New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-02-25
OUR MECHANICAL COLLEGE.

SOIL and climate.
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| OUR MECHANICAL COLLEGE.
| There is bill before the Legislator
which appoints the University of Louis
lana. in New Orleans. the institution t,
which the land fund shall be given for tn
! establishment Of mechanical college
1t is thereby made a State institution
subject to the control of the Legislature
and under the constitution open 20 all
There are several places in the interio
which ask for this appropriation on behal
Of local institutions built or to be built.
In a matter Of such Importance as 8
school to qualify our citizens for mechan
ical trades. we do not hesitate TO say tina.
there is no other place proposed. except
New Orleans, where such an institution
could possibly succeed, nor can we with
absolute certainty affirm that it will sue
coed here. The following reasons are
offered why the Legislature should prefer
this city.
!. There is no additional appropria-
ton asked from the State to erect build
ings. There are here workshops with
the most modern machinery. with abun-
dan: material. and with every process for
manufacture in operation. There will
be required no boarding department for
distant pupils, since the city will furnish
board at any grade Of price and for any
number Of applicants. Parents in
this city are sadly convinced that the
mechanical trades alone furnish youth
with proper and profitable employment,
and that the best inheritance for child is
trade, with intelligence to pursue it. A
city with quarter of million Of people
thus disposed can fill school. and the
advantages Of this education. instead Of
being limited to the population and pay
pupils of a country village. will be
taught to hundreds. and so dif'used more
rapidly and more extensively. Apprentice
boys at work in the factories of the city.
fed. clad and cared for at home, can
readily give few hours to hear lectures.
witness demonstrations. and learn the
principles upon which their several trades
may be practiced with success. Among
other very important subjects of mechanic
cal enterprise is ship building and navi-
cation. which alone can be taught or
illustrated here. SO much for the adyan-
tages of this location.
2. The REPUBLICAN has never hest.
lated to asser: that the colored race may
contribute especially to the industrial de-
velopment of the South. We believe that
this race will furnish artisans and opera
lives fit for all the mechanical and mari.
time pursuits. They have great aptitude
for these arts. and possess constitution
which enables them to continue these oc-
,upations at all seasons. With respect to
commerce. there can be no reason why
ocean steamers may not be built. manned
md navigated by colored men. We re-
gard them. therefore, as valuable eie.
nent, and indispensable to building up
hose large manufactures which would
give employment to the breadless thou
sands who throng our streets. We believe
hat service Of such value to society
would give the white population an addi-
ional evidence of the value of this popu.
alton, and so encourage that unifcation
# interests which is at the base Of all so.
,ial harmony.
With this practical view Of the indus |
rial value of the colored element, how
AN we-hov can they best realize its
advantages:
The lecture rooms and workshops of
Few Orleans will be open to both races.
There will be no need OF common board. |
ng houses. and those apprenticed to the
arts will come together in the |
louse Of study and labor. without the |
of collision. and with the pro-
ection OF lega! force. should it become
necessary.
4 much greater number of colored |
outh can be educated here than else
there. because. while it vii! cost no
nore to send boy from the country to
his place than to any other. there
) large resident colored popula.
ion here. that can avail itself of these
dvantages. without mourning the excep-
lonal expense necessary to send them
, any other place in the State. In these
rec lecture rooms and workshops hun.
reds Of colored boys may work and live
t home. and get great benefit Of the
chools without any other cost than the
me Of instruction. 1t is unnecessary to
ont:ast the facilities and freedom of New
'rieans with the disadvantages with
'hich colored parents must contend at
ny country school. Here the value of
lechanic assures him protection and con.
Iteration from his employer. Here there
work for all. and much mechanical
ork now done elsewhere may be trans.
rred here. In any country village there
re no such inducements. nor are the me-
lanic arts SO much valued as in great
ty like our own. l.
This experiment has been made. The
llitary school at Baton Rouge. with a
ost competent corps Of instructors in
vii engineering and chemical science
applied to agriculture, is in
ate of great embarrassment There {
not, we believe, one colored cadet
the school, and this is attributed to the
nDOSSihilitv ovap AZ Woo< Do;r< of mn | I