New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-05-12
THE MECaAN1OAL COLLEGE.

THE MECHANICAL COLLEGE.
We are glad to see that the Mechanical
College is beginning to assume shape.
The want of this institution in Louisiana
is obvious, and we look with anxiety to
see it placed on such basis as to afford
our people the evidence that science APP
piled to the arts is the shortest way to in
dustrial independence. France, Austria,
England, Germany and the American
States have systems which qualify youth
for the proper conduct ofany agricultural,
maritime or mechanical occupation.
We are glad to see that this system Of
education is spreading into the Southern
States. The University of Virginia, whose
standard Of scholarship and graduation is
as high as any on the continent, has
added departments of the modern Ian
guages and Of science as applied to the
mechanic arts, and in it's latest catalogue
we note one hundred and forty-fve stu
dents in mathematics, ninety-fve in mod
ern languages and forty or fifty in the
classes of agricultural and mechanical
chemistry. There are one hundred and
thirteen in Latin. This indicates that the
actual is taking the place of the abstract
in our Southern schools. It is confirmed
by the further fact that the Washington,
Lee and Military institutes of Virginia
have adopted the same system, and we
hope our Superintendent of Public Edu-
cation and his colleagues Of the industrial
directory will give us an immediate and
practical application Of the federal fund
to the instruction of our youth.
There surely was never more favor
able period for the adoption of this system.
A people without revenue or employment
demand more industrial occupations. A
State which exports large values demands
the creation of class of producers who
may exchange the mechanical work of
their hands for the fruits of agricultural
production.
A city on the shores Of great ocean
needs maritime interest to conduct her
commerce. Theorists Of political perfec-
ton require to be taught that the welfare
and liberties of a State depend solely
upon the education and occupation OF it's
With the strict limitation of powers
under the act of Congress endowing this
mechanical and agricultural college, the
will have little discretion, except
to comply with these legislative instruc-
tons. They should, however, recollect
the great object Of this donation. 1t is to
make more intelligent and efficient
mechanics, farmers and mariners. It is
TO utilize all the citizens of the State with
out respect to opinion or condition; to
provide cny young person who may wish
20 make an honest maintenance by the |
abor Of their trade, with the intelligent |
means of doing So According to our
dea there should be professors of science
Is applied to the two great departments
VI instruction contemplated by the |
vet. Lecture rooms should be |
opened and competent professors and as
istants employed to explain all that
mathematics and chemistry
an teach by text books, diagrams and by
he best apparatus for illustration and ey-
pertinent. This is the first step. The
econd will be to secure the use of ma
hine shops, laboratories, carpenter and
rchitect rooms. 1t will be impossible to
,uy or build these establishments, with
heir machinery and stock. Possibly a
committee of conference with the master
Mechanics who own such establishments
night result in obtaining permission to
etail the students to work stated hours
nder the discipline Of the shop.
Such an initial system will, as far as re-
ards the mechanical lectures and labors,
e the simplest and most effective accessi-
lie.
We are aware that city affords an I'M
avorable site for an agricultural college.
he directory may, however, be able to
emit adjacent grounds for model agricul-
lral institution.
Tt is to be regretted our Mechanics In
titute and Fair Grounds should have
.psed into hall for the manufacture Of
.ws, race ground, and a sort Of lottery.
T those who have control of these build
lgs and grounds would take an interest
| the instruction and employment of
outh in the mechanics and fine arts,
ley could make powerful contribution,
nd by coming forward at this moment,
nd rendering the building erected by the
lechanics of New Orleans, upon ground
we believe, by the State, and
so the empty and idle buildings, to
le the directory of the federal col
&c fund, an institution might be
,unded, which would never be removed
ON our city, and which would bring
onor on all concerned with it. It may
9 supposed that if the contract for the
t. Louis Hotel be not broken, the parties
/ interest will put down the rents as low
J will be satisfactory. In such case the
[echanics' Institute building will be va
mt, and may be returned to the purpose
II which it was erected. 1t is to be
oped that the board of directors will
Ike measures to place the Mechanical