The Worcester spy., 1898-11-06


David Ames Wells was born at
Springfield Mass, June II, 1925. He
was a lineal descendant on his fathers
side of Thomas Wells, governor of the
colony of Connecticut from 1855 to 1858.
and on his mothers side from David
Ames, who, under Washington, built
and established the national armory
at Springfield, Mass. He and his
brother, Oliver Wells, We're the foun-
ders of the well-known manufacturing
and railroad building family of Mas
sachusetts.
In 1S47 he graduated from Williams
College and entered the field of jour
nalism as assistant editor of the
Springfield Republican, under the late
Samuel Bowles. While connected with
the Republican Mr. Wells suggested
the idea and was associated in the in
vention for folding newspapers and
books by machinery.
In 1S49 he entered the Lawrence scien-
tif1c school of Harvard University from
which he graduated in 1852 He subse-
ouently was appointed an assistant
professor in that institution.
Between the years 1857 and 1853 he
prerared a series of scientific school
books. one of them being adopted as a
text book at West Point, and also being
translated into Chinese by some Chi
nese missionary
While at Cambridge, in 1S49, he com
menced the publication of the Annual
Scientific Discovery, which was con-
tinued for many years.
Mr. Wells first became prominent in
life in 1864, while residing in Troy, n.
Y, by the publication of pamphlet,
entitled "Our burden and our strength" "
demonstrating the financial strength of
the federal government and its ability
to defray the cost of the war. 1t was
largely circulated in this country and in
Europe as well.
one result of this publication was a
conference between President Lincoln
and Mr. Wells, at the request of the
president. in February, 1855, to decide
rs TO the best means of dealing with the
national debt and raising revenue for
tha payment of the interest.
At the request of the president, con-
eress subsequently created a commits
sion of three>persons 70 enquire lnto lnto
tha subject of raising by taxation the
revenue needed to supply the wants of
IA government. AIr. Wells was ap-
Yoinfed chairman of the commission.
Tbe report made by this commission IN
1876 led to the creation for Mr Wells
If special office, running for four
Years. as special commissioner of the
Tevenne of the United States,
~ tbie office Mr. Wells effected an
o1tica reconstruction Of the internal
,avenue system of the country. Mr..
wells at this time established for the
frst time a national bureau of statis-
tics of which he was placed in charge.
TTnon retiring from the federal office
be was appointed by the governor OF
New York chairman of a commission
- in,nrove the state taxation. lie
suhmitted two reports in 1872 and 1873.
snd draft of a code Of law. Both Of
these were subsequently reprinted in
11ngland and France. He was later a
,,oember of the national board or rail-
road arbitration, president of the ma
+ional hoard of visitors atWest Point,
president of the New London County
ironn1 Historical Society, president of
tbe American Social Science League
snd several other societies
Mr. Wells was originally a fepuDll-
can but after the Cincinnati oonNen-
tinn IN 1872 he voted the democratic
ticlset In 1870 he was elected mem
her ~ the Golden Club, and in 1871 he
was made an honorary member OF the
Roval Statistical Society of England,
,n 1S74 he was elected to the French
Academy to fill the chair made vacant
nv the death of John stuart MIL He
Was made a D. c. L., by the tnlNersi-
tv Of oxford. Eng. and an LII u, py
Harvard and Williams
In 1SSq he was awarded the great gold
medal at the French exposition 1or his