National Republican., 1883-11-15
WEST POINT ACADEMY.
Report Of Gen. Merritt, tho superinfend-
ent-what lie Says About nnzing.

The annual report of Gen. Merritt, superin-
tondeut of the West Point military academy,
states that on Sept. 1, 1888, there were at the
academy ffty-hve professors and commits
stoned officers and 81 cadets. There wero
27t cadets at the same time last year. There
were no deaths during tho year among the
cadets, officers, or soldiers The percentage
of sick to the command is one-hfth
of per cent. During the year
the usual practical instruction in the three
arms of the service has been given with as
good results as ever attained before. This
year, for the first time, instructions in swim
ming has been given to the fourth class.
Sxty-seven members of the class which en-
tered in June, who could not swim, were
taught and at tho end of the instruction
three-lourths of tho class could swim the
Hudson river, and all tho class, with two ex-
coptions, were good swimmers. Excellent
results have been obtained in the instruction
in gymnasium, and much more can be done if
n suitable building for gymnasium, for
which estimates have been made is appro-
priated for by congress. The instruction in
the department of practical military engin-
eering has been most thorough.
Practical instruction has also been given
the graduating and present first classes in
bridge building. The new cadet hospital was
sufficiently completed for occupation in De-
CDmDcT, 1857. Inc sum OF SOUUU, necessary
to complete tho second story, has been in
cluded in the estimates for the next fiscal
year. 1t is recommended that $1,000 be APP
propriated for the completion of the work of
supplying an adequate amount Of water.
Attention is called TO the urgent necessity
for increased bathing facilities for the cadets
in the barracks.
An unusual effort has been mado during
the year to rotrench III matters of expense
for the cadets in customs which have erept
into the management of the academy. The
average cost of su5sisting each cadet during
the last year has been S17.92 per month.
Tho general tone and discipline of the
cadets are good. With the exception of n
very few cadets in each class the members of
the corps are very attentive to regulations. For
the half year ending May 81, 1888, nearly one
half of the cadets had no dement's recorded
against them. Cadets have been held TO
strict accountability for all violations of the
regulations, and uniform punishments have
been fixed for the more serious neglects and
unmilitary conduct. The superintendent
says that while his predecessors for the last
twenty-five years have reported ut one time
or another that the practice of hazing had
been broken UP, it is his experience that they
have, without exception, boon mistaken. He
says "by repressive measures the evil has been
at times restricted to its lowest limits,
but has never been eradicated. just the
moment repression mas ceased the brutal Gus
tom has sprung up with new features of
brutality. While / do not favor threats to
repress disorders or pledges from cadets as a
means of eradicating violations of the regu-
latons, am certain the best means of main
tanning discipline in any organization is the
certainty of n summary punishment, just, but
severe, in all cases of intentional ofiense."
The superintendent says that tho now
quarters Tor cadets will be ready fo- occupa-
tiOn bv tho Iniu1ln of NOypmhnr. In com
Guiding his report he calls attention to the
departments of instruction, in which he says
there is everything to commend, and that it
would be strange if tho young officers turned
out by the naval academy at the present time
were not exceptionally superior.