Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-27
THE BARTOL BEQUEST
A BOON TO SCIENCE
Whether Sustained or Not, 1t Advertises One
Of the Most Deserving Local Cen,ers
Of Education

establishment Of school Of electrical re.
search. lifts this famous local institution
into deserved prominence.
Although 1t occupies modest quarters
in South Seventh street. between Chest.
| nut and Market, 1t is one of the most
widely known institutions In the city. Its
monthly Journal founded in 1924, is one
OF the oldest scientific publications in
America. IL not the Oldest 1t held the first
exhibition of American manufactures ever
| arranged. And this too was in 1924, the
year when the Institute first began it's
life These exhibitions were held annually
until 1856. 1t arranged in 1884 the first
international electrical exhibition ever held
anywhere
Scientific and Industrial interests have
been the chief concern of the Institute
from the beginning. 1t was started
originally by mechanics and artisans who
wished to increase their own knowledge
ana train young men so that they might
be capable workmen. A school Of me.
chanical and architectural drawing was
started at the beginning and is still in
operation. 1t is said now TO be one of
the best schools in the country for
training mechanical draughtsmen. Supple
mentary to this technical school II main.
tanned FOR several years a school in which
were taught "all the useful branches OF
fn|lish literature and the ancient and
modern languages" When the first pub.
lie high school was opened here this school
was abandoned as unnecessary. The Insti-
tute maintained weather bureau for
Xrh f,h
the national weather bureau, and the
School OF Desirn for Women was or.
ganzed through the influence OF the Insti.
tute. II awards every year several medals
for original scientific research. which are
priced by the recipients as the recognition
by expert authority OF the value of the
things which they have done.
The funds Of the Institute are limited
and its present quarters are INADEQUATE.
II 1t shall receive the Bartol bequest 1t
will be in u condition TO expand its work
and I'LL a larger place in the community.
Inc exact sum i'll the bequest is not
known but Mr. Bartol was supposed to be
worth several million dollars, and his will
| makes specific disposition to other sources
of only small part of the estate II would
be possible, in the happy event that the
courts sustain the will for the Institute
| TO erect the new building which it has been
considering for several years. In fact, II
| would be necessary to erect new building
in order to provide room for carrying on
the work which Mr.. Bartol evidently had
in mind.
The proposed school for electrical re-
search would be merely an expansion Of
the work which has absorbed the attention
Of the institution since the beginning. for
it would be an attempt to apply to industry
the increasing volume of scientific knowl.
edge.
But even though the courts should not
sustain the will and even though the Bartoi
millions should not be put to use for the
good Of the community. the writing of the
will Is likely to have served a useful end.
1t has attracted the attention of other men
of wealth TO one Of the most deserving and
useful institutions in this city, and II must
suggest to them the propriety of assisting
in its development We do not suppose
that the mechanics and artisans who
founded IL expected It to reach its present
distinguished position in the scientific
world. But they laid their foundations
well. Their purposes were so commendable
that succeeding generations have not been
willing to abandon the work begun nearly
century ago.
The demand for technical training and
technical knowledge today however, Is ia,
| Tar WA ip
tutions in other parts OF the country hav,
sprung up to supply that training anC
that knowledge. but they have not dis
placed the Franklin Institute. They hav,
proved that the Institute still has q worl
10 do. II cannot do that work withou
money The number OF young men needin
first-class technical training is increasin
every year with tho progress OF mechan
cal invention. They are eager for instru'
ton. They would like the opportunity I
| hear the men who have done things te
how they were done. There Is no platforl
. on which these experts would be more vii
ing 10 talk than on that Of the lecture ha
of the Institute, for they know that ther
they would be talking TO those who had III
necessary preliminary knowledge to unde
| I
, say. The inventor speaking TO an audienc
, Of students there would be like a surgeo
demonstrating an operation to a class
a medical school.
The possibilities for expansion are limi
, less A great popular university could
created, which would occupy uniq,
: place II the managers wero so dispos'
> and had the necessary funds. We ha,
: innumerable technical industries within Il
= metropolitan area, the men engaged
which are continually seeking mo-
knowledge. It is within the province
the Institute TO assist these men. TIL
: cannot be done now for lack of funds. II
y Bartoi bequest would provide money 4
expansion in one direction. But wheth
% the viii is sustained or not. expansion
, bound to come.