The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-02-23

Certificates of proficiency are granted, the examina-
lions being made before Royal Commission, who
has to report to the Board of Trade the efficiency
of the institution" The high state of architecture,
mechanics, and engineering in Bavaria, is attr-
buted to the influence Of these institutions. The
splendid astronomical instruments in the National
Observatory at Washington were made in Munich:
Pupils from these schools are in great demand to fill
important situations both at home and abroad, and
unless the United States establish similar schools,
foreigners must fill honorable and lucrative situations
which should be occupied by our own citizens.
While the ordinary professions of law, medicine,
theology, and politics, are crowded to repetion with
US, the great field opened to enterprise through
polytechnic schools is neglected, simply because
feudal colleges fit o man for one Of the sO-calIed
learned professions and for nothing else. Hence, a
young mans destiny, honor and responsibility seem
to hang success in these oldbeaten and starving
paths or end in utter and hopeless failure in every
thing else. The United States has greatly suffered
at times for the want of well educated engineers.
The grand canal Of New York was retarded in its
construction and its cost enhanced for the want of
sufficient number Of educated men of this class. A
gentleman of this profession stated to some years
since, that, while young and inexperienced, he was
appointed by Mr. Clinton to an important section Of
the grand canal, and, after his estimates had been
given out and partly completed he discovered that he
related frankly to Mr. Clinton his error, and ex-
pected to be discharged. Mr.. Clinton, in reply,
stated that the fact was, the State wanted
engineers, and must have Them, and if they could
cate some, and told him to continue his work and
make no more mistakes. At the present day the
great number OF new railroad companies find it diff
cult TO procure the necessary number of engineers of
high professional education and talents. They are
frequently annoyed by wrong estimates or inudicous
locations, which it is difficult to remedy without
great pccuniary loss. Notwithstanding our vast and
increasing mining interest, embracing the produc-
tons OF iron zinc "copper" lead, and coal, from the
bowels of the earth, we have not single school for
miners in America The knowledge ofmnng and of
metallurgy, of chemistry applied to them, well az
to arts manufactures, and agriculture, can only
be properly taught in industrial free schools or
Colleges. If an American student wishes to attend
schools of mining and metaurgy, he must go abroad
One of the most extensive polytechnic schools is at
Carlsruhe, in the Grand Dutchy of Baden Baden ~
continues Dr. Payfair, which possesses faculty Of
81 professors and numbers 33l students, fwhom IL
are foreigners, In Austria trade schools do not yet
exist, but polytechnic colleges are numerous. The
attendance of students in the provincial colleges is
stated at not less than 40OO while in that of Vienna
which Is the largest institution of the kind in Ger
many, the numbers frcquenting the systematic
school were, last year, 697 the total number in all
that, taking all the Industrial schools of Germany
together, they. include $4,000 pupils, who are
receiving systematic education at the public
expense. France has long had few polytechnic
schools OF great note but chiefly devoted
to the education of the sons of people of title or
rank, and mainly with view of qualifying them
for military life. Still she is in advance in this rc
spect of many other parts of Europe The "Ecole
Polytechnique," the "Ecole des Points ct Chauseesn
and the "Ecole des Mines which are all supported
by government, have been long celebrated. A more
recent institution, called the "Ecole Centraie des
Arts ct Manufactures, though supported by private
capital, is said to be the most important Industrial