The New York herald., 1878-11-03
w E ST POIN T.
Annual Report Of the Beard
Of Visitors.
High EncOmiums ON the Administration of
The Academy.
WASHINGTON, Nov. l, 1878.

Mr. David A. Wells OF Connecticut, president; Cap
AIN samuel r. Franklin, United States Navy, wee
PRESIDENT and Professor Charles 5. Yenabe, of Vr-
pnia secretary. All the members Of The Board were
n attendance during the greater portion oil the tImc
ievoted investigation and most OF The members
aurng the entre time Of the examination of the first
Or graduating class.
UTILITY or THE BOARD.
OF the utility OF the Board OF Visitors the report
Alter aluding to the fact that they appointed
TO report 10 the Secretary the resalts OF their
isations into the condition and admins
OF the Academy Tor the information OF Congress,
nys:-
As Congress, Judging from tho experience OF all
iormcr boards, rot desire to draw Information
from such sources, there is no evidence hat
the recomme dat ions OF any previous board hay
ever lad Inc slightest influence in the enactment OF
any law by Congress affecting the administration,
educallouai course disbursements OF the Academy,
he reduct on OF expenditures possiby excepted md
there Is evidence that the mere nod whim OF
secretary OF war or general IN chief has moro IN
auence than the combined opinions OF all the boards
tnat have ever been appoinied, the question OF the
utility oil annual Board OF Visitors ana the desira-
biiuy OF ITS perpeiuaion naturally suggests tseii
Ui what avail IS II 10 expend time and labor in the
preparation OF report which, IN common with most
ali similar reports that have preceded 1t, certain
10 be regarded oy Congress and tue pubic alike as of
account but 10 which. by force OF general statutes
the doubtful compliment Of public printing has TO b,
awardedf
WHICH ANSWER.
Or, II III respectful conformity 10 the obligation OF
OF the board OF their several appo Tor service
y formal document is 10 be submitted why not state
IN the simplest phraseoogy that the boara assembled
time and day designated ut a small, inconven-
enI, but well managed hotel, where no Intoxicating
beverages whatever SOLD, when notel
pie 10 the comfort oil most persons officially visiting
Vest Point Congress has graciously allowed 20 be
putt In the main from the proceeds OF hoop poles,
sut IN long series oil years from The govern
meat lands adjacent; that The board was re-
,eived with marked courteey by the academy
Ital; that tae examination OF the cadets
'eguiary attended,; that the public buildings and
grounds, WIN the commlssary and mess,
pected that the discipline, course of
practice aud method OF keeping accounts
quired into; that particular Investigation OF the
moral ana religious condition OF The cadets was
specially entrusted TO such members OF me board
have their special mission the Work OF making
men better, that dndng everything satisfactory
the board after some fourteen days continuous
tendance, aGJourned, receiving IN return from
lhe pubic treasury as compensation Tor Their
services ana Tor expenses OF board and
logging the oil SO per day and
eight cents per mile Tor traveiug by the shortest
route from their respective homes 10 the
academy ana returDs Such u report would be tecu-
nIcally lawful and In complianc. with iorm, which
Board oil Visitors report practically ever amounts
Sucn a summary oil proceedings ought not TO be oh
leclonaole 10 either Congress or the public Wooden
Images standing IN front OF shop 10 direct attention
10 the business carried o0 WITHIN just useful
and great deal cheaper than 1--we men employed in
performing equally mechanical duty The
Board OF Visitors a. West Point Tor the year
1878 ieel, however, that the sphere OF
vice involved in the appointment OF an annual
Board OF Visitors is much larger and lar por-
8
ute techncatIes and that the usefulness OF such
wee sufficiently great 70 fully justify its Original
stution by Congress aud TO also warrant its tuture
contlnuance.
THE EXAMINATIONS MApK
The report then at some length dilatcs upon the i'm
portance OF aiming the high standard OF excel
lency of military tone and discipline at tie academy
great auxiliary OF peace and qaotes from the his
tory OF Ihe country wherein grad OF the academy
have performed important service and showing
has been source of economy tho
lion. The result OF the Investigation ny the
Board OF Visitors, both through special committees
OF the Board and the Board acting a committee OF
The whole IL believed TO have been Ia every respect
thorough. IL has led TO this general and witna re-
markaolc conciusion-nameiy that there is at least
one public Institution the United States OF whicn
IL be truly affirmed that the more II Is invests
gated the better It appears, and tor the direct nc
mtnistration and control OF which no person Is be-
iieved to nave been selected Tor any other reason
than fitness 10 discharge the trust connded TO him.
In face OF small part OF the public and private
record OF the country tor the last few years n
conclusion ought TO be TO the nation in tho highest
degree gratifying and considered aording promise
lor "A realization OF ideal Of efficiency aud re-
iorm other departments OF the fedora government
has hereto appeared 10 many altogether ideal ana
visionary. In saying this, however, the Board does
not be understood az teraiu express.
Ing tho opinion that the West Point Military Academy
% in all respects perfect, but they are OF the
opinion that but iiltle OF Improvement be
effected by those Immediately In control OF and re-
sponsble for administration aud that any changes
looking TO its betermeBt increased luture efficiency
viii be the direction OF enlargement Of the existsg
course OF study, in the nature OF mechanical ac-
cessories, the provisions for botn Of which arc de-
pendent upon Congressional legislation money pp-
preparation.
STANDARD or ADMISSION.
As to the standard OF admission to the academy the
Board are Invariably OF the opinion that
The efficiency OF the academy az a military educa-
tionaf insrumentatty would be greatly increased by
raising the standard oi qualification at present
qulred Of Candidates for admission. The evidence
that has led 10 thi- conclusion mpy be thus briefly
stated. nc present the educational requirements Tor
the fourth class thrst yesrl Of the academy are
exceedingly low-iower than are requisite iur the
admission Of freshmen in any OF the leading uni
verstes or colleges OF the country. These
requirements not IN any degree within the
81 the Acaedmic Board, but are prescribed by statute
One Of the consequences OF this low standard IS thai
the greater portOn 81 the time OF the hrst year IS
devoted 70 ne learning OF elementary branches Of
knowledge which cOGtd be acquired outside ol the
academy ~ readily as within IT. IL - also pertinent
20 this discussion 10 state that the present require
meuts Tor admission 10 the academy are far below
those Tor nhmss1n INTO the military and polytechnic
Ichools of France which embrace Ia the departmont
" mathematics more than - studied during tue nrst
rear az West Point
For THIS and many other reasons which the report
ilaborates a. grcat length the Board unanimously
foted TO r. commend to Congress that the standard OF
educational qualifications ior admission TO the United
states Milnnry Academy b. raised at the earliest
practicable moment ana they believe that the
efncsncy OF the academy and the usefulness OF the
graduates 20 the country VIII BE- greatly increased
thereby As such change WILL however, necessarily
involve revision TO greater extcnt OF the
shole academic course Of Instruction, The proper
,ourso would seem TO DO for Congress 10 refer tho
sboie subject to a comm ssion TO report amendments
% the existing statutes and academic regulations
SUPPLY.
In respect TO the matter OF water supply ct West
Point, tho Board found that tho present supply IA