Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-09-04
TO GET TO WEST POINT.
FOR BOYS BETWEEN SEVEN
TEEN AND TWENTY-FIVE.
Qualifications, Expenditures, and Expcc-
tations OF Cadets-Of Course tho
Old Folks are Permitted
to Read It.

The appointment OF cadets to the
United States military academy is a
congressional perquisite. Each con-
gressional district and each territory.
as we'll as the District of Columbia, is
entitled TO one cadet at the academy
and ten are appointed at large. The
president appoints the ten cadets at
large and the other cadets are ap.
pointed by the secretary of war at the
request OF the member of congress
from the district or territory from
which the appointment is made. Unlike
some appointments at Washington
which are controlled by members of
congress-, these cadetships confer no
personal benefit upon the representa-
tives making them. All that the con-
gresham has TO gain is in the good
will of tho friends of the young man
TO whom he gives the appointment
The congressman who has vacancy
ut the academy to fill notifies the peo-
pie of his district through the daily
papers that he will leave the appoint
ment to be settled by a competitive ex-
animation which will be open to young
men who are of the proper age and
otherwise qualified for the academy.
These examinations are of u public
character and the community usually
takes great interest in them.
There is no doubt of the admission
OF cadet who is thus appointed, says
George Grantham Balm in the Cincin-
natl Times, unless he should fail in the
physical examination. II he stands
the test of the competitive. he is I'M
doubtedly able to stand the test OF
the academical examination. through
which he must go before entering the
academy.
The qualifications for admittance to
the academy are very briefly stated in
circular which the war department
has had prepared TO send TO inquirers;
for the secretary is constantly in re-
ceipt OF letters from anxious young
men or their fathers asking for in
formation relative to the appointment
OF candidates.
The age for the admission Of ca
diets to the academy" says this circu-
lar. is between II and - years. Ca
diets must be unmarried. at least five
feet in height, free from any infectious
or immoral disorder and, generally
free from any defor nifty. disorder or
infirmity which may render them I'M
fit for military service. They must be
well versed in reading in writing, in
Guiding photography in arithmetic and
have n knowledge of the elements OF
English grammar of descriptive
geography particularly OF our own
country and OF the history OF the
United States"
Candidates for admission to the
academy are advised to undergo n
preliminary physical and academical
examination before leaving their
homes for West Point and the depart
ment suggests series of disorders
which are regarded as disqualification
sufficient to insure the applicants re-
lection. A synopsis of the academical
examination is sent TO applicants so
that they may form some idea OF the
course of study which they ought TO
pursue before applying for examina-
ton at West Point
The expenses OF candidate prior TO
his admission are only about $40. but
the department warns the appointee TO
provide himself in advance with tho
means OF returning in case OF his re-
lection. II happens sometimes that
over-confident young men come TO
West Point with the idea of settling
down and do not bring enough money
with them TO pay their expenses home
1t is rather serious matter for a can
! himself without IA commission and
lacking money to pay his return ex-
penses. Although there is no provi-
! ton for it in law. the authorities OF
the academy will look after him for
time, but over confidence is likely to
place him in position which will
cause him some embarrassment.
II the candidate is admitted he has
20 provide himself with an outfit
which will cost him abort $50 Hi1
pay. which commences with his adj
mission TO the academy. is $40 n
year, and most of the cadets find this
sufficient to support them while in the
academy. They are not permitted to
receive money or other supplies from
parents or from anyone else without
tho sanction of the superintendent.
Their course is of four years, at the
end Of which time II they pass the
final examinations. they become
second lieutenants in the regular army.
smoke.