The morning call., 1894-01-02
THE MECHANICS INSTITUTE.

= AS described in The CALL the other
day, that portion of the mem bershfp of
the Mechanics Institute of San Fran
cisco which calls itself progressive favors
q change which would very materially
alter the status of the institute. These
members propose that all the real estate
of the institute, such as the Pavilion lot
and the F0sOm-stTeet property. should be
converted into money as being a burden
rather than a source OF income, and that
with the. proceeds a large building Of
seven or more stories should be erected in
a central location, such as Union square,
where all the work of the institute could
be concentrated and a great extension of
its functions rendered possible. 1t is prob
able that the funds obtained by the sale of
the property would be ample for all pur-
poses with prudent management. but any
such step must be taken only after careful
deliberatioD. The fairs heretofore held
under the auspices of the institute would,
It's suggested, be equally useful if held in
Golden Gate Park under some arrange
ment with the Park Commissioners when
the Midwinter Fair Is closed. but it is quite
likely that none of the buildings which
have temporarily been provided for the
exhibition would be found suitable as a
permanent structure for annual displays.
The provision of a proper building would
therefore involve heavy expense. even if it
were advisable to allow one such encrOach-
ment al the great park, and it is doubtful
whether the park is a good location for a
permanent: exhibition building which
would be kept open at night for the princi-
pal stream of visitors.
The aim of the progressiVes seems TO be
to expand the educational facilities of the
institute, lot only in classics but in scien-
tific laboratory work, 1t would not be
college of science at which students could
study and graduate, nor, in the fullest
sense Of the term, a teaching establish
ment, but something between a college
and place Of eDterta iDmen on utililarian
lines. The library would remain great
feature, but a good laboratory in chem
istry and physics generally: might be added,
and perhaps museum containing not
natural history specimens but models Of
inyen lions, drawings, specimens of ma
terials, and so forth Some professors
might be engaged to carry on research, to
teach and lecture. and there should be a
good lecture hall and stage for expert
ments, equipped with all essential appa-
ratus. This programme of work could be
extended as circumstances suggested.
The institute Oh this basis would ap-
proximate very closely to the Royal Insti-
tuition in London, which aims at two
things. the maintenance of circulating
and reference library for members and the
endowment of scientific research. The
Royal Institu ton stands quite apart from
the university or-college system. 1t has no
classes, but it has two professors and
assistants. and its laboratories in chemis-
try and physics are magn fcentiy equipped.
OF the useful and even famous work done
here it is sufficient TO say that Humphry
Davy. Faraday and Tyndall labored the
greater part of their lives in its somewhat
dingy quarters; that Professor Dewar and
Lord Ravleigh are the successors of these
eminent men and are doing work in orig
inal research which no university gives
quite the same kind of nnhampered leisure
to perform. Practically the professo are
left to themselves. They are not even
compelled to give lectures, but usually
deliver quite series each year, often with
brilliant experiments. In addition the
ms titnte. invites the eminent in science
anu literature 10 give REQUIRES at the Ia
nous Friday evening meetings during
the winter. aud thus some of the greatest
men OF the age, from Helmholtz downward,
have occupied the platform.
The funds al the disposal Of the Mechan-
les Institute would avail to render it just
such center of thought and work. Two
or more distinguished men could prose-
cute original research and give lectures.
and in the lecture theater notable men con-
nected with the universities could. from
time to time appear in courses of lectures
not intended for examining students, but
the intellectual public, who would be at
tracted to such center. There is room
for such a programme, altogether apart
from any of the present foci of learning
and enlightenment.