416 PIONEERS OF SCIENCE IN AMERICA. 



tion which the school has acquired for thoroughness of scientific 

 training. 



The success of the institute, based upon no sentimental or 

 traditionary regard for its subjects of instruction, but upon 

 the service that it has been able to render to the country, is 

 the best testimonial to the wisdom of its founder. Among the 

 technical schools in the United States there is none higher. 

 Students have resorted to it in constantly increasing numbers, 

 so that department after department has outgrown the ac- 

 commodations provided for it. Its graduates may be found 

 throughout the length and breadth of the land doing valuable 

 work as civil, mechanical, and mining engineers, chemists, 

 architects, or teachers of these professions, for which the sound 

 training of the institute has excellently qualified them. The 

 considerable endowments which this institution has gradually 

 accumulated testify to the respect which it has won among the 

 promoters of the scientific arts. The institute embodies the 

 general attitude of William Rogers toward science. He always 

 had a strong interest in the economic side of his field of labour. 

 Those investigations had a doubled attraction for his mind 

 which promised to place new resources at the disposal of man- 

 kind. Hence in establishing this noble school of applied 

 science he erected his only adequate and most appropriate 

 monument. 



After the establishment of the institute the activity of 

 Prof. Rogers was governed by the fluctuations of his health- 

 For the first few years, besides being president of the institu- 

 tion, he filled the chair of Physics and Geology. Ill health 

 caused him to resign the presidency in 1870, but having partly 

 regained his strength in 1878 he was induced to accept it again. 

 Three years later infirmity compelled him to relinquish it 

 finally. 



His death occurred within the walls of the noble institu- 

 tion that he had created. On Commencement Day, May 30, 

 1882, the end came while he was delivering an address. " Thus 

 was closed," says Dr. Ruschenberger, " probably without pain, 

 his bright career. He had fairly won and received all the 

 compliments and honours that a votary of science in this 

 country can win; and he was universally esteemed in private 

 life on account of his probity, urbanity, and social accomplish- 

 ments." 



