New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-12-13
THE MILITARY ACADEMY At VEST POINT.

| yELEGRAPH tbs rRIsOsh ,g.,-o,, r,o % 1870
The following is abstract Of The report Of the Board
OF Visitors of tho Military Academy at West Point. Just
| submitted TO the secretary Of War;
REPORT on TIiB BOARD or vlsIIoRS OF ihS MILITARY
Wrsr PomE June 49, 1906.
Standing committees were appointed 70 make pdfcuhre
animation INTO tho different parts Of tho institution 70 WHOA
their attention specially directed 49,, an. .s.,.i -.
developed 10y tho examination are satsacoy lie professor
give evidence Of Their efe re- n oHc on o wen qualified
Tho subjects embnoed Of study appropriate
and NECESSARY ment and physical trimming required Tor
the military profession and generally TIC system appears 70 Do
as complete thorough II posby DO made under Tho
he Examination Of the first showed proficiency in bo
abstract scences and ihor application TO the art OF highly
otcdlabo 10 the capacity, Industry and scbOarshp OF the
cadets wen tho phence seal and energy OF hcr Ia
In geology mnoraogJ and ethics the exhibition was highly
oedab In the descriptions OF battles IN the department or
engineering OF the cadets exhibited pleasing talent or
narrative knowledge Of history aud thorough so
quantance with strategica and tactical movements In Tho
department OF military tactics and Tho OF Tho manual OF
arms the cadets displayed pcciOf@ Grill and perfection
OF discipline worthy Of all praise ,,,,-.,.-,-.,..
In natural philosophy chemistry and the languages Che sec
tons exhibited great prphoenoy N hatneauos tno %
STATIONS were gwen with that precision and accuracy WHOA
Characteristic Of tho science itself and with promptnesI
and Ulnes OF illustration which really remarkable nd
eating that tho instructions IN this department arc not sor
passed by those Of any institutions in the world Tho speoi
ard were eapiely oommcndabs in view Of the fact that
the absence OF the chief professor IN @ department IRON sok
supervision Of assistant instructors.
fhe Board would now particularly Of the
referred ~ above aud make eoh suggestions as may 90
They fully convinced that the system Of up
ponment Of assistant instructors requires modification and
by law Prior 10 1850 custom permitted an officer 10
remain here long az hc satisfaction and was hin'ef
satisfied with bis position Tho result WA that Officers ~
NAMED unfrequonuy ten fifteen years Since 1855.
changes have been frequent and at present arc made dependent
War These frequent changes arc highly objectionable and
while for ibis policy may DO found during he las
dnpa o.
e 20 say that independently fam urgent necessity herc
evident growing tendency 20 shorten rather than In
crv4se the service OF the assistant instructors
The Board arc firmly Impressed With he conyichon nat Ilo
various departments OF instruction NJ he academy labor under
great advantages In the difficulty OF obtaining The scrVoea
assistant professors OF officers Of The highest grade o! tsn
and OF retaining those who detailed asnhicient longh OF
time to give them that neIe In tho subjects taught and th1
practical eIporencoin teaching which absolutely necessary
10 their teachers IL mistake suppose inst any
officer graduated al tho academy Ia at onco qualified 10
instructor lilo mus, have az sptnes' for ,eaehss az
well az capacity for acquiring knoVeiso ana tnoee quanua
without actual experience OF several years IN The reoion
ROW that peace Is restored the services Of officers not
required IN tho field Is 10 be hoped that INSTRUCTOR OF e
highest ability and fitness will DO selected for duty thai much
gasr degree OF pcrmarency viii - GiYcH % their poaOn
and that every nduccmen consistent with The service VIII be
offered 10 them 10 become Interested IN and dcyod 70 uer
Tho would no, etcmp, 20 hE any specific term Of
should be retained least four while tho principal ss.s
longer percd The academy would thus they are a,isfcd 70
ceiVs tie bcnebs Of greater experience and pohGencY WINS
non The army ard IL oounry would thus larger
oass accomplished officers and he system Of rotation would
hod he taken that Che of Ger should be retained long
from corps Wcaken bis sympahies for bis profession
OF opinion Ea il l. rmneny desirable tina, the ohspan Of hs
post should not 30 momber OF tho Academic Board Tho
Fnt That the chaplain 30 relieved from academic duties
ia ordcr that DO may devote hn exclusively % Tie mora
s.cond That he e required 20 hold daily IN the chapel
morning prayers upor which al who choose may have tho
Third TiStho u required % form clla. Tor biblical IN
ruoon on the oabbah day which The otlesmay earnestly
FoDh Thai IA an additional nduccnent for thc proper OBJ
servanoe Of the sabbath Al military duea he dispensed With
sat day 10 far It Is oonlseHt With proper military dh
cadets could Is yantsgrOuy ilcrcsed from ~ he nunber
authorized By law 20 go For IBIS number u'y arc "a
oom With very small additional orpelso and dGht inoease
In the number Of assistant Instructors Tbs recos Of Tho
academy shos years between lsS snd 1850 chs
graduating cn's numbered an average fcr year OF thfygc
ard hIf l,nons. In oto- wors hsro the motifying
fact ihat IN nation Of 1000 o. people there Is annually
but little graduate OF ue Military Academy for cao
million Of the population Prom e nature Of our Government
s extent the peculiar chaicr o. frontier settlements
and the popular prejudice 20 largo standing arm In uo Of
peace there pressing ai Tor alsrsr class OF thoroughly
educated oGer competent any u The different stsf
corps Of the army oueD1cy O. The msrds ~ hN seroS
grvais nc-ae r the nub- n csd, the in--casrg
deaBds Of tho service ;o olaostsi ar scientific o6oei
they bo'.eYed . would hni fayo- vii Congress
Looking % tie future art consulting The in'aea'' % The
service aud Of tho c9onJ tho Boa- eY, tha C9ngcas b.
appropriate legsnftot VII vide distant day Tor tfe
estab.bmcnt o. serarai, schools - tio application NIL
o. 4
lcttcr fuhll he objects ~ uoei Q, 70 NJ. organic, On
and become tho gra' military sadl s,oo Of tte nation
ample Of France rhs ~ srh1rsioe luto the sosaaac
polytechnic and tactical sc.o 0f Paris y Cyr. Me- and
Nncennr' ha greatly prcmot ~ only ho tc.'n' o. be-
armies bu' has y he demands o. TIE nation Dr
genera scientific aud tactical -luCatiol
DO 90 g Sate a sc q was q. 09 s s be- , improved b.
bglng therr after graduating O. Tor P'od 10 'he Dir
practice ko principles Which tsy a,, acquired o. tie assd
envy. II q accordingly r,commendsl ma h'-,nsr g1dt"e'
a ft
wear, before he, iecons eghs 70 impairment 10 .e ea.
giHccr other bnf corps o. the army This wprd Nnf -
0htesae the mknd tcety ard luiGostc' Tleh ef,. De-
tween ~, different oorni q: tie amy.
The Board deem o. greater rp0 % is ne stand
AL OF qualification h. he lads tea. % !lcrcas. 20 any
,derLbs ertea the.- numie- The evident deficiency in
scholarship Of the lower ,ecoaa oby.oy due not
much 70 wen. OF na' parts ~ 20 dehHrncy n previous
preparation. The standsd Tor admission 90 the Institution 10
rdolo,sy low the most ordinary classical academies
and high schools demsld FULLER course % PREPARATION than -
requrelol seeking admission iao We Point Tbs Board
Of the opinion that the standard Of admission should at
least he so far elevated % require the candidates beside
s Sns a WEB II dcp ssapy as taught IN our public
schools arithmetic the clements OF English grammar aud the
history OF the United States The present system OF appoint
meat o. cadets degraded By political considerations that
the competitive system OF examination SONS 70 hs ala so
soutey necessary " secure higher standard OF qnahcaion
and they would suggest that the members OF Congress instead
OF recommending for esch vacancy nominate con
siderable numhe OF candidates desiring admission TO the Mill
tary Academy from their Congressional Districts that the
board 81 examiner in Their respective districts TO be dess
mated BY the Secretary Of War In respect to their educational
qualifications their mfnta abilities and their physical cOnd
on aad persons recommended By said Board
Ing examination receive the appointments, Such
method OF appointment By exciting periodically henhlu
stimulus OF competition Ia each Congressional district would
double effect OF promoting the Of popular educa
throughout the country and Of seeming TO the academy
the choicest youth Of the nation.
The hospital commends itself or the good order and elean
ness that exist throughout the entire establishment
The general condition OF the buildings and public property
indicates careful and faithful supervision the part OF the
superintendent
Tho superintendent has the general supervision admia,
traOn Of the affairs the institution and every matter re-
ICED speak In the highest The institution governed
10 tha