New-York tribune., 1902-01-12
MONEY FOR WEST POINT
LARGE SUM LIKELY TO BE
ASKED FOR.
OF FROM s5.oOoOo tn
S1o,OoO.0oo MAY BE NEEDED.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rsIsuSE.I

IBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TsIsUNEl
West Point. Jan. 11.-It seems probable that
a recommendation to Congress TO appropriate
from S5OOOO0o to S1OOOOOOO. payable in yearly
instalments. will be made by the committee of
inspection which examined the buildings of the
academy here to-day.
Official West Point the alert early
this morning to receive the delegation sent
here by Congress investigate the pres
ent condition of the academy buildings. and
TO report on the best method OF improving them.
Adjutant General Corbin, who is very ardent
champion of the effort to secure an appropria-
tion from Congress to improve existing condi-
tions. arrived here last night from New-York
to represent the army in the investigation.
When the West Shore train. TO which were
attached the special of the visitors arrived
at West Point station. about 10 o'clock, the
dlngy little station was bright with gold lace
and red and yellow stripes Of the army officers
A squadron of cavalry was drawn up to act az
an escort OF honor to the visitors. rs the train
came into the station seventeen guns were fred
by a battery the parade ground On the
steps of their the visitors were officially
greeted by Colonel Mills. the commandant of the
academy.
The delegation consisted Of General Corbin.
his assistants. Colonels Carter. Barry and John
ston; Senators Hawley, of Connecticut. Scott OF
West Virginia; Quarles. of Wisconsin. and Rep
resentatives Dick, of Ohio: Parker of New
Jersey; Sulzer. of New-York: SIayden Of Texas.
Prince. of Illinois; Stevens. OF Minnesota: Esch.
OF Wisconsin, Broussard. OF Louisiana,
Ketcharn. of New-York; Capron. of Rhode ISL
and; Frick, of Maryland; Rodey, of New
Mexico. and Snodgrass. of Tennessee
Little time occupied in the exchange OF
greetings The party entered carriages, and
were driven TO the grounds OF the academy
Here they received official salute and an
entire class was drawn up before the barracks
20 receive them.
NEEDS OF THE ACADEMY SHOWN
The inspection of the various buildings began
at once. An officer was assigned TO each of the
visitors a guide. and General Corbn and
Colonel Mills conducted the party. The gym
nasium was visited first. and here the commit
tee was shown practical example Of the utter
inadequacy of the present buildings The lin
tied space in the gymnasium permitted only a
small number of cadets to exercise at a time
and large section were waiting their turn
The barracks the classrooms and the mess
hall were next inspected. The visitors seemed
to be particularly impressed with the bad con-
ditiOns existing in the barracks, where two and
sometimes three cadets are forced to occupy
the same room These barracks are absolutely
without sanitary arrangements. Even the
drinking water to be brought from hy-
drant in the courtyard
GOOD RIDING IN SMALL SPACE
The visit to the riding hall proved the most
interesting to the visitors. For almost an hour
they watched squadron of cadets go through a
rough rider drill The nerve as well as skill
o. the riders called forth frequenu applause "I
come from bronco busting region."sa saio-
Congressman Slayden, OF Texas. but L never in
my life pluckier riding. Those boys are
all right" Colonel Mills explained to the visit
ors that squadron OF thirty-four cadets
the largest that could the present riding
hall. and that 1t is hoped that arrangements
will be made for the construction Of a hall large
enough TO accommodate 100, the actual need at
the present +t--~'
Ine preliminary inspection of the buildings
ended with the visit to the riding academy.
The visitors separated for luncheon, after which
the party was driven over the whole OF the
government property.
Tomorrow will also be devoted to a more de-
tailed inspection of the buildings. The delesa-
ton will return to Washington tomorrow
night.
Adjutant-General Corbin said to-day
We hope to be able to secure sufficiently
large appropriation, as result or this fnVestl-
CATION. not merely 70 enlarge and improve the
existing buildings. but to tear down some or
them and build new ones What we most de-
sire is to secure the adoption of some complete
system which will do away with the present
way Of patching up. The editorial in The Trib-
une this morning summed the matter I'D IN
admirable fashion
Senator Hawley expressed the opinion that
Congress would appropriate the money neces-
sary for the carrying out OF complete system
OF building like that at Annapolis.
CcIoneI Dick of Ohio, who is acting in the
place Of Congressman Hull, the chairman of the
House Committee on Military Affairs. visited
West Point at the time of the Booz investiga-
ton, and at that time spoke very decidedly in
favor of reredying the present evils
APPROPRIATION TO BE URGED
A canvass of the entire delegation revealed a
unanimous sentiment in favor Of speedy action.
As one after another of the inadequate and out
grown buildings of the academy were shown to
the visitors, and as they listened to the ex-
plantations of the officers about the immediate
large increase in the number OF cadets. they
seemed to be strongly impressed. The general
opinion expressed by them that a little later
in the session Congress will be asked to appro-t
nriate from S5OOOO00 to S10.O00.OOo. in yearly
instalments. as was done in the case of An
napolis.
Among the officers and instructors OF the corps
the feeling was very strong. While effort
was made by them to exaggerate the evils Of the
present system OF overcrowded halls and bar
racks. and everything shown in its normal
working yet pains were spared to demon
strate conclusvely TO the delegates the utter
inadequacy of the present accommodations.