United States Merchant Marine Academy - Midships Yearbook (Kings Point, NY)

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dets on ships based on their size and tonnages. These cadets were young Americans under 21 who were to hold rank as Petty Officers, be trained in the duties of seamanship and receive a reasonable pay. This proved to be an unsatisfactory way to train ship’s officers. The Jones-White Act of 1928 tried to solve the problem by repealing the previous act and bring- ing the cadet’s training under the mail subsidy portion of the law, but the harsh working conditions and low pay discour- aged young men from joining the program and few were able to obtain and sail on their licenses. In the early 1930’s suggestions began to be made to start a Federal Academy to train officers for service in the American Merchant Marine. Then in 1934 the MORROW CASTLE caught fire and in January of 1935 the MOHAWK was in- volved in a collision in which'over 150 lives were lost. These two disasters brought to light, the level of incompetence that was then plaguing the industry and on June 14, 1935 Presi- dent Roosevelt urged the formation of a Federal Academy and an officer training program. Clockwise from above: One of the campus residents. The bar- racks in springtime. The Academy Seal. A member of the band during a review. The Throgs Neck in early morning. A lone trumpeter. 5 Opening

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THE CAMPUS

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 6 Opening