didates knowingly deficient in any of these respects should not, as many do, subject themselves and their friends to the chances of future mortification and disappointment by accepting appointments at the Academy and entering upon a career which they can not successfully pursue. Course of study and books used at the Military Academy. FIRST YEAR.-Fourth Class. Department. Mathematics Modern languages... History, geography, and ethics. Drill regulations, U. Course of study, text-books, and books of reference. Davies' Elements of Algebra. Davies' Legendre's Geometry. Ludlow's Elements of Trigonometry. Davies' Surveying. Church's Analytical Geometry. *Ludlow's Logarithmic Tables. Williams' Composition and Rhetoric. Abbott's How to Write Clearly. Meiklejohn's English Language. Smith's Synonyms Discriminated. Roget's Thesaurus of English Words. *Webster's Dictionary. De Peiffer's French Pronunciation. Keetel's Analytical and Practical French Grammar. Castarède's Treatise on the Conjugation of French Verbs. Bôcher's College Series of French Plays, Vol. II. *Spiers' and Surenne's French Pronouncing Dictionary. Practical Instruction in the Schools of the Soldier, Company and Battalion- Practical Instruction in the School of the Cannoneer-Siege and Light *Blunt's Firing Regulations for Small Arms. Use of the sword, etc.. Instruction in Fencing and Bayonet Exercise and Military Gymnastics. Mathematics..... Modern languages... Drawing.. Drill regulations, U. Practical military engineering. SECOND YEAR.-Third class. Church's Analytical Geometry. Church's Descriptive Geometry, with its application to Spherical Projections, Bass' Introduction to the Differential Calculus. Church's Calculus. Johnson's Treatise on the Method of Least Squares. Borel's Grammaire Française. Hennequin's Lessons in Idiomatic French. Revue Militaire de l'Étranger. The Weekly Figaro. Edgren's Compendious French Grammar. De Peiffer's French Pronunciation. *Spiers and Surenne's French Pronouncing Dictionary. Constructive Problems in Plane Geometry, Point Paths, Topography, and plotting of surveys, with lead pencil, pen and ink, and colors; construction of the various problems in Descriptive Geometry, Shades and Shadows, and Linear perspective, and Isometric projections; practical surveying in the field. *Reed's Topographical Drawing and Sketching, including Photography Ap- Practical Instruction in the Schools of the Soldier, Company and Battalion- Practical Instruction in School of the Cannoneer-Light Artillery; and Practical Instruction in Small-Arms Target Practice. *Blunt's Firing Regulations for Small Arms. Practical Instruction in the Construction of Ponton, Spar, and Trestle Books marked thus * are for reference. Course of study and books used at the Military Academy-Continued. THIRD YEAR.-Second class. Course of study, text-books, and books of reference. Michie's Analytical Mechanics. Michie and Harlow's Practical Astronomy. Young's General Astronomy. Michie's Elements of Wave Motion relating to Sound and Light. Tillman's Elementary Lessons in Heat (second edition). Tillman's Essential Principles of Chemistry. Tracy's Anatomy, Physiology, and Hygiene. Thompson's Elementary Lessons in Electricity and Magnetism Tillman's Elementary Text-Book of Mineralogy. Le Conte's Elements of Geology (third edition). Free-hand Drawing and Landscape, in black and white. Mechanical and Architectural Drawing, in ink and colors. *Reed's Topographical Drawing and Sketching, including Photography Ap- United States Army Artillery Drill Regulations. Tidball's Manual of Heavy Artillery Service, U. S. A. United States Army Cavalry Drill Regulations. Practical Instruction in the Schools of the Soldier, Company and Batallion— Practical Instruction in School of the Cannoneer-Sea Coast Artillery; and Practical Instruction in the Construction of Ponton Bridges; in laying Gun Cooley's General Principles of Constitutional Law in the United States. General Orders No. 100, A. G. O., 1863. Swinton's Outlines of the World's History. *Labberton's New Historical Atlas and General History. Practical Instruction in the construction of Ponton, Trestle, and Spar Practical Instruction in Military Reconnoissances, on foot and mounted; in Practical Instruction in Astronomy. Practical Instruction in the Schools of the Soldier, Company and Battalion- Bruff's Gunpowder and Interior Ballistics. Ingall's System of Exterior Ballistics. Books marked thus * are for reference. UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY BAND. WEST POINT, N. Y., June 6, 1894. SIR: In compliance with request of your honorable committee, I beg to submit the following particulars concerning the band stationed at the United States Military Academy: The band as at present constituted consists of one teacher of music (a civilian under contract) and twenty-four musicians, råted and paid as follows, viz: 1 teacher of music, per annum 6 first-class musicians (enlisted), each $408 per annum.. Total $1,080 2, 448 1, 440 2,448 7, 416 These amounts are included in the United States Military Academy appropriation bill. My experience here has convinced me that the above classification is productive of great discontent amongst the musicians, for the reason that, while a similar amount of work is required from all and there exists but little distinction in grades of ability, the second and third classes are disproportionately compensated as compared with payments made to members of the first class. The first-class men, apparently contented with their condition, reenlist at the expiration of each term of service; but those of the lower classes almost always apply for discharge at the end of the three years' term. Thus membership of second and third classes is subject to frequent change, much to the injury of the band's efficiency. And this brings in view the fact that the stipend of $20 and $17 a month, paid to second and third class men, respectively, is so small as to seriously hamper efforts made to keep those grades full with the class of musicians necessary to effectively perform the important duties required of the band at this post. Musicians in civil life equal with the grade required here receive much higher rates of compensation for their services, as may be perceived from the statement that regiments of the National Guard of New York City when in camp pay the musicians of their respective bands at the rate of $40 a man per week for duties precisely akin to those performed by the United States Military Academy band during the months of June, July, and August, not to say anything of the remaining nine months of the year. For such a period, covering about thirteen weeks, and for a band of twenty-four musicians, the expenditure of the regiments referred to would be, including bandmaster at $80 per week, $13,520; or nearly twice as much for service of twenty-four musicians for three months as the United States Government pays a similar number of musicians for twelve months' work. It is generally admitted that to maintain a good band it is necessary to have a sufficient number of properly qualified musicians adequately paid. The United States Military Academy band is too small and three-fourths of its members are inadequately paid. To overcome these defects I would suggest the band be increased in membership and pay and that the present classification be modified. To me it appears advisable the band should consist of forty musicians, as follows: 10 first-class musicians at, each, $35 per month, per year 30 second-class musicians at, each, $30 per month, per year. $4, 200 10,800 15, 000 representing an increase in the appropriation of only $8,664 a year. This addition of musicians and money would enable the authorities to maintain a band at this post fully capable of performing the duties required, and in manner such as to be commensurate with the dignity of the United States Military Academy and to fitly represent the military music of the nation. In conclusion, I would suggest the incumbent of the position of teacher of music be accorded the rank, pay, and allowances of a commissioned officer, chiefly for purposes of discipline, and also to obtain for him certain social advantages from which, as a civilian, he is at present excluded. I am, sir, respectfully, Hon. JOHN J. DAVIS, ARTHUR A. CLAPPÉ, Teacher of Music, United States Military Academy. Chairman Miscellaneous Affairs." (Through Superintendent United States Military Academy.) |