The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-03-11

The following interesting letter re-
garding the New Mexico Military In
stitute at Roswell has been received
by Councilman j. o. Cameron of the
Twelfth District from Chaplain c.
C. Bateman, of the u. S. Military San
itarium at Fort Bayard. 1t is timely
especially because the Th~irty-seventh
Legislative Assembly is considering
appropriations for the maintenance
Il extension of the institute. The
letter reads, says the New Mexican:
81 take the liberty of submitting, for
your consideration, some impressions
gained during my recent visit as an
unofficial lecturer at the Military In
stitute at Roswell. do this with
great pleasure for the reason that l
found so much to commend and moth
ing to condemn. The matters that call
for improvement do not lie within the
power or province of the faculty, as
will be shown in the concluding para
graphs of this letter.
Il took occasion informally to in
spect the daily life and work of this
institution and can heartily state that
the people of this commonwealth
have at Roswell a military school in
which they nay take a just pride.
THE personnel of the faculty could
scarcely be higher or or finer. Col.
Wilson is an ideal superintendent
and fills his responsible position as
only a first rate soldier and scholar
could fill it. He is supported by a
group of officers who, without excep-
ton, are par excellence. All are de-
serving of special and honorable men
ton. but l would refer by name to
Count Martini, a former officer in the
Italian army and to Captain Barlow
of our regular army of the United
States.
ITO successfully apply military dis
cipline to a corps of cadets and at
the same time obtain the best AGA
demic results in the training of youth
who are one day to be officers in com
ma1d of armed men, it is extremely
essential that power shall be eXer-
cised by superiors whose personal
characters stand forth clear and
spotless. This condition is realized at
the Institute in the highest degree.
The personnel of the cadet corps
very naturally attracted my attention
at once l hin l am entirely safe il
saying hat you will not find a finer
battalion in any similar institution
in North America. In bearing, deport-
ment and in that something we call
snap in military formations, those
youngsters commanded my admira-
ton. In point of efficiency the boys
of Spanish descent were not a lit
behind the very best. The world will
one day hear of the men who are
now boys under Colonel Wilson at
Roswell.
Now then with such a school, one
think that facilities for con-
stantly charging usefulness would
be within easy reach. l regret TO
say that the very opposite l found to
be the fact There is practically
nothing adequate to the present need,
to mention future possibilities.
The main building is sadly in need OF
but if put in perfect condition
it will still be wholly inadequate to
present demands. I observed that
floors of this building are almost
worn through in many places: the
stairway must shortly become u1ser-
while the self-supporting cor
overlooking the court is sagglng
all around.
Every turn in the pathway of the
is beset with limitations. Ma
ny men would conclude that nothing
could be done worth the while be-
cause forsooth there is SO little to do
with. Fifty boys have been denied
du11l4lldHce SLICE Tie DtSluiAl1S Vi
current academic year for the
reason that there is no place to shell
ter them. Two nearby cottages
nave been rented and these are now
FULLY occupied by cadtes. We must
of course, that those who are
admittance are on an average
quite as bright and deserving as any
ike squad who ave been fortunate
to gain admittance into the
circle of the crack battalion
"The institution should, have at
for enlargement of h plant at
east $50 900, and this sum should be
just as 500 as the above mi
ial sum can be converted INTO the
necessary facilities.
'I indulge the hope that some
hing may be done and done quickly
relieve the situation at this popu-