Another surgeon should be assigned to the post. With a population of 1,600 to 1,800, two medical officers are insufficient. They are kept busy under ordinary circumstances, and should an unusual number of demands be made upon them it would be impossible for them to meet the situation.

DRILL IN MOUNTED EXERCISES.

The board recommends that the flat plat of ground north of the post, and inside the line of the West Shore Railroad, be put in good condition for use for mounted exercises. This plat is triangular in shape and is about 350 yards on the long side north and south by 250 yards on the west side. It is proposed to use this ground for an outdoor or summer riding school, where obstacles, such as fences, ditches, etc., can be made for instruction in cross-country riding and similar exercise. At present this ground is level, but the material used in filling when the railroad was built is stony, on which a good sod cannot be grown. A filling or cover of 8 or 12 inches of good loam or fertile earth would make this place a splendid drill ground for exercises already mentioned as well as for sports for cadets and enlisted men, target practice, and innumerable similar purposes. The present cavalry drill ground is as firm and hard as the usual macadam road. is wearing on animals and dangerous in case of accidents or falls and much too close to barracks and quarters for cavalry exercises. This green with a good, firm grass sod would be of great value to the Academy for drill purposes.

OBSERVATION ON ATHLETICS.

It

The board interviewed the Superintendent of the Academy on the effect of athletics upon the corps and upon the relation of the corps to the sister branch of the service. He stated that the cadets who composed the base ball and foot ball teams compare favorably in their classes in academic standing with those who did not participate in these games. The Superintendent stated emphatically that he considered athletics a benefit to the Academy. He said that while there might be a temporary falling off on the part of those who compete for sports during the period of competition, that when the contests were over they invariably regained what they had lost, and that in the end the general effect on the student body was advantageous. These athletic practices and contests give variety and spice to the life of the cadet, take his mind off of study, and afford mental relaxation which, on the whole, is very beneficial. No cadet who is not above the average in class standing is allowed to participate in any of the games exciting the greatest interest. The Superintendent stated that while the first games played between Annapolis and West Point caused some rivalry, yet it was of a good-natured character, and there was no question about the games bringing the two institutions close together.

SEACOAST AND MOUNTAIN BATTERIES.

West Point should have a modern seacoast battery and a modern mountain battery. The equipment for the instruction of cadets is excellent and up to date in all respects with these two exceptions. These batteries should be model batteries. The mountain-gun battery

should be such as have been so successfully used in the Philippines. Instruction in this practice is certainly most essential. These guns are carried by pack mules and would be of great advantage in our Indian warfare. In Cuba and the Philippines their value has been demonstrated beyond question.

PAY OF CADETS SHOULD BE INCREASED.

The board, following recommendations made by previous boards, would emphasize the necessity of increasing the pay of cadets at the Military Academy. This pay is now $540 a year, and out of it he

for his entire maintenance, with the exception of heating the barracks. The pay of the naval cadet is $500 a year and a ration, which is commuted at 30 cents a day, so that it exceeds the pay of the military cadet by $69.50. It has always been the intention of Congress to give the cadet sufficient pay to provide for his entire maintenance at the Academy and cover all his expenses while a cadet, it being contemplated that he would have sufficient money when he graduates to purchase his equipment. Four dollars a month has been retained from his pay and placed to the credit of the equipment fund, making at the end of four years $192, as is shown by an itemized statement published with this report. This is not half enough to provide the graduate with his uniform and equipment. In the matter of pay the military cadet should be placed on the same pay as the naval cadet. This would give the military cadet an increase of $69 a year. This would double his equipment fund and leave him a slight balance for athletic and other expenses. The board ascertained that unless a cadet has means of his own, and as a matter of fact a majority of them have not, he goes into the service in debt, and in nearly every instance where young soldiers have fallen by the wayside their downfall can be traced to the unfortunate fact that they started out in debt and were never able to lift the burden.

IN CONCLUSION.

In conclusion the board would say that in its opinion no fair-minded, patriotic American can visit West Point, investigate the methods of education, the daily life of the cadet and all the drill and training inci- · dent to a four years' course and not feel a genuine admiration for and pride in the institution. We doubt if there is another place in the country for the education of young men where they have such incentive to industry, and are brought to so high an appreciation of the value of time as at the West Point Military Academy. Apparently every minute is utilized. The pure democracy which characterizes the institution is above all things to be commended. It is the people's school and during the course of four years the son of the rich man and the son of the poor man live on the same plane. No favors are shown at West Point. Members of your committee talked with cadets who came from the humble walks of life, and, in response to inquiry as to whether preference were shown the sons of prominent families, or of officers who had rendered distinguished service to the country, they were quick to respond that no such charge could be made. On the - contrary, they almost invariably asserted that the path of the cadet whe came from an unknown and unpretentious family was smoother than

than that of his classmate whose family name might be familiar to the world. The atmosphere is one of equality, the environment a continuous reminder that worth and merit, virtue, integrity, courage, and kindred attributes of noble manhood were the essentials to success, promotion, and distinction.

It is the firm and sincere conviction of every member of the board that Congress should give attention to the pressing needs of this historic institution, planning for it and making appropriations, to the end that in the near future the Military Academy, by reason of its matchless equipment as well as its great name, may be an inspiration and source of pride to the people of the Republic, and, at the same time, attract the attention of the world.

J. M. SCHOFIELD,

Lieutenant-General U. S. A., Retired,

President of the Board.

DANIEL E. SICKLES,

U. S. A., Retired.

J. WILLIAM WHITE.

ROBERT C. HEATON.

BENJAMIN IDE WHEELER.
W. H. UPHAM.

JOHN ALLISON.

JOHN KEAN.

T. M. MAHON.

JAMES HAY.

C. B. LANDIS, Secretary,

Board of Visitors.

COMMITTEE ON INCREASE IN SCOPE OF THE ACADEMY.

WEST POINT, N. Y., June, 1901. SIR: Your committee on increase in scope of the Academy has the honor to submit the following report:

The committee has carefully examined into the condition of the plant of the Military Academy, with reference to its suitability for the present needs and for the demands which will be made upon it in the immediate future. This plant consists of the military reservation of 2,340 acres, and the buildings erected upon it (163 in number) of various sizes and ages, built as authorized from time to time by Congress in the last one hundred years.

The representation in the corps of cadets being based upon that in the Senate and in the House of Representatives of Congress, it has grown from time to time with the growth and population of the country. Under the act of Congress of June 6, 1900, and the late reapportionment of Representatives, the maximum number of cadets is now 511; and to properly accommodate and train this number of young men your committee finds that the present plant of the Academy is entirely inadequate in many of the most essential respects, a fact which will be apparent when it is stated that of the buildings directly in use by cadets themselves only three (the Academy building, and the mess hall, and cadet hospital, provision for enlarging which has already been made) are of sufficient size to properly accommodate the number of cadets now appointed to the Academy.

The committee finds, upon inquiry and examination into the subject,

that the increases in the existing plant, which have been from time to time authorized, have been made piecemeal as necessity demanded and as necessary appropriations could be obtained from Congress.

The time has arrived now, however, when, in the judgment of your committee, it is essential to the efficiency of the Military Academy that a carefully considered plan should be made for such additions as are necessary, so as to avoid any temporary makeshifts or inadequate construction, which would be in the long run extravagant and wasteful, as well as damaging to the dignity and beauty of the grounds as a whole.

It is the recommendation of your committee that the Board of Visitors make earnest recommendation to Congress to provide a suitable appropriation for the carrying out of a comprehensive plan of enlargement of the Academy, and such a plan, in the opinion of your committee, should provide not only for the present and immediate needs of the Military Academy, but it should be arranged so as to admit of any future extension that may come without disarranging the harmony of the whole.

With this end in view your committee, after a careful and full examination of the subject, begs leave to submit to the Board of Visitors, as an approximate statement of the needs of the Military Academy, the appended estimate of an appropriation for enlarging it, which was submitted to Congress by the honorable Secretary of the Treasury and in accordance with the recommendation of the honorable Secretary of War. To which may be added the necessary expense for the increased water supply.

C. B. LANDIS.
W. H. UPHAM.
JOHN KEAN.
JAMES HAY.

JOHN ALLISON.

The SECRETARY OF THE BOARD OF VISITORS,

Present.

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS.

WEST POINT, N. Y., June 6, 1901. SIR: The committee on buildings and grounds has the honor to submit the following report:

A general examination of the buildings and grounds has been made and shows that excellent care is taken of all the buildings connected with the Academy. The attractive appearance of the grounds also gives ample evidence of the constant care and industrious supervision exercised in reference to them.

As another committee of your Board is considering the subject of the capacity of the present plant of the Academy for doing its work, this committee has confined its work to such matters as demand immediate attention.

The outlet of one of the main sewers of the post is on the tidal flats in the vicinity of the south dock. These flats are becoming each year more exposed at low tide, and already the effluvia from exposed sewerage is at times very perceptible and offensive. This objectionable and dangerous condition to health should be remedied without delay, and it is recommended that an appropriation should be made to carry the outlet of this sewer into deep water.

The two schoolhouses of the post are inadequate in their facilities to carry on the essentials of education for the large number of children who attend them, and your committee recommends that both schoolhouses be remodeled and their capacity increased. These buildings should also be supplied with the ordinary sanitary conveniences, together with an outfit of desks and proper school apparatus, which are now quite lacking.

The water mains of the post need attention, and additional fire hydrants should be provided for ready access in case of fire. At present there are not a sufficient number of hydrants, and many of those in use are practically worn out. In places a stream of water could be gotten to a building only by laying several thousand feet of hose, and under such circumstances it would be impossible to gain control of a fire. Many of the water mains, especially the one leading to the hotel, are insufficient to supply the adjacent buildings with sufficient water, and should be replaced by mains of much larger capacity.

A material increase in the number of officers' quarters is also an imperative necessity, and your committee begs leave to recommend that seven sets of quarters be provided to accommodate officers now on duty at the Military Academy, for whom adequate quarters do not now exist.

The extension of building toward the south end of the reservation makes necessary a considerable appropriation for roads. An important road, extending from the south dock to the south end of the reservation, has been projected, and as it will relieve the main road passing through the Military Academy grounds from much of the traffic that comes from the settlements south of the reservation, a liberal appropriation is recommended to carry this work to completion.

Additional funds are also necessary to complete the important work under way in connection with the sea wall extending north from the south dock, and the necessary appropriation should be made.

Among minor items, for which appropriations will be necessary in the immediate future, are additional sinks in connection with the enlarged cadet encampment; the rebuilding of the engineer boathouse which is used for housing boats and barges required for instruction of cadets, and which is in bad condition and likely to be wrecked by storms. The work under way in the vicinity of the storage reservoir, and which is intended to relieve this reservoir of all surface drainage and vegetable growth which might contaminate its water, also should be continued until completed. And, finally, a liberal appropriation is recommended in order to complete the improvements that are under way in connection with the post cemetery. The piece of rough land to the west of the present cemetery has been incorporated into it, and its grounds should be cleared and beautified in accordance with the plan that has been carefully worked out regarding it. The hotel is so old and its accommodations so meager that the Board of Visitors can not be properly provided for, and your committee strongly advises that something be done to remedy this condition.

The SECRETARY OF THE BOARD OF VISITORS,

JAMES HAY.

J. WM. WHITE.
JOHN ALLISON.
W. H. UPHAM.

United States Military Academy, West Point, N. Y