Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-11-25
THE MILITARY ACADEMY
Annual Report of the Board of Visitors tt
West Point.
Recommendation AN to Requirements
ments Believed to BE Aecessary,

Inc annual report of the board of Wis.,
tors to the United States Military Acad-
envy, OF which Gen. James H. Wilson OF
Deia ware Is president was made public
To-Day II says that while educa ton has
generally advanced throughout the coIn-
try with its growth in population and
prosperity, the standard of admission has
not been materially raised since the foua-
cation Of the academy. The board OF
visitors, after careful consideration of the
subject, We're unanimous in the opinion
tnat the present requirements are not sufii-
ciehtly conlpre henSlVe, and that in view OF
the course to be mastered after admiss ION
elementary algebra should be added; but
iris cannot be done under the present sys-
lem without an act of Congress authoriz-
ing It, With the view of keeping ,he
standard of admission abreast with tn.
progress of education at large, and with
the standard of admission to other educa-
nonal institutions, the beard recommends
That section 1919, Revised Statutes fixing
the present standard of admission, should
be repealed and a new section should be
enacted, substantially follows:
Sec. =. Appointees for admission into the
Military Academy shall be examined in
such subjects, AT such times, and accord
ing to such regulations as may lie pre-
scrlbed from time TO time by the Secretary
of War, before they shall be admitted TO
the &c ademy.
This will make the provisions for admis-
sion to the Military Academy conform sub
stantially to those for admission 20 the
Naval Academy.
Recommendations and Estimates.
1t has been found by an expert that The
water from the mountains impounded in
the reservoirs, which supply the post, re-
quires tiltering before it can be safely used
The board says the new reservoir should
be completed at cost of $1,000. A prop
erly constructed filter with a daily capacity
of 100000 gallons is recommended The
board is unable to state what this Will
cost, but believes it can be built for about
So. 600.
The estimates submitted aggregate Sl5O,-
700, as follows: Reconstruction of library
building, $1,000; completion of the new
reservoir, $1,000; filtering beds (approXi-
mate), $4,000; grading and paving about
new academic building, $500; sidewalk
from south dock to plateau, 1900; three
sets of officers quarters, complete, $4,000;
additional appropriation for guardhouse at
south gate. SLIGO; operating room at cadet
hospital, $2.4'W; other improvements at
cadet hospital, 5000
Picked Bodies of Soldiers.
In concluding its report the board calls
attention to the fact that the soldiers on
duty at the post Of West Point are appar-
emily efficient and perform the duties re-
CURED of them in a satisfactory manner,
Dut tney are lar from models Of SOldierly
bearing and appearance. This probably
arises from the circumstance that with the
exception of the engineer company they
are detachment Of what are known as
general service men, who perform the
duties of cavalry, infantry and artillery.
and have the care of the horses used for
the instruction Of the cadets. Inasmuch as
this is a historic spot of great natural in
terest, and therefore, as well as because
1t Is the site of the Military Academy. it is,
frequently visited by foreign officers and
travellers of distinction, it is suggested that
picked battalion of infantry, a squadron
of cavalry and a battery of horse artillery
should be stationed on the reservation,
which is amply large for their accommoda-
ton. If suitable barracks and stables were
provided for them by Congress. The sub
ject Is worthy of further careful consid-
Grafton, perhaps by a board of officers,
| which if convened should furnish plans and
estimates for the necessary buildings and
improvements.
With the improvements herein recon-
mended, and which it is believed the gov
eminent can well afford to make, the Mill
tary Academy would be not only the best.
but the most complete school of the kind
| in the world, and this ought to be a mat
ter of pride and satisfaction to every Amer
lean citizen"