The Indianapolis journal., 1883-03-08

New Haven, the Rensselaer, at Troy, the In
stitute of Technology at Boston, the Stevens
Institute at Hoboken. and many others
These are examples OF pure and independent
schools of technology, each with a special
end of its own but all the generic features of
the class. They all arose from the demaud
| for engineers in the arts OF peace and of ar.
To this list must be added the State colleges
of agriculture and the mechanic arts, several
of which have made provision for effective
| teaching in engineering. The course of
study in a polytechnic school is determined
by long experience and in all countries sub
stantially the same, viz
"Mathematics- Beginning with algebra and
geometry and proceeding through tTigonumetry,
analytical and descriptive geometry and the
calculus to theoretical and applied mechanics.
"Physics-From the elements to the solutions
or problems, sometimes with laboratory prac-
tlce
"Chemistry-With laboratory practice
"Language-The elements of German and
French, English replacing one of these in
European sehoolsl and the mother tongue.
"Drawing-Beginnlng with free hand and in
Guiding perspective photographic and lsomelric
projection, shades and shadows.
Geology and mineralogy-As far as time per-
mits the other natural history sciences neces-
sarlly omitted, except in special cases. In all
these schools the instruction is given with
strong practical bearing, and generally the stu
dents learn the manipulation of the instrument
used III surveying, and the more important of
those used in physical researches.
ut is necessary to remark at this point
that chronological schools do not include
schools OF design. There is a great interest
in European countries and in the United
States at the present time in what is called
industrial art meaning tine study OF form,
color and ornament to render structures and
man ufactured goods, etc, intrinsically more
beautiful, and to increase their value by this
means. department of drawing and de-
sign has place in q school of technology,
but engineering does not naturally include
designing.
"The polytechnic school offers to the quail
fled, averaged boy, good education based on
mathematics, living languages and physical
sciences, in order to qualify him for imme-
diate entrance upon the duties of an active
life as an engineer"
After paying tribute to the excellence of
the schools Mr.. Thompson stated that they
did not meet all the wants of the new era,
gave brief history of the founding and the
principles upon which the Worcester Free
Institute was conducted, claiming that the
Miller School in Virginia and the Rose Poly
technic were founded on thessame plan. He
then proceeded to discuss the
PRINCIPLES OF THESE SCHOOLS
mo argument is needed to prove that an
engineer should have practical acquaintance
with handcraft and with the machine shop
in general. The great demand for men who
have this qualification and the surplus of un-
employed theoretical engineers, otherwise
able and compel ent men who lack it. shows
that point is well taken. The experience of
the older countries susains this view Ii is
found in Austria, so the Baron Won Eybes-
field (Minister of Public Instruction. told
me, that there is a great excess of graduates
of the polytechnic over the demand and that
he is now engaged in organizing new kind
of school in which workshop instruction
shall form part OF the course so that the
country may have some men for foremen
and superiniendents OF works who are thor
oughly versed in the practical details of ma
chine-shop work. In carrying OugthiS new
poliCy-the latest phase-it will be noticed
of technology, the great Gewerbe Museum
has been organized and put in charge of
Dr. EXner strlkingly competent and eff
cient man. He has started two totally
distinct sorts of schools the first is substan-
| TALLY half-time school in which boys from
the higher common schools work half the
day and study the other half receiving in
struction according TO the polytechnic plan
as far as the time permits; the course being
two years, these boys do not receive any
thing like as much instruction as the poly
technickers but they have the immense ad-
vantage of practical power in the shop which
| secures them living and adds to their value
Every stroke of work in the shops is done
no fact was mentioned oftener or with more
evident satisfaction by DR.. Exner in proof OF
tine solid excellence OF the school than that
they sold, in the first year, a thousand gulden
worth of their work. 1t is intended to null
tiply these schools, so that they shall provide
great variety of mechanical practice (the
two now in operation being devoted wholly to
wood working) and to extend the course to
four years. When this has been done there
will be in Vienna two schools in which all
the principles of the Worcester will be
adopted and applied.
''The second line along which the Aus
trians are moving is in cutivating what are
known as cottage industries; this movement
is so interesting that shall venture to say
something about it, though it is not immedi-
ately germane TO our purpose.
There is a marked tendency in Austria to
concentrate population in the large cities
Vienna has has grown from 800 900 to be a
city of 1900, 900 within ten or twelve years.
and other cities show great increase and
this has occurred without a corresponding
increase in the total population; the diff
ference is that the growth of the cities is
depopulating the villages-an unmistakable
and alarming fact Inquiry into the causes
of this movement has brought out the fact
that the peasants of these villages have lost
the market for their baskets and other wares
because their Swiss and French neighbors
Tho have had abundant schools of industry
had devised new and more attractive forms
for the same wares The peasants of Austria
were unable to compete because through
their ignorance of design they were confined
to the old and unstable FORMS and with the
fatuous haste so often crowd the cities in the
vain hope of bettering their lot. DR.. Exner
under the general direction of the wise and
acute minister of instruction has started
schools for basket-weaving, by far the most
important of these household industries
Hall of the QaV is devoted TO learninU new
and better ways of basket-weaviug and half
to drawing and modelling in clay; the result
being that the pupils learn how
to do the things that are now
in demand and are clothed with
power to design whatever forms the future
may suggest Anybody may attend these
schools who chooses to come TO Vienna; for
tn ere only can q museum of exann nles be