and the breeding of live stock. Everything went on in a restricted circle and the son, working as his father had done before him, was able to live comfortably and bring up a numerous family. To-day the situation is no longer the same. In this extraordinary century when everything has been profoundly modified by steam, when distances have disappeared, and the Australian, with his wool, the Hindoo, with his wheat, the American, with his cattle and his dead meat, can reach the markets of Europe at less cost than it took the farmer of Yorkshire at the beginning of the century to carry his produce to London, old methods and paternal traditions have become insufficient for the struggle which has to be carried on against foreign competition. It is no longer the struggle for life between man and man which is the question, it is the struggle for existence between industry and industry, between agriculture and agriculture, between country and country, and in all directions it is felt that the agriculture of Europe is like an old and leaking ship, and that to save it from foundering it needs to be steered by abler hands and navigated by pilots who will join to a thorough, practical training a profound and extensive scientific knowledge.

It is under the influence of these apprehensions and menaces, and in face of an abnormal and critical situation, that there has come into being in almost every country the idea of creating a department of agriculture. This is a response to an imperious demand, and means an appeal for the help of all, a grouping and marshaling of the strength, the energies, and the wills of all toward a determined and definite end-the raising up of agriculture.

VI. ENGINEERING TESTING LABORATORIES.

Much space was given to the subject of engineering in the report of this Bureau for 1889-90. Since that report has appeared attention has been attracted to a new form of an engineering laboratory recently organized or reorganized in Germany.1 There seems to be some confusion in regard to the character of these institutions, not only in connection with their political side, but also in connection with their functions as technological laboratories. It is necessary, therefore, to recall that the German Empire is composed of twenty-five independent States, each of which has a government independent in matters concerning education of the Imperial (Reichs) Government, of which the King of Prussia is head, with the title of Kaiser or Emperor. The States of Prussia, Saxony, etc., are, therefore, as far as regards education and the management of their own internal affairs, very much in the same position as a State of the American Union. But the States of the German Empire have assumed control of lines of railroads and telegraphs, etc., and apparently exercise a more intimate inspection into the operations of private enterprises than is assumed by the States of this Republic, which renders it necessary to employ a trained corps of officers and to have a convenient place for making tests upon which, in the interest of public and private business, so much depends.

There are in Berlin two institutions for making technological tests. One of these is called the Imperial (Reichs) Institution for Physical Tests, and the other the Royal Mechanico-Technical Experiment Institute, which is connected with the Royal (Königliche) Technological University at Berlin This Bureau is not yet sufficiently informed to enable it to explain the full import of the use of the word "Imperial" in connection with the first-named institution, but the organization and purpose of the second may be briefly told as follows:

The object of the Royal (Prussian) Mechanico-Technological Experiment Institute at Berlin is to make investigations in the line of general scientific and public

Two bills are now before Congress in regard to the creation of such institutions in the United States.

2Translated from the programme of the Konigliche Technische Hochschule zu Berlin.

interest, and, when requested by public or private bodies or persons, to test the strength of material, etc. The institute is composed of four divisions, which are denominated, respectively, the metal-testing, the building-material, the papertesting, and the oil-testing divisions.

By the order of the Prussian minister of public works, dated January 7, 1886, it was announced that properly prepared young persons might, in the guise of unremunerated volunteers, have the opportunity of conducting practical scientific experiments upon material used in the sciences and arts. Such persons as desired to avail themselves of this permission must obligate themselves (1) to serve for three months at least, (2) must obey the regulations of the institute, and (3) must finish in the manner prescribed by the director of the division the work assigned by him. As far as is compatible with the management of the institute, these volunteers may be given an opportunity to acquaint themselves with its several departments, and in specially suitable cases it is also permitted that the wishes of any individual volunteer may be considered in the assignment of work.

A student of the Royal Technological University at Berlin, if not occupied by immediately pressing work, may be permitted to attend the institute by its director. In addition to this, an opportunity is given to the students of the technical university to acquaint themselves with the organization of the testing institute and its method, through the lectures of the director and the assistant director, and the illustrations thereof done with the machines and apparatus of the establishment. During the year elapsing from April 1, 1895, to April 1, 1896, there were performed for public authorities and private individuals 1,352 tests. Two hundred of these were done by the division for "metal testing," 341 by the division for "testing building material," 687 by the "paper-testing" division, and 120 by the "oil-testing" division.

In the course of the year 1895 experiments were made upon Arundo donax as a raw material for paper manufacturing, testing the writing paper offered by the retail trade, comparative experiments upon the quantity of resin contained in petroleum, and its susceptibility to separation, etc.

The interest evoked by this new movement-for such it is as far as it is a feature of educational institutions-made it desirable to obtain, as quickly as possible, more intimate information than was on hand in this Bureau. The specialist in foreign exchange, Dr. Klemm, had the courtesy to address a distinguished engineer and professor of one of the German technical universities, who, with equal courtesy, has made the following answer:

"BERLIN, November 7, 1896.

"DEAR SIR: In reply to your inquiry of October 13, I wish to state that in Prussia scientific testing stations for the engineering science are only found in Berlin. The most important is the Imperial Institution for Physical Tests, an institution which has not as yet met the expectations of the engineering fraternity. It has from the beginning, and also after the death of Helmholtz, remained in theoretical channels, and furnishes, aside from some gauging precisions and tests, very little material for engineers, whose needs it very little comprehends. Indeed, a number of scientific tasks which were suggested by the association of engineers as desirable have been rejected by this institution, claiming inability to perform them. We have therefore appealed to the Prussian Government, asking for means (which have been granted) to connect a testing station with the Technological University at Berlin for the purpose of instituting scientific tests for engineering problems. A building for a machine laboratory is at present in process of erection and the extension of existing scientific laboratories is going on.

The mechanic technical testing institute in the Technological University at Berlin is the best-arranged institution for tests of material of every kind. An account of its work is contained in the publications of the institution. There is

not another institution of its kind in Prussia, but in the polytechnica of Dresden (Saxony), Munich (Bavaria), and Stuttgart (Würtemberg) there are similar institutions, only less complete than the one in Berlin. Outside of Germany, Prague (Bohemia, Austria), Vienna (Austria), and Zurich (Switzerland) have testing stations in connection with their polytechnica. There are no annual reports of these institutions. I might procure the information in printed form, but at present I lack the time, and I therefore ask whether it will still be serviceable if I send it at the beginning of next year?

**Yours, respectfully,

A. RIEDLER."

VIL NUMBER OF STUDENTS AND CHARACTER OF THEIR STUDIES DURING THE YEAR 1895-96.

There were, all told, 25,723 students in the colleges endowed by the Republic for the Caucasian race. Their distribution in departments and the number of each sex are shown by the following table:

These students, at least those not in "other departments," were instructed by faculties whose aggregate number of members was 1,429 men and 110 women; in all, 1,539. In addition to the college faculty, the experiment station is credited with 431 professors or instructors.

Of the students pursuing technical courses there were in—

In the schools for the negro race the following facts appear, one institution not reporting at the date of this writing:

VIII. REPORTS OF PRESIDENTS OF COLLEGES ENDOWED BY THE ACTS OF CONGRESS OF 1862 AND 1890, TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, FOR THE YEAR 1895-96. President William Leroy Brown, State Agricultural and Mechanical College: The courses of study in the freshman and sophomore classes, with few exceptions, are required of all students, constituting the usual studies recognized as essential for a sound general education. Though Latin is not required of all students, English is, and in every class from freshman to senior, if leading to a degree. In

the junior year students are permitted to elect any one of the following degree courses of study: (1) Chemistry and agriculture; (2) mechanical and civil engineering; (3) electrical engineering and mechanical engineering; (4) general course, including the Latin, French, and German languages; (5) pharmacy. Much attention is given to laboratory work, the college being provided with fairly well equipped laboratories in the following departments, to wit: Chemistry, civil engineering, botany, biology, drawing, mechanic arts, physics, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, pharmacy, and physiology and veterinary science. Last year a gymnasium of wood was built, 80 by 40 feet, at a cost of $1,884, also a greenhouse, 80 by 20 feet, for horticultural investigations and to promote the interest of horticulture in the State.

President John L. Buchanan, of the Arkansas Industrial University: Our methods of instruction, stated in general terms, are recitations, lectures, and work in laboratories, shop, and on the farm. All the larger classes, especially those less advanced, are divided into sections of convenient size, so as to promote frequent drill. Blackboards and illustrative apparatus are largely used. In the departments of chemistry and physics, biology, geology, engineering, and agriculture from two to eight hours per week of laboratory and other work is required. In English and other languages frequent written exercises are required. We have a new machine shop, with office, boiler room, and coal house, which has been completed since my last report; cost, about $7,000. These buildings replace those lost by fire in April, 1895, but are more commodious, more conveniently arranged, and more substantial. An abundant water supply from the city waterworks has been provided in all the buildings, and a sewerage system will be completed during this fall.

President Howard Bellman, University of Arizona: The university is organized to give instruction in the following courses: Agriculture, civil engineering, mechanical and electrical engineering, mining and metallurgy. We have also a general course, which embraces much that is common to the other courses, except that instruction in the several branches is not carried so far as in the engineering courses. It is designed particularly to meet the needs of young lady students, and such others as have not decided upon their calling in life. Special instruction is given along certain lines as students may call for it. The year has been one of marked progress. The number of students has been doubled, and those entering have been capable of doing a higher grade of work than heretofore. The advance in the mining department is especially noticeable. Many students have somewhat vague notions as to what they desire; it is difficult, therefore, to classify them early in their course. One new building, now almost completed, has been erected during the year. It is a dormitory, and is built of stone, in a very substantial manner, two stories in height, containing a dining room and kitchen and lodging rooms for about 35 students. Its cost when completed will be $15,000.

President Martin Kellogg, University of California: There are no changes of any importance. There is in contemplation, however, a plan for a general architectural reconstruction of the university, and when decided on we have a promise of a fine building for one of the departments of engineering.

President Alston Ellis, Colorado Agricultural College: The college is in a highly prosperous condition and is meeting the wishes of the people. We have established during the year a department of domestic economy and a commercial department, each of which has been placed under the control of a capable instructor. Some of our buildings have been enlarged and others have been repaired, so that at the present time the ten buildings found on the college grounds are in excellent repair and are admirably suited for the purposes for which they were constructed. The number of pupils has more than doubled within the last four years, which is a cause of congratulation, in view of the depressed financial condition existing throughout the State.

President B. F. Koons, Storrs Agricultural College, Connecticut: The course is essentially that authorized by the act of 1890, and laboratory methods are employed wherever the subject will allow. The year ending June 30, 1896, was one of the most prosperous the institution has known. There was a slight falling off in attendance as compared with the previous year-perhaps owing to the general financial depression-yet in substantial work and real growth in those things which make for permanent development no previous year equals that just closed. We have but one course, or perhaps, speaking more accurately, two, namely, agriculture for the young men, and domestic science for the young ladies. The courses are the same in most of the sciences, mathematics, English, etc., and diverge only when they approach agriculture, agricultural chemistry, veterinary science, stock breeding, surveying, etc., as far as concerns the courses for young The institution adheres strictly to the labor system, requiring three hours of manual labor a day, thus keeping the students in close touch with the industries of life. The last legislature appropriated $12,000 for a dormitory cottage of wood, for the young ladies, which is now completed.

men.

President Albert N. Raub, Delaware College: The courses of study are six in number, namely, (1) classical, requiring Greek and leading to A. B.; (2) the Latin scientific, omitting Greek, but leading also to A. B.; (3) the course in agriculture and science leading to B. S., and the three courses leading, respectively, to B. C. E., B. E. E., and B. Mech. E. Much machinery was added during the year. The departmental libraries which were placed last year in the recitation rooms have aroused much interest on the part of the students. The new rule making military science and tactics compulsory on all students below the senior grade, with certain exceptions, has been very successfully carried out during the year.

President O. Clute, Florida Agricultural College: Our graduating class numbered 13, the largest heretofore being 6. The work of all departments of the college is getting into better organic shape, and there is a stronger inclination on the part of students to remain longer than three months or a year. The State legislature of 1895 gave the college $10,000, of which sum $7,500 was used mainly for repairs, equipment, and salaries during the year 1895-96. Considering the present financial condition of Florida, this grant is relatively large. Good progress is being made in the mechanic arts and in horticulture. In technical agriculture much remains to be done and will be done in a time not so very remote. President H. C. White, Georgia State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts: The condition of the institution is good and the progress made during the year is satisfactory. The preparation for admission shows marked improvement as compared with previous years. The college is much in need of additional buildings. President F. B. Gault, University of Idaho: Courses of study that have been under consideration for two years have been adopted. The college courses are now nine in number. Greater emphasis is placed upon scientific instruction. Students may take four years in agriculture, chemistry, botany, zoology, or mathematics and physics. A course in mining has been added; also a course of two years in bench work in wood, including wood carving for ladies. One year of the course in bench work in wood is required for admission to the freshman class in any course. The first graduating class received degrees June 11, 1896, the gentlemen taking degrees in B. C. E. The scientific equipment has been largely increased. There are now seven laboratories-agricultural, botanical, chemical, zoological, engineering, mining, physical-besides drafting rooms, woodworking shop, and free-hand drawing, all of which are thoroughly well supplied with apparatus and libraries, to which additions are being constantly made. An annex for assaying has been built, as also a room with basement and annexes for dairying, which is well supplied with modern apparatus. Instruction will be given next year.