rebound to the bene- fit not only of Mena, but Polk cOun- ty. inasmuch as l believe they de pended in a measure on the rail- road to furnish the business, Now they have girded up their loins rolling up their sleeves and goine to work to make a better and more prosperous Mena and Polk county Their united efforts are now belne directed along the proper lines They we'll know that to make 6 larger better and more prosperous city, that they must first build uI and properly develop the country surrounding the city, The farmers must first be prosperous to make the towns prosperous. The greai amount of good farming, grazing and fruit land that is now practic- ally yalueless, but can be utilized means so much to your city anC county.
 Your business men and your pro- fessional men all seem to be imbueC with the right idea as to how tG build tip the farming and bushes. interests. and that is by building good roads. They realize that i good roads were built turnout the county, that could be used 365 day, a year, that their land would dou- ble i'll value, that the number O farms and homes would be doubled that it would mean more and bettel markets for the products of thu farm and that it would result il better schools. It is useless for m' to attempt to enumerate--not ever an Ex-GOy. Glynn or Senator 0lli' James could tell all the manifol, benefits to be derived from goot roads, in a solid week of speech making. hence I'll not attempt il All will say now, is that it did m, good to meet the men of your city and to find them such staunch ad vocates of good roads, and gu0j schools. When you accomplish thu one, the other follows
 was also much gratilled to learl that Amenment No. i2 would b. overwhelmingly carried in you loeasfSSl Ii is going to carry al over Arkansas. The only places i Is in danger is in the Black Belt and that knowledge should spur u to greater effort.
 was agFeeably surprised to mee my old friend. H. II. Thomas and learn that he had located in Mena and l want Co congratulate Meni upon his acquisition You have number of good live wires. whom know Co be doing good work in thu interest of good roads and goos schools, but l believe thev vii have to hustle to keep up with Bro Thomas
 My earnest and sincere wish i, that you may all strive to Outd, each other along these lines ant that the rest of us in Arkansas vii he compelled ie take eff our hat |, you m honor of your achievement and. finally l will be looking for ward to doing that very thing.
 Tn conclusion l will say that l Will look forward with pleasurahlt anticipation tO my next visit tC Mena to meet yourself and my oth- CT friends l visit nearly all the county seat In Arkansas and ! Will always say boosting word for y0ur beautiful little city.
 Respectfully vOllrS.