The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-02-05

West Point students Have Kvery Advsnta,

West Point Students Have Every Advantage
and Are Nos Ch.rgeabis with Incompetency.
Lieut-col w. r.. King. In Engineering Magazine.
The idea that there lie something in the
education of the military engineer that
units him for the execution Of civil engi-
FROM q dense Ignorance OF the facts. To
show this let US in few words run o, or the
process by which the corps OF engineers 10
recruited:
every congressional district in the coun-
try, often by competitive examinations.
This secures a national body OF young men,
free from sectional. political or religious
bias.
Second-These candidates are thorough
ly examined. physically and mentally. and
those who are deficient are rejected with
out fear or favor.
.Third-Those admitted are subjected TO
eight other rigid examinations before they
receive their diplomas: and they arc some
times dropped out even at the last OF these
examinations
F~ourth-The studies embrace mathe-
mates. drawing. physics (molsr and
molecular). geology, mineralogy. astronomy
ana civil and military englneering.
Fifth-The purely military studies &C.
cupy but small portion of the time. and
instead of dwarfinR any of the other
studies. simply aid in developing the mind
and furnishing applications for the other
studies.
Sixth-Thee examinations have, at grad
uation. reduced the class TO about one-half
OF It's original size. and sometimes Tess than
one-third. and of those remaining less than
one in ten are selected for the corp s of en-
cheering, or about one in twenty-five of
those who enter are graduated as engineers.
Seventh-After leaving West Point the
young engineer comes TO Willet's Point.
where he usually spends three wears more;
chiefly in practical work. such as top0-
graphic and photographic surveys. sound
Ing and gaging streams. testing building
materials. the use of steam and electrical
appliances aud high explosives.
Elghth-Ihe theoretical part of this
course includes such work as H~arcourt.
Schlicting and DE Bauye. on river and
harbor work. and examinations are held
once n month during the winter term.
Lectures have also been introduced, and
the lecturers are civil as we'll as military
engineers
Ninth-The young officers then 90 ont as
assistants on the various engineering
works. and arc required TO pass q rigid ex-
animation whenever they are promoted,
which. however. occurs only at long in-
teryals.
If there is anything in AL this that in
any way tends to get un worthy or improper
persons In the corps. or 10 ~disqualify them
after they are in, L will be glad TO have It
pointed ont The system has produced
Gilmore. Alexander. Warren. Weitzel.
Merrill and others who have gone TO
their reward. Many have resigned and be-
come civil aud electrical engineers. and in
almost every case they secure two or three
times the salary that they received in tho
military service. In view of these facts I
feel that the somewhat inelegant. though
f~orcible, term / nave applied to the twaddle
about the military engineer being disqual-
flied for properly executing the duties
which Congress has confided 10 his care is
fully justified.
MT. Lincoln once remarked to one of the
chronic grumblers at military education:
81 never thought West Point could put
brains in q boys head, nor that il will
knock them out If they are there when he
Anfora