The Mena weekly star., 1917-08-16
Rad noad Meellna In HatlleId.

Rtu ttOdu AttftltU III AAaNHtiu.
 That is. shey say we had meet ing Co that effect Hatfield has all ways stood up for every good thing for the county and think this is for tllc geod Of our county the pro- posed strip lhal has gol to pay Il anyway
 | think Hatfield has taken lhe righi stand in the matter.
 As Co the citizens of Hatfield in tile siN-mile strip that has got Co pay fl hy taxation on real estate only, Mir Hilton states that the leading busi- ness men of Hatfield Wanl the road That may be true. but the leading citizens in the community of Hat field do moi want the road under the Alexander Road Law While there are a few want the road in Hatfield, 1t is a few What l mean by that IS, so few. you can count them on your fingers. That is the side that say We had a bad road meeting in Hatfield. Now l won't attempt to call the names of the leading citi- zcns Tn the community of Hatfield who do mol want the road. but just a few Of them.
 D, E. Myers, who owns over 1000 acres of land.
 II. k. Gam, who owns 70S acres of land.
 E. F. Gipson, who owns over i26 acres of land.
 L. F. Martin, who owns over 32l acres of land.
 J. F. Lewis, who owns over 2S0 acres of land
 Joe finders, who owns over 250 acres of land.
 And could name more, but there is no use.
 Now you boys in town, state some hundreds of acres in town that you pay on. There is where you fall down Hatfield, as community is always willing 10 come across when they are in the wrong. The ones who are carrying the petition for the highway say it is of special ben eiit to the farmers. The farmers say it is not, and they don't want it. For Gods sake, and the farmers sake, do not give them anything that they io not want. The farmers are the foundation of our govern ment. They feed the business men Of the world, doctors. lawyers, mer- chants, bankers, preachers, and every business in the whole United States. Now say they are not at the head Of our government It is like a man working horse without feed. You stop feeding the people who are not producing and it will be like your horse. They will die. Referring to A. G. Gray's statement in The Star on milk. Meat used to he 4iac dressed Now it is i4c on foot. In regards to getting stun to market, they are hauling slaves to Hatfield from the west by trucks much cheaper than by wagons and they haven't got any highway eith- er to haul them over. So condi- tions change without any highway. In regard to the road coming from Fogel, Ok, 10 iMena, that is a good thing. It is running in the right di- rection. Cross roads thru our coun- try is what we need. and not paral- Tel with the K c. S. Railway. The railway will haul our stuff out if we will get if to the railroad. Referring to ]. G. Hilton's statement in The Star: He states that the men who have done very little for their coun- try in Hatfield are against the road. 1t might be that way but as l have said, you can count them on your fingers who are for the road in Hat field. Stop the cultivation of the soil around Hatfield and see how long the businessmen would last. They would have to close their bus mess and there wouldn't be any business men in Hatfield. The towns along the road are figured to pay 0ne-third and the K. c. S. Railway one-third. We have letters from the K. C. s. people stating they will pay according to their benefits, probably 10 per cent of it. Now if the towns pay 10 per cent. that will leave 80 per cent on the farmers shoulders.
 Now in regard to the advancement in land. Where Hatfield is the land used to sell for $5 per acre. Of late It has sold as high as $i0000 per acre for residence purposes, but out where l live there is 40 acre tract joins me that has sold for S30.0O and now l would like to give S400.00 or S500.00 for it. So you see conditions change without highways.
 At the bad road meeting the night of the eth. they decided to circulate netition on the 9th. The night of the gth we had over i75 names against the Jefferson Highway. So you see we arc on the right track to future prosperity. Now I am not answering those questions in The Star for any confusion whatever, and don't intend to make anyone mad. and if have I am willing to apologize to ldm. 1 am stating the facts in the case as l see them by what information I can get on the subject. If this be wrong. show me.
 Yours respectfully, Joe finders.
 LEAl Aall l A A 4 n