734 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



The world of mechanics is asking for the vigorous educated man who 

 is capable of performing brainy labor. We are in a period of con- 

 struction work, greater than that performed by the ancient Romans. As 

 a nation we are building, building as no nation ever built before. 



The most remarkable railroad in the world is in operation for 81 

 miles, and most of the construction work is done which will unite Florida 

 and Key West by rail. Cars run on a track 31 feet above high water, and 

 passengers may sit in the windows of Pullman coaches in all serenity, 

 and have an opportunity to seeing how the Atlantic ocean looks in a 

 gale. Experts who have studied this work consider it the most ingenious 

 piece of engineering of modern times. It is being built under the super- 

 vision of J. C. Meredith, an Iowa man educated at the Agricultural College 

 at Ames. In many respects this work is considered more difficult than 

 the Panama Canal. It was not only necessary to bring all the workmen 

 from distant sources of supply but they must be lodged and fed in enor- 

 mous floating dormitories, which were anchored from place to place as 

 the work progressed. The owner of this road sees a vision of the future. 

 He- sees the commercial growth which is following the independence of 

 Cuba, that with transportation her products may be distributed over 

 the United States and her natural resources is atracting millions of 

 capital. Beyond is dawning a vast industrial opening of South America 

 and Mexico. Our own Northwest has scarcely started to grow in a 

 practical way. To meet this progression various methods for the better 

 industrial education of the youth of our country are being discussed by 

 educators. All agree on the necessity for better mechanical training but 

 they differ widely on the methods. 



Brain training is well, but that is only a part of a balanced educa- 

 tion. When we consider that we have two channels of expression, one 

 being the tongue and the other the hand, we may believe the statement 

 that we have undertrained the hand and overtrained the tongue. Ability 

 to work out ideas that can be expressed by objects made by the hand 

 gives the world the men and women who have done most to beautify 

 our lives. 



Men in every age of the world have scorned the idler and if we judge 

 by the fruits of idleness, no honor comes to him who shirks his duty. 

 W%at stores of wisdom, what breadth of knowledge, labor brings. 

 Learning is not an instinct, and we shall never get beyond the need of 

 having more and more, for knowledge is boundless in extent, and may- 

 be a power when properly organized and under control; but he who 

 excels must work for it, and J)y his labor he becomes dignified. 



A single practical life has more than once changed the aspect of the 

 whole civilized world. A poor drudging mechanic has by his invention of 

 a machine, or by the application of a force, more than once doubled the 

 energy and wealth of mankind. 



Steam was as mighty in the days of Solomon as it was when brought 

 under the control of man and yoked to an engine to do the world's work. 

 Electricity played through the heavens since the dawn of the world wait- 

 ing for some practical mind to harness it. Our field of labor is widening. 

 Now industries are constantly being organized, educated labor is demand- 



