The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1880-09-02
A SUGGESTION TO OUR VII
LACE READERS.

per to suggest means and measures by
which the town in which it is located
may be greatly benefited, unless the
citizens to whom such suggestions
are made pay some attention to them.
1t is a part of the editors business to
ascertain (and such information nat
1rally comes to him) what enterpris-
es could be proftably entered into,
OF what reforms could be inaugurated:
what public work executed; what gen.
eral policy carried out. in order to re-
suit in the communities welfare and
the profit of it's individual members.
But it is no part of his duties, we
think, after these things are pointed
out to the public, to go to work and
spend his time in trying to carry them
out unaided. The citizen who is Ell
dowed with the ':push'' and energy
OF an ordinary bird dog will not wait
for this, but as soon as his attention
IS called to Il matter OF public impor-
lance, he will at least honor it with
his consideration. and, if TO md
worthy, his action. 1t is in commu-
mites where we find such men. that
we find the greatest development.
We instance Fargo. as being near
home, containing men Of pluck, ener-
gy and perseverance. She has out
stripped all other new points Oh the
n. =. r. r.. because like attracted
like, and energy was added to energy.
and no public measure containing the
least germ Of worth is allowed to pass
without the consideration of her citi-
Zens. and when she decides to do
something. that something is done
forthwith, and but little quibbing is
done over it. a leading citizen OF
Fargo once informed us, in Il CONVEX
sation over village policy as follows:
I'VE endeavor to keep sight of the dol
lars when the cents try to hide them,
and are not afraid when we make a
dollar to invest 50 cents in u public
Improvement" The truth of this as
Sertion is observable in every thing
Fargo does. But before we go
further. we do not wish to be con-
strued us eXaulting Fargo at the ex-
penSe Of her less energetic neigh
bors. but simply pointing out the
manner Of her success that they may
profit by it who will.
The matter hinges. of course. in a
great measure upon the question of
dollars and cents, perhaps entirely,
and public measure which requires
the outlay of II few dollars, often
meets the cold sholder of the very
citizen who ought in Justice to him.
self to his business and to the COM
1nunity which affords him sustenance,
be found in the front ranks of those
who are labOring for its accomplish
ment. We talk thus plainly OH this
subject: because We feel that the time
is approaching when the citizens OF
Wade1El. as a class and as Il whole.
must adopt a broader and more ,iber-
III public policy. than our experience
teaches us has been the ca in the
past, II she wishes to MAINTAIN the
position which her natural advan-
tages have given her.
The first great element needed is
unity. thorough unity, with I'LL little
petty personalities left out; the next,
wisdom, with seltishness left out; the
third. determination. with reckless
ness left out; the fourth, liberality.
with conservatism enough to promote
the outlay of funds where they will
do the most good, without waste. If
Il body of men such as Wadena is
now capuhle of music ring. should to a
HAN unite to carry out such plans as
will result in Il common good to all.
according to the foregoing, all would
)'e done which it is necessary to DO,
and we venture to submit that the
result OF their work if collscentiously
executed, would be simply astonish-
Jig.
We have frequently heard such ex-
pressions us the following i'll Wadena:
''Wen so-and-so don't seem to take
Eold, and it's going to benefit him US
much us me. so l guess 1 WON'T In
other words, he wont do any thing
because some one else will be benefit