New-York tribune., 1902-08-09
REPORT on WEST POINT.
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY The
BOARD OF VISITORS TO THE
MILITARY ACADEMY

-,,.,.., a,,s s-7he Board of Visitors TO the
zvast paint Military Academy, consisting OF
Charles F Roe. of New-York- presldehl' Heo r
pestus of Alabama. vice-fresloehI' "eoi -,
S-hilds DrexeL of Philadelphia. secretary IT. ~
Faseor william R Harper. Of Chicago a -
1Iozvzee Of Alabama: Ell Torrance, Of Mnneapo-
,,s- Richard NJ Young of Salt Lake CITY; MONT
,,o,ozrv schuyler Of New-York; Senator Quar1es.
Of wisconsin; Representative Dick. of Ohio ana
Representative Gille't. Of MASSACHUSETTS, mas nidu
its annuai report TO the War Department
The most important feature Of the report IN
view Of the new buildings which to be erected
ct West Point under the legislation OF the Iast
Congress- is that pertaining 10 buildings Inc
hoard saws that all matters pertaining to the
buildings should he acted by committee OF not
less than three members of the academic board Sc
lected by the Superintendent OF the academy these
members TO submit their report 10 the whole BOARD
and any action taken TO be subject to the approNdl
Of the Secretary of War. This matter" says the
report ''is of much Importance TO the people Oh
the whole country that it should be under the con-
troll of the board" is said that the recornmehoa-
ton is not intended reflection on the present
s1,uerintendent Colonel Mills. the board com
rnends the superintendent highly for what ne mas
Gone in regard to buildings al the academy
The board coTnmends the regulations now in force
for the acceptance Of graduates, with certificates
from high schools and normal schools, and OF can
Sidates having a college standing The report say
that as the States and Territories are generally
West Point is a technical institution of military
srt and science. the entrance requirements should
be enlarged from time to time as rapidly and ex-
tensively practicable. with the purpose OF per
-itting an extension instruction purely mill
ifary subjects. and of lesssning the strain which
now exists owing the large amount Of elementary
teaching crowded into the four years course The
board does approve the suggestion that hfth
year be added to the course or that Irepaf Hol!
eefool for should be located near W est
Point for Ihe reception of caoets designated Tor the
academy. -, z
which the number of cadets is to be substantial!
Increased. also the method OF ClVldlnS classes
into small sections for purposes oI instructlo?r-z
The board recommends that nIncerS detaiieo to
teach French and Spanish be ordered abroad tor
the purpose If making themselves fannlliar Win
these languages 1t the opinion that the instruc-
they should in other ways bring the ACADEMY
into closer relations with the general educational
sssSs NJ denartnents and Instructors are striving
to place themselves in closer touch with the caoeS
10 the that the latter feel less restraint N cal-
the former for necessary assistance Inc Ell
1areed social privileges of the cadets are com
,ne1ded and the recommendation of Colonel Mills
that course Of lectures form d feature "I liie
yesr's course is approved
N is recommended that each member of Congress
sppoint principal and first and second alternate
the maximum Ii Is also recomInellded tlat tHe
nav of the cadet be made se9 month, the same as
that of midshinman at the Naval Academy. .
In the way Of armament the board RECOMMENDS d
modern seacoast battery, consisting OF emplace-
nents of s-nch breech loading rifles one 6-lnch
gun 15-ponder. one l2-inch mortar an eiectric
1lant and storage battery and a 50-inch electric
The report SAYS the board notes that the caps
Tear to be uniform in appearance. and. taS the
will after their officers II Is recon-
znended that he taken to remedy the fault
Many features Of the academy and its adrninistra
xiOn are highly commended.