with the details of important works, and often changes the plans of the work, resulting in a waste of time and materials.
A good idea of the frequency of this kaleidoscopic change may be obtained from an exhibit of the dates of retirement of the ranking officers of the corps, which involves generally a movement all along the line, with some changes of stations.
The present Chief's term will expire in 1888, that of his successor in 1889, the next in 1891; five officers go out in 1895, one in 1896, one in 1897, one in 1899, one in 1900, three in 1901, etc.: so that there will be about an average of one change each year.
The time of the officers in charge is largely consumed in administration; their duties are varied, and their works often too remote from their stations. It not infrequently happens that an officer stationed at New York may be in charge of works extending from Florida to Long Island and from the source to the mouth of the Mississippi. Another stationed at New Orleans may be connected with works in New York or on the Great Lakes.
Another defect consists in the fact that the government makes no provision for educating specialists for these most important branches of the public service. The Military and Naval Academies are primarily for supplying officers for the army and navy, but of the members of the Corps of Engineers only the second and a few of the first lieutenants are assigned to purely military duties. These, with a few others, making twenty-two in all, are connected with the Engineers' School of Application and Battalion of Engineers at Willit's Point. Twenty-one officers are in charge of fortifications scattered over the United States, but all have civil duties to perform on river and harbor work in addition. This is generally true of the entire corps, excepting the second lieutenants: so that of the one hundred and nine members all but twelve may be said to be engaged on civil works.
As it has been broadly asserted that the curriculum at West Point is eminently adapted to prepare its graduates for such occupations, it will not be out of place to make a statement of the amount and character of the instruction given as contrasted with that of any technical school in good standing, that more correct and intelligent impressions may prevail as to the fact.
A comparison of the "Regulations" of 1883, issued under Hon. Robert T. Lincoln, Secretary of War, with those of 1857, under Jefferson Davis, shows no material change in the subjects of study or in assignment of hours; and a prominent member of the Academic Board has recently stated that for more than forty years the division of time has been substantially the same as now. In fact, the restrictions upon a change of the curriculum or text-books are almost prohibitory, and tend to fossilize the course of instruction.
To what a limited extent studies adapted to the requirements of professional civil life are pursued will be seen from the following extract from the latest "Regulations."
Article III. Course of Instruction.
"22. The studies which shall be pursued, and the instruction which shall be given, at the Military Academy, are comprised under the following heads:
