The Washington herald., 1907-12-29

cannot mix native earths into a mixture
which viii give the durability of Ameri-
can and German clay pits
When Japan wants a particular thing
in an industrial line she relies TO obtain
Il almost wholly on one method-the in
dustrial education OF her own people 10
make that thing First. the japanese
government sends experts all over the
world These experts. often Japan's
leading technologists. serve as mere la
5orers or as unskllled craftsmen in fac
tories OF Europe and America, simply 20
gain information about industrial meth
DDS
The next step is TO use this information
In the government Industrial schools and.
with this knowledge as a beginning, to
encourage the students and scientists to
go ahead In the national shops and labo-
ratories and discover for themselves i'm
provements which trade rivals have not
hit upon
The clay problem in its application 10
making common pottery ware to compete
with, foreign potteTies has been one OF
Japan's hardest nuts to crack. The work
OF investigating Japanese clays and ex-
perimenting with different combinations
OF them is now going on under govern
ment assistance IN the wonderful lab
oratories and shops OF the department Of
ceramics in the Tokyo higher technical
schools. In the ceramic section of the
Arita Art and Industrial School AT Saga,
and in the plant Of the Pottery School al
lshikawaken.
Scientific study ut Tokyo.
According TO Prof. C. r Richards. Of
Teachers College. secretary Of the Ma
tional Society for the Promotion OF IN
dustrial education. the Tokyo school is
one Of the few places in the world where
the study Of pottery on a highly scien-
tifc basis is possible On the side Of
chemical investigation OF ceramics. this
school ranks with the best of American
or European institutions.
! In It's courses full instruction is given
/ II the technology Of clays and earths.
Siazes, pigments, and firing. Especial at
;ention is given also 10 the development
Of new wares. and 10 the combination OF
earths and compounds for this purpose
/ AT the same time. the pupils receive
ample shop training In designing, max
/ ing. decorating. and firing porcelain.
| In other words Japan is doing for her
/ pottery interests what she is doing for her
/ fisheries, breweries. agriculture, stock
raising. chemical, and engineering indus
/ tries-enabling those who are 10 take
/ part in the development of those indus
/ tries 20 learn AZ home at the hands Of
the state the best OF European and Amer
lean discovery.
Far Greater Market.
In the United States. with twice as
many people as Japan. and with a far
greater market for ceramic products.
| there are few schools which teach more
/ than pottery handicraft and decoration.
As far as is known, there are only two
/ universities in the country which pav
any attention 20 the Industrial chemistry
{ Of ceramics
/ One is Ohio State University. at Colurn-
/ bus. where Prof. Crton is giving courses
/ dealing principally with the technology
! OF IRE brick and encaustic tile. which are
local industries. The other is 81 Alfred
/ University. Alfred. y. Y. where Prof
\ Binns is carrying on advanced work in
/ ceramics
/ Most OF the experimenting Is done in
the private laboratories Of the manufac-
| turing concerns which are searching
mainly for new glaZes for ornamental
pottery. The pottery industry in this
| country. like many other Industrial ac-
/ tivities. seems 20 be behind Japan in
recognizing the Importance Of industrial
I education and has made little effort 10 in
duce State legislatures 70 make grants
for schools 10 develop State pottery Ge-
poslts.