The Saint Paul globe., 1904-05-15

work and devotion to its best inter-
ests. An outline of this will be par
ticularly interesting to Minnesota and
Twin City readers, who have always
manifested a deep interest in the
plucky little Wisconsin city that was
almost totally wiped out of existence
by the cyclone of 1899. In fact, New
Richmond owes such a debt of graft
tude to ST. Paul and Minneapolis and
the state of Minnesota that she feels
almost duty bound to give an account
of herself occasionally.
More progress has been made in the
last two years than in any other time
since the cyclone, and today New
Richmond stands almost wholly re-
stored, a busy and thriving town, with
its prosperous Main street, paved and
lined with modern buildings of brick
and stone, it's beautiful churches, its
high school and graded schools, it's
electric light and water plant, a splen-
did system of telephone lines-in fact.
with all the requisites of a modern
city. This growth of New Richmond
has been steady, of the healthy kind.
The city is robust, a fine demonstra-
tion of what good government can do.
did they do it?
Picked Out a Good Mayor.
First. they elected as mayor a man
who has always been identified with
the very best interests of the town.
In fact, for many years before, when
ever election time came around, or a
difficulty was encountered in the ad-
ministration. it had been a common
saying, IF DIR. Epley would only
go into politics, if we could only get
him in as mayor, things would be all
right" DIR. Epley, however, though
tirelessly working at all times for the
city, steadfastly refused to take the
reins. being more pleased to do his
best as a private citizen. When, how
ever, the call again came, and this
time more urgent than ever, he con-
sented to take into hand the admin
istration of the city's affairs. His
ability as an organizer and an exeeu-
tive-he was the first protector of
Apple river power and built the first
plant for the transmitting of power
from the river which now lights the
city of st. Paul-had become so estab-
lished that the majority Of the people
had unbounded confidence in him. He
was elected almost by acclaim.
He took in hand a tangle, almost
hopeless task. He encountered first
that great obstacle which is perhaps
tfe most formidable factor in the re-
tarding of good civic government-the
total lack of efficient leutenants. The
strong of the city, the men of brains
and ability and influence would have
nothing to do with the common coun-
Gil. with this board or that. No man
worth while could be induced to have
anything to do with the administration
of the city's affairs. There was a total
lack of public spirit.
They All Cooperate.
Today this is all changed, and here
1t is that the little wisconsin city
compels attention. Cooperation is the
spirit of the day. Now no man is
too good for public office. The best
men of the city are eager and anxious
TO devote time and energies to carry
ing on the government The most re-
markable energy and patriotism is
manifest in all its departments. Moth
ing is too good for the city, and the
business men, the busiest men of the
community, vie with each other in their
efforts to further the welfare of the