H 



POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



number of cadets for which the present barracks was built. The 

 difficulty was the greater because of the limited space apparently at 

 command. The steep hill on the south seemed an obstacle to additions 

 in that direction, while the gymnasium on the west occupied ground 

 that could otherwise have been used. Previous to the submission of 

 the work to competition, there was a studied examination of the entire 

 subject of enlargement by a board of officers detailed for the purpose, 

 and one of the professors at the academy — Professor Larned of the 

 department of drawing- — ^made a special study and comprehensive re- 





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Riding Hall and Post Headquarters. 



port.. Among the officers there was developed considerable difference of 

 opinion and these divergent views have been set forth in a majority and 

 minority report. The enlargement of barracks was a point upon which 

 the difference of views was especially pronounced; in effect the prob- 

 lem that the architects were called upon to solve was, or seemed to 

 be, solely to decide whether the barrack buildings should be extended 

 on a line parallel to the west side of the plain, or whether a closed 

 quadrangle should be formed by a series of so-called divisions south 

 of the present sally-port and upon the line now that of the southerly 

 side of the ' area-of-barracks. ' 



The successful architects, adopting neither of these suggestions^ 

 have happily (at least so it seems to an old graduate) hit upon an ex- 

 pedient by which all the advantage of expansion is gained, and with- 



