The Saint Paul globe., 1897-06-05
THE MECHANIC ARTS HIGH.
ONLY INSTITUTION WHERE TILE
SCHOLARS ARE EQUIPPED FOR
LIFE'S WORK.
HOPE RESTS IN A NEW CHARTER
Interviews With Some Prominent
Men On the Proposed High
School Consolidation.

pected bring forth a most vigorous
protest against the proposed closing up
of the mechanic arts high school and
at the same time urge the passage by
the council of Assemblyman Daly's
ordinance asking for the appointment
by the district court judges of a new
charter commission. The present awk-
ward ENHANCEMENT in which the menl-
bers of the board of school inspectors
find themselves, owing to certain re-
strictions in the present city charter,
under whose provisions the city is be-
ing managed, is giving rise to con-
siderable feeling that a change should
be made, and at NO very distant date,
III the charter.
Business men join with a number Of
the inspectors in the view that this
manual training school should not be
closed whatever happens, and so in
terested are they in the matter, that
they are taking steps to prevent the
consolidation which, they aver, means
practical annihilation of the cur
riculum at present in vogue at the
institution. There is little diversity Of
sentiment, even those who are
for economy being opposed to closing
or limiting the usefulness of the school,
The opinion has gone forth that new
charter must be had and nothing will
do now but some action which will
bring about the appointment Of the
commission, which shall report char
ter so that according to law it may be
voted upon at the spring election. The
fact that the existence of the mechanic
arts school is dependent on the charter
at this time is one of the reasons urged
for the change. No matter what may
be necessary in the line Of economy,
the friends of the st. Paul school sys-
tenn are opposed to the merging of the
manual training school into any other
institution, where is loses it's identity
and, it is claimed, may lose it's power
for good. A number of men seen by a.
reporter for the Glo b yesterday,
agree that the mechanic arts school
should be continued as it is. Here is
how they feel:
Oliver Crosby, president of the Amer
lean Hoist and Derrick company, said :
'"The action taken by the school
/ board receL tly in reference to aban-
/ doning the mechanic arts high school
is question which should interest
every business man of the city. A
great effort has been made at different
times to establish industrial plants III
this city. Land and money bonuses
have been given, stock has been SUBJ
scribed and every effort has at times
been made to increase our manufactur-
ing industries. It is we'll understood
that fo oof11 IN h;
is necessary to increase it's prosperity
giving work and wages to laboring men
TO buy city lots, purchase lumber and
erect houses, buy groceries and cloth
ing and do everything that goes to
make city larger.
"A city, to rank among the manu-
featuring cities Of this country, must
nave about "a per cent of it's population
directly connected with it's manufac-
turing plants. About 16 per cent of
our poulatiOn are engaged in manu-
featuring industries. How to increase
them and give them healthy growth
is the problem before the people, Hav-
ing resided In this city over twenty
years, having established a manufac-
turing plant here, being closely con-
nected and largely acquainted with the
men managing our industries, [ do not
hesitate to state as my opinion that
the mechanic arts high school of this
city is one Of the most important fea-
lures in continuing and increasing our
industries. It is not question of cap.
ltal for manufacturing plants to be
established and to flourish in this city
1t is question Of the right kind Of
men to give the branches of manu-
factur1ng business they are engaged in
intelligent service. The mechanic arts
high school is educating our boys in a
direction fitting them to take the places
Of their fathers in manufacturing, and
to establish new plants A large per
centage Of the graduates of this school
are located in this city, and will be
heard from in the future in connection
with our manufacturing plants.
= In our business we employ about
twenty apprentice boys We have
taken these boys under all conditions,
some being very poorly educated,
others having passed through a few of
graduated from the mechanic arts
high school. My experience is that
boy graduating from this school is
more competent after being with us a
year than the average boy is who has
been with us three or four years. 1t
will be the policy of this company to
employ these boys exclusively, know
ing they have the foundation to make
competent mechanics.
"a more severe blow could not be.
struck at our industries than the
abandoning Of this school. 1t is pro-
posed to consolidate this school with
the central high school, putting the
machinery into the basement The
present principal Of the central high
school l understand is not in sympathy
with manual training, and it is easy
to imagine what will become of the
mechanic arts high school of this city.
OF which we are all so proud if it is
put into the basement of the central
high school, with a principal in charge
of the school who is not in sympathy
with this branch of education.
''The school has made good progress
in the past year, and if left alone it
is but a question of few years when
1T Will have so many students. and
will be of so much Importance that to
abandon it will be out of the question
hope the attendance at the CONNER
cial club meeting on Tuesday evening
will be as largely attended as the cause
deserves. More important question
than the present school question has
not come before the public for many
years.
The schools, in my opinion, should
be maintained practically as they now
exist for another year, or at least as
much of the school year as the funds
will allow. Shortening the school year
serious detriment, but to abandon one
of the most if not the most important
feature Of our common schools, will be
a damage impossible too repair
William r. Dorr, general manager of
the Horne & Danz company, says keep
it open. ST Think" said he, 'it would
be great mistake to make the change
spoken Of to consolidate the. high
schools at the central building. The
mechanic arts school is one of the