The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-09-05
WEST POINT ACADEMY.
Report Of the Board of Visitors on the COndi-
ton Of the Institution.
REFORM OF ABUSES DEMANDED

examination at West Point have made their report to
the Secretary of War After speaking in general way
OF the value OF the Academy national institution,
/ the report goes into details follows:-
In such an institution the West Point Academy
conservative policy is Indispensable Iadysed expert
ments out of and changes of character
should not be made without deiberation and consua
ton AT the same time il should be borne in mind
that great advances have been made during the
years in scientific education. New institutions with
able teachers generous endowments admirable abora-
tories costly instruments of experiment obserya-
ton, aud extensive collections in the various branches
of natural history have been established in different
The United States Military Academy should not be be-
hind the best in any respect Whatever the expert
OF the world has shown to be of value such
institution should be promptly adopted The officers
and teachers should have ample opportunity main
relations of friendly intercourse with the officers
and teachers of kindred establishments govern
ment should provide the pecuniary means which will
enable the academy in all the progressive branches of
science 60 forward efficiently any institution in
| the land
Mathematics The Board were favorably impressed
! by the scholarship displayed in these examinations
The department OF pure mathematics maintains its well
known pre-eninence, aud the departments of applied
mathematics, including philosophy and engineering
Engineering -1he Board of the opinion that the
subject Of military engineering and the science of
war; Is of much Importance as to require the und
yideG attention OF professor who should have the
time and the opportunity TO keep acquainted with the
progress of his department in this and IN other
countries They also of opinion, in view of the
large number OF persons who trained at West Point
|
vice Of the government AS civil engineers that greater
prominence in the course Of instruction should Dc
given TO civil engineering 1t should be remembered
that army engineers are employed upon the survey
| OF the lakes, the Improvement of interior
rivers and the construction of public works
| in different parts OF the country The Board
accordingly recommend that the prolessorshp OF en-
gineering be divided, and that "cvil engineering be
given to chair and "mary science and the Of
war; To another The day has already come when bet
ter rooms requisite Tor the department of natural
philosophy and chemistry and the Board commend TO
a
structures will meet the requirements
Of these important sciences
Geology, &c.-It seems to the Board also that in
sideraon of the number OF army officers who sent
10 the frontier and to regions comparatively unex
plored attention should be given 10 the sciences
OF geology mineralogy and natural history 1t is quite
doubtful whether more time can be allowed to these
studies in the appointed curriculum but the generous
and sklfu building of collections in natural history
and geology would awaken in many of the cadets in
these studies, and would enable many OF the
officers connected with the academy prosecute their
studies i'll this direction
Drawing seems to the Board desirable that
attention should be paid to the various departments of
what is sometimes called instrumental drawing ncud
ing typographical architectural and mechanical draw
ing. Elementary ireehand drawing is likewise inpor-
but IL to the Board that the time given
landscapes and oil and water colors should be d
minished If not entirely devoted to other subjects
Law-The examination in this study creditabe
alike the teacher the class The instructions
not been resr cted to text book but have been carried
by OF informal lectures and exercises in which
ana interesting decisions questions pertaining
the action OF the army and To international law
opnion that the instructions OF this chair Of the
highest Importance, and that the proessorshp should
be permanent
Engiish.-The Board recommend that the study OF
English be pursued at intervals through the entire
course upon Plan similar to that now adopted in
several of The pest colleges of the country and accord
ingly they recommend that professor of English be
appointed 10 give instruction IN the history structure
and use OF the English language and its literature
Such teacher would doubtless devise series of dis
cplnary exercises in writing and in the training Of the
voice Every cadet should certainly have sufficient
rurttca yvith men IN m kp i'm and I'M
the preparation Of reports, orders and official state
ments
that proessorshps of French and Spanish might he
united and made professorshp OF modern languages,
with such nsructorshlps attached To 1t as may be con-
sidered requisite
1t is hardly probable that the suggestion will be
red out although the Secretary of War will, usual
ask adoption by the next Congress However, If it
should be carried the present professor Of French
could not be appointed, he is thoroughly &C
quainted with the Spanish language.
DISCIPLINE AND GENERAL POLICE
The dsciplncof the cadets is fully maintained the
high standard essential TO the institution and which has
been its characteristic feature Tor many years The po
sition of the cadet defined in the practice of the
academy rather than by any positive law or regulation
is somewhat anomalous. For certain purposes he is
eenlsted man. and occasion Is thus given such OIL
GERS choose do TO treat him in all social respects
a common soldier. This is. undoubtedly, narrow
and defective view The cadet is prospective officer,
and his education is wholly intended to lit him for the
duties OF officer and II Is neither just to him
profitable to the service to limit him during his train
ing the social position enforced by military etiquette
| upon the common soldier. As future officer he is
titled those influences which tend to make him u
gentleman and not least among these is the influence
/ Of cultivated and refined society. The Board of
opinion that these influences can be extended to very
considerable degree without any prejudice to the most
rigid discipline The existing oilers premium
| for general good conduct, and might be extended
to make the privilege of association with the officers
and their families at the post reward for honorable
conduct and evidence of trustworthness. Such
privilege would necessarily be conditioned upon good
| conduct and its withdrawal should follow upon failure
of the cadet to preserve the reputation upon which II Is
] DET-rHE PuRvEYoRsHIP
All OF the expenses of the mess hall and of provi-
sions supplies and cooking including salary Of pur-
veyor abors upon the garden wages OF cooks, soul
| hons attendants and walters paid by assessments
! upon the cadets varying somewhat from month to
month but averaging from $40 to $50 per month All
purchases are made by the puryeyor who is a civilian
named by the superintendent, aud his accounts
examined and audited every two months The diet is
sufficient in amount and IN variety but the quality Of
of the articles purchased is far from satisfactory
In the judgment Of the Board close and rigid system
of inspection by officers Of experience Of all purchases
and supplies should be enforced The meats for the
cadets supplied by contract made by the purveyOr
the uniform OF seventeen cents per pound
all kinds and should never be accepted or used for
cooking without adequate inspection All other articles
OF perishabe NATURE and which deteriorate rapidly
should be treated in the same manner: Articles not
pershabe should be purchased at first hand whenever
practicable and of the best quality, which quality
should be determined by inspection. The OF $50
per month IRON each cadet should abundance
of food OF the best quality and in sufficient variety for
all reasonable wants, and also fully all expenses
of sluul preparation and of service and attendance
provided the duty OF the purveyor is conscenously
performed by active, energetic and competent man.
and checked and verified bv thorough and uniform m
spection. This rate is decidedly higher, far the
Board learn than ut any similar institution in the
country; and Is only because of the isolated and
ceptiona situation OF West Point that the Board admit
high charge for this item Of expenditure. Under
the present puryeyor the Board of opinion that the
cadet does not receive what he is entitled to for the
amount charged him II IL question for
sderation by the proper authorities whether
the system Is not defective, and whether IL would
be decidedly better to place the battalion of cadets
different footing by assigning to officers detailed from
the proper stan corps O the army the duty per-
formed by civilians at the expense OF the cadets II is
admitted that the service and cadets
table Is insufficient One waiter forty-lou
cadets is force inadequate place the food upon the
table with sufficient prOmptness and rapdity
that II shall be In healthfu and eatable condition.
without seeking in any respect introduce habits APP
preaching luxury in the cadets, the Board Of opn.