National Republican., 1883-06-18
The Board Of Visitors Report That the Present
Buildings Are in Good Shape,
But Other Buildings and Improvements
Are Needed
The Discipline Very Carefully Investigated and
Unqualifedly Approved.
Tho Economical Management OF the
Financial Affairs Commended.

States naval academy at Annapolis:
UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY, AN
NAPoL1s, MD, Juno o.--Sir: The board of
visitors selected to attend the annual exam-
nations at the United States naval academy
submit the following report of their proceed
ings:
The board met on Saturday, Juno 2, and or
ganized by the appointment of Rear Admiral
John @. Howell, u. s. N, as president and
Senator Il. G.. Lapham, of New York, as vice
president.
The following standing committees were
appointed;
RGrounds, buildings, and sanitary condition,
Hon. y. q. Lapham, Hon. X. @. Mills, Hon A.
9. Harmer, Hon. T. Updegraii, and DIR. S. A.
Green.
Seamanship, ordnance, and navigation, Hon.
"A. G. McCook, Hon. A. @. Harmor, and Rear
Admiral John @. Howell.
Discipline, drill practical exercises, admin
istration and police, Mai. Gen. Irwin Nc
Dowell, Hon. II. Q. Mills, and Rev. J. w.
Dinsmore
Steam, mathematics, physics, and me-
chanics, Hon. j. N. Camden, Prof G.. l.
Richie, and DIR. S. A. Green.
English studies, modern languages and
drawing, Prof. q. j. Riche Mr. Il. V. Kings
ley, and Rev J, W. Dinsmore.
Finance and library, Hon. A. G. McCook,
Hon. T. Updegrah, and Mr.. L. V. Kingsley.
dress the cadets on Saturday. June 0-Hon
Il. G. Lapham, Gen. Irwin Mcdowell, and DR..
s. A. Green.
Standard of scholarship--Dr. S. A. Green,
Mr. n. V. Kingsley, Prof G.. l. Richie, and
Rev. j. w. Dinsmore.
The board met daily for tho consideration
of subjects before them.
The buildings were all examined, and we
take pleasure in stating that we found every
thing has been done during the year which
was feasible to render the premises healthy
and comfortable. The condition of the build
ings was cleanly and orderly Trees have
been planted, the grounds have been graded
and turfed, roads and pavements made, and
they have very attractive appearance
The superintendents quarters which were
in an old and dilapidated condition, as stated
in the report of the board last year, have been
taken down, and new and substantial
building of brick erected on the same sight,
with the walls and slate and tin roofs com
pleted.
A substantial bridge has been built across
College creek on the road leading to the
naval cemetery the farm, and the naval
hospital. Many desirable improvements have
been made on that portion of the govern
ments grounds. The orchards have been
trimmed the underbrush cleared away, the
cemetery enlarged, the vorandas on tho wing
walls of the hospital taken down, and tho
roof repaired, so as 10 protect the building
from futher decay.
Without giving minute particulars wo may
add that Ia our judgment there has been
judicious, economical, and necessary oxpendi-
ture in all these repairs and improvements
made during the year.
We beg to renew in substance the recon-
mendations made by the board of visitors last
year.
l. That the new quarters for the superin-
tendent should be completed at the earliest
practicable period.
2 That quarters for all the cadets should
be erected in plain building, of modern
style. ,.on the northeast portion of the grounds
now occupied by old and incOnvenient build
ings, numbered from one to nine, inclusive,
30 that the cadets shall live under ono roof
instead of being widely separated as at present
That mess room and kitchen should also bo
erected in the same section, separate from the
cadets quarters.
- This change can be made by using much of
the material in the old buildings, and with
out requiring very large appropriation of
money i'll any one year..
The building at the western end of tho
grounds, where the larger portion of tho
cadets are at present quartered, and in which
are the kitchon and mess room, could then be
converted into residences or apartments for
those OF the professors and officers who now
reside outside the academy limits-some ten
or twelve in number.
Kitchen and mess room from the cadets quar-
ters, we doem very important changes.
We also recommend the purchase of SO much
OF the ground as lies between the west wall of
the academy limits and the gas works of the
city of Annapolis, and the extension of the
limits to the line of such purchase. This
will bring into possession of the government
portion of the city where epidemic diseases
are most likely to prevail, and will remove
very unhealthy district from contlguity to
the present grounds, and afford an almost di-
rect passage by Hanover street Go tho bridge
leading to the cemetety, farm, and naval hos
pital The tract is about three by 400 feet in
size, and its assessed value about $11 900.
We also recommend that the hospital and
outbuildings connected Herewith be repaired
and put in order TO be ready for use as q naval
hospital. IL is capable or accommodating n
very large number of patients, is upon an ele,
waited and healthy site, and was constructed
at large expense to the government. 1t
should no longer be suffered to run 10 decay.
The board witnessed tho practical exercises
in seamanship and gunnery on board the
United States steamer Wyoming while under
way. The cadets got up steam, fired, worked
the engines, made sail, reofod and furled most
creditably, and the exercises at general
quarters and target practice was worthy of
high praise More attention has been given
TO practical navigation than heretofore; but
the board is of the opinion that some more
time might be usefully given to this import
ant branch.
Every facility has been given by the au-
thories in the inquiries made concerning the
discipline and the administration of the
academy.
In accordance with the request of the Sec
retary Of the navy information was sought,
not only from tho officers of the academy but
from the cadets AS we'll and after seeing
those who came forward voluntarily in re-
sponse TO an invitation published TO the whole
corps, several cadets We're especially sent for
and examined concerning the state of disei-
pline at the academy, and the effect of the
various reforms made by the present superin-
tendent.
One Of these reforms was q radical one, af-
fecting the whole system of discipline; and
the Others were important and bore directly
upon 10.
The most important one aud one especially
distasteful to the cadets at first was the
change made in the manner Of placing them
In their quarters.
Formerly each class lived by itself Cadets
of the first class had special privileges as a
class, and the impression seems to have pre-
vailed that the action of class ON class, and
especially of the first class on the others, was
beneficial to discipline, even more so than
that produced by military organization OF
various grades acting from the impulse given
from the commander.
The change consisted in quartering the
cadets by divisions (companies) each com.
posed of all the classes, The cadet officers
and cadet petty officers with il ON the same
floor The discipline TO be maintained as far
hla hui a., a.,