The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1904-06-30
The Invasion of the North

anything but consistent. This seems
to be the attitude of the South so far as
the technically trained men are con-
cerned. For, while there is a constant
ly growing demand for such men to
conduct the industrial affairs of this
section, almost without exception the
graduates of our several technichal
schools find probable employment in
the North. This has been particularly
marked in the experience of the gradu-
ates of the State University at Knox
vile, as fully so per cent. of the engin-
eering graduates are filling important
positions with great northern manu-
facturers. One Memphis boy is a trust
ed engineer and designer of electrical
machinery in Pittsburg. Another has
just returned to his native state as
erecting engineer for the Milwaukee
Engine Co., to place one OF the largest
engines ever installed in the South.
One from Chattanooga is an electrical
expert in Schenectady, N. Y. Several
Knoxville boys hold important posi-
tions with manufactures in Chicago,
Columbus, Pittsburg, New York, Lynn
etc. A boy who came few pears ago
from the Tennessee mountains proba-
bly, not knowing the difference be-
tween dynamo and steam engine,
is today the manager in England of
the greatest electrical manufacturing
establishment in the world, having
hundreds and perhaps thousands of
men in his employ. There is no in
consistency in these young mer taking
these positions, because they are quail
ified to fill them, and earned their
places of trust in competition with
graduates of older and stronger tech
nichal schools of of the North. For is
it inconsistent that other young men
who observe such success and who
have the necessary qualifications,
should seek in large numbers for sim
liar education. The inconsistency
comes in the fact that the South still
sends north for its technically trained
men, while the North sends south and
is glad to get our technical graduates.
Germany had the same experience in
the development of its technical schoc
system. In the beginning the local
demand for these graduates was not
sufficient, and German engineers and
scientists sought and found work in
every part of the world. In due time,
however, with men at home who knew
how to do things, German capitalists
supplied the money and, as a result,
German products requiring skill may
be found the world over. Whe of us
has not purchased a high-priced arti-
Gle and found "Made in Germany
stamped upon it. Germany expnrts
fewer skilled men, but instead she
sends the products of skilled labor.
1t is very likely that Germany's ex-
perience will be repeated in our sec
tion. We need, as did Germany, first
of all to aducate men who know how tc
do things, and it will follow that with
cheap fuel and abundant raw material
with climate that cannot be surpass
cd, we may hope in due time to make
this great manufacturing section. A
successful promoter whose speciality il
the building of cotton mills, once mad,
this pointed remark that whenever h,
found man who knew how to manage
it, he built cotton mill.
| Estabrook Hall, which contains th'
shops, drawing rooms und laboratorie
of the z echanical Department OF th
University of Tennessee, is crowded
with students far beyond its capacity
For example, with laths and machine
ry for 10 men at one time in the pat
tern shop, 81 students are enrolled
With forgesfor 10 men in the black
. smith shop, 30 are enrolled. Wit
laths, planners, sharers, etc., for 8 me
|. in the machine shop, 25 are enrolled
There is need, therefore, if the wor
: of this department is to grow in pre-
: pnrtion to the demands of the stat
:. toat large addition be made to tn
! building, This also calls for mo-
: machinery, more apparatus, and
: lorger teaching force.