New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-07-04
WEST POINT.
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF VISITORS

tons. military exercises graduation ceremonies,
OF instruction. fiscal affairs aud all other matters per
tanning 70 The institution. Tie following IL abstract
Of the report
The candidates FOR admission 10 the Academy first
examined this being change from the previous prac
tce. The Board invited 70 witness the ordeal Pro
hcency in reading writing. spelling. grammar. arth
metic geography and the history " country IL
qured 20 qualify for admission The result showed that
ont Of 10 xnincd rejected for steal disability
ana y tor deiecyeuess IN schOiar,hip The cXamina
ton OF the hrst class. consisting of - members,
continued for .eyer Successive dlys The disrssions
aud answers in military and civ engineering in military
and International law in nlnoralogy and geography,
ordnance and cavalry tactics. fully evnced the attain
ments OF the graduating class the branches Of study
Tie second class numbering CD members was examined
IN philosophy, chemistry, infantry tactics artillery tao
ties. and drawing. Tne third class. numbering 30 mem
bcrs, was examined IN mathematics, French, spanish
and drawing The fourth class. numbering members
was examined Ia mathematics and French. The acquire
neut Of the young gentlemen in each Of these classes
their respective studies. far the Board had oppor
tuEty to Judge 1f them, were generally commendabe
MILITARY EXERCISES.
These consisted OF battalion diminishing HIGHT ar.
iery siege artillery -eo-coast artillery poutoon and
squadron drills together with the practical duties in tho
laboratory military sguamg and teegraphy the use Of
the sword aud hlyo1rt the exercise Of the mortar d
and the several exhibitions NJ pvrotecbncs, al Of which
were quite superior, tnd elected the waneot COMMEND
alton.
EFu,IoUs SERVICES.
The Board attended the puD.ic religious services held
whore all the officers aud men, unless absent attending
religious elsewhere required to be present.
Tho physical inirmitIos Of the chaplain permanently
disabling him tor dirty. hs place during the past few
years has been supplied 10y such ynen az could be
secured rom ume 10 umt. 4he'b 7'IY.c7 Meie con-
Quoted by the President Of the Board on two successive
Slbhahs second service is hed m the afternoon, the
Attendance Of which Is entirely voluntary The Board
recommends that the Office OF the chaplain be made dis
tnct that the term Of incunbency be Limited 10 four
years ana that as far as practicable the religious de-
nominations be- represented IN rotation m order mat me
public and working 80 prorperously throughout the
country may be practically recognized at this p1't-that
is to say monopoly Of political patronage no ecceoi-
astcal establishment, no union Of Church aud state
The METHOD or INSTRUCTION
The o studies pursued ~ the Academy, both as
10 the methods instruction. the nature Of the branches
pursued, and the time respectively gwen to EACH have
been carefully considered by the Board With regard TO
the method OF teaching in all the different departm ats,
they express the utmost unqualified appreciation The
process W mparng knowledge Of the subjects under
discussion skully chosen to reach the highest
intelligence ana culture npt - Ihuch ny cIvWuul no
mind with the mere material ot learning a to training
II TO clear and consecutive hnking-or, IN other words,
pursued and The relative time devoted. the Board sug-
COST that important chang impcratlyely demand
ed In fact. considering the advanced condluoh OF
science and civilization At the present day
soluteiy indispensable to the future greatness
OF the institution. The four years OF the academic
course. found by universal experience constitutes
the xmum Of time proper 20 be spent in the acquire
ment0f fundamental education, whether in the science
Those studies which essential to military training,
with those which more closely akin 70 them, especially
In view of the great expansion and minute accuracy or
modern investigation, must Of necessity consume the
whole period Of the academic curriculum II has cOnse
quenty found that number Of the most important
rlhcneI ~ tri 1 ctbic. have been thrust aside
simply for want Of time. The Board express the convlc
fOn that In view of the increasing intimacy OF our
country with spanishpeakng populations, that the ne
cety of know lodge Of this language Is not sufficiently
understood when II Is remembered that SpaiIsh Is
spoken by 100000 o. people, moro than hal Oh who
rnInpose nations In our own hemisphere, ana are an
nuay coming into close connection WIN US % tin
apparent rt si' and civil relations when consider
The influence future diplomatic intercourse ana even
dsa te voine Of this Study young
to- the modern languages French and German far
may practicable they deem IT indispensable that
one wear be established and IN view OF the number of
reiectOns thai the minimum Of age Of admission
20 the Academy fixed ~ lS years; that the method
and standard Of admission 10 the preparatory course be
the same now the Academy; that AZ the end Of
This examination In the studies OF the prepare
tory year held mat person WhO pass the
test OF sIch examination be admitted 20 the Academy
Tie Board recommends the establishment OF PROBES
sorhp Ethc, and Bce3L tires to be selected from
civil life \ high compliment IL paid 10 the Academic
Board and III abiding 10 the time for the retirement OF
certain professors they express the conviction that the
time has arrived when the Professors Of Ethics and Law
of Engineering aud Drawing, be retired and that the
Government should afford ample provisions tor their
comfort In their retirement 10 which they are entitled
by so long life Of active ana dsiIngdls1ed puGhc
sorship of Drawing and that hereafter this study be in
rlu!cd in Department or Engineering, ana Dc
,tricted 70 mathematical drawing.
INCREASED ACCOMMODATIONS REQUIRED
Particular attention given by the Board 70 The
library apparatus and observatory. the inspection OF
buildings state OF the grounds fiscal affairs, police dis
cipine etc. concerning all Of which the remarks are
generally favorable recommendations for repairs IN GER
instances, and increased accomnOdatIOhS anu IN
sTuments for experiment. ana STUDY are naue or
corning the administration OF the Academy ana us eN
eIal departments, the Board notes tnG V.luenorS VI
wi 20 and competent supervision over all thaconcerns
the welfare OF that community anu III t"W -, ' Rr
duous and complicated ab0r' ot ms position thc 4d
fully accord the tribute OF appreciation 70 an 0Wcer
having for several years sustained tnt burdens o.
about 10 be transferred % another post
,TRICrER DISCIPLINE RECOMMENDED.
The Board feeling tho importance Of high state OF
discipline TO efficiency o the Academy to accomplish
the uurp0se for which it is maintained earnestly recon-
rep5s return 10 the stricter kind Of discipline which
,v, administered years An army must be governed
no diaerent methods nd upon different principles from
ciyU society and 20 army, ana 10 every htdIy Is
Enlistment, discipline - Necessity; WIZ Iort
This end the opinion Of the BoaII the e
orj Cnmuaudlut OF the cadets should always ,De
iers ot high rank who by their age and military as
tiuctioD can command not Only respect Dut tPt %
9i refeTence is made TO the rigorous discipline OF
West Point % Years when oicels anu Calots toO
in relation each other "a Officers ana Sor ~ ny
military post when cadets only Elseu VlhCeIs p,ai
tiers on Saturday afternoons anu Nuon An ,bjs ~
OF the distance maintained by me superlOs AZ 1hls, -
i, stated had tendency 10 put the sons Oh Tue llon @
poor common footing tr Post 80 ,sSionebe
III
10 ~ tbe most il commented upon. among Other thnSs
80 causny paXation of the rules and former rgors vi
the Academy o., D., .,....,.. I'LL Ia frIlv
In the report Congress, which Will DE lnaue
w. The members of the Board appointed by the Wee
resident and Speaker Of the House OF Repe7enlatye
rhc suai Recommendations concerning the necessity OF
rper appropriations for the present 81 tne
military schools also made: The signatures
ars. g. Il Iwards OF Missouri, J. n. Johnson Oh ne
vada J. J. wood, ~ Kansas NJ IL carpenter , Vf Wis
consin; Sunderland, President Oh the ,oai ~ ha
niIler of Tuscaloosa Ala, with the exception OF tno
article on DISCIPLINE William Aiken 81 south ,llY',i,
with the exception Of the article On Di'cipio 'u ~
on The Refinement OF Professors
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