The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-06-24
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF VISITORS
UNITED STATES Military ACADEMY,

REPORT OF THE BOARD OF VISITORS.
UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY,
West Point, N. Y, June IS, 1917.
SIR: The undersigned, Board of Visitors invited to
attend the annual examination OF the cadets of the Mill
ary Academy, met at this place Monday the 18th in
sant and having organized proceeded to the discharge
OF the duties assigned TO them in their letters of invita-
ton, and the act OF Congress of the Sth August 1916.
BY this act Is the duty of the Board to attend the
animation OF the Military Academy, and " to report to
the Secretary OF War, for The information of Congress at
the commencement of the next succeeding the
actual state OF the discipline, instructions police admins
rauon fiscal affairs, and other concerns of the insttu
on Avoiding, therefore, any expression of opinion
to the proprety or Improperly OF the original establish
ment or continuance of the Neutrality-suspicious. upon
which there may not be entire unanmityhe Board have
confined their report to such subjects only speci-
cay submitted to them by the law under which they
have been convened They have also, for the rea
son, felt bound 10 abstain from many recommendations
which might otherwise seem appropriate
That the Secretary OF War may be fully informed of
the action OF the Board they refer him to the accompany
ing copy of their proceedings From this it will be per-
ceved that nopalns spared IN their efforts to possess
themselves of all the information which could be obtain
ed at the Academy 1t rs due to the superintendent OF
cers and professors to say that they afforded every IA
cility aid OF the investigations OF the Board This will
appear from the accompanying series OF communications
marked from TO e. inclusive In order to make a more
minute examination into the various subjects to which at
tention directed by the OF Congress already
cited, it will be that appropriate committees
appointed whose several reports adopted by the Board
constitute the body OF the general report now submitted
also proper to remark that most of the facts detailed
tual observation OF every member of the Board circum
stance which enabled the members the cordially
in the general features Of the main report This
they proceed to submit. under the several heads
of he discipline. obstruction" 'police, administration
and fiscal AFFAIRS" together with additional general
| marks,
Of the Discipline
The Board have carefully examined into the manner in
which the regulations are executed and discipline and
suboydinaton maintained The government of large
number OF young men as embodied here, is neces
attained; but the means adopted for maintaining the due
observance of the prescribed regulations of the Academy
seem TO be- well devised and dscreetly directed.
The system of discipline in force is that established in
1889, with occasional amendments The Board is unable
to specify in what respects if any, these regulations may
be defective, because long observation in the practical
operation OF rules alone warrant Judgment OF their
value But experience OF nearly ten years must have
furnished those who charged with the supervision
of the institution material for confirming correcting the
details Of the system, and, if any revision be advisable
they will be best able to determine 1t is understood that
such revision is contemplated
| Much, after all, must depend upon the intelligence and
justice OF the officers to whom the discipline OF the Acad
envy is confded These are, the superintendent and the
commandant OF Cadets and il gives us pleasure to say
that, so far capable OF Judging, the best dispo
sons and the most intelligent attention, iii the discharge
of their respective functions, may be justly awarded TO
nected with the Academy, that although due subordina
ton and discipline are mperousy necessary to the moral
good and military Improvement OF the cadets, they are
with respect and the rgdity OF authority moderated by
the sympathy OF class
On Instruction.
! The system of instruction now pursued at the Acade
N.Y. is the result of experience aided BY the increasing
light OF science and knowledge of the wants, as well
| as OF the resources of the country.
4 The Board satisfied that the character of the in
sructon impaired TO the cadets rghtfuly accOrds with
the design and objects of the Academy The professors
have aborcd with ability and success, and to
have infused their own zeal into the breasts OF their pu
pills,
i The examination was at times carried on by the pro-
essors their assistants, and at times taken under the
control of the Board itself In some instances the pro-
essors announced the question, and the Board selected
the individual cadet who should solve It; and In some
instances question proposed to one cadet, was, by d.
recon of the Board given to another for solution Cues
tons, also, Of important practical bearing, and relating to
subjects recently reviewed, freely proposed
and, most instances readily answered In fact, every
variety of method was put into operation, 10 test the
fidelity of the teachers and the ability and requirements
of the pupils.
The different branches OF knowledge TO which the
Military Academy, may be cassed under some one OF the
three following heads LIST, military instruction; ID,
mathematical and scientific instruction; Sd, moral
science, literature, &C.
/ LIST. Military instruction:
After close attendance on the examinations, and wit
Messing the OF the cadets III the field, as
battalion OF infantry, as corps OF cavalry as company
of light artillery, well in other military exercises,
the Board cannot refrain from saying that the knowledge
acquired by the cadets both theoretically and practically,
of this branch of their education, far surpassed expecta
ton Great care appears to have been taken TO make
this part OF the thoroughly scientific; and in all
cases. where the possessed, practical skill
seems TO have kept even pace with science.
There are however branches OF military science,
the theory of which TO be both well laugh and
well understood, in which the cadet has few, any, OPP
portuntIes OF acquiring practical skill. The Board may
cite military engineering, as an instance. Yet, if the
cadet be well instructed in the rules OF engineering and
have proper regard for his profession he WILL after his
connection with the Academy has ceased readily acquire
the practical application of his scientific attainmens.
There in which 1t might be well To inquire
whether the means for securing practical knowledge
might not be advanageously increased The number OF
horses at the post is small and does permit the
of full hanessed battery, OF entire company of
cavalry This is obviously defect. The room appro-
piiaied riding school both nconvenient and dan
gerous being of improper shape, and the used
Tor equation, being too much broken up by columns
supporting the building house constructed specially
indispensable to the well educated officer, would contrib
ute much to the advantage of the cadets.
! I'd. Mathematical and scientific instructions
The examination of the cadets was spread over wide
field of mathematical and philosophical science theore
cal and practical
There were of course differences in the requirements
OF the different members OF the class which differ
ence, the Board believe, may be attributed not only
difference OF native talent, and TO differing degrees OF APP
pcation but 10 difference in early education want
OF proper preparation before entering upon the studies OF
the Academy must be felt by the cadet during his whole
course The Board believe that due allowance should
be made, in this respect, IN estimating the comparative
standing of entire Glass; well OF the indy duas of
class.
The course of study quite extensive and no student
can attain TO full success the mastery OF it. but by Sc
we're and effort Such appears have been put
forth by the majority OF the cadets. The capabliy of the