Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-05-19
OFFICIAL INSPECTION
Adiutant General W. H. Whiteman
Visits the New Mexico Mill
tary Institute.
HIS INSPECTION A SURPRISE
The Institution Found to Be in Splendid
Condition and the Discipline Excellent
Timely Recommendation by the
Adiutant General.

Adjutant General W. H. Whiteman
has submitted his report of the recent
inspection of the, Military Institute at
Roswell to the governor. General
Whiteman a greatly pleased with the
management of the institution and its
excellent discipline, as the following re-
view of his report will show.
He inspected the institution on May
s, and his visit was a surprise to the
faculty of the institution. The inspec-
ton was in every respect a thorough
one. Every room in the building, every
bed and every other piece of furniture,
the drainage, the supplies, the meals,
We're all infinitely examined.
Every room has two iron be%dsteads,
and is occupied by two students. The
bedding, etc, is nea and Clean. The
walls and floors of the building show
clearly care. The drainage of the build
ing is good. General Whiteman ate at
the mess table, and found the food
plentiful, well cooked, well seasoned,
and the meals such as are found in mid
dle-class homes throughout the coun
try.
An exhibition drill, both in company
and battalion formation, showed excel
lent instruction and thorough drill. The
arms furnished by the territory are
kept in the armory in the basement and
receive good care. Sixty-five cadets
were on duty, and were found to be pro-
ficient in the most recent system of tao
tics, even the smallest cadets being ia
miliar with modern tactics, the manual
of arms and advanced bayonet eXer-
cises. especially with the K~rag-Jorgen-
sen rifle.
The college building is a handsome,
substantial structure of brick, three
stories high, and situated One-half mile
north of the business center of Roswell.
The grounds extend over forty acres of
land, overlooking the town. The situa-
ton is a beautiful and healthy one. The
building contains thirty airy bed rooms,
besides class, rooms, kitchen, etc. These
furnishings are comfortable and sub
stantial. The building is heated by
steam and lighted with acetylene gas
The water is supplied by a 10, OO0-gallon
tank, kept filled by a steam pump.
The course of study is thoroughly
practical, and the same as that in the
public schools and in colleges, with the
addition of the art of war, theoretical
tactics and the manual of arms and
other studies generally pursued at high
class military schools.
The superintendent, Major James G.
Meadors, is a graduate of Washington
and Lee University, and is a gentleman
of fine culture, full Of energy and zeal,
devoted to the institution, ambitious to
succeed, and if properly supported will
make the institution so successful that
every citizen of New Mexico may well
be proud of it. The success already at
tanned, the progress made in a single
year. is highly creditable to the super
intendent and to his able assistants, as
we'll as to the people of Roswell, who
take great and commendable pride in
the institution. j. w. Wilson, COM
mandant, is a graduate of the Virginia
Military Institute, and is an excellent
man for the place. w. S. Fitzgerald is
a graduate of Vanderbilt University;
w. II. Whiten is a graduate of the Mas
sachusetts Institute of Technology;
Lieutenant Martini ancini is a grad
uate of the military school of Italy, and
are all gentlemen of fine appearance
and address and excellent instructors,
who give the superintendent a hearty
and loyal support. Mrs. Meadors, the
matron, is an excellent, kind-hearted
lady, who gives her whole time and
care to the institution, takes great pride
in the success of her husbands admin
rally to it's success.
The only commissioned officer at the
institute is the superintendent. who Is
a major, and aid de camp or the gov
ernor's staff.
General Whiteman recommends that
the superintendent be commissioned a
colonel, the commandant a major, and
the instructors captains. Also, that the
cadets be supplied with more suitable
arms, including sabers. He advises the
erection of another building, as at pres
ent thirty students must board in Ros-
well for lack of room at the institute.
This is apt to impair discipline. A Ii
brary, gymnasium, society halls, store
house and laundry are also urgent
needs which the next legislature should
supply. In conclusion, the general
thanks the officers of the institute and
the people of Roswell for the many
courtesies extended to him during his
visit.