Seventy Years Of The Worcester Polytechnic Institute: Page 88

accomplishments." Mr. Howe, then a graduate student at Yale, received instruction from his former mentor concerning things to be observed and equipment to be purchased for the Institute, all of which he faithfully executed.

The Centennial Exhibition at Philadelphia in 1876 offered the Institute an excellent opportunity for gaining recognition. The faculty and trustees made special efforts to prepare an exhibit, and sent Professor Sinclair and Mr. Higgins to install it. Principal Thompson called on Senator Hoar for aid in securing favorable space. "Our location is execrable, " he wrote. Through Hoar's influence a better place was allotted and the exhibit received much attention. It gained the highest award; New York papers gave it handsome comments; and several speed-lathes, drawing stands, and model sets were sold. The cost was about $3,O00, of which the State paid a third.

Even before the Centennial, the Worcester plan was being studied with interest by educators in many parts of the country. Representatives from University of Maine, Rutgers, Virginia Agricultural College, and other institutions came to inspect the shops. As early as 1872 a similar school was planned by Mr. Chauncy Rose of Terre Haute, Indiana, and Principal Thompson was consulted about its foundation. In 1875 he was offered the presidency but declined, using substantially the same argument advanced by Dr. Chadbourne in refusing the Worcester position - that it should be given to a young man. He proposed Elmer P. Howe, and added, "I have long believed that Mr. Howe would be my best successor here. "

Despite the popularity and effectiveness of the Worcester plan, the shop did not pay. The shop committee spent much time in studies of how expenditures could be brought within the means of the Institute. After consultation with numerous manufacturers, they concluded "that the shop could not be conducted as a money-making shop and at the same time give the pupils proper training in the use of tools and the ordinary shop processes. " The only solution they could find was to

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Last Modified: Fri Jul 30 11:15:25 EDT 1999