Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1895-07-30
NAVAL ACADEMY PLANS.
REPORT OF THE BOARD or vlSI-
TORS MADE PUBLIC.
Important Recommendations in
Regard to a Change In Curriculum
New Buildings Badly Needed
Secretary Herbert Sug-
Cests ImprOvements.

New Buildings Badly Needed
Secretary Herbert Sug-
| gests improvements.
The report OF the board of visitors to
/ the Naval Academy. Of which Senator
Faulkner is president. has been made
public. The views of the members of
the board are summarized in the follow
| ing recommendations
That the age of entrance TO the Ma
val Academy be not less than l5and not
over IL years.
That the present six year course be re-
duced TO five years. all of which shall
be spent at the academy.
That at the end of the five-year course
those successfully passing the same 10
receive certificates Of graduation; that
those of the graduates who are required
To fill vacancies in the naval service be
appointed to the saTe aud the residue
of the graduates, if any, discharged as
provided by law.
Nominated One Year I'm Advance.
That applicants foradmission be nomi-
mated one year in advance of the date of
their examination for admission.
That there should be but one time of
admission, which should be in May in
each year, and the candidates failing at
| this examination for admission be not
given an opportunity to pass another ex-
animation for admission to the same
| class.
That Congress be asked to appropriate,
as soon as possible, $4,000, to he imme-
diately expended for the improvement
and extension of the sewerage system of
the Naval Academy.
That the Secretary of the Navy be re-
quired to appoint commission consist
ing Of five naval officers, whose duty it
shall be to examine and report upon the
| present condition of the grounds and
buildings and the sanitary condition of
the Naval Academy.
Two Practice ships.
That two sailing vessels be built for
the use of the academy suitable for
"practice ships"
That solarometer be purchased for
the use of the department ofnavigation.
That the instructor i'm plane and solid
geometry be improved by the introduce
i tion of better textbook and the free
use of original geometrical problems.
That the instruction in the edifferential
and integral calculus be placed under the
direction of the head of the department
of pure mathematics.
That full course Of laboratory in
struction in physics be provided.
That provision for systematic instruc-
tion IN founding, forging, pattern-mak-
ing and boiler instruction, be made in
the department OF steam engineering, ,as
well as fol- instruction in experimental
engineering.
More Instructors of Modern Languages
We are of opinion that increased re-
suits in efficiency in speaking the modern
languages would be secured by increas-
ing the number of instructors.
We are of opinion that In view of the
growing importance of our relations with
the Spanish-speaking people of South
America increased attention should be
given to instruction in that language.
That an annual appropriation of 81 200
be made. by Congress for binding such
bOoksand periodicals in the academy as it
may he found necessary to bind.
We have been pleased with the evil
dence on every hand Of the efficient and
wise administration of Superintendent
Cooper and the firm discipline and splen-
did work oa Commandant Brownson
and the other officers of the academy.
Present Buildings Insufficient.
The board would call especial attention
to the report submitted by the committee
on grounds, buildings and sanitary con-
dition. This subject has received the
most careful attention Of the board,
collectively and individually.
The report of the committee on this
subject was adopted unanimously, and
the board feels that it cannot too strong
ly commend and support the recOmmen-
datiOns made therein. The board feels
that the Naval Academy should be an
institution second to none of its kind in
the world; that it should meet every
modern requirement aB an institution
of learning, not only as to the instruc-
tion given, but as to the conveniences
and accommodations afforded officers,
instructors and cadets.
1t feels that the present buildings are
insufficient and inadequate for the pur-
poses to which they are assigned, and
that reconstruction Of buildings,
grounds and sanitation, upon the most
approved modern architectural and
sanitary lines, will not only be an in.
calculable benefit to the naval service,
but progressive step which will meet
the approval of the whole country. The
board feels that it cannot too strongly
commend the report submitted by the
committee on grounds, buildings aIId
sanitation. and expresses the hope that
its recommendations viii be embodied
into law the next session Of Congress.