The Wilmingtonian., 1884-12-27
LET THEM LEARN TRADES.

consideration, by those who have the charg
and responsibility of educational matters, O
the proposition of establishing technica
schools in this city was brought forward.
In the present number Of Progress, Profes
sor Yelland speaks to our neighbors in Phil
adelphia as follows:
"We are creating class to.whom work !
hateful and manual labor degrading. w
profess to respect the mechanic but we lool
down upon his trade. The whole thing i
wrong, and If we will not listen now, thu
time is coming when we will have to listen
for emigration is putting her hand with {
firm grip upon this country and will stamI
out the birthright of the rising generation
Chicago, at this time composed of two
thirds foreigners, is lesson for us, but w
will not regard it.
Men and fathers, American citizens, arouse
yourselves TO theI occasion. Leave you
counting. houses and offices for an hour ant
discuss the signs of the times. Shall oul
| children learn trades2 Shall technical
schools be established? Shall the teacher
direct the attention of the school to what il
absolutely necessary and so improve the lit
tie time allotted to tuition in manner
which will prepare the youth for real life
| We must not go to the continent for skilled
labor. Our boys are as intelligent as are
the boys of any country. Do we want more
trsmps, more loafers, more thieves, more
murderers Is not the increase of crime
doubling at this moment over 1882? We
have not employment enough for our own
people; why then do we depend upon foreign
| aid when by system of instruction our
| own people could do all that this country
| demands?"
Perhaps it would be hardly right to con-
cede to Professor Yeland full belief in the
last assertion, "We have not employment
enough for our own people" Apparently
this is tho case-but due altogether to con-
ditions outside of those under contempla-
tion.
The undeveloped resources Of this coun-
try, cant phrase as it is, is however, an
undoubted fact. 1t stands before us await
ing solution. But by whom Are not our
illimitable prairies, our untouched mines our
neglected water power, our millions of acres
awaiting intelligent agricultural supervision
in draining, subsoiling, SC. in the estab-
lishment of irligating canals and bitches.
Our untold wealth of natural resources are
awaiting only the fairy touch of science, or
more plainly technical knowledge, to exhibit
the most wonderful transformation scene
that the world can record.
How are we providing for all this? What
has education in this country done to meet
this wantP Almost nothing. IhJ-Is@
technical schools scattered throughout the
land do not in any measure meet the demand
for technical help that natural conditions
ask for. Who is it that take hold of our
mines, our forestry, our mills, our factories
Who are the superintendents in our machine
shops? Who are our chief mechanics, our
draughtsmen, our designers, our engineers
The reply is usually, foreignersl
The pioneers out west, those who go out
to the virgins forest to homestead the free
grant of 100 acres of land are usually for
egners. Let any of us go out to the new
mining towLs, to see the world or make a
fortune as the intention of many hopeful
young citizen is. The sanguine young
American with ardent hopes, with good
public school or perhaps high school educa'
ton arrives at Leadville, let US say. He
looks around and makes enquiries. The'
is plenty of work. But "what can you doP'
is the question that meets him everywhere
what is your trade 2''-Our intelligent
young citizen sees around him great rougl
unkempt fellows earning s1s and $50
week, at the carpenters business, while b
must be a laborer or starve! At that mo
ment the thought flashes through his min'
7 viyidly. "If had only applied some of m
+ school years to technical education. A
s that very moment, the "boss" of some orr
a crushing mill or other industry of the loca
+ ity asks him whether he knows anythin
It about machinery or belting-whether
p could help the engineer in some trilling ma
IS ter. Our young friend knows nothin
It whatever of such matters. 1t is not Wi
: the most grateful feelings that he reverts
= that system of bringing up which allows
1t its code of education only literary cours
lie This case of the young man who has go
Mt West is of course only supposititious OF
y But it is fiction founded on fact
as All who have had experience in the new
p developing regions of this country kn,
well that nothing is in more daily dema
N than the man of technical information
ng experience. His opportunities are limitl
is while those of the mere literary gradu
ed are absolutely nil. The fact is, a new toV
to wnere new industries. mills, factories, m
BILE ing, are Of necessity appearing on accol
Tx of the natural wealth of iron, COAL sily
in &c., must need men who have special KIN,
ty- ledge of these matters. Where should th
of men come from? Must we forever cont
der dependent upon foreigners for help and
md in the higher grades of our industrial a
of Clearly we have not among our own yo