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fessor usually holds one weekly, and a thorough, critical study is made of the sources upon which the lectures are founded. The seminary is to the student of history what practical hospital work is to the student of medicine, and all these seminaries are, as a rule, attended only by those students who are ambitious to learn.

The lectures in most universities begin about the 15th of October and close on the 15th of March. This period of time composes the winter term, or what is more properly called semester. The summer semester begins on the 15th of April and closes about the end of July. This is universal in all the universities. I have known American professors to come over in June after the close of their college work, matriculate in a university for the remaining lectures of the summer semester, and win a doctor's degree at the end of four or five years, always with the provision, of course, that they returned regularly every year for at least six weeks' attendance on lectures. This plan has its good points, and is worthy of consideration by those who are thus situated.

The technological universities in Germany are as follows:

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Of the total 411 American students at present attending the various German universities, 353 are matriculated in the 21 classical, and only 58 in the 9 technological universities. Each one of these latter universities is fitted out with a trained corps of professors and instructors, who teach all the cognate subjects which come under the following heads:

Architecture, shipbuilding, general sciences, commercial law, food stuffs, engineering, chemistry, electricity, metallurgy, sugar, mechanics, smelting, political economy, pharmacy, textiles.

Students are admitted on the following conditions:

(1) Proof of sufficient academical education.

(2) Certificate of moral character.

(3) The applicant must have passed his eighteenth year.

(4) Consent of parents or guardian for students under age.

The semesters and vacations are on the same plan as in other German universities. Expenses are about the same.

The influence of these technological universities on the industries of Germany is boundless. The iron, steel, and machine industries all over the empire; the textile industries in Saxony and the Rhine province; the chemical factories of Höchst, Offenbach, and Ludwigshafen; the beet-sugar factories about Magdeburg and Stettin, together with many other important branches of production, each and all owe something to these excellent institutions.

Our system of education in the United States, together with a wide-awake, intelligent press, disseminates learning and information to the masses in a manner absolutely unknown in Germany. Many American universities now have post-graduate courses which are fully equal to those of Berlin or Heidelberg. The German system, however, is favorable to specialists who are permitted to devote

their whole time and energy solely to their chosen work. Considered on the whole, the day is not far distant when American State universities and other well-endowed institutions will be able to march abreast with the best universities in the German Empire. The day is past when the 21 classical universities of Germany should serve as models or exert influence on education in America. They must give way to the Empire's 9 technological universities, which have adapted themselves to the actual needs of industrial life. I recommend them to American students coming abroad. Let us ingraft their methods of thoroughness, as far as practicable, on our own institutions. The technological university and technical education own the future.

ERNEST L. HARRIS,
Consular Agent.

EIBENSTOCK, GERMANY, March 24, 1902.

EDUCATIONAL MATTERS IN MEXICO.

[Extracts from the message of President Diaz to the Mexican Congress referring to educational matters in the federal district and territories of Mexico, which extracts were received in translation from the State Department and are here inserted.]

It is satisfactory to me to be able to inform you that during the school term which closed in December last 2,197 pupils completed their compulsory primary education in the federal district and territories, and that 1 ordinary and 2 extraordinary examination sessions were held, during which 283 applicants for admission were tested.

The general popularity that has been attained by the system of instruction is revealed by the fact that official inspection has been solicited by 127 private schools, which is the largest number recorded up to the present.

In order to perfect the knowledge of pedagogy on the part of the teachers, weekly conferences on the subject have been opened under the charge of technical inspectors, and in order to exercise a better vigilance over the fulfillment of the law in the private schools which have accepted official inspection, a special visiting inspector has been appointed who will explain the true meaning of the legal provisions.

With the intention of obtaining more satisfactory results in public education, not only have the different powers and duties of the persons dedicated to that branch been better defined, but a physician has been appointed who will certify to the diseases that really prevent teachers from attending to their duties.

In order to fill the positions in the secondary, professional, and special schools by the appointment of persons approved by competent examiners, a set of regulations was issued in October last for the guidance of the professional career, reestablishing the system of competitive examinations which had partially fallen into disuse. Several of these examinations have already been held and others will shortly be held.

After a careful study by special committees which, under the direction of the department, have been engaged in revising the curricula of studies, the new laws relating to the superior primary and preparatory schools, as well as the schools of jurisprudence, medicine, and engineering, were enacted and came into force in January last, and in order to regulate the status of the pupils who are to continue their courses under these new laws extraordinary partial examinations were held which realized all our hopes.

In order to continue the work of revision that was undertaken in the matter of public education, the department of that branch appointed special committees to form the programmes of study for the national conservatory of music, as well as a board, to study these programmes under the presidency of the subsecretary of

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public instruction, in order to prepare a new scheme, as will also be done with the other educational institutions that are not yet reorganized.

In order to harmonize in the most methodical manner possible the teaching of the same subject when distributed between schools of different grades, committees have been formed to study the programmes of those subjects throughout all the schools of successively widening scope, and programmes on drawing have been issued which are to be utilized from the elementary, through the superior primary, up to the preparatory school.

The intellectual and moral improvement of the superior schools could not be effected if at the same time their apparatus, instruments, and furniture were not renewed, as part of them have not been altered for over thirty years. Orders have, therefore, been placed in Europe and the United States for a supply of scientific materials, and the laboratories of the national preparatory school will be properly equipped.

Besides this, instruments have just been received from Germany for experimental psychology, and they will be divided between the normal school of professors and preparatory school, for the purpose of giving instruction in that science, and deciding, as far as possible, the intellectual and physical capacity for study of each pupil.

Besides this, the necessary instruments have been received for the orchestra of the national conservatory; a model organ has also been purchased and erected in the same institution, and the other indispensable instruments will be procured. For the purpose of concentrating the materials for the study of our history, the documents contained in the archives of the old inquisition of Mexico and many manuscripts from the archives of the College of San Gregorio, have been purchased and deposited in the library of the national museum. Learned bibliophiles have been charged with making inventories of these archives, with the intention of publishing those documents which, on account of their historical importance, ought to be given to the public, and a paleographist will be appointed to make copies of the documents of most importance for the history of Mexico that are still to be found unedited in the archives of the Indies.

The prosecution of the material work of reconstructing or repairing the buildings devoted to public education, primary, superior, and special, has not been neglected, and in a short time the new building for the normal school of professors will be completed. Work has been commenced on the repairs and adaptation of several departments of the national preparatory school, in order to fit it for the improved plans of instruction, and in the same way, the necessary repairs have been commenced on the national school of fine arts, where a hall will shortly be opened for the purpose of a permanent exhibition. The work already commenced on the national school of agriculture, the school of arts and trades for women, and the department of the national library intended for night service has been continued.

Scientific congresses.-The Executive has received a formal invitation to have Mexico represented in the coming International Congress of Americanists which is to meet in New York during the month of October, as well as in the Fourteenth Medical Congress which is to be held in Madrid in April of next year. Both of these invitations have been accepted, and the delegates will in due time be appointed so as still further to strengthen the intellectual bonds which Mexico has with other countries.

Encouragement to art.-And, finally, the Government has endeavored by every means in its power to assist in the diffusion of learning and the development of artistic ideals, and therefore contribute by an exhibit of its schools to the success of the exposition of hand work which was organized in the Colegio de la Paz by the Mexican delegation to the Pan-American Congress. It also furnished space in

the national school of fine arts for an art exhibition which was organized by the pupils of that school in favor of the sufferers from the recent earthquakes in the State of Guerrero, and cooperated in the presentation of interesting portions of a musical work that was recently composed by a Mexican author.

EDUCATION OF MINING ENGINEERS AND SURVEYORS AND METALLURGISTS IN GERMANY.

UNITED STATES CONSULATE, Chemnitz, Germany, April 2, 1902.

The same thoroughness and care which Germany is taking in the education of her young people in all branches of industry like textiles, and in engineering, etc., she is also taking in the education of men who are to occupy the higher positions in the mining industry.

This industry, one might say, has a great many peculiarities, inasmuch as one must work shut out from the light of day, and certain precautions must be taken in timbering, observation of atmospheric conditions, etc., which may, if not carefully attended to, not only result in a loss of life, but also cause great damage to property and to business in general. The law of June 17, 1901, which goes into effect July 1, 1902, makes it imperative for a man aspiring to a position in the higher state departments of mining and metallurgy in the Kingdom of Saxony, to pass two examinations before he is given such a position. A diploma from the "Bergakademie" (Mining Academy) at Freiberg, in Saxony, is deemed sufficient to consider the candidate for such a position as having passed the first examination. Between the first and second examination a period of three years must elapse before the candidate is allowed to try the second examination.

During this period he must continue to study. He must also write a scientific paper concerning a subject in his branch and hand it to the examination committee at least six months before the examination. The board of examination is called the "berg- und hüttenmännische Prüfungskommission" (the "mining and metallurgical examining committee ") and is located at Dresden.

The second examination is both oral and written. However, before being admitted to this examination the candidate must hand in

(1) A short sketch of his life; (2) proof that he has passed the first examination; (3) a certificate showing the scientific and practical work he has done, and (4) must also show that he has passed in the thesis he is supposed to have written during the period between the first and second examination.

The written examination consists in preparing two scientific theses, the subjects of which are given by the examining committee, about mining or metallurgy. For the first thesis a period of four months is allowed and for the second two weeks. The candidate must name all the books he has used as references and also take oath that he wrote the thesis himself. To make use of a draftsman for drawings is not allowed. If the committee decide that the theses are satisfactory, the candidate is allowed to take oral examination.

The oral examination comprises questions concerning mining and metallurgical works, economical and statistical importance of the same, how the works should be run, and the Saxon State laws governing mines.

This examination does not take place until a month after the handing in of the last written thesis. The duration of the examination is left to the committee, and not more than four candidates can be examined at once.

After the oral examination the candidate is told whether he has passed the whole examination, that is, both written and oral, and receives a certificate to that effect and the title of "Bergassessor" or "Hüttenassessor " ("mining assessor

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or "metallurgical assessor"). Anyone not passing the examination is allowed to take it a second time, but only after the expiration of one year.

To receive a position as assistant at the mining bureau or the mining inspection bureau, or as mine assistant or director's assistant, vice-smelting master, or metallurgical chemist of the fiscal mining district, a diploma from the Mining Academy is sufficient.

The object of the Mining Academy at Freiberg is to give young men who have chosen mining as their calling a thorough scientific education in mining. Before we go further, a brief history of this school might be in order. The silver mines of Freiberg, which have been worked now for seven hundred years, have not merely enriched Saxony, but have also contributed a great deal to science. In Freiberg, one might say, the first real foundation was given to mining, enabling it to make the great progress which it shows to-day. To this progress the Bergakademie, or Mining School, at Freiberg, which was opened one hundred and thirty-six years ago, has contributed in a large degree. In the year 1702 a desire was shown to educate young men in branches which were not taught at the high schools, namely, analysis and surveying, and later metallurgical chemistry and mineralogy. This led to the founding of the Bergakademie on November 13, 1765. Lectures were first given at Easter, 1766. It was supported by money from the State, donations, and part of the silver taken from the mines. To-day the school possesses a very fine collection of minerals and models, also a library of 54,000 volumes. In the eighteenth century there were students from every country in the academy, and to-day there are more foreign pupils than German. The number of pupils in 1900 was 117 Germans and 128 foreigners; total, 245. An applicant for admission must be 18 years of age and show a certificate proving that he has had a certain prescribed preliminary education.

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German applicants must show a "Reifezeugniss" (diploma) from a Humanistisches- or a Real-gymnasium (the former is a school where, among other things, the Latin and Greek languages and literatures are studied, while in the latter more stress is laid upon modern languages), the Royal Trade Academy at Chemnitz, or some school on the same level as the schools just named. A foreign applicant must show a diploma from a school recognized by the State or country from which he comes. In addition, knowledge of the German language is

necessary.

No examination is necessary for admittance, but the applicant must be 18 years of age.

Diplomas for positions as mining engineers, mining surveyors, metallurgists, and iron metallurgists are given at this academy. The course comprises four years. The plan of studies is different for the different positions of mining engineer, mining surveyor, metallurgist, and iron metallurgist.

Course for mining engineers.

First year: Advanced mathematics, first part; descriptive geometry, algebra, spherical trigonometry, physics, inorganic chemistry, mineralogy, crystallography, drawing, and drafting.

Second year: Advanced mathematics, second part; mechanics, general science of mining, geology; petrifaction, doctrine of; exercises in determining rocks, crystallography, physics, blowpipe analysis, machine drawing.

Third year: Mine surveying and geodesy, first part; practical geodesy, special mining .engineering, exercises in mining engineering, science of ore dressing, making briquettes, engineering, science of deposits, metallurgy, art of building; machine drawing, second part; political economy, finances.

ED 1901-VOL II- -20

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