The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-02-15
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BY ELMO SCOTT WATSON

was 10 bear dlIier-
.ent portrait of a dis
tinguished American,
a New York congressman wrote 10
Secretary Mellon of the Treasury de-
paumenr as follows:
/ an informed that the portraits on
the new bills VIII include Washington;
jefferson, with picture Of Monticello
on the diverse side; Lincoln, with the
Lincoln memorial On the diverse side;
Hamilton, with the Treasury building;
Jackson with the White House: Grant,
with the Capitol; Franklin, with In
dependence hall; as well as Mckinley,
Cleveland. Madison and Chase
l notice with regret the absence Of
Albert GaIlatin, secretary Of the treas
Ury under jefferson and Madison.
He was a great secretary Of the
treasury. Surely he should be remem-
bered by q grateful nation by having
his picture on q series Of these bills.
OF all fore1gn-born citizens who have
risen TO power and fame in the United
States Albert GallatiD was the most
distinguished.
He made a deep impression on
American history directly after the
Revolution and served his country
honorably as q member Of congress,
United States senator, minister TO
France, and minister to England, and
peace commissioner al the Treaty Of
Client, and last but not least he was
one Of your honored predecessors
The purchase Of Louisiana was the
great measure Of JeEersOn's first term.
but il was GaIlatin who arranged for
its payment and did so without in the
slightest degree deranging his plans
for the funding Of the national debt
When the War Of 1912 came upon Us,
great financial burdens were placed
upon the Treasury department, but
GaIlatin. with great skill and wisdom,
discharged them successfully.
Although GaIlatin's portrait viii not
appear upon the new money, that the
grateful nation" Of which the New
York CONGRESSMAN spoke has not for
gotten entirely his services is shown
BY the fact that last year congress
passed a joint resolution authorizing
the erection Of a statue 10 Gallatin
and directing that il be placed On the
steps of the Treasury building ID
Washington with that Of Alexander
Hamilton TO remind Americans that
our financial system is due TO these
TWO great men.
Unfamiliar though the story Of Gal
latfn's life may be 10 many Amer
leans. II was nevertheless a romantic
and an important one. He was one Of
the earliest examples Of d foreign
born citizen rising 10 a position OF
prominence in the United States. He
was born in Geneva. Switzerland, in
1761 and received a good education in
that city which was then one of the
principal centers of learning in Eu-
rope. Having been left an orphan,
GaIlatin decided 10 emigrate 10 Amer
lea. especially as il offered an oppor-
tunity for an adventurous life in the
wilderness which he desired There
is q legend that an unfortunate love
affair drove him TO this decision, but
the truth Of the legend is unknown.
II is interesting TO note that he was
offered a commission in the forces Of
the Landgrave of Hesse, who was fur
nishing soldiers 10 the British king
for service against the Americans, but
that GaIlatin declared 'the would new
er serve a tyrant-"
Arriving in Boston in 11S0, he spent
some time there until he grew weary
Of its monotonous life and Puritan
tone" Then he embarked upon trad
ing expedition to the frontier Of
Maine, but when this proved unproft-
able be returned TO Boston and be-
came an instructor in French at Har-
ward college After staying there a
year. GaIlatin proceeded to New York
which was then QTS3) still in the
hands of the British. and their in
science 10 the young Swiss is said TO
have been responsible for his leav-
ing there very soon and going on to
Philadelphia and Richmond.
While in Virginia he became inter
ested in the lands south Of the Ohio,
as q promising field for speculation.
and here he purchased a thousand
acres, which he bought for a hundred
pounds. in Virginia money. Here he
hoped 10 make his home. as he had
definitely decided TO become an Amer
lean citizen. Soon after this land
transaction he became the partner
Of French gentleman named Savary
de Valcoulou, and together. they
bought warrants for 10000 acres of
Virginia land between the Great and
Little Kanawha rivers
GalIarin was 10 have the manage
ment of this land. and in 17S4 he set
out TO look il over. He found the
country north of the Virginia line
more desirable. and finally located in
Fayette county, Pennsylvania, where