Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-02-01
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE, !

VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE,
January 9, 1874.
Sir In the absence of the President of the Board Of
Visitors from the seat Of Government | beg leave TO
transmit through you The merit re Of the cadets Of
the Virginia Military Institute as determined at the
late examinations and also the report of the treasurer
the LIST INST.
The examination Of the classes has covered the usual
ground, excepting that the class admitted in July last
commenced latin IN September Several Of the cadets
in this class have been found deficient their progress
not being such as was deemed proper for the time OF
study But most of them entered the institute under
great disadvantages, Il considered but reasonable
to give them tile longer time before final action is
taken in their None Of them in consequence
have been dismissed.
The ePort of the Treasurer shows most favorable
condition Of our finances; the institution having during
the past year paid of debt Of 81 069 So besides desy
ing its regular expenses. 1t is free from debt 1t
gratifying fact, which gives pleasure to notice,
that the institute has during the four yeas of s exist
ence paid to the State in the shape of permanent
psovements the aggregate Of $32l3 besides provi
ding for it's support II has done this by means Of the
tuition fees derived from the pay cadets, and without
involving the additional pendture of one dollar on the
part Of the State. The annual appropriation therefore.
which formerly required for the old guard, not only
affords full protection to the arsenal and public pro-
perty under the present system, but the young men
who guard this property are educated and IN addition,
TO the State equal TO thirteen per cent
upon it's annual of Sc 000 from the tuition
fees of the pay cadets And this will continue.
contract for building addition TO the present bar
racks has recently been made, which will cost, when
completed, $4,000, the whole of which will be paid for
by the tuition fees This addition will extend the &C.
conmodatons of the Institute enough to receive l20
cadets, number which, from the popularity OF The
school, could be readily filled up, did the number Of
our instructors qualify Us TO receive them. Inc en-
lagement of the Institute Them rests with those VINO
control The funds Of the State and involves only the
small provision required for three additional professor
ships II may be proper for me to state, that during
the last year, compelled to refuse admission
to several young men who solicited appointments a.
pay cadets, because we had already Admitted as many
with our limited corps ofnstrucors could De taught
graduates from this school are fully engaged in instruc-
ton academies and primary schools and have in
every given great satisfaction The academies IN
Richmond, Norfolk, Petersburg, Fredericksburg, and
Winchester are supplied with them, and others are
teaching in Amherst, Buckingham, Gloucester, Roam.
oke, Botetourt and Rockbrdge Whenever it has been
found practicable, the military knowledge acquired
here has heen transmitted to those whom they have in
struc,ed Thus important advantage is being de-
rived in the gradual and certain improvement of our
militia system. With the military exercises now prae-
,ised in the Richmond Academy, extended to every
academy in the State is easy to see how soon the
character Of our militia must improve.
| am, sir, your obedient servant,
FRANCIS H SMITH,
Sup't "a. NJ. Inst
Gen. WIN H. RlcHARDsos, Adj. Gen1.
[Severa tables accompanying the report are omitted
for want of ROOM