Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-01
Fifty Years Ago
I'm The Star

Washington will never perhaps rival
many other great American cities in
The Washington and commerce
Of the Future. s S,Sn. T % , s;ar G ia
prophetic spirit, but all its capable
| tiles and tendencies point to time
when 1t win become the literary, scien-
| tific and educational center OF the Ma
ton. 1t has already developed rapidly
| in the direction of becoming the recog-
nized headquarters of science, and the
others will follow.
1.-The importance OF the Capital as
| the Nations political center viii not be
permitted to remain its only 6iStln-
| gushing characteristic. As the recog-
milton of the national character of the
city becomes general. the pride OF the
Nation. as well as its wisdom, will not
allow IL to be content with making
beautiful the Capital of the United
| States, but viii lead to the establish
ment here of national institutions,
sources Of the highest order OF useful
ness. which viii make washington the
representative of the intellectual Life Of
the Nation.
THE development of the National
Museum into an institution which,
through the extent and character OF it's
collections and the arrangements for
| name, though temporarily postponed. Is
certain. The national university of
| which Washington and leading public
men from his time have dreamed VIII
probably be established in the lifetimes
of some of us. Under favorable au-
spices this city will grow with the
growth of the Nation. and the univer-
| sity viii come OF future stage OF the
intellectual development OF both,
"A national polytechnic school which
shall instruct the youth OF this country
In the useful arts and their application
TO all the business affairs OF life Is the
latest proposition III this connection.
Its unitarian feature and the fact that
by the plan proposed no expense is con-
templated to the National Treasury
make It likely shat Che establishment
win antedate that of the university. IL
Is said that the we are the only highly
civilized country which has no national
polytechnic school: Indeed, there are
only q few institutions furnishing In
struction of this kind in all the United
States. Hence the proposed school
would not be rival but would serve az
q model and would encourage the es-
Enlistment OF similar institutions III
the various States.
I'm q bill presented at the last ses-
sion of Congress by Mr.. Blair Of New
Hampshire proposing national poly
technic school for instruction in science
and the useful arts an elaborate plan
is furnished of the objects, organization,
exercises and lectures OF the proposed
Institution, covering Is closely printed
pages Of the Record. The surplus hlnd
OF the Patent once. amounting 70 more
than 81. 2OO, 900 and increasing annually
by a sum exceeding 100000. Is proposed
as tho source from which the school
shall be at firSt supported. The Secre~
tary OF the Interior Is TO be ex-offlci0
the director OF the school and the conf
missioner OF patents. relieved OF his
present judicial functions of hearing APP
peals, Is TO be ex-officio rector or gov.
ernor. The polytechnic Is to embrace
schools In mathematics. civil engineer
ing. mining engineering, machinery, ar"
chitecture, chemistry, forestry and as"
riculture
"The school, when FUN, viii consist OF
1883 pupils, appointed under certain
regulations by the President and men,
hers OF Congress, and the cost Of tuition
board and lodging for each pupil an
nually Is to be $2So Its general object
Is thorough and complete instruction II,
science and arts, the dissemination OF
scientific and accurate practical tech
nieal knowledge. One Of It's special oh"
tects Is to prepare 1T candidates from
which the Government may select thoSe
officials In whom special knowledge "
requisite or ought 30 be required such
as the employees Of the various scientitiC
bureaus. skilled financial agents and ac-
countants, surveyors general biologists
explorers, slEaNstes mechanics, etc, al