Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-01-06


Of w. o. McElroy, Of Newton, Iowa,
published in the Register and Leader
Of Dec. l. 1912, 10 one of the fairest
and ablest contributions I have seen
to the discussion Of the plans OF the
state board of education for co-ordi-
mating the work of the three Iowa state
Institutions of higher education. Mi.
McElroy speaks from the standpoint
of twenty years actual experience as
q trustee of one Of these institutions,
and he approves the plans Of the board
of education in full, except that he
thinks instruction in domestic science
should be provided at all three state
educational institutions, and indeed at
all colleges, and even all high schools
in Iowa.
Mr.. McElroy makes a very strong
point in favor of engineering at Ames
when he mentions the close and vital
relation between agricultural education
and engineering education, q relation
especially close in Iowa.
Both agriculture and engineering re-
uuire strong college courses of the
highest grade, closely associated with
trade school extension courses for CIV
ing industrial education to tens OF
thousands of farmers boys and boys
In the trades who can not go to our
high schools or colleges. The college
courses in agriculture require the same
strong general and scientific depart
ments which are needed for engineer
ing.
Thus. both agricultural and ensi-
neering education require strong COL
lese departments of physics, chemistry,
botany. forestry, English, economic SCI
ence and mathematic. Both agricul-
tural and engineering college students
need to have the work in these great
fundamental subjects taught with spe-
cial reference to the needs OF technical
students. instead of being devoted
mainly to the needs of students IN I'D
eral arts, in education. In law. or IN
medicine. Even in general culture SUD-
iects. such as modern language, MS
tory, and public speaking. the needs OF
engineering and agricultural students
are the same.
For this reason the experience OF
fifty wears in agricultural education IN
America has demonstrated that the
closest association of engineering ana
agriculture is helpful to both, Tor
stronger general scientific and other
special supporting work will be pro-
yided for both than for either alone.
Roth are taught with the greatest sue
cess. not only at the same institution
bit on the same campus. in New York.
Pennsylvania. Ohio, Indiana. ILLINOIS,
Wisconsin. Iowa, Missouri, and many
other great schools.
In Iowa the need of closest associa-
ton between engineering and ag-icul-
ture is especially great. Owing to the
nigh grade of intelligence Of our farm
ers agriculture, with it's astounding
use Of complicated machinery. its hum
dreds of millions of dollars of drainage
construction, it's hundred thousand
miles OF highways to schools and to
market is really becoming an engi-
neering occupation, and will be vastly
moro ca in the near future. Ny prac-
tice as a drainage engineer and general
civil engineer in the state mas SHOWN
me that the more an engineer IN Iowa
knows of agriculture the better he is
fitted to do the engineering work OF
the state.
The great development Of agricul-
tural engineering at Ames. which
have watched closely almost since Its
beginning, is SoOu lidSIAoeAo "a '1A>
correctness of this view.
In this engineering department all
the agricultural students at Ames, far
outnumbering the engineers, are taught
some very useful engineering work;
including drafting. surveying for farm
mans and for farm drains. the design
of farm buildings. shop work. the prin-
ciples of gasolene engines. and OF farm
machinery.
The faculty in agricultural engineer
ing are men with regular engineering
degrees. and the equipment is engi-
neering instruments, drafting equip
ment, laboratory and shop apparatus.
engines, motor trucks, and machinery.
In addition to the engineering in
struction to agricultural students,
regular four years engineering course,
the first and by far the foremost In the
world. has been established. since 1908,
in AGRICULTURAL engineering. The stu
dents in this course are engineers, be-
longing to the engineering society, and
taking engineering positions on gradua-
ton. They pursue strong four years
engineering course. including, out OF
total OF 149 credit hours, 10S credit
hours Of engineering course subjects.
10 of elective work, very generally en-
gineering, and 80 Of agricultural sub
jects.