The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-09
Graduates of Rose Po,ytechnic.

To the Editor OF the indianapolis journal:
The Rose Polytechnic takes especial pride in
calling attention to its class of sixteen prospect
i've graduates in June. This will be the first
class who have taken the full course of the in
stitute, the graduates of last year having been
brought here from Worcester, where they had
entered and partially completed the course.
Even the course of the present class has nick
n it, since they did not begin the first year
until March, and necessarily lost from Septem-
her until that date They graduate principally
as mechanical engineers, with especial train
ing in applied electricity
AS there are no other schools in this section Of
the country which possess the prime advantage of
afirstclass manufacturing machine shop in which
articles, especially machinists tools. are manu-
featured for the market by skilled workmen.
and 80 as to compete successfully with other es-
Establishments. it is of course to be expected that
the larger proportion of graduates will be OF
mechanical engineers, and this is found to be the
actual result yet there is a tendency among
those wishing to become civil engineers to take
advantage of the excellent opportunities offered
in the shop to acquire knowledge of
material and tools and their manipulation, so
that scarcely anyone graduates without a con-
siderable course in shop work. Such remark
is only applicable to those who might graduate
chemists, since those who graduate as mechan-
ical engineers have taken four years course in
manipulation and design quite appalling to an
outsider, and such must make of even.an
average boy fair mechanic.
The institute and the State will certainly fol-
low the course Of these graduates of the new
school with peculiar interest. What will they
engage in at first9 What are they likely to be-
come? The foretelling of their final outcome is
not so easy. At first they will probably find po-
sitions craftsman, for in drafting, with little
practical experience, they become quite pro-
fcient indeed, some of them find opportunity to
turn their undergraduate skill in this direction,
into dollars and cents. Again, some of them
will probably take advantage of the new in
dustry of electrical lighting that is springing up
over the country, and find openings in that di-
rection
The Institute has all the necessary appliances
for teaching electro technics practically, and it
speaks good word for the department that so
many of the present class have made use of the
to take charge OF workshops and manufacturing
establishments eventually, and for this purpose
they will accept whatever is offered them in such
esta blishments that may lead finally to such po-
sitions as they desire. And to every graduate,
of no matter what Institution, it may be said by
way of advice. that not the immediate present
but the not too distant future should be kept in
view and worked for in accepting the first en-
ployment after graduation. Under the impulse
given 1t by the late President Thompson it is
hoped the institute will continue in the right
direction until it strikes the current of the new
administration. and if one may judge by the
present class it certainly will do SO.
TERRE HAUTE, May 8.