Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-04
CORCORAN SCIENTIFIC SCHOOL.
Able Addresses Delivered ut the Omen,
Ing Last Night.

0DAe Ao0Fesses delivered mt the Open
ing Last Night.
The new year Of the Corcoran Scientific
School was commenced last evening with
appropriate exercises held in the big hall of
Columbian University. corner 18th and II
streets. There was a pleasant gathering of
friends OF the institution, and on the plat
form were seated number of distinguished
visitors among them the Chilean minister
and Dr. Bach. royal commissioner of Prus-
STA. now In this country for a study Of the
technical schools of America. The even
ing's exercises were opened by DR.. yelling,
president Of Columbian University, who in
troduced the two speakers Of the
evening. and at the conclusion of
their addresses. the dean Of the
faculty of the scientific school, who
explained the plan and purposes Of this
department.
President yelling said that there had
been great strides forward made in all the
branches OF the university, but perhaps the
greatest Of all was the introduction of an
entirely new course. This is the graduate
course. where, with the aid of French and
German as instruments, one may pursue
advanced studies that lead to the highest
degrees given in course by any university
in the country. OF the other branches
none had made greater advances than the
Corcoran Scientific School. He then intro
duced Gen. A. w. Greedy. who has accepted
the chair of geographical science in the
school, Gen. Greedy then delivered an in
teresting addresses on the subject of geog-
raphy considered from an economic stand
point
Gen. Greedy began by referring to the
pleasure and at the same time the feeling
Of responsibility with which he had under
taken the duties connected with the new
chair. He then went on to sketch the
eyr.a Of int cab IL
studies from a scientific standpoint from the
time when 1t first began to be popularity
understood in the German universities, as a
separate study and not simply an appen-
dix to geology and other natural sciences.
The subject might be carried beyond its
legitimate bounds. and in his opinion geo.
graphic science should be restricted to a
consideration Of the surface of the earth
and it's atmospheric surroundings the lat
ter considered in their relation to each
other and to the earth. Geography is
discipline for the mind and at the same
time gives vast amount Of information
that Is at once interesting and valuable.
Gen. Greedy then spoke at some length of
the value of commercial geography in the
Industrial world. To the absence Of a
proper study and pursuit of this subject he
thought would be traced to q large extent
the difficulty which the United States has
met in establishing commercial relations
with foreign countries. This need the gov
eminent is seeking to supply through its
for the perfect success of this system, con-
suls are appointed In all stages Of crudeness
and ignorance and without a conception Of
the real importance of the work they might
accomplish.
Speaking Of the different branches Of
geography as mathematical political and
physical he defined each and spoke of the
necessity for a fourth branch, economic
geography This he defined as the COM
parative treatment Of political and physical
geography, when, where and how the re-
sources Of the earth may be best exploited
for the benefit of mankind. Great engineer
ing schemes. the building of railroads,
canals and numerous affairs of that sort,
are undertaken where the geographical con-
ditions are such as to absolutely preclude
the possibility of success. SyndicateS and
others investing capital would often be
saved great loss and possible failure II the
conditions under which they
are compelled to work had been properly
DR.. A. L. Craven, the new professor Of
finance and economics, followed with an ad-
dress delivered in the interest of these two
branches Of study. DR.. Craven is a gradu
ate of Johns Hopkins University, where he
two important subjects.
At the conclusion of the addresses Prof.
Monroe. who holds the chair Of chemistry.
and is the dean of the university, explained
the plans and methods of the Corcoran
Scientific School, In the course Of his re-
marks he said that one Of the changes
which Is deemed TO marx new era III the
scientific school Is the organization of def
mite groups, or courses of study leading to
the degree of bachelor of science in the
several branches of science and technology.
Nine such courses have been arranged-in
general science, civil engineering, electrical
engineering. analytical chemistry, physical
chemistry, meteorology. geography, geology
and architecture.
The length of the course required to OBJ
tain the degree in any of these courses has
been set at four years. Another of the
important changes accomplished is the re-
quirement of one year further study after
the attainment of the bachelors degree to
obtain the professional degrees Of civil en-
gineer and electrical engineer which can
now be conferred after one further year Of
research study. To carry out this program
1t was necessary to make material increases
in ali lines, so the faculty has been enlarg-
ed from eighteen to forty-four instructors.
the number of departments from twelve to
eighteen and the number of courses in the
same from thirty-six to IA.
The November Taxes.
IN