The New York herald., 1862-01-13

was erected in 1885, Beyond this edice is the small
chapel Of the post.
Adjoining the chapel is the library and observatory
building. which is a magnificent granite pile, and
displays its dome and towers for great distance
70 travellers upon the Hudson IL is OF the Ezabethan
Gothic style, and built in 1s41 at cost OF $50 600
Under the dome Ii equatorial telescope which was
purchased IN 1855 on the eastern tower is valuable
supervision of Professor BARTLETT the able instructor in
natural philosophy and astronomy in the west tower
Of philosophical apparatus. The library couained in
June last 10 l25 Volumes which chiefly scientific
to the increase o the library There are portraits on its
walls Of Jefferson, Monroe and Calhoun; of Colonel
Williams the first Superintendent and Of Generals Swift,
Armistead, Macomb, Gratiot and 1otten. There are
buss or medalions of Washington Harrison, lafayette
and Napoleon the Great Cadets may visit the library 70
read and on Saturday afternoon they may take book
to their quarters which is to be returned on the succeed
ing Monday.
The mess hall elegant structure of granite, erect
ed in 1850 situated on the street leading southwards Its
dining ha is usually taken for the exemporized dancing
parties known as 'hops," and the officers "mess" for
the grand ball The cadets hospital is situated below
the mess hall.
The artillery laboratory on the further side OF the
plain, is an enclosure having inner court and three
laboratories in the northern wall Here the cadets manu-
facure musket, and other cartridges, fuses,
bs
was stretched the Hudson in 1778 to intercept
British ships sailing up the river The links are about
twelve inches wide and eighteen long, and the bars arc
about two inches square There also several brass
cannon, which trophies taken in war-twenty Bri-
tsQ eSnty seven Mexican Tne latter are MD6ileu
Captured q Vera Cruz" "Captured at Monterey
I" Captured at Chepultepec,n &c.
The numerous other buildings, chiefly dwelling houses
on duty al the Point The Secretary Of War reported the
force at West Point in March, 1861, rs follows, viz
Commissioned officers ~; enlisted men, !16-tota l3s
Besides these there nine professors and teachers on
duty ut the academy.
The and spacious riding hall, Of granite, situated
erected in 1854 cost $40 600 The stables in the
rear contain about seventy horses, which are used by
The cadets in both cavalry and artillery practice.
APPOINTMENT AND NUMBER OF CADETS.
By the act Of Congress Of March, 1s43 IL is provided
"that the number Of cadets by appointments hereafter
to be made shall be limited to the number Of the repre-
senatves and delegates Congress- and for the Dis
trct Of Columbia that Congressional and Terri
toral district and the District of Columbia shall be entitled
have cadet said Academy provided that nothing
in this section shall prevent the appointment Of add
tona number Of cadets not exceeding TO be appoint
ed at large, without being confined to selection by Con-
gressional districts" II the Academy were full this
would give total Of $50 cadets by the census Of 1860;
but by Of the vacancies in the seeded districts
there only 1913 cadets in the Academy Probably
Congress will, in December, make some provision for
filing these vacancies
The Board of visitcrs in March last of which Prof
Charles Davies of New York. the President reported
to the Secretary of War follows, viz-"Alm the
only expense attendant upon increase the number
of cadets TO four hundred would be their pay. II Is
commended, therefore, that an immediate increase be
made to this extent by authorizing each Senator TO nom
nate cadet in addition to those to which the Con-
gressiona districts entitled under existing CUSTOMS
the balance to be made up by appointments at large"
Also t believed that the present mode of appointing
cadets is attended with many evils and liable to much
abuse If, instead OF a single individual the member
from each district should be allowed to nominate large
number who would be examined by an impartial COM
mission, much Of the difficulty would be removed and
higher grade Of intellect in many secured" Col.
Deaeld has reported the parentage and condition Of
cadets 6 follows viz