New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-09
EXERCISES AT WEST POINT
CONCLUSIONS REACHED BY THE BOARD OF
VISITORS.

CADETS DISPLAY A GREAT VARIETY OF Ao
coMPLI sHMENTs-sKEr OHISG. DRAWING
WAR MAPS AND BUILDING
PoNTooN BRIDGE.
West Point, June specaD.-The Board of Visi-
at It's meeting tonight formally adopted the re-
port Of the subcommittee appointments relative TO
an increase In the number OF students at the academy
This report, already limited in The Tribune, calls
attention the constant deficiencies arising from tie
rejection Of unqualified nominees and other casual
tics and recommends the adoption Of measures that
viii keep 500 cadets continuously the muster rolls
Tie extension OF the appointing power to the senate
Is urged also local examinations at the different state
Capitals under the supervision Of army officers, tho
papers TO be drawn up by the West Point Academic
Board This document, prepared by the sub-com
mittee will of be incorporated In the report OF
the entre Board OF Visitors 10 the Secretary OF War;
and It is probable that the changes indicated VIII
ultimately result. The Board also adopted at It's
morning meeting another subcommittee report, recon-
mendlng the erection Of improved quarters for the
married officers and soldiers, new outbuildngs, a
thorough overhaulng Of the plumbing and the building
of posthouse, hospital for contagious diseases.
The commissarlat, as is we'll known, is Of the
best managed departments at the Academy. The
Board this morning called before Major William F.
spurcin the efficient commisSary, to learn what I'M
urovement he desired. They were agreeably sur
prissd to learn that he had requests TO max. The
cadets arc well fed, average monthly cost of S16
each Lieutenant Edward E. Hardin. officer OF field
music and Professor Arthur A. Cappe, were also In
terrogated as TO the deslrabi;y Of reforms in the
academy band. Tie original forty pieces were cut
down TO twenty four by the economical Congress OF
1871 The musicians are of three classes, receiving
respectively S34 S24 and ST. month. The Board
will probably recommend that the number OF pieces
be increased to thirty, not forty, aud that tie third
tba he
today carefully inspected the Kinsley addition to the
reservation consisting of 22j acres to the sOutl
The variety of the cadets attachments is surprising
last week there were examinations in philosophy law,
chemistry and the modern languages To-Day TWO
long rooms in the old academy building were mica
with the drawings and sketches OF the second ana Hu
classes The drawing lessons, of course, are not IN
tended 10 equip the students for portrait or landscape
naintnq But they do equip them for representing
accurately the appearance OF military weapons ana
oecoutrements for planning elevations Oh DarracA-
buildings, designing machinery ana preparing topo
graphical maps in colors. Inc best drawing IN the
exhibition IS a foreshortened view Of Gathng gun IN
coors Then there are architectural plans OF the new
gymnasium and the academy building speaking
kenesses of morars and revover, freehand sketches
from master casts copies In black and white from
Mcissonier and Deaille elaborate studies in geomet
rcal perspective and careful representation sol the
new tangled machine guns. Tie copies ior these arc
nrenared by an ingenious and accomplished Instructor
Lieutenant George ii. Cameron, Of the 4th cavalry
The originals are mostly small magazine cuts "h4ch
ara photographed and then enlarged by the bromide
nrocess one Of the recent Class studies was topo
annical design of the reservation made in the Held
bo examples are cOored TO represent the river, inc
roads tlves hills and buildings, ana are piacucal
Illustration of war map making. Inc professor Va
urawIns is Colonel Charles w. LaiIIeu. 70" Sc
are used, me Instructions o'i"o "i"-0'' 1'
" lecture ana ucniOnstititlod' III, ~ ,,l,o ,,lace
l1a exhibition is the lasI tet VIII envr '""H MI, ~ IN
in me present quarteIs Ihc Giu Duliuths, " - inc
stone st.irwdSs and square clOckto"el, ohe Vi .
time hOnOred Landmarks OF NeeC POINT "uv ie room
- nlasOns viii begin tearing IL GOWN " i"'ns 80
cr the new building, with Tribune tower, Iol nnlV"
Congress in looO made All appropriation. IIi'a ,or w.
aunt Is architect One Ol the Uctaoondl ~ -
OF the library opposite is now being heightened 10 r.
Give temporarily the Academy clOch' lie 9tOle"
Of tie new gymnasium, behind tue Ia f-chs, Is aiG2
spurJachg completion. Ii IS OF gray cut stone VIII
tsO round towers. John sheeian OF N On is
the contractor The building Is 70 cost 90 ooo: ing
tnit.d stItes IS 1cureseEted the wJrK by captain
tieOrge McC. Derry, Of the Engineers ING s2 rn
nasum will contain large swimming talI.' lHo
Sdets az, all taught TO swim, the lessons having uul-
erto been given in the Hudson. Toward old Fort SLiI
5 carpenters have been busy laying down PLANK HOT
I1r tl,. summer encampment. Inc tents VIII DC
,he examining committees have been busy ali day
circulating inc sandng Of cadets who nave passed.
be foTc them and Colonel WILSON'S once nor ma Den
srewn with the parchment diplomas to be dstrlDatcI
next Friday TIE rstclaSs men began uelr MA
nrigal his afternoon, when they underwent anotGr
yieid medical examination, IN what the Colonel calls
thlr iirtnday clothes 10 prove that their Physique
h. moi iNcomc impaired with four years study and
stl fits them 10 earn IL 400 year a. seconu Ile"-
* hundred active cadets Of the first and second
classes showed 1000 unmilitary spectators now easy
II is 10 throw bridge across rveT when one wants
70 tfaSpoe t,e for The object lesson was small
hight In bend OF the river under tic hlgn Dahk near
the motel The distance across 1t was 30 feet NJ
either shore was the beginning of plank gangway
nm a tres,le. At one end We're piles or pahAs ana
thick balkS OF timber. When the caaelS hau V St
marched down, some Of them manned d mrFe iiat-
.~flh ITrnf
anchored bow ana stern bosdsde on near the end OF
the northern gangway Zen oI t9cT h i've Of the
bolks To the end Of each bak was nailed a Woodch
ciea The balks were fixed In row Win me cei he
balls and braced their feet: tine men on the gangway
pushed the boat out about ten feet; then tne 0alS
wera lowered into place and dashed III e llthcr GiI,
Othc cadet, then came running out with planEs which
we're laid fat beside each other. on the supporting
bals string pieces were deposited the planih and
lsshed and the bridge began 70 grow. It was com.
pctcd with eleven ponto3ns in hf,ytwo mnutee not
last time The officers IN charge wcro CAPTAIN George
Nice. Derby Lieutenant Charles H. McKinStry ana
Tie weather was delightful. The sun shone brightly
on the green hillside, and the red and white paaSols
and glittering uniforms and yawning cannons thal
dotted IL. Rlverward the ribbon Of water betwecu
the misty hills was glossy and STILL and accurately
reflected the sails and cOrdagc Of schooner that stool
OF TIC mouth Of the blight: J.. .so 49,. t,ts
afternoon from his place across the river at Cold
spring Another ystoT was Colonel Ed FlSyd Jone 81
chat with Colonel Wilson and dine with Governor
BuchDcr. Colonel Jones WAC a cadet ~ 164l. Adj
telegram from the Secretary Of the Navy iust he
had pIanred 10 visit the Point, expects to get here
Tomorrow Senator Henderson and Congressman
urrovS and their wives returned this afternoon from
Mr. MortOn's country seat at Ellersne
The cadets gave another hop tonight in the mess
hail.
MEETING OF TIE ARMORY BOARD.