The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-09
REPORT ON WEST POINT
VIEWS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF
THE BOARD OF vIsITOLs.
Suggestion Made that n Committee BE
Appointed to Attend the Construc-
ton of New Buildings.

WASHINGTON, Aug s.-The board Of
visitors to the West Point Military Acad-
envy, consisting of Charles +. Roe, New
York, president: Senator Pettus. Alabama.
vice president; George w. Childs DreXel.
Philadelphia, secretary; William r. Harper.
Chicago: A c. Howsee. Alabama; Ell Tor
rance, Minneapolis; Richard NJ. Young,
Salt Lake City: Montgomery Schuyler.
New York; Senator Quarles, Wisconsin,;
Representative Dick. Ohio. and Representa-
tive Gillett, Massachusetts, has made it's
annual report TO the War Department.
The most important feature Of the re-
port in view of the new buildings which
are 10 be erected at West Point under the
legislation OF the last Congress, is that
pertaining TO buildings. The board says
that all matters pertaining TO the buildings
should be acted on by a committee OF not
less than three members of the academic
board selected by the superintendent OF the
academy, these members TO submit their
report TO the board, and any action taken
10 be subject 10 the approval OF the secre-
tary OF war. This matter, says the re-
port, lis of so much Importance TO the peo-
pie of the whole country that IL should be
under the control OF the board IL is
stated that the recommendation is not IN
tended as a reflection upon the present SUI
perintendent, Colonel Mills, as the board
commends the superintendent very highly
for what he has done IN the matter or
/ buildings at the academy.
The board commends the regulations now
/ in force for the acceptance OF graduates
/ with certificates from high schools and
normal schools and OF candidates having
/ a college standing. The report states that
! inasmuch as the States and Territories are
/ quite generally supplied with high schools
/ and colleges, and West Point Is a tech
meal 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
! purpose OF permitting an extension In In
! struction on purely military subjects, ana
| 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 a fifth year be added 10
the course or that 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 instruction.
The board recommends that officers de-
tailed TO teach French and Spanish be
ordered abroad for the purpose OF familiar-
! izing themselves with those languages. IL
| is the opinion Of the board that the instruc-
tors should visit other institutions OF learn
| ing and that they should in other ways
| bring the academy into closer relations with
| the general educational system OF the coun-
| try. 1t approves the fact that heads OF de-
| partments and instructors are striving TO
! place themselves in closer touch with cadets
TO the end that the latter feel less restraint
in calling upon the former for necessary
assistance. The enlarged social privileges
| of the cadets is commended and the recon-
mendatiOn OF Colonel Mills that a course
| OF lectures form feature or the year s
! course is approved.
1t is recommended that each member OF
Congress appoint principal and first and
! second alternate in order that the num-
Der OF cadets may be kept at a maximum.
1t is also recommended that the paw OF
the cadet be made $50 per month. the same
as a midshipman at the navy academy.
In the way Of armament the board recon-
mends a modern seacoast battery consist
| ing Of emplacements OF two eight-inch
breech-oading rifles, one six-inch gun, one
nfteen-pounder. one twelve-inch mortar. an
electric plant and storage battery and a
thirty-inch electric searchlight.
The report states that the board notes
the caps and blouses OF the officers do not
always appear 10 be uniform in appear
ance and as the cadets will pattern after
| their officers, IL is recommended that steps
be taken 10 remedy the fault Many fea-
lures Of the academy and it's administra-
/ ton are highly commended.