Evening star., 1902-08-09
MILITARY ACADEMY
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF vIsI-
TORS.
Most Important Feature is That Relat-
ing to the Proposed New Build
ings to Be Erected.

The board of visitors to the West Point
Military Academy of which Charles F..
Roe of New York was president, has made
its annual report to the War Department.
The most important feature of the report,
in view of the new buildings which are to
be erected at West Point under the legisla-
tion of the last Congress, Is that pertaining
to buildings The board says that all mat
ters pertaining to the buildings should be
acted upon by committee of not less than
three members of the academic board
selected by the superintendent of the acad-
emy, these members to submit their report
to the whole board, and any action
taken to be subject to the approval OF the
Secretary of War. This matter says the
report, SIS of so much Importance to the
people of the whole country that 1t should
be under the control of the board. 1t is
stated that the recommendation is not in
tended as reflection upon the present su-
perintendent, Colonel Mills, as the board
commends the superintendent very highly
for what he has done in the matter OF
buildings al the academy.
The board commends the regulations now
in force for the acceptance of graduates
with certificates from high schools and nor
NAL schools and of candidates having a
college standing. The report states that In
aSmuch the states and territories are
quite generally supplied with high schools
and colleges, and as West Point is tech
nical institution of the military art and
science, the entrance requirements should
be enlarged from time to time as rapidly
and extensively as practicable with the pur-
pose of permitting an extension in instruc-
ton on purely military subjects, and of
lessening the strain which now exists owing
to the large amount of elementary teaching
crowded into the four years course. The
board does not approve the suggestion that
fifth year be added to the course, or that
a preparatory school for one year should be
located near West Point for the reception
of cadets designated for the academy.
The board commends the change in the
law under which the number of cadets
shall be substantially increased, and also
commends the method of dividing classes
into small sections for purposes of instruc-
ton.
The board recommends that officers de-
tailed to teach French and Spanish be or
dered abroad for the purpose of familiariZ-
ing themselves with those languages. 1t Is
the opinion of the board that the instructors
should visit other institutions Of learning,
and that they should in other ways bring
the academy into closer relations with the
general educational system Of the country.
1t approves the fact that heads Of depart
ments and instructors are striving to place
themselves in closer touch with cadets, to
the end tnat the latter feel less restraint in
calling upon the former for necessary as
sistance. The enlarged social privileges Of
the cadets is commended and the recon-
mendation of Colonel Mills that course Of
lectures form feature of the years course
is approved.
1t is recommended that each member Of
Congress appoint a principal and first and
second alternate in order that the number
of cadets may be kept at the maximum; it
also Is recommended that the pay of the
cadet be made $50 per month, the same as
a midshipman at the Naval Academy.
In the way Of armament the board recon-
mends modern sea coast battery, consist
ing Of emplacements of two S-inch breech-
loading rifles, one six-inch gun, one fifteen
FOUNDER, one Pinch mortar and electric
plant and storage battery, and a 3O-inch
electric search light.
The report states that the board notes the
caps and the blouses of the officers do not
always appear to be uniform in appearance,
and as the cadets will pattern after their
officers, it is recommended that steps be
taken to remedy the fault.
Many features of the academy and its ad-
ministration are highly commended.