The University daily. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 18??-????, 1892-06-07

New Courses in the University.

"A glance at the the recent cata-
logue Of the University shows that
the State ID about to introduce into
it's highest institution q course Of
study which il other and similar in-
stitutions has proved to be Of great
value directly and Immediately to its.
graduates.
BY the aid Of the Morrell fund the
West Virginia University is taking
the initiative in offering opportunity
TO young men Of the state to get the
scientific, literary and practical train
ing Of an engineer. e He about to-
open course where theory and
practice are combined and where
principle can be applied and wrought.
out exactly as in practical life, in.
facta course which shall train men
to enter such practical life with both
theory, practice without either Of.
which the engineer is but one sided.
The state suffers for want of men
to develop her vast and wealthy re-.
sources, not men who can buy up
her lands and hold them, but for men
who can work them open her mines,
work her1products, build and operate
her mills. At present this demand
is supplied by other states but now
tits high time to turn thetide,for the
young men Of the state are as capa-
BILE to enter engineering as any other
profession.
Our object then is to educate for
mechanical engineers, and to accom-
plish this ID long course of training
is necessary, including as will be
seen the mathematical and chemical
and physical sciences, elles-lettres
and shop practice. The French and
German languages form an essential
part Of the course of instruction, since
they are indispensable to the engineer
and man of science as the vehicles
of vast amount of information and
also as afording that kind Of mental
culture which mathematical and
physical science If followed exclu-
5siVely, would fail to supply. a de-
partment of belles-lettres furnishes
the means Of cultivating literary
taste and q facility in the graceful
use of Language, both in speaking and
writing,Which are as desirable in the
engineer as in the classical student.
The one distinctive feature Of this
course is the shop work or practical
mechanics. The method here is
simple and direct, and aims to
place the student during his course
Of training here in an environment
not unlike what he mag expect to
find when he enters the active duties
of life. The shopis recognized Us a
means of education, training, even
culture. This is the highest object
of the shops in any school of this
character. The friends Of this school
do not ignore the intrinsic value Of
the skill attained in the shops, but
as valuable as it is. the greatest val
ne Of shop training to the man, to the
engineer, lis the marked effective in
fuence upon theRmind and the char.
acter of the pupil. 1t has been shown
that most Of the active, managing
men of the city are men whose boy
hood has been spent on the farm. Nov
there is no virtue necessarily in farm
work 81 country life, except that the
individual is brought into. close com
tact with things. They meet and
overcome difficulties. and this exper-
fence developes sound judgment and
ability tosmanage affairs in most
remarkable manner This develop.
ing influence upon the character Of
the man is exactly what the shops
of chronological school accomplishes.
The archaeological shops recognize
that :their object first and last is
educational. This is not trade
school. 1t is more 1t aims to make
mechanical engineers, manufacturers
managers of industrial works Of all
kinds. twill teach q trade j. e., it
will develop manual dexterity5 be-
cause that is most desirable and
necessary step up to an end sought.
II may produce journeyman, if you
please but not as the end Of the train
ing The education Of the engineer
should include to some extent, the
experience that the journeyman pos
sesses the accuracy Of the machin-
ist, the skill Of the pattern makers,
the special knowledge Of the black
smith and fioundryman. There is no
way go sure, 50 good, and 80 simple
to1realize these possessions as to en-
ter the ranks and learn them as if
future success depended upon The