The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-05-19
Industrial Development Discussed BY
Professor J. E. HrindIey Of
the iowa State
College.
BULLETIN JUST ISSUED
Attention Is Called to the Opportunity
for Factories in the State
as Against Farm
Progress.

The problem of increasing popula-
ton in the Hawkeye state is primar
ily not one of agriculture. but OF
manufacturing developments, accord
ing 10 Prof. j. E. Brindiey, OF the
Iowa State College The Iowa educa-
tor, in an engineering division bulie-
Tin. just issued, presents the impor-
lance of developing the industries OF
Iowa
In other words. the writer insists
/ that Iowa viii not go forward in the
march OF progress on the leg of bet
ter farming alone. ]; must also use
its other leg. its manufacturing op-
po-tunities. il il is TO keep UP With
the procession. After a study OF
population changes since 1850. Prof
Brindley says he is inclined to ac-
cept with grain OF salt the assur-
ance that back TO the farm is the
true method of realizing a greater
Iowa. both in population and wealth.
Attention of Manufacturers.
Prof Bindley's bulletin was is
sued in time to be brought to the
notice of the annual convention OF
the Iowa State Manufacturer asso9
citation at Sioux City this week II was
made the subject OF discussion there
and also the basis of some action to
secure legislation and appropriations
along the lines suggested by Prof.
Brindley.
Preceding his conclusions. Mr..
Brindley makes a thorough study OF
the population of Iowa in the past thir-
" years perhaps the most thorough
study of Iowa census statistics ever
put into print. From his investiga-
ton he finds these two important facts
to be established: First, that ru-
raj population of Iowa has remained
stationary since 1850. considering the
period as whole. and has declined an
county during the last ten years. sec
1 ond that the total increase in Iowa's
population from 1880 to the present
! has been due almost entirely to the
growth of towns and cities where the
coal mining industry has been deyel-
/ oped and large commercial and manu-
featuring interests built up He in
dictates that agricultural development
/ will add no more to the population OF
Iowa in the coming years than In the
past thirty years and that if Iowa is
TO become larger in population, il
must develop the industries Of its
cities and towns.
Opportunities for Factories.
According to Prof Brindley, his
investigations show conclusively thai
, Iowa may build up large industries
and attain greatness In manufactur
, ing as we'll as in agriculture He
: finds six thousand factories in the
{ state even now, putting out an end
! less variety of products worth 1885
100000 a year, using materials worth
I s226,0eo,000 year. and paving saiar
{ les and wages amounting 10 $4,000.
, 900 year to $1,000 wage earners. Hs
finds, too. a great variety of natura
resources for manufacturing, notably
!. the materials for cement and clay
, manufactures which he likens in i'm
portance to the iron ore manufactures
of other states.
The most interesting part of Prof
Brindley's bulletin is his suggestion
!, for making Iowa a great industrial
state. He urges, OF course. VIVA,
others have urged, the bsderment of
freight rates. the encouragement OF
capital invested in the industries
more advertising, the development OF
water power. the buying of Iowa.
made goods BY Iowa people. and SO
; on. But the thing that he urges
which Is different is scheme for the
establishment of an engineering or
Industrial extension department at
Iowa State College. sumilar TO the az.
ricultural extension department which
has done such a great work in the
, past ten years. Such a department
would bring the engineering expert.
ment station work into close relation.
ship With the industries Of the state.
It would stimulate and aid the estab-
lishment of secondary educa ION
along industrial lines. and il would
educate the people OF the state TO an
understanding of Iowa's industries
and stir them to aid them in every
way.
From whatever angle we view the
problem OF Iowa industrialism. he
concludes. the necessity of engineer
ing extension is apparent Without It,
it is impossible, or at least impracti.
cable for the engineering college al
Ames to assume leadership in the all.
important field of secondary instruct
ion in the industrial and mechanical
arts. In the second place, engineer.
ing extension is necessary to brine
the work of the engineering expert.
Iment station into closer touch with
the actual needs of the Iowa manu-
facturer." x