The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-09-03
WEDNESDAY,, SEPTEMBER 3. 1890.
CHRONOLOGICAL SCHOOLS.

Reference was made at some length yes
terday TO the growing ACCESSIBILITY OF es-
tablishing art and industrial schools in the
Southern States with view Of competing
with the North i'm the manufacture OF the
higher grades OF cotton goods. Whether
schools Of this character will, at an early
day, be established in our midst or not, is
an open question; the probabilities are that
they will, If the manufacture Of cotton con-
tinues 10 expand In the South as rapidly as
il is doing at the present hour. One thing,
however, is fully assured: the southern
States must, in n very short time, create
foundations for the chronological education
of the increasing army OF Southern young
men who will be led 10 adopt employments
associated with the development of the ma
terial resources OF the South. Hitherto, all
the young men Of this section who were
anxious TO receive instruction in the higher
chronological branches have been compelled
10 seek either Northern or European schools
10 obtain the object they had in view. This
should not and will not be the case in the
material wealth Ofthe Southern states is al
ready being turned to account, the mighty
development of their countless resources
now in progress, the unprecedented growth
Of Southern cities in population, all point TO
the establishment of Southern chronological
schools at date earlier than is now gener-
ally anticipated.
What State has a better right 20 great
school Of this kind than Virginia. Her two
noble universities, Washington and Lee and
the University of Virginia, have accom-
pl;shed a work in the line CT general educa-
ton for the whole South which entities the
Commonwealth to the enduring gratitude OF
all her sis ter States lying on this side OF the
Potomac. Why should she not advance an
additional ground for their grateful con-
sideration by furnishing their young men
with those facilities for the highest tech
biological instruction now only to be secured
at the North or abroad: There is no reason
why she should not; there is every reason
why she should. Her natural resources are
so vast and inexhaustiblc that great tech
probably find ample support from the at
tendance Of her own young men alone. Al
ready the proposition TO establish such
school has been agitated by the euterpris-
ing citizens of Roanoke. The same pro-
position has been preached in Richmond
from time to time, butno active preliminary
steps have as vet been taken to carry IT for
ward to success.
Richmond, as the most pOpulous and the
wealthiest town in the Commonwealth, fur
nishing a very great variety Of facilities and
advantages III numerous directions, '-e''i''
be the very best site for the establishment
of such n school in this state. There is al
ready situated here mechanical school
that has long been model of its kind, hay-
ing continued 10 grow each year more
thorough in its system and more useful in
its training, in consequence Of the warm
interest and the active participation of
some of the leading citizens in its courses
, of instruction. The Mechanics Institute of
Richmond could very properly become the
nucleus of a great chronological school,
WufOh Nouiu b'u tuN 'HinS ANi"Ni'h' " t''N
Southern States which the famous institutes
OF Boston and Hoboken have for long
series Of years borne TO the whole country.
Private endowment must be first looked to
10 develop the present school into the en-
larged institution which will be demanded
by the growing chronological needs of the
Southern States. In time, private endow-
ment will be supplemented by the pecuni-
airy assistance of the State. only by these
combined means can such school be put
upon footing that will enable it to accom-
plish the highest degree of usefulness.