34 
THE NEWEST GERMAN POLYTECHNIC. 
V HETHER there is any sufficient ground for the 
opinion that Germany, by reason of her superior 
educational system, is gaining at our expense an undue 
share of trade and commerce, is a question on which 
statistics of exports and imports necessarily throw much 
light, although they fail to completely satisfy those who 
have watched the recent rapid development of German 
enterprise. Be that as it may, there can be no doubt as 
to the efforts which Germany is making to improve her 
trade by taking advantage of every application of science 
that may seem likely to help in developing her industrial 
‘operations. We are sometimes apt to think that, whilst 
we aie gradually improving our educational machinery 
at home, Germany is standing still. But this is not so. 
On the contrary, experience seems to have strengthened 
her belief in the value of the higher scientific education, 
and there is no unwillingness on the part of the several 
German States to incur the expenditure needed to render 
NATURE 
[NoveMBER 12, 1896 
The necessity for extending the old technical school 
was soon recognised by the State authorities, who at 
once offered to provide £16,000 for the erection of 
special electro-technic laboratories, and £11,250 for 
equipment. 
Simultaneously with this offer came a suggestion from 
the city of Darmstadt to take over the old buildings in 
which the Polytechnic had been housed, and to contribute 
towards the erection of a completely new school the sum 
of £60,000, it being understood that with the payment of 
this amount all duties and obligations of the city towards 
the school should cease. This generous offer was at once 
accepted by the State, and a site measuring about 24,000 
square yards was provided in the beautiful gardens ad- 
joining the city. The preparation of the plans was 
entrusted to the official State architect, with whom, how- 
ever, were wisely associated the two Professors of 
Architecture, Dr. Wagner and Dr. Marx, who had been 
connected with the school for over twenty years, and 
were thoroughly familiar with the requirements of the 
The Darmstadt Polytechnic—Main Building. 
its benefits readily accessible. 
Darmstadt is a case in point. 
For many years Darmstadt has had in the Aaped/plats 
a technical high school, which had gradually grown in 
size till it occupied eight separate buildings. Latterly, 
however, it became too small for the increasing number 
of its students, and the question of its further extension 
was carefully considered. The immediate cause, how- 
ever, of the erection of a new building, was the recent 
rapid development of the electro-technic school, which, 
commenced on a very small scale in 1882, has now 
become the most important section of the new institute. 
It is interesting to note that we in England were the 
first to establish a school for the study of the technical 
applications of electrical science. For a short time the 
Finsbury College had no rival, and in 1882 the appliances 
in German schools for practical instruction in electrical 
engineering were meagre in the extreme. 
things now is very different, and the institution at 
Darmstadt is a good example of recent progress. 
NO. T4TT, VOL. 55 | 
The new Polytechnic at 
| rooms. he 1 
_ house, from which electric light and power and heat are 
| supplied to all three buildings. 
The state of 
different taculties, and were able easily to ascertain the 
wants of their several colleagues. : 
The main building, as shown in the sketch, is three- 
storeyed, and has a north frontage. There are three 
wings at right angles to it, which are given up to the 
teaching of mathematics and some branches of natural 
science, and to the schools of architecture and engineering. 
In these wings first year’s students receive their instruc- 
tion. Opposite the front entrance of the building, and on 
the other side of the road, are two separate institutes 
_—one of which contains the physical and electro-technic 
schools, and the other the chemical laboratories and class- 
In the rear of the main building is the engine- 
In the fitting and equipment of the several laboratories, 
class-rooms, and lecture-rooms, all the professors lent 
their aid, each advising with respect to his own particular 
department ; and to the expert assistance thus obtained 
is undoubtedly due the completeness and the economy 
