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The weight given drill regulations is now a trifle more than one-third of what it was in 1870, although the scope of this subject has been greatly increased since then. The weight given to conduct in 1870 was 300; at present, to all that bears directly upon conduct, 275.

At the Naval Academy offenses of the first class are awarded 100 demerits, at the Military Academy 10 demerits. By their system, cadets of bad character can be easily gotten rid of by demeriting, whereas such cases can not be so well disposed of at West Point.

Very sincerely, yours,

O. L. HEIN, Lieutenant-Colonel of Cavalry, Commandant of Cadets. Chairman of Committee on Examination, Instruction, and Discipline.

Prof. BENJ. IDE WHEELER,

APPENDIX B.

HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY,
West Point, N. Y., June 1, 1901.

SIR: I have the honor to state that I have transmitted to the Board of Visitors a number of copies of the proceedings of a board of officers convened to consider and report upon the capacity of the present plant of the Military Academy for performing the work required of it, and I respectfully recommend that the Board of Visitors give consideration to the report.

The items in the report referring to the enlargement of the cadet mess hall and the construction of a south wing to the cadet hospital need not be considered, as appropriations to do this work were made in the last Military Academy appropriation bill. The experience of the drought in this section last fall emphasizes the board's remarks about the water supply. Due to the drought the use of water from October 1 to November 26, 1900, when rain relieved the situation, had to be curtailed whereever possible, and, in consequence, the frequent bathing of cadets was considerably restricted, the swimming tank was emptied, and the important instruction in swimming was stopped. Water also had to be cut off at night from sinks and closets throughout the post, and in every possible way the use of water was restricted in an endeavor to make the supply on hand meet the absolute demand. Long Pond, which the board recommended should be purchased, is a mountain lake about 44 miles southwest of West Point. It is susceptible of quite easy connection with the present water system of the Academy. The lake is about 40 acres in extent and has a mountain watershed of about 500 acres. By building a small and inexpensive dam at the south end, the area of the lake, if necessary, can be increased to 65 acres, and its present average depth (16 feet) to about 24 feet. A thorough investigation has been made of this subject, and I believe there can be no reasonable doubt that the acquirement of Long Pond will meet every possible demand that may in future arise at West Point.

Very respectfully,

A. L. MILLS, Colonel, United States Army, Superintendent.

The PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF VISITORS.

SUPERINTENDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

MILITARY ACADEMY.

ANNUAL REPORT

OF THE

SUPERINTENDENT UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY.

HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY,

West Point, N. Y., September 24, 1901.

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report for the Military Academy for the year ending September 1, 1901:

I have been absent during the year for short periods of time in Washington in connection with affairs pertaining to the Academy, and for four weeks on leave, July 31 to August 28, 1901.

PERSONNEL.

The number of officers and instructors for duty at West Point, September 1, 1901, was 7 professors, 1 associate professor, 71 commissioned officers, 1 chaplain, 1 contract dental surgeon, 1 teacher of music; a total of 82. The total for duty September 1900, was 74. The net increase in the number of officers at the Academy is 8, the additional officers having been detailed as instructors to meet the demands of the increased size of the classes.

Important changes in the faculty have occurred during the year. Death has claimed its dean, Peter S. Michie, who died February 16 last, after thirty years of conspicuous service as the head of the department of philosophy; Col. George B. Davis, professor of law and history, has been called to the responsible office of Judge-AdvocateGeneral of the Army, and Lieut. Col. Otto L. Hein, commandant of cadets, after a tour of duty in which he brought the practical instruction of cadets to a plane of the highest efficiency, has joined his regiment. The respective offices have been filled by Capt. William B. Gordon, Ordnance Corps; Lieut. Col. Edgar S. Dudley, judge-advocate, and Capt. Charles G. Treat, Artillery Corps.

The appended roster shows the unusual number of captains doing duty as instructors, a circumstance occasioned by the rapid promotion the increased Army has brought to subaltern officers. The preponderance of captains must continue until lieutenants of sufficient length of service are available for this duty.

THE CORPS OF CADETS.

The maximum number of cadets is 482. The academic year opens with 464 cadets on the rolls of the Academy, the largest number ever belonging to it at one time. They are divided between the four classes as follows: First class, 54; second class, 97; third class, 151; fourth class, 162. Of this number 1 is a foreigner from Venezuela, receiving

instruction at his own expense under special authority of Congress. September 1, 1900, there were 429 cadets, which number included 3 foreigners.

The following changes occurred during the year in the strength of the corps of cadets: Discharged for deficiency in studies, 29; for physical disability, 2; dismissed, 7; resigned, 12; died, 1; withdrew, 2; graduated February 18, 1901, 72; graduated June 1, 1901, 2.

The date of graduation of the first class was advanced to February 18 by the Secretary of War, due to the need for officers arising from the act of Congress reorganizing the Army. One cadet of the first class was not graduated until June 1, on account of physical disability, and the other was detained until June 1 also, serving the sentence of a court-martial.

Three examinations for the admission of candidates were held during the year in March, at 11 army posts, including West Point; in June and on July 25, at West Point.

Before the different boards 308 candidates appeared. Sixteen of them, having passed the entrance examination at some former time, were examined physically only. One of these failed, leaving 15 who were admitted. Two hundred and ninety-two appeared for both the physical and mental examinations.

Seventy-seven failed to pass the mental examination (14 of them. failing on the physical examination also), and 21 who passed the mental examination were not physically qualified to enter.

Of the remaining 194 who were qualified for entrance 49 were alternates who could not be admitted, as their principals had also passed. This left 145, and with the 15 who had passed the physical examination only, made the total number of admissions 160.

HEALTH.

The health of cadets has continued good throughout the year. No epidemics of sickness or serious accidents have occurred. Their carefully regulated duties, together with the attention given to the quality and character of their food, and their hygienic surroundings in other respects, all tend to the promotion of health and the development of vigor of both body and mind. Varied military exercises of not too long duration alternate with the hours devoted to study and serve to increase the capacity for academical work, while the opportunities afforded for pleasure riding and the encouragement given to work in the gymnasium and the out-of-door athletic games of baseball, football, tennis, and golf give a necessary relaxation from the restraints. of both drill and study.

For the care of the sick several important improvements have been made in the cadet hospital during the year, noticeably the transfor mation of an old ward into a convenient and modern surgical one. The construction also of the south wing of the hospital, in accordance with the building's original plan, is about to be begun, and when this work is completed the hospital will be in an excellent condition. To make this particular service perfect, however, a detached building for the isolation and treatment of cases of infectious diseases is necessary and should be furnished. When cadets are in barracks should such a disease break out there exists no sufficient means for properly isolating a considerable number of them.

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