628 



NA TURE 



[October 28. 1897 



tionally complete scale. The efficiency, extent, completeness, 

 and fine organisation of the equipment in the electrical building 

 especially impressed the deputation. 



Darmstadt undoubtedly possesses the means of giving the 

 highest possible theoretical and practical instruction to electrical 

 engineering and electro-chemical students, and that this is 

 highly appreciated is shown by the fact that out of the iioo day 

 students in attendance in this school (all of whom are over 

 eighteen years of age), more than a third of them are enrolled 

 in the physics and electrical engineering division. The reputa- 

 tion and efficiency of the school attract a large number of 

 students from various European countries. 



The equipment of this school has set before the deputation an 

 excellent example of the methods to be followed in equipping 

 the electrical engineering and physical department of the new 

 Technical School of this city, though we may not hope that it 

 can be approached either in extent or completeness, for want of 

 space and want of means. The cost of this department alone 

 has been 28,000'. ; and the building, which is three stories in 

 height, stands upon a space of ground 123 feet by 140 feet. 



The comparatively advanced age of the day students in 

 German technical schools is especially remarkable as showing 

 (i) the relativ'^e position of technical schools with respect to 

 general education on the continent and in England ; (2) the 

 standard of attainment reached before entering upon specialised 

 studies ; and, lastly, as indicating the advance which is possible 

 under such ciicumstances. 



Advantages ok Scientific and Technical Training. 



Without doubt the general industry of the country gains im- 

 mensely by the extended time given to scientific technical train- 

 ing in the supply of a large number of adequately educated 

 men. Nothing is more striking than the prevision of those re- 

 sponsible for the education of the German and Swiss people in 

 providing the means for the best possible training in chemical 

 science and its industrial applications. 



The sense of the importance of chemistry as a predominant 

 factor in future industrial developments, ltd to the establish- 

 ment of large and costly laboratories, directed by the most 

 eminent men of science of the day, where students were en- 

 couraged to devote five, six, or even seven years to study, with 

 the result that it has unquestionably placed the German and 

 Swiss manufacturers, especially the former, easily first as the 

 greatest producers in the world of colours and fine chemicals. 



The success of this policy may be realised from the fact that 

 the great colour manufacturing works of the Badische Anilin 

 and Soda Fabrik at Ludwigshafen, on the Rhine, alone employs 

 nearly 5000 men and upwards of 100 scientifically trained 

 chemists, its technical laboratories themselves being on the 

 scale of the laboratories of a great university. In 1865 this firm 

 employed only thirty workpeople. These works are but one of 

 several on a similarly large scale. 



The command of the world's market in colouring matters and 

 pharmaceutical products derived from coal-tar, the value of 

 which is estimated at about 10,000,000/. sterling, is in the 

 hands of Germany to the extent of three-fourths, 75 per cent, of 

 which is sent abroad. 



The success in this great department of applied science has 

 stimulated the educational and industrial leaders of Germany to 

 further efforts, and the recent great advance in knowledge in the 

 department of physical science has resulted in the erection and 

 equipment of electrical laboratories on an imposing scale at 

 Stuttgart at a cost of 100,000/. (including additional provision 

 for the study of pure chemistry), at Hanover, where a new 

 Electro-Technical School has been added to the Royal Technical 

 High School, and again, as already stated, at Darmstadt. 



It is clear that the educational advisers of the various German 

 Governments are of opinion that the same success which has 

 already attended the establishment of numerous and costly 

 chemical laboratories in stimulating German industry, and 

 placing the nation first in the manufacture of chemical colour 

 products, will be repeated through the establishment of like 

 laboratories for the study of technical electricity as applied to 

 the field of chemistry and to engineering. 



The real bearing of the importance of electricity in association 

 with chemistry in the production of new organic and inorganic 

 compounds, and by electrolytic action of the more economical 

 production of chlorine and ol such metals as zinc, nickel, sodium, 

 potassium, and aluminium, is hardly fully grasped in this 

 country, so far as means exist for its study ; but there is abun- 



NO. 1 46 1, VOL. 56] 



dant evidence of the activity af Germany in the establishment of 

 special schools and laboratories, splendidly equipped, with a 

 view to important industrial developments in the near future, 

 which will win for Germany a similar pre eminence to that she 

 has attained in the domain of chemistry. 



Progress in Germany. 



That Germftny is in a prosperous condition, due to her suc- 

 cessful manufacturing and commercial enterprise, was plainly 

 evident on every hand in the extensicm of her cities — the making 

 of new streets, and the erection of fine, handsome buildings 

 which is going on everywhere in her large towns. 



It is not less clear. that the schools are the root and base of 

 this surprising industrial development, and are the main contri- 

 butors to this great economic result ; it is no less certain that if 

 we are to maintain our position as a great industrial community, 

 it must be by following and adopting the same methods. 



It is not, however, only in the domain of science that Ger- 

 many is making great progress. In almost every town visited 

 by the deputation fine industrial art museums were found, 

 arranged with the express purpose of cultivating a knowledge of 

 what has already been accomplished in the production of fine 

 examples of colour, design, and workmanship. Every technical 

 school has its special museum of objects applicable to its pur- 

 poses. Notably was this the case in Berlin, Vienna, Nurem- 

 berg, Crefeld, and at Dusseldorf, in which latter place the 

 Industrial Art Museum is said to be the finest in the Rhine land. 

 These museums help to preserve and hand down the traditions 

 of past achievement and excellence, and stimulate the desire to 

 reach to as high, or higher, levels to day. 



Influence of Technical Schools on Industry. 



In submitting this report, your deputation are not insensible to 

 the consideration that it may be thought that a too favourable 

 view has been taken of the educational provision and the indus- 

 trial advance observed by thein in German States as compared 

 with t*he position in England. 



In deprecation of such possible criticism, they would observe 

 that it is by no means a difficult matter to trace to the influence 

 of the schools, and the system of education generally, the 

 improvement which has marked the manufacturing progress of 

 Germany and especially the unique position occupied by the 

 chemical industries in that country. 



Almost every industry has schools specially equipped and 

 staffed — well described by the phrase Mono-technic Schools. 

 Such schools are almost unknown here, or are to be found in 

 connection with only one or two indui-tries, as, for example, with 

 weaving and dyeing, and one or two other industries, such as 

 tanning ; but even in these cases the number is very limited, and 

 the day students are comparatively few, whilst the equipment is 

 nowhere on the ample scale of Crefeld. 



The German Muno-technic School is intended primarily for 

 day students, and only incidentally for evening students. The 

 knowledge, skill, and experience of the highly-qualified staffs 

 are all directed to the advantage and cultivation of the day 

 students, and your deputation are of the opinion that that policy 

 must be followed here if any marked industrial advance is to 

 be secured. 



The attention of the deputation was frequently directed to 

 the importance of another factor in the development of German 

 commercial progress, namely, the careful attention given to 

 the study ol foreign languages, especially to English (which 

 latter language is most successfully taught), with a view to their 

 u.se in business transactions, and of enabling those engaged in 

 commerce to come into the closest relations with customers in 

 all parts of the world. 



It is further desirable to draw attention to the advantages 

 enjoyed by foreign nations by the adoption of the metric system. 

 The ease with which the knowledge and use of it is acquired, 

 and its universal adoption, in all scientific training and investiga- 

 tion, not to speak of its value in commercial transactions in 

 foreign markets where, with rare exceptions, it is employed, 

 make its universal adoption here much to be desired. 



The excellent system of secondary education has greatly con- 

 tributed to this, but, in addition, special commercial schools are 

 found in all the largest towns. 



Lessons taught by Germany. 



Referring once more to Germany and especially to Prussia, 

 your deputation cannot conceal their sense of the advantage, 

 whatever may be the ultimate drawbacks, of a centralised 



