Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1901-09-25
OUA TECHNICAL yoVo1Ay.
They Furnish tho Beat bridge Bgiidors,
Tool Makcrs and Rsilway Cohstruotors
In the World : -Eusopenn Methods Havo
becn Adapted Rather than Adoptedl

" NN'A Wv bAoohiyR iHubtSs(
Merchants and statesmen, to-day con-
gratulate themselves upon the wonderful
spread of this country's commerce, the
greatest any nation has over seen. But
tney do not, perhaps, realize that tho ma
tion has edyancedlin another way that is
possibly tho true core Of our ma tlonal sue
cess. This Is tho extraordinary advance
In scientific learning, as shown In the
universities, PROFESSIONAL and technical
schools and In everyday life II this rapid
tion does not fully account for the COM
merclal Victories, It has at all events con-
tributed largely to them. yT
SO pronounced has been tho development
or these universities and schools that now
at the beginning Of the century they sur
pass those of Europe. And yet surpassed
Is by no means the right word. There Is
no institution In Europe resembling them
or organized on quite the same plan. The
scientific school Of America lii It's grhsp
of what really constitutes practical, extern
siVe training has no counterpart In the
world. 1t turns out scientists that are at
the same time workmeil Of the highest
type. The universities and technical
schools Of England and the Continent, ex-
ccellent us many of them are, have not full
ly caught the spirit and trend of the time.
Ihe tree OF the new American scientific
education is being known by Its fruit 1t
has brought new sort of workman into
tho field of labor. and European indus
try stands by, wondering why her repre-
sentatlves cannot do as well.
Tho explanation OF 1t Is oil very simple.
however. American technical education
had Its first beginning fifty years ago.
Within tho past twenty -nve years the sci
entilc professional schools have been see-
Ing their truo development. Now tho COM
bined results have become so great that
they are apparent all over the, world
The earliest technical schools" wrote
Prof Mendenhall. president of the Tech
nologlcal Institute of Worcester, Mass In
his monograph OH Scientific. Technical
and Engineering Education in tho United
States" prepared for the recent Paris Ex-
position, those of II hundred years ago
or more, almost without exception, grew
out Of the Industrial demands Of the local
ity In which they were founded. One of
the best examples is the famous School of
Mines, at Frciberg, which has enjoyed n
long and illustrious career, and many OF
the earlier European schools belong to the
same class. TO these and the more modl
ern schools Of science and technology tho
United States arc greatly indebted espe-
cially on account Of the generous wei
come that has always been extended to
American students and for the inspira ton
with which many of them have returned
to take their part In the wonderful cduca-
tional evolution which the last half CEN
tury has witnessed
But in all cases European methods have
been adapted rather than adopted, Q
and while the nearly 100 schools OF science
and engineering scattered over the United
States have many points OF resemblance.
there Is much individuality, particularly
among the strongest and best, and It Is be-
lieved that their several types represent
important advances In the direction OF
scientific and technical education
This matter of scientific training for
youth makes but n conservative, quiet
claim, though yet n substantial one. lie
might have pointed to some Of tho results
OF these believed to be important ad-
vanccs." American technical school grad
untcs have come to be the bridge builders
OF the world. There are no steel makers,
no tool makers In Europe equal to the
COOL keen young scientists in American
shops and mills. Nor has the Continent
and England such Il race OF railway con-
struction engineers. Only this summer the
Massachusetts Institute OF Technology
held examinations in London for tho young
Englishmen Of scientific tastes, who, 10
learn what they wanted to nt them for
the scientific world, found their only re-
course an American school. And, in the
field OF medicine, four distinguished physl-
clans and surgeons of this country are
now touring the world at the request Of
foreign doctors who are anxious to learn
accurately Of the advances Of this branch
OF the science IN the New World.
out OF many significant instances these
have been picked. The number might be
greatly added to. with only the advantage
vi cHpndSlZllS lnc point. Inut wnlCn has
the most pronounced IL. however, the turn
ing of the tide Thirty years ago and even
we'll onto very recent years, the American
student Of any kind OF science found II a
part Of his education to go to tho schools
abroad for as long period as his pocket
book could stand. Ills education was not
thought complete till then. And 1t was
not, for scientific training in this country
was not formed. Now the student has no
need to go. AS he takes his degree he Is
far beyond what the schools of Europe
teach. And year following year, In in
creaslng numbers, young Europeans are
coming over here to grasp the training
that our universities are giving and to
absorb tho technique and the thorough
that are making American
scientists masters Of men.
Adapted was the word Prof Mendcn-
hall used In speaking OF European meth
ods and the American universities, rather
than adopted But 1t has been very much
more than that. Brushing traditions aside
these institutions of learning went long
ago to the root Of the matter. Year by
year they have been building up their
equipment, strengthening their courses
Questions of finance and whether 1t would
all pay they have politely laughed at
Money was needed for this and for that.
We'll. the chiefs would see that !, was OBJ
tanned. Machinery was necessary. At
once the great manufacturers were laid
under contribution, and they sent as gifts
worth thousands
The technical school presidents knew
how to arouse the sympathetic under
standing of men OF means and fore
thought. i'cnefactors for this and for thai
crowded In, their gifts were chroniccd i'm
the news of the day, commented upon as
vast, the figures added up and admired.
But no one saw the significance.
Year after year students came out OF
courses or engineering. of medicine and
surgery, OF chemistry, OF electricity, OF
marine engineering, OF agriculture and
forestry AID went into worknday life. |
IllthCrlO the scientific cnllauo l,u-1l