Evening star., 1900-10-05
WEST POINT ACADEMY
Report Submitted by the Board Of
. "a, a Visitors.
METHODS OF INSTRUCTION PRAISED
Necessity FOR More Cadets and
j. Buildings.
STANDARD OF ADMISSION

The board Of visitors to West Point for
1900 has submitted it's report to the Secre-
tary of War.
The board met at West Point June ] and
organized by the choice of Gen. Charles F.
Henderson as president, Col. Dudley Evans
and Prof David F. Houston vice presidents
and Col. William c. Church secretary.
The board reports as result of its ex-
animation and inquiries that the United
States Military Academy Is in all Its de-
partments in condition to commend 1t to
the confidence Of the President and the
country and to the favor of Congress. The
high standards of zeal and devotion to duty
on the part of the governing faculty, the Of
ftcers and instructors and the studious ap-
plication Of the cadets of the academy are
evidenced by the results obtained.
The board was favorably impressed with
the methods of instruction and especially
comments upon the changes in tactical IN
struction, whereby each cadet Is given an
opportunity to familiariZe himself with the
duties Of officers by actual experience In
command and to acquire an intimate knoWl-
edge OF the practical side of camp lfe.
Raising the Standard of Admission.
The board considers it unfortunate that
so much time during the first year Is or ne
cessity devoted to the study OF elementary
subjects, and, for the purpose OF obviating
this necessity recommends that the stand
ard of admission be raised To inaugurate
this change the board advocates no definite
scheme of admission requirements. but
suggests that an arrangement similar 10
that which exists at the Naval Academy
should be put in force. namely. an arrange
ment whereby the Secretary or w ar Snoulu
have control over the conditions of admis-
sion, thus making 1t possible to keep the
admission requirements constantly In har-
mony with the standard of preparation pre-
vailing in the high schools OF the country,
and make at all times the best adjustment
between the requirements for ADMISSION
and the course Of study pursued at the
academy.
The board recommends that the 800 de-
posit required for cadets admitted into the
academy be made obligatory. for experience
has demonstrated the fact that the cadet
who enters without making the deposit,
and depends upon his pay to reimburse the
uuartermaSter for, advances, must continue
hopeIessly insolvent for at least the first
two years Of his course at the academy.
The board feels that 1t Is but fair that
the cadet of the Military Academy be put
upon the same footing IN regard 10 pay as
the naval cadet, who receives 500 per an
mum, plus one daily ration, cOmmuted at
80 cents making total Of $G1.JD per year,
which gives the naval cadet the advantage
of 500 80 per annum or s27S in the course Of
four years.
Increused Number of Cadets.
The board Is thoroughly impressed with
the present NECESSITY of making proper pro-
vision for the increase, made under recent
legislation, in the numerical strength OF
the corps Of cadets. This necessitates the
enlargement eef several buildings al
the post and the construction of some new
ones These changes are set forth in detail
and their necessity clearly enumerated. 1t
is estinla ed that the amount required to
make these several additions and improve
ments is less than one-siXth of the amount
now being expended at Annapolis.
The board recommends that in the altera-
ton of existing buildings and in the erec-
ton of others made necessary because of
the Increased number of cadets, and the
additional officers and employees of the
academy, who mus also be provided for,
due regard be had for the symmetry of de-
sign. economy and suitableness of the
buildings and to that end suggest the crea-
ton of permanent board, with a continu-
ing membership, to which may be referred
all matters having to do with the general
direction of the academy. The board, how
ever, Is not in any manner to Interfere with
the superintendent In the performance of
his executive duties. AS this board would
hardly be more than an advisory council,
Congress having the final word in all mat
ters involving expenses and the Secretary
of War having general power of approving
recommendations, it is thought that the
creation of the board would not meet with
any serious Objection from lnal DOCy.
Fulfilling Purpose of Creation.
The report concludes with the statement
that whatever may be said to the disadvan-
tage OF the academy at West Point by
those not in sympathy with It's purposes, no
one can examine into its methods as the
board Of visitors has done without being
satisfied that 1t is. on the whole admirably,
fulfilling the purposes Of its creation, and
I'll II ic },,
liberal treatment on the part Of Congress.
For We're the contingency Of war more
remote than il is, says the report, the
time and expenditure devoted to developing
such high ideas of patriotism, of public
duty and manly honor as are found here
would be well expended. AS II is, we would
better spare almost any other institution
for the instruction of youth than the Mill
tary Academy and its kindred school at
Annapolis"
o