The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-06-18
HHB NAVAL ACADEMY.
An Interesting Talk with Mr.. A,
w. Campbell,
OF THE BOARD OF VISITORS.
An institution Of Which the Country
has Reason to be Troublesome.
thing Of its Work and
.H. Mcthods..-The Cadets.

has Reason to be prouti...Somc.
thing of its Work and
a Mcthods..-Tho Cadets.
Areporter OF tho INrELLldGScGH In
an interesting interview with Mr.. A. "
Campbell in regard to his recent visit l.
tho United States Naval Academy a
Annapolis, Md, rs member Of th
Board Of Visitors. He began by an in
quiry OF Mr.. Campbell as TO the obiec
In view on the part OF tho governnipn
Ia making their appointments, and as L
what was really accomplished by said
visits. Mr.. Campbell stated that undel
an act OF Congress, passed many year.
ago, a Committee OF Visitors consisting
Of three members OF the House md two
members Of tho Senate ind OF from
three to five citizsus representing differ.
ent sections OF the country, was annual.
ly appointed to go to the Naval Acad.
eny, aud II like committee 10 20 to the
Army School at West Point, to witness
tho closing examinations ut each school
and report 10 the government as to the
secming condition OF all matters enter.
ing into or In any wise affecting the well
being and efficiency OF the instructions,
discipline, health, ETC., Of the schools.
The object was to get dlsin,erested
and necessary Information from intelli.
gent observers in order that tho govern.
ment might be assured that tho pur.
poses and objects Of these schools were
being carried out in good faith. In fact,
tho government could not get perfectly
disinterested information from any other
source, Gs no other persons but govern
ment army and naval officers had any
knowledge OF what was going on at these
schools. There might be many things,
as, indeed, there had been, that needed
the disintercstcd investigation Of intelii.
gent citizens. The annually appointed
visitors were the medium through which
were made aud changes
recommended, and inasmuch 40 they
were made up Of u class of citizens who
had no object to promote except the
good OF the service, their recommenda-
ton always had weight with Congress
and with the War and Navy Depart
ments OF the government.
"Who desigaates these visitors ?" in.
quired the reporter.
The President appoints the citizens.
the Speaker OF the House the three
members from that body, the President
Of the Senate the two members from that
body, and the Secretary Of the Navy des-
lgnatcs an officer to represent that de-
partment. Generally members OF the
Naval Committees OF the two houses are
designated for this duty, and generally
some officer high in the service is ap.
pointed as the representative OF the
Navy Department. II was so this year.
Rear Admiral Kimberly, the hero OF
Samoa, and the executive officer OF Far
ragut and his right arm at New Orleans
aud Mobile, was the representative OF
The Navy, and AS a deserved compli-
ment 10 his eminent worth he was
unanimously chosen President OF the
Boa1d."
what sort OF place is the Naval
Academy, as respects its physical fea-
tures?"
"The Academy grounds at Annapolis
enclose fifty acres and include point OF
land something like the Battery at New
York, bounded by the Severn river and
IN arm of the Chesapeake bay. Itis en-
closed by solid, high brick wall, which
cuts od the grounds from the
small, decayed city outside. The grounds
are very beautiful, nicely shaded with
trees, covered with graS5 and divided up
by handsome walks. The houses OF the
professors and the buildings belonging
to the different departments OF the school
are numerous anu handsome, and make
up an ideal sort Of n community, some
thing after the Esllamy picture in
Looking Backward The largest build.
Ing is that occupied by the cadets, where
they live two in a room, and where
is marvel OF cleanliness aud
good police regulation. The atmory is
the next largest building, where they
drill in winter and on wet days. Their
parade ground, down at the sea.waiied
battery, is an exquisite lawn, far exceed.
ing in beauty the parade grounds at West
Point. There they drill by companies
and us a whole corps, not only as in
fantry, but as artillery also. Spectators
during commencement week; sit in a
gaily.deCorated marquee al the head OF
the lawn and witness these drills OF the
boys in blue"
"What were the exercises on the water
during commencement week ?"
They we're the usual exercises that
obtain throughout the course-drill in
the manual OF oars in row boats. as a
large squadron, practicing all sorts OF
evolutions, and forming picture in
their white pants and roundabouts and
sailor caps, as they kept regular stroke
with their oars and formed and reformed
at every angle at the word OF command,
displayed by signal. On the second
day the Board went to sea with the mid
dies on the man-oi.war Wyoming and
witnessed. the target firing OF the great
guns at a thousand yards while the ship
wasunder steam. The target was a black
muslin sail, triangular in shape, built
on platform aud anchored out in deep
water. Every gun had squad and Il
gun captain, and the whole ship in all
her departments was III the hands OF the
boys. Their firing was something won.
derful for accuracy. After the first few
shots they had the range down fine, and
the shells nearly all fell in line OF the
target, while o fair proportion of them
struck the bull's.eye plump, thus show
ing that il the target had been a ship,
nearly every shot would have hit her,
"Ihis is the regular practice OF tbs
boys. They are up in all the dctails OF
mau.of.war management. They man
the yards as common sailors, run the
engines, stand at the wheel, heave tho
lead, iut so and take up the anchors, pull
on the ropes, and in n word, run the
whole business. A manlier looking set
OF young fellows could cpt be gathered
together: They are winnowed graius OF