LABORATORIES FOR SPECIAL PURPOSES 53 



than in the manufacturing districts of Lancashire and York- 

 shire. In 1824 the Manchester Mechanics' Institute was founded, 

 and proved the pioneer of many important movements. The 

 Owens College, opened in Manchester in 1851, has grown into 

 the Victoria University of Manchester. 



During the period, approaching a century, which has elapsed 

 since its foundation, the Mechanics' Institute has developed into 

 an establishment which, in its influence on the industry of the 

 district, in the number and successes of its students, and the 

 high range and character of the instruction given within its walls, 

 has risen into a position comparable with that of the University 

 itself. This is a phenomenon not peculiar to this country, but 

 happily in Manchester any question of rivalry, such as is said to 

 prevail, for instance, between the Technical High School at 

 Charlottenburg and the Friedrich-Wilhelm University of Berlin, 

 has been avoided. With the aid largely of local benefactions, but 

 also with assistance of Government funds, new buildings were 

 erected and opened in 1902, the City Council having already 

 decided to change the name of the Technical School to that of 

 " The Municipal School of Technology," and to place at the 

 head of each of the more important departments a highly 

 qualified professor or director. A Faculty of Technology in the 

 University was established in 1905, and the Principal of the 

 School of Technology was appointed Dean of the Faculty, while 

 the heads of several departments in the School became Pro- 

 fessors of the University with seats on the Senate. 



The courses of instruction provided by the School of Tech- 

 nology lead to the degrees of Bachelor and Master of Technical 

 Science (B.Sc., Tech. and M.Sc., Tech.). Such courses are 

 necessarily controlled by the Senate of the University, but the 

 Education Committee of the City Council has also a voice in the 

 matter. The remaining work relates to the part-time classes 

 for evening students and others whose ordinary avocations 

 occupy the greater part of their time. These are controlled by 

 the City Council alone, through the agency of the appropriate 

 Boards of Studies. 



These general statements are made here because the Man- 

 chester School of Technology, in virtue of its association with 

 the University, occupies a unique position, at any rate in Eng- 

 land. For though in some cases one department of a technical 

 school is incorporated into the University, while in others the 



