Ed Weidlein—Augusta has won a reputation among the towns and cities of Kansas as a city that does things, and no small amount of credit for the reputation which has been established by Augusta is due to the capability and progressiveness of Ed Weidlein, who is now serving his fifth year as mayor of that thriving city. Of course, Mr. Weidlein has received the hearty support and co-operation of many of the leading citizens, otherwise he would have been unable to accomplish the many things that have been brought about during his administration of the city's affairs. He was first elected mayor in 1911, and reelected to succeed himself in 1913 and again in 1915. During that time the city has built a filtering plant, at a cost of $16,000 and an electric light plant at a cost of $15,000. The city had acquired its own gas franchise, prior to the election of Mr. Weidlein. At the present time, Augusta has a sewer system under construction which will cost $50,000 when completed. The various city utilities including gas, water and electric light, have been handled with such efficiency and maintained on such a sound business basis that when all the improvements contemplated are completed, they will have been paid for, and the city will be free of indebtedness. In view of the vast number of improvements made and the amount of money expended, it is probable that no other city of the size of Augusta in the United States can show such a record.

Ed Weidlein is a native of Henry county, Illinois, and a son of John W. and Nora (Emmert) Weidlein, natives of Germany. They were the parents of the following children: A. Weidlein, Geneseo, Ill.; Philip, Kansas City, Mo.; Louis, Lawrence, Kans.; Jacob, Leavenworth, Kans.; George, Wellman, Iowa; J. V., Lawrence, Kans., and Ed, whose name introduces this review.

Ed Weidlein received a good common school education in Henry county, Illinois, and when he reached manhood, began life as a farmer, in his native county. In 1878, he came to Kansas, locating near Peabody, Marion county, where he was engaged in farming until 1884. He then came to Butler county, locating at Augusta, where he engaged extensively in farming and stock feeding, and has been one of the leading patrons of the Wichita stock market for years. Recently he has become interested in the oil and gas development of Butler county and has made a great many profitable investments in that rapidly developing field.

Miss Pansy Wiley has been city clerk for the past four years and

has been an able and efficient helper to the mayor and city officials. The records of the city are a model of neatness, and she has every item pertaining to the expenditure of the city's money carefully recorded and filed, to be had at a moment's notice.

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