File:The railroad and engineering journal (1887) (14572032867).jpg

Identifier: railroadengineer62newy (find matches)
Title: The railroad and engineering journal
Year: 1887 (1880s)
Authors:
Subjects: Railroad engineering Engineering Railroads
Publisher: New York : M.N. Forney
Contributing Library: Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
Digitizing Sponsor: Lyrasis Members and Sloan Foundation

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; but where theState or local governing bodies have to furnish money foreducation in relation to national industry, they must lookto attaining the required results at the least possible ex-pense, and I am inclined to look upon colleges as luxuriesin education rather than necessaries. But it is only in large towns that the facilities I havementioned are to be found, and it would certainly be de-sirable that small towns and rural districts should beplaced in a position to afford practical scientific instruc-tion to all capable persons who earnestly seek to attain it.In rural districts the chief occupation is agriculture, thepractice of which would be benefited by technical instruc-tion which is not at present provided. Great ignoranceprevails in the practice of this important industry, butthere does not appear to be much desire for enlighten-ment among the farming population, for in the few caseswhere night schools have been established for useful in- 410 THE RAILROAD AND (Seplember, i8
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Vol. LXII, No. 9.) ENGINEERING JOURNAL. 411 struclion relative to farming, the attendance lias been veryunsatisfactory. 1 As to the question whether our commerce is to be savedfrom the effects of foreign competition by a wide diffusionof technical knowledge, I have no faith in any such safe-guard. Cheapness of production and superiority of qual-ity will decide the victory in the race of competition, andif by early training we develop the mental and bodilyfaculties of our people, we shall improve our chance ofmaintaining a foremost place ; but not, I think, by anyforced or indiscriminate system of imparting knowledge.I do not undervalue technical knowledge voluntarily ac-quired as a means to an end, but it is the brain-workersand not the hand-workers who will seek to attain it andbenefit by it. Compulsory education is neither justifiablenor practicable except in childhood, and without compul-sion I am satisfied that it is only individuals of superiorintellect and fitness for business t

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