Rocky Ford enterprise., 1909-10-29
CHANCE FOR MIDDIES.
Two Vacancies in Naval Academy tt
be. Filled.

desires may nave an opportunity ~
enter the navy the Enterprise gives
space to the following letter from
Congressman Taylor, who has the
appointment of two "middies" in I'm
Gle Sans navy:
lowing to failure of two of the
midshipmen appointed by my prede..
cessors, Congressman Brooks and
Cook, there are two vacancies in the
United States Naval Academy at An
naDolis to be filled by me. In order
that every boy in the state, who de-
sires to enter the navy, may have a
fair and equal opportunity to realipe
his ambition, l have determined to
select the candidate by competitive
examination.
This examination will be held at
the State Capitol in Denver, on De-
cember 18th and goth, 1909. l make
the announcement this far in advance
SO that all qualified young men may
have full notice and ample opportun-
ity for preparation. The examination
will be conducted by non..partisan
board of eminently qualified cduca-
tors and physicians.
Every candidate must be between
sixteen and tewnty years of age on
the third Tuesday in April, 1910, when
the official Government examination
will be held.
Every candidate between sixteen
and eighteen years of age must be
at least five feet and two inches tall;
| and not less than five feet and four
inches between eighteen and twenty
years; and the minimum weight at
sixteen years is one hundred and five
pounds, with an increase of not less
than five pounds for each additional
year or fraction of a year owed one
half.
The Government requires him to
be sound, mentally and physically,
and | will require him to be of good
habits and clean morally, before l
will appoint him as midshipman to
represent this state.
The boys who have been sent from
this state to West Point and Annap-
oils in former years, have been SPLEEN
did young men of whom we have all
been justly proud, and hope that
the midshipmen l appoint will at
least equal the standard set by their
predecessors. They will be repre-
sentativcs of Colorado. the same as
] am, only their position is likely to
be for life while mine is necessarily
| temporary. | hope to select two
splendid young men of whom the
state will be proud, and whose char
acter and habits are such that they
will be worthy examples to the boys
of the state that thus honor them;
and will say in advance to all young
men who contemplate taking this cx-
animation that ! do not believe that
any boy who is at that age n chronic
or excessive cigarette smoker. would
ever reflect credit upon the Ccnten-
NAL state.
l will appoint two principals and
six altcrnatcs, in the order of their
standing.
All eight of these appointecs will
then prepare for the Government cx-
animation, which will be held first in
this state, on April 10Th, 1910, at Den
yer, Durango, Fort Collins. Grand
Junction, Pueblo and Trinidad. all on
the same day; and those who DO not
take the examination at either OF
those places at that time may go TO
the Naval Academy at Annapolis and
take the regular examination on June
2Ist, 1910.
Ii either or both of the boys whom
l appoint as principals, fail to fill any
OF the requirements OF the mental
or physical examination, the appoint
ment will go to the first alternate,
provided he successfully passes. II
a principal and first alternate both
admitted, if he fills the requirements.
and if not, the appointment will go
to the third alternate, If he passes.
and SO on.
1t often happens that the principal
and all three alternates fail. So that
every strong, healthy and natural
sized boy who has improved his edu-
cational opportunities in the schools,
and has gone as far in the high
school branches as the completion
of geometry. has a possible opportun-
ity of this appointment
l will be glad to send every young
man who thinks he can meet the re-
quirements, and who really intends
to take the examination, a copy OF
the rules and regulations governing
the admission to the Naval Academy
as midshipman; and l think | can
also procure and send to each OF
them, some of the examination pa
pcrs that have been used at Annapo-
lis during the past few years.
l have no appointment to West
Point this year. But in December OF
next year, l will probably have the
appointment of a cadet to West Point
and another midshipman to Annap-
oils.
I am taking the liberty OF writing
you thus fully and thereby answer
ing many questions in advance, be-
cause of the number of urgent appli-
cations for and inquiries concerning
these appointments that / have re-
ceived. | am confident that there arc
many boys, as well as their parents,
among your readers who arc interest
ed in this matter, and believing that
you will as matter of general inter
est be desirous OF so advising the
public, and thanking you for the
courtesy of such mention of the mat