PROGRESS IN ENGINEERING 305 



The clause of especial interest in the Morrill act refers to the 

 use of the funds derived from the proposed sale of lands, and 

 states that the income should be appropriated ''to the endow- 

 ment, support, and maintenance of at least one college where 

 the leading object shall be, without excluding other scientific 

 and classical studies and including military tactics, to teach 

 such branches of learning as are related to agriculture and 

 other mechanic arts in such manner as the legislatures of the 

 states may respectively prescribe, in order to promote the 

 liberal and practical education of the industrial classes in the 

 several pursuits and professions of life." 



The states accepted the responsibility and each state 

 established its institution. In most states one institution 

 only, including the courses in agriculture and the mechanic 

 arts, was established, but Massachusetts made an exception, 

 granting to the institute of technology, which was then coming 

 to the front, a portion of the fund for its technical depart- 

 ments, the remainder going to establish the Agricultural 

 college at Amherst. In a few states the fund was directed 

 toward the development of the necessaiy departments in 

 institutions already established. Thus came into existence 

 a large number of colleges, the majority of which were to ad- 

 vance the interests of engineering education and many of 

 which were destined to become leaders among the numerous 

 universities of learning of the present day. 



From time to time since the advent of these institutions, 

 institutions founded by private funds have been organized, 

 until to-day the opportunities for study in the varied lines of 

 engineering are so numerous and of such excellent quality as 

 far to surpass the wildest dreams of the early promoters of 

 such education. Not alone are there modem institutions 

 where these various branches form the principal courses of 

 study, but the old conservative universities have opened their 

 doors and are striving to establish departments of engineering 

 that shall rival those of the leading technical institutions. 



The following statistics, secured directly from the insti- 

 tutions, serve to emphasize the wonderful progress that has 

 been made. Although the list, of necessity, is incomplete, 

 the general deductions are not seriously affected. Definite 



Vol. 7-20 



