Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, where they remained in camp for two weeks. The most liberal privileges as to limits were given; the regulations of the Academy were all in force, excepting that spending money was allowed. The principle under which they were expected to comport themselves was that of cheerful and willing obedience to orders, rather than a fear of detection and punishment for a violation of them. It, of course, was impossible for the officers on duty to, in a small degree, oversee or direct all their actions and general deportment when absent, and if questionable and ungentlemanly acts were committed, it was understood and expected other and older cadets more circumspect would correct and report the delinquency The few cases where the lack of proper deportment and gentlemanly conduct was raised were reported to the authorities by cadets themselves. On the return to West Point the following memorandum was published in appreciation of their excellent conduct and spirit: HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CORPS OF CADETS, MEMORANDUM. During the encampment of the corps of cadets at Buffalo and since their return, expressions of commendation and complimentary letters have been received from the Lieutenant-General Commanding the Army, the major-general commanding the department, the president and directorgeneral of the exposition, the mayor of the city, high officials of many industries, and the press, speaking in highest terms of the universal gentlemanly conduct and excellent military bearing, deportment, and efficiency of the corps of cadets. In a military organization of this character and nature it is not only impossible but undesirable that all questionable acts could be observed and should be reported by commissioned officers alone. The high moral tone that it is endeavored to inculcate here makes it incumbent on all to keep free from stain the highest standard of honor and gentlemanly conduct. As a member of so conspicuous a class and profession, every man is to a degree the keeper of the reputation of all. The few acts of questionable conduct committed were reported to the authorities by cadets themselves, and investigation indicates that these were mainly due to a lack of appreciation of the importance of extreme circumspection owing to their short length of service and association with the corps. The commandant expresses his appreciation of the united support and willing assistance given him. By order of Lieutenant-Colonel Treat: (Signed) LAWRANCE V. FRAZIER, Cadet Lieutenant and Adjutant. Investigations have periodically been held in accordance with the regulations governing hazing, the results of which show that the corps of cadets appreciate their duty as soldiers and their responsibility for the carrying out of all orders willingly and loyally. The investigations disclosed a very commendable spirit to exist and the efforts of authorities to attain the highest order of discipline have been loyally and unflinchingly seconded by the members of the corps of cadets. I desire to express my appreciation of the cheerful, willing, and able help always rendered by all the officers on duty with me in the department of tactics. Very respectfully, CHAS. G. TREAT, Lieutenant-Colonel, U. S. Army, Commandant of Cadets. The ADJUTANT UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY. HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY, SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report: The command, consisting of 353 cadets, 12 officers, 102 enlisted men, 13 civilians; 12 mules, 50 public horses, 17 polo ponies, government, and 1 private horse-80 animals in all-left West Point August 14 pursuant to instructions from the honorable Secretary of War, dated July 5, 1901. The command was transported over the West Shore Railroad, leaving West Point about 4 p. m., August 14, arriving at the Pan-American Exposition grounds about 6 a. m., August 15. The baggage was unloaded, camp pitched (the canvas having been taken from West Point, 218 tents), and the command was under cover by noon. The arrangements for subsistence had been made at a neighboring hotel; the cadets and officers at the rate of 75 cents per day, the enlisted men at 50 cents per day. The service and food were satisfactory. While in camp the corps made numerous excursions; one to the Village Farm, East Aurora, N. Y., at the invitation of Mr. Harry Hamlin, where 400 and odd of the finest bred horses in the world are located. As a token of esteem, a 2-year-old colt, now in the American Stock Register as Hamlin Cadet, No. 34815, sired by Membrino King out of an Almont mare, valued at $5,000, 2 years old August 31, WAR 1901-VOL 1, PT I-29 1901, was presented to the corps of cadets. This horse is a perfect type for confirmation and quality. He was accepted by the commandant, permission having been received from the Lieutenant-General of the Army who was present on that day. Another excursion was made to the power houses of the Niagara Power Company, Niagara Falls, where the operation of the turbines and dynamos by which 45,000 horsepower in electricity is generated was thrown open to and explained to all the cadets. The West Shore Railroad gave the whole command free transportation to Niagara Falls and return; the Pennsylvania Railroad to the Village Farm and return; the International Navigation Company gave a moonlight excursion on one of their ships over the Niagara River; the Buffalo Street Car Company gave free transportation to the corps on these excursions. The command was in camp two weeks on the grounds, and paraded daily and gave drills in the stadium, consisting of battalion drill, third and fourth classes; pack train, first class; tent pitching, third class; cavalry, troop, and bareback riding, first class; extended-order drill, third class; gymnastics and setting-up drill, fourth class; exhibition in riding, use of polo ponies, and riding over obstacles, first class. These drills occupied from an hour to an hour and a half and were attended sometimes by 20,000 people. The Lieutenant-General Commanding the Army and the major-general commanding the department, the president of the Pan-American Exposition, the directorgeneral, the mayor of the city of Buffalo, and all prominent officials and civilians in and about Buffalo each expressed his great pleasure and satisfaction with the conduct and appearance and the excellent military display made by the corps of cadets. Liberal treatment as to privileges was accorded, but a strict compliance with the regulations was exacted, the principle governing each and every man in his conduct being that regulations and orders were to govern from a cheerful and willing spirit of obedience rather than fear of detection and punishment for violations of them. The command left with seven men in the hospital, which gradually diminished to none present in the hospital on the tenth day. On the last day, owing to the arduous duties of packing, two young men were slightly overcome by the heat and returned to West Point in charge of the surgeon. They rapidly convalesced during the night and will probably be ready for duty to-day. The command left Buffalo by the West Shore Railroad at 7 p. m. August 28, arriving at West Point at 8.30 a. m. August 29. Very respectfully, CHAS. G. TREAT, Lieutenant-Colonel, U. S. Army, The ADJUTANT UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY. C.-REPORT OF THE ENGINEER OFFICER. UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY, SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report on the various branches of work assigned to me for the year July 1, 1900, to June 30, 1901. PRACTICAL MILITARY ENGINEERING. The summer course of instruction covered the period from July 5 to August 11, 1900, and was in charge of Maj. G. W. Goethals, Corps of Engineers, assisted by First Lieut. J. P. Jervey, Corps of Engineers, and First Lieut G. F. Hamilton, Tenth Cavalry. The class of 1901 received instruction in the fabrication of siege material, obstacles, spar and ponton-bridge construction, and military signaling. The class of 1903 received instruction in the practical use of surveying instruments, chiefly the level and the transit. On August 22, 1900, the undersigned was placed in charge of this work. During the month of September, 1900, the class of 1901 was instructed in the construction of the progressive infantry trench and in ponton-bridge building. At the same time the class of 1902 received instruction in military signaling and in the use of surveying instruments. From April 15 to May 15, 1901, the class of 1902 received instruction in ponton bridge building. The class of 1901, having been graduated February 18, 1901, missed its last month of instruction in practical military engineering. The course of instruction was arranged with a view to securing the best results with large classes, a limited number of instructors, and a limited period of time. But three months in each year are available for instruction, two classes being handled all the time. With but two engineer officers in the department and with the large classes now prevailing, a thorough covering of the whole subject of practical military engineering is out of the question. Only the more important subjects can be touched upon and an effort made to impart a fair working knowledge of them. The results, so far as they go, are satisfactory and valuable, but a larger number of instructors, especially during the summer months, is much to be desired. An additional engineer officer is much needed, both for this purpose and also for the proper instruction of the engineer company, which has a maximum enlisted strength of 104. THE ENGINEER COMPANY. On July 24, 1900, Company E, Battalion of Engineers, which had been stationed at the post for many years, rendering valuable service both to the post and to the Military Academy, was ordered to the Philippines for duty. It was replaced by an engineer detachment of 39 men from Companies C and D at Willets Point, N. Y., under command of First Lieut. J. P. Jervey, Corps of Engineers, until August 22, 1900, when the undersigned assumed command, Lieutenant Jervey remaining on duty with the detachment, Subsequently authority was granted to increase the detachment to 50 men by local recruiting. On March 2, 1901, Company M, Third Battalion, was organized, with station at West Point, N. Y., the engineer detachment serving as a nucleus for the new company. On June 30, 1901, the enlisted strength of the company was 85 out of a maximum of 104. The engineer command is required to furnish the larger part of the post guard, and, in addition, must furnish details to assist in the instruction of the cadets. The instruction of Company M was pushed as rapidly as possible after organization, with a view to fulfilling the above requirements. Considering the large number of recruits in the company, its progress to date has been most satisfactory. WATER SUPPLY. During the year a new water house for the storage of filtered water was commenced and entirely completed. Its capacity is 500,000 gallons. The slopes of the new filter beds were trimmed and sodded, and 400 yards of fine washed filter sand placed on the beds. The parapet wall of the dam at Lusk Reservoir was completed; also the laying of the 8-inch pipe line to Crow Nest Basin. The watchman's house, commenced during the previous year, was entirely completed, and has been occupied some months by the keeper of the waterworks. All necessary elements of the new water-supply system having been completed, the system was put in operation during the month of April, 1901, and has served the post regularly with an abundance of pure and potable water since that time. The system has not been in service sufficiently long to afford data as to the efficiency of the filters, their operation, and other details. These matters are being studied with a view to making any needed improvements and to systematize the working of the beds. The necessary features of the waterworks system having been completed, attention was turned to improving the roads and surroundings of the reservoir, filter beds, water house, and watchman's house. The road to the north and west of the reservoir was left with such grades that the wash from its surface found its way into the reservoir. This was corrected by constructing on the water side of the road a breasthigh wall of rubble, capped with bluestone. The completed length of this wall is 1,000 feet, with about 250 feet more built, but not capped. This wall is designed not only for the protection of the reservoir against contamination, but also as a measure of security for traffic. The wall should be extended as soon as possible along the entire western side of the reservoir clear to the dam. Considerable labor was applied to clearing out the valley immediately below the dam and to starting a growth of grass. Material needed for road filling on the north and west sides was obtained in part by trimming the slopes of the adjacent road and in part by starting a roadway along the east side of the reservoir extending from the dam northward. It is proposed to carry this road along the entire eastern front of the reservoir and to connect it with the road now running along the western front, thus providing a continuous driveway entirely around the reservoir. Three shallow areas on the east side of the reservoir were cut off by dry rubble walls, and the loam and peaty matter excavated from the bottom as far as the low water would permit. The results of the season's operations have greatly improved the appearance of the surroundings, but considerable work still remains to be done before the new waterworks system can be called completed. A roadway, mentioned above, should be completed around the reservoir and all roads given a good surfacing of macadam to render them permanent. Rough and ragged slopes must be trimmed and a growth of grass started to hold them; and, finally, all weeds, brush, and undergrowth in the immediate vicinity of the works should be cleared out. To carry out all these objects an additional appropriation of $10,000 will be needed. A desirable feature for the new works not yet provided for is an inlet tower to enable water to be drawn from near the surface of the reservoir regardless of the stage of the water. Such a structure, with a footbridge to the shore, will cost about $5,000, and should be built without delay. As matters now stand, the only outlet from the reservoir draws water from a depth of 30 feet below the surface when the reservoir is full. At this depth stored water is almost certain to develop odor and taste after a very short time, due to lack of aeration. An inlet tower will afford the means of drawing water from a number of points below the surface, thus insuring a supply from near the surface, where the water is under the influence of the oxygen of the air and free from the odor and taste developed during the summer months in stored water at depths below 10 feet. Careful preliminary measurements at the new water house indicate that the daily consumption of water is now in excess of 600,000 gallons, or about 400 gallons per capita. This is about double the consumption as calculated eight years ago. A portion of the increase is attributable to the increased pressure due to the greater elevation of the new water house, a portion to the increase in the population of the post, and a portion to the freer use of water, as noted in all communities having supplies. Notwithstanding the increased storage capacity obtained by the completion of Lusk Reservoir, about 92,000,000 gallons, the water supply of the post reached an alarming condition during the long-continued drought of last fall. It became necessary to issue cautionary orders regarding the waste of water and to curtail its use in certain directions. As the history of all communities shows an increasing consumption of water per capita, and as the expansion of the Military Academy plant is now in progress, I give it as my opinion that the present available supply is insufficient for the future needs of the post. The question of how this can best be remedied has been carefully considered by my immediate predecessors, and a careful review of their opinions con vinces me that the only logical and economical solution of the problem lies in the acquisition of Long Pond and its watershed of about 700 acres. This pond has a natural storage capacity of 200,000,000 gallons and is susceptible of a large increase by the construction of inexpensive works. LIBRARY BUILDING. Work has progressed steadily on this building during the year, and on June 30, 1901, contracts covering all items of construction had either been completed or were in force. An additional appropriation of $15,000 was granted by Congress in the deficiency bill to cover the cost of the interior hard-wood trim, the furniture, and the book stacks. At the close of the year the hard-wood trim was being erected and the contract for the book stacks made. The completion of the building, so far as construction work is concerned, is set for about September 1, 1901. The only item not yet definitely settled is the furniture, which was under consideration at the close of the year. The principal items of work accomplished during the year were as follows: Completion of combination slate, glass, and copper roof. Completion of steam heating, ventilating, and plumbing. Completion of plastering and ceiling lights. Completion of new window sashes throughout the building. JOSEPH E. KUHN, Captain of Engineers. West Point, N. Y. The ADJUTANT UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY, |