SEMI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 117 



influence upon education and industry. These events were: 

 the establishment of the land-grant colleges; the great wave of 

 scientific discovery and invention; and the remarkable com- 

 mercial and industrial development of the country. Under 

 these conditions the growth of engineering schools has been 

 little less than remarkable. 



In claiming thus for the land-grant colleges a considerable 

 degree of prestige on account of the development of engineering 

 education, I am not unmindful of the great contributions to 

 progress in this field made by other institutions. For this all 

 due credit should be given. Nevertheless, if one could con- 

 ceive of the annihilation of what has been done and is being 

 done in the land-grant colleges in engineering science, the loss 

 would involve, I am sure, a very large part of the present pos- 

 sessions of engineering education in America, if not of the entire 

 world. 



That this should be so is, after all, quite natural. If any- 

 thing less had been achieved upon this special foundation and in 

 the stimulating industrial atmosphere of America, our institu- 

 tions would be blameworthy indeed. The conditions have 

 been unusually favorable and, in general, they have been uti- 

 lized with marked success. 



This development has been on characteristic and, in some 

 respects, unique lines. Because these institutions were new 

 foundations — for the most part — they were free to build new 

 structures untrammeled by conventionalities and free from use- 

 less imitations. Just as our engineers are notable for their 

 initiative, adaptability, and resourcefulness, so our engineering 

 schools have met and solved problems on the ground, in a practi- 

 cal way. Without ignoring what was of value in previously 

 existing systems, they have been free to strike out in new lines. 

 Wisely, they have from the first endeavored to adapt their meth- 

 ods and scope of instruction to the distinct needs and conditions 

 of our industries. This policy has evoked much sharp criticism 



