The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-07-16

now give as much time to the general
subject Of engineering as can fairly be claimed for
it, with due regard to the other equally pressing
demands upon their attention. At present the in
les and engineering is necessarily elementary and
incomplete. There are several scientific and poly
smpiar courses Of instruction in APPLIED mechanics
and civil, Typographical and mechanical engineer
ing are provided than are given ut West Point, or
can be given there long the starting point Of
the Academy remains what II Is
EXTREMELY POOR DRAuGHTSMEN.
Academy Were carefslly inspected Sy the Board Of
Visitors. The free hand drawings prove that
certain number OF the cadets are capable OF learn
Ing to use the pencil, pen and brush with skill. but
that, for the majority OF the cadets, the time spent
In free hand drawing Is wasted. In spite OF the
with the greater number OF his pupils neither the
eye nor the hand can be trained. The attention
paid to mechanical drawing taking the whole
mechanical execution of the last drawing made by
the first class-a drawing Of hall front OF
fortiflcations, with dry bitches and horizontal
site-was not very creditabe. In view OF these
facts the Board ventures to suggest that the draw
ing OF the second year, third class be confined TO
lettering plotting, perspective shades and shadows,
topography and other kinds OF mechanical draw.
ing, and that the drawing OF the third year second
to 1 the vold thus made the Board further ven-
lures to suggest that each cadet be required 10
study some one OF the following suoleSts:Mraee
mental philosophy, or French; the value TO be gwen
to either subject, In forming the merit roll, being
100. The cadets would probably choose with refer
ence to their own tastes and capacity. This mea-
sure would give chance OF training assistant in
structors in those four departments who would
have attachments somewhat beyond the ordinary
ABSOLUTE WASTE OF TINE.
The Board were surprised to find that several
weeks OF the second year, third class, were devoted
to ordinary penmanship, at the expense OF draw
ing In the opinion OF the Board q fair hand
writing ought to be Insisted on at the admission
examination, and no time should be gwen in the
programme OF studies at the Academy to the prac-
ticc OF penmansnip. The cadets get but very little
practice in the use OF surveying instruments. In
the opinion OF the Board more time might wisely he
devoted to field work, in surveying and leveing.
The actual use OF the instruments gives excellent
training OF eye ana hand, and the theory of the
subject is made familiar by practical application.
DILAPIDArED OBSERVATORY.
The observatory OF the academy Is not in work
ing order; the dome shutters and other appurte.
nances are out OF repair; the equatorial Is an old
instrument and is not in good condition, and GER
tain alterations In the building have rendered 1t
less ut than II originally was for the uses OF an OBJ
servatOry. If the government proposes to main
tain at West Point an astronomical observatory rs
station for scientific labor liberal appropriation
for building and equipping new observatory VIII
be necessary, and, thereafter, an annual appropria
ton for deiraying the expenses of ncessant obscr
vation IT, on the other hand, the government
simply desires TO lit few engineers every year for
work upon the surveys which are likely to be In
progress for many years to come in this country
moderate expenditure upon the present observa-
tory would make it an available though not con-
venient place of practice In the common astro-
ent programme Of instruction in the academy, 1t Is
impossible to give the cadets any practical instruc
ton either IN astronomy or geOdesy ana the board
does not perceive that the observatory has any
direct function.
every class in the academy Is divided Tor the recita
tons in each subject, according TO proficiency in
that subject the sections into which each class is
divided in each subject do not all accomplish
the same amount of work. the poorest
scholars pass over In somewhat inferior
manner from two-thirds to tnree-quarters OF
Z ba. Il NV tha host chno 10 ha
custom to omit the hardest problems in passages of
the text book with the poorer sections. That the
ratio of the attachments of the worst section to
those of the best can be kept high illustrates the
of the means OF compelling study which
are in use at the academy. The Board of Visitors
which The merit roll has In the minds OF both teach
ers ana cadets. 1t is an important junction of the
T Ts; S SaSs ~ s L sS5Ss3GTs sa %d S
watch the daily recitations OF the cadets, with q
view to estimating accurately the true standing OF
each individual. The cadets are allowed TO
GET THEIR MARKS"
every week, and so to keep account of their own
and each others progress. Emulation Is thus made
constant and keen. Every cadet, therefore, whether
a good scholar or a bad, works under an intense
external pressure. The Board OF Visitors feels
some doubt as to the after-etects of this system.
The training given at West Point is but a good
foundation on which the young graduate must
himself build II he hopes to attain to any broad
culture any high professional skill. The visitors
cannot but fear that the young graduate may miss
the accustomed stimulus and find nothing within
IL.
that the permanent professors at West Point
do not as a rule give instruction themselves
increases the difficulty now under discussion
Their time Is given mainly TO supervising the daily
work of the assistant Instructors and hence 1t
happens that the only experienced teachers ut the
any portion of the cadets. Now, good teaching is
largely matter OF personal skill ana personal IN
fuence, and this skill and influence can very
seldom be Impaired to others by any amount OF
drilling. The cadets studying under this system
have very little chance OF catching insplrauon
<hair onAv ut an
sasm are essential to any large success In any pure
or applied science. The Board regrets The practi-
cal diversion of the professors rom the nigh 1unc-
ton of daily teaching but does not venture to give
any advice concerning a remedy for this evh.
LONG REGULATIONS.
The Board is not persuaded that the custom OF
making the ordinary recitatons one hour and a half
long, which has prevailed for many years at this
academy, is a wise one. The practice OF the aca-
demic world Is in favor OF one hour Rotations. In
Germany the ordinary length of lecture Is three
OF an n0 na fa hc aaes
professionally long If each attends only while he Is
himself at work he wastes an hour or more during
which he might be doing something profitable The
Board is inclined to think that general experience
would be a safe guide upon this point.
WRITTEN EXAMINATIONS.
The Visitors would suggest that the Academic
Board might advantageOusly consider whether
written examinations could not be substituted Tor
oral throughout the academy. The oral eXamina-
lions which the Board attended were rather eXhi-
billions, or specimens Of recitations than eXamna-
tons The written examination apples lne same
*
or incompetency remains behind. 1t Is impossible
to give much weight to hasty oral exaninatlon,
whch,ai ALL is only single recitation offve or ten
minutes for each person examined. The very gen.
eral adoption of the written mode or examination
all serious occasions. both IN this country ana In
Europe, seems to the Board Of Visitors suggestive
administration
THE MESS TABLE.
The Board of Visitors took pains to inspect fire.
quently and Unexpectedly the cadets mess during
their stay. The mess hail. kitchen and store rooms
were neat and the food was good. The diet seemed
judicousy selected except in one respect to which
the Board begs to call attention The Board thinks
that the cadets should be encouraged TO use milk
instead OF strong tea and coffee and advises that
as much milk they will consume be regularly
provided morning and evening. In the opinion or
the Board Ii il desirable that more skilful COOK
and better class of walters should he employed for
the mess.
A POOR HOSPITAL.
The cadets hospital seemed to the Board entirely
unsuitable, badly placed, badly constructed and
lacking li,rht ventilation and DRAINAGE The build