The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-01-13

kEQ tnan George Washington
Several years ago a historian an
swered that question in the affirmative and gave
as his reasons the following:
1. The expression of Franklin's greatness did
not depend on events beyond his control
2. He would have been great man in any
period Of worlds history in any land.
g. He would have been among the great even
II his endeavors had been confined to one only
of sereval lines of activity in which his achieve
ments were of the highest rank.
f. He would be a great man if he were living
today.
o. Franklin was known throughout the world
as great man long before the Revolution, in
which he played part big as that of any
other great man Of the period. Washngton's
greatness began with the Revolution
g. There is no exact standard by which human
greatness can be measured compared. But
one criterion is the opinion Of citizens of other
nations-free from the prejudices either for or
against, held by the feow-ctizens of a great
man. Outside the United States Franklin would
be named more than any other American as the
greatest American and as one of the few greatest
men of all time
And in comparing these two great Americans
what finer tribute could be paid to the greatness
of Benjamin Franklin than was once paid by
Washington himself? Writing from New York
on September 3d. $780, to express his sympathy
for an illness which had struck Franklin down,
Washington said: "Would to God nv dear
Sir, that could congratulate you upon the re-
moval of that excruciating pain, under which you
labor, and that your existence might close with
as much ease to yourself as it's continuance has
been beneficial to our country and useful to man.
kind; or. If the united wishes of free people
Joined with the earnest prayers of every friend
of science and humanity, could relieve the body
from pains or infirmities; that you could claim
an exemption on this score But this cannot be-
and you have within yourself the only resource
to which we can confidently apply for relief
philosophic mind. If to be venerated for
benevolence, If to be admired for talents, II
to be esteemed for patriotism. If to be
loved for philanthropy can crafty the human
mind, you must have the pleasing consolation
to know that you have not lived in vain"
But, dispensing with any invidious COMPARE
son between two great men, the listing of the
following outstanding achievements of BENJAMIN
Franklin should be ample proof of the business
of characterizing him as "The Greatest
American:
He discovered that lightning is electricity;
proved it first by observation and logic, and sec
ond by actual test with his kite; also invented
the lightning rod which DR.. Charles Steinmetz
said is still the best and most reliable protection
we have against lightning
He was the first to discover that current of
electricity has magnetic effect T. e. that it can
ihiShSClHS a piece VI Steel his is the funda-
mental principle on which the telegraph the tele-
phone and the electric motor are based
He gave the world the best theory of cleo
tricity and modern science has adopted his early
conclusions. These were that electricity consists
of very minute particles, so small that they can
pass between the atoms or ordinary matter
They are now called electrons and have made
possible the radio.
He was the first man to discharge an explo-
G. va doto dicfo ~
sent over a wire
He invented the Franklin stove the first suc-
cessful woodworking stove used in this country
and he invented the invaluable contrivance nv
which fire consumes its own smoke and made
the first understanding stove or furnace
He caused Philadelphia to be paved: he in
vented better type of street lamp for lighting
the city; and he organized the first street clean
i>g. He reorganized the Anticipated city watch
and caused the city to be efficiently policed. and
he established the first fire engine company TO
protect the city from fire. He established there
the first academy, the first library and the first
hospital
He helped establish the first chartered fire in
surance company in America.
He was one of the first American songwriters
He wrote among other songs, "Sailor Song
"The Mo7rer Country" "My Plain Country
JOAN" and Fair Venus Calls" He was leader
In the musical world of his time, wrote on