The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-10-19

university is in unduly extending its
work and not emphasizing the import
ant thing that it is established for
agriculture. This is seen in many of
our states, where the students in the
agricultural colleges actually pursu-
ing the study of agriculture are small
er in number than those in the other
studies. More than that: up to the
present time the actual contributions
of the agricultural colleges to the d.
rect cultivation Of the soil by students
trained in them is comparatively
small.
Another danger which is marked
is the tndency to get away from the
people who really want to use such a
school for training for the specific
vocations that they wish to follow.
In many instances we see agricul-
tural colleges pushing away from the
public schools and attempting to
maintain a standard that really parts
them from the great clientele upon
which they should depend.
THE conflict between the university
and the agricultural college as they
stand in the state of North Dakota
is found in the field of engineering. To-
day both institutions maintain en-
gineering courses, but from my way
of looking at the matter, the point of
view Of the two institutions in the
matter of engineering is, or at least
should be, distinctly different Some
engineering must unquestionably be
associated with agriculture, such as
the instruction in traction engineering.
gas engines, automobiles, and other
forms of motive power But In the
case of the agricultural colleges the
attempt should be to train men to
run such machines, to know their diff
ferent parts and to be able to repair
them; while in the engineering coll
lege of the university the emphasis
should be placed upon the theory Of
engineering, the mathematics. the
physics, and the different formulas
upon which all great engineering pro-
jects must rest.
IF this point of view is taken by
both institutions, there is no conflict
and little duplication. 1t can be said
without any question whatever that
as things now stand in the state of
North Dakota there is no room for
two engineering colleges on the nro-
fessional basis, but there is room for
a school which teaches the trades OF
engineering and for a college which
teaches the profession of engineering.
There ought to be, as a matter Of
fact, agreement between educators re-
garding the modes of procedure in the
educational field. There ought not to
be, even If such agreement is not
possible, quarreling and conflict, and
hope that, with beginning in this
meeting, whatever may be the differ
ences OF opinion between the univer-
sity and the agricultural college OF this
state. we shall always be willing to
reason together If we understand
each others problems, and come to
recognize that we have or at least
think we have the good Of the state In
mind, much Of the difficulty will be
smoothed away. am not altogether
sure that an exchange Of professors
from time to time between the two
institutions might not be q happy
thing. 1t is certainly true that we can
cooperate in bringing to the two in
situations wise men from the east,
with the result that more such men
can be secured for both by sharing the
expense and the burden.
Il do not know whether you will ac-
cept the point Of view which have
presented, but 1t seems to me to be the
only basis on which we can proceed
without conflict and without iuplica-
ton. / trust, at any rate. that it will
receive consideration and thoughtful
discussion