244 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



experiments and observations have necessarily to be of short duration, 

 and that they have insufficient data upon which to base their conclu- 

 sions. If, now, we can introduce the scientific method of original re- 

 search and experiment into our workshops ; if, instead of one experi- 

 menter, there may be dozens of wide-awake, observing, and energetic 

 men in search of scientific and mechanical truth ; if, instead of one 

 experiment at a time, there may be several under different circum- 

 stances going on at the same time ; if, instead of continuing a single 

 day or a single week, these experiments in the workshop may be con- 

 tinued through months and even years ; if, in other words, our work- 

 men, or a large number of them, can be taught to regard the work- 

 shops themselves as great laboratories for continued research, experi- 

 ment, and observation with a view to gaining original information for 

 practical purposes then there need be no more complaint in the realm 

 of applied science about inadequate data and uncertain conclusions." 



This system would also furnish a stimulus to invention and im- 

 provement and to the adaptation of economical devices. The im- 

 portance of technical training is so well recognized among European 

 manufacturers that many employers are said to be in the habit of 

 sending to home and foreign exhibitions, at their own expense, those 

 of their young people most advanced in technological study and of 

 quickest perceptions, in order that they may study new inventions, 

 machinery, etc. ; while many others allow their apprentices and young 

 men to leave their work an hour or more before stopping-time, on 

 class-nights, without abatement of their wages. Many European 

 manufacturers and the managers of some foreign railway-works now 

 call the particular attention of their workmen to new designs, improve- 

 ments in machinery, and methods of work, and to successful inventions 

 that have been made by other workmen trained in technical schools. 

 Such workmen can not fail to become constantly on the alert for op- 

 portunities to accomplish something above the performance of mere 

 routine duty ; whereas, lacking scientific knowledge and technical 

 training, they would probably be contented to go on in the old paths 

 of routine, and might even oppose improvement. 



Among other advantages of technological schools adapted to the 

 wants and standard of the workmen who are to attend them are, that 

 they will do much to prevent and overcome labor troubles, which 

 often arise through misunderstandings that the instruction given by 

 such schools and their influence w r ould anticipate ; that their effect 

 will be to diminish the tendency to dissipation among the w r orkmen, 

 and increase their efficiency ; and that, by providing useful and con- 

 genial employment for the leisure time of apprentices, they will, pro- 

 moting good habits and discouraging the formation of bad ones, have 

 an especially beneficial effect upon their future. Workshop-schools 

 have the further advantage over others that, giving easy access to 

 machinery, and directly applying the principles and theory learned in 



