The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-02-16
VERY IMPOKTANT.

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as yet very well understood by many OF
them. The attempt to form praim-
mary corporation for the purpose OF
ultimately establishing technical
school peculiarly adapted TO the educa-
tion OF the young men of this state for
the important work Of the scientific and
technical departments of the great mills
OF the state has been in progress for
some months. and is. on the whole, In
satisfactory state OF progress.
The original idea was TO establish an
exhibition Of the principal products OF
the mills OF the STATE, and that is still
the initia! purpose Of the promoters of
the movement The natural outgrowth
OF the discussion Of this project was the
consideration of the needs of the man
ufacturers in the way of expert help In
the departments of the mills that re-
quire scientific aud technical knowledge.
The remarkable fact was revealed that
not only is 1t impossible to obtain such
native help. but that 1t is impossible to
educate IL in the mills OF the state, where
the layman would naturally look for the
most promising and practical means.
Why this condition is operative, and how
1t comes 10 be one of the most serious Of
the several causes that are operating to
undermine the supremacy of New Eng
land In the cotton and woolen industries,
Is question requiring separate and more
elaborate treatment than it can be here
accorded. 1t is sufficient to consider it
as established, since it is not only ad-
mitted but strenuously insisted upon by
the manufacturers themselves, who also
insist that some relief must be afforded
il the state is to maintain its position In
the manufacturing world.
1t Is not primarily for the relief OF the
manufacturers, however, that the pro-
Ject OF the technical school is mooted,
though it would have that effect. The
| special object in view Is to furnish the
young men OF the state the opportuni ty
to qualify themselves TO fill the needs of
the mills. This would have the double
effect Of providing for the young men vo-
cations at once profitable and honorable
and strengthen the hold of the state upon
the industries that have so powerfully
contributed 10 its welfare in the past and
which are so necessary to its future
growth and welfare
1t is unnecessary TO elaborate upon tn
manifest benefit TO the state such
school as is proposed would be. That is
apparent to all intelligent people. The
practical question Is, how can IL be
secured
The movement that is already inaugu-
rated is in the nature of missionary
effort, chiefly. IL consists Of general
committee made up Of representatives Of
the several commercial bodies in the
state, and is engaged in informing the
public Of the need of the school and
gathering together the various agencies
that may be expected to assist in the
labor OF organization when the time
arrives for such practical work.
The work as far as it has progre IS sed,
has shown that there is a very keen theo-
retical interest in the project. The time
Is evidently near at hand when there
must be some practical step towards the
realization of the plans of this general
committee IL the public is to be pursuad-
ed that progress is to be made.
One of the most serious drawbacks
that the movement has now to fear is the
reluctance of the meu who have declared
their intention of contributing to an en-
dowment fund to become publicly iden-
titled With the enterprise. This difficulty
will disappear when the force of public
opinion on the matter assumes such
force as to make it apparent that the
state, as evidenced bv the NANTES ted
wishes OF its citizens, is so favorably in
clined to the project as to sustain 1t and
make 1t the great success that it's possi-
bllities promise.
The matter Of raising certain amount
of money is not all there is in this enter
prise. The approval of the public is abb
solutely necessary. More The public
must demand it. When the public de-
mands certain thing in the line of this
proposed technical school there are al
ways men Of means who will, sooner or
later. respond to the demand with the.
needful funds. Particularly is this true
in the case under consideration There
is a marked disposition on the part of
several men of wealth to devote to this
SOIue VI lney are
waiting to hear the command Of the peo-
pie OF the state. They do not feel that
they are justified in pushing the matter
unless there is very decided demand for
it, and unless there is sure promise that
the school would receive that public sup-
port without which it could be nothing
but failure.
The time has, therefore. arrived when
it is the duty of the public TO speak, and |
TO speak In no uncertain tones. 1t is safe
TO say that IL Is possible to confidently |
believe in the ultimate successes of the
movement for the establishment of n |
technical school If the public takes an |
earnest interest in the matter: and is al
most equally certain that IL will not |
materiaIize unless the public does take
an active interest in it,
II the public wants the technical school
it is certain that lt can have it,. The
project for its establishment will die il |
al l..