The Mena weekly star., 1920-11-11
DED|CATINC NEW
 STATION AT MENA
K. C. $. Officials and Mena Commer- cial Club Combined in Making the Formal Opening Gala Event
 Open Meeting and Banquet

WeAd anu OHe hdnSdS Clty oOurn- ern united in the dedicattion of the new $50,000 passenger station Monday and before the day was ended city and railroad were pulling together like the 16 wheels of big MaIIet going over Rich Mountain.
 It was the first really big chance the railroad folks and Mena folks had had of getting together in recent years The city was visited by a group of higher officials, who found warmth of greeting that made them feel at home, and, on the other hand the home folks discovered railroad off, l cials are humans like the rest of the U. s. A.
 As consequence the two forces coupled up and put over the dedica- tion of the newest beauty spot on the big line of railroad in a manner that brought credit to both sides. The railroad officials found their stay in Mena short but sweet, and the home folks let the visitors depart with an urgent invitation to hurry back and stay longer.
 Movement of Progress. The new passenger station, the fin- est for it's size along the entire Kan sas City Southern, is now open to the pdblic and stands as movement to the proud progres of a city that re- fuses to go any direction except for ward.
 Early Monday morning the private car of Chief Engineer J. M Weir reached Mena and the formal inspec- tlon of the new structure was made by himself and associates. Few de- tails needed attention, so we'll had the work of construction been done. Tn short time the official OK. was giv- en, and the work of moving from the old station to the new was taken up ! by the emplyes in the different de- partmens of the local service.
 By noon the transfer was complete save for. the express company, which made the change Tuesday. Soon after the telegraph instruments began clicking in the new office Western Union Operator Youkey was called upon by T. F. Donohue to send out the first message. This went to De- Queen.
 Shortly after noon Ticket Agent Ike Grant sold the first ticket at the new window, this going to J. & Adams, who was travelling to Eagleton.
 Many Attended Exercises 1 When No arrived hundreds of Mena people were waiting to greet Vice President J. F. Holden and party, who had travelled down from Kansas City on his private car. The officials were shown over the building and l found it good to look upon. After No. 4 had come and gone the dedicatory exercises arranged by the Mena Com mercial Club were held
 | An impromptu rostrum was created at the east end of the loggia by us- ing baggage truck for platform and borrowing few office chairs for the speakers. On the stand were V " St John, who presided on behalf of the executive committee of the Com mercial Club; W. K. Watkins, Vice President Holden and Chief Engi- neer Weir.
 The presiding officer told of the ne- gotiations that had been originated by the Commercial Club for the construc- tion of new railroad station in Mena and how the plan had grown until the present completed building stood as the frnit of tho organization $ ssabsr5. He commented on the mutual courtesy that had marked the negotiations and the absence of contentious or appeals to the courts in settling details, es- pecially expressing appreciation of the city for the beautiful station and the promptness with which the railway had carried out its work
 He then presented Mir. Watkins, who. on behalf of the Commercial Club, the city and Polk county, ex- : tended a greeting to the visiting of- ficials and expressed the thanks of the community for the erection of the fine building.
 Mir. Watkins Won Applause.
 MT. Watkins struck keynote in his brief address when ke told of the tragedy that befell Mena when the division was moved, and how loyal lcitizens refused to be downed because of this change in their fortunes. He lauded the spirit of those who kept the faith and worked for the upbuild- ing of the city. The speaker predicted bigger things for Mena and surround ing country if the present system of intelligent cooperation among the people is carried on. Mir. Watkins re- ceived enthusiastic applause at the close of his splendid talk
 vice ffeSiuenl nOiuen responded on behalf of the railroad company, and spoke happily of the new relations be- tween patron and corporation. He told of some of the difficulties the company had in satisfying demands of it's pa- ! irons but expressed pleasure that ] Mena had secured such a fine addi- tion to it's list of public buildings. Mir ] Holden's whole-souled genial manner quickly won the sympathy and ad- miration of his admirers and lent an added meaning to his genial words. Mir. McDonough Sent Regrets. Il The next on the program was to ! have been J. B. McDonough of Fort Smith through whom the roads nego- ltiations with Mena over the station have been conducted The chairman read letter from MT. McDonough, expressing his deep regrets at not be- ing able to be present, and voicing the sentiment that all should recognize that the interests of Mena and the railroad were identical. and that he.