6 'Cbc Conservative.
" FOIIKST DEPARTMENT , HII/TMORE
KSTATK.
BILTMOKE , N. C. , February H , 18 ! ) ! ) .
, T. STERLING MOKTON ,
Editor THE CONSERVATIVE ,
Nebraska City , Neb.
Dear Sir : Some time ago last sum
mer I had the pleasure of receiving a
note from you asking me to supply you
with some short information relative to
the Biltmore Forestry School. I was
then unable to say anything concerning
it , as I did not know whether I would
have any students to take advantage of
the opportunity offered at Biltmore.
The Biltmore Forestry School is , of
course , a more modest , on the other
hand a more practical institution , than
the forest academy at Cornell university.
I have framed the course of the forestry
school in such a way that in the run of
one whole year all forestry questions
arc talked over with the students. In
spite of being well acquainted with the
theory of forestry as being preached in
Germany , having derived my Ph.D.Sum-
ma Cum Lumle owing to some knowledge
of German forestry ways and means , I
do not think that it is worth while to
preach German forestry in this country
during the next century even. I do not
think that foresters , trained in the Ger
man way , will be required in the
United States unless German economic
and legal conditions are transferred to
the land of the Stars and Stripes at the
same time. The main differences be
tween German and American conditions
are :
First. Absolute lack of forest pro
tection by state authority in this coun
try.
try.Second.
Second. Higher taxes on forestry
land in this country than abroad ; the
taxes in Germany , for instance , being
only two pro inille on the forest value
per annum.
Third. Entire lack of a system of
well-graded and well-kept public roads
in this country , which roads in Germany
and France trench all forest sections in
such a way that the transport of forest
produce is greatly cheapened.
Fourth. Higher prices , especially of
the better qualities of lumber abroad.
To return to the scope of the under
taking at Biltmore , I can only say , that
two hours every morning are devoted to
theoretical forestry. The rest of the
day is spent in practical work in the
forest , the students participating and
superintending in winter the cutting of
trees ; in spring such nursery work and
planting as is required on the Biltmore
estate for landscape purposes ; in sum
mer road-making which is going on on
the Biltmore estate at the rate of about
15 miles a year ; and in fall preparation
for another year's run and nursery
work.
As special agent of the United States
Division of Forestry , with Mr. Vander-
bilt's permission , I have undertaken to
prepare plans for forestry work on var
ious estates in the Southern states. In
laying out plans for such work , I have
the assistance of my students , who at
the same time got fully acquainted with
the forestry conditions of various forestry
districts not only with those prevailing
in North Carolina. I consider such a
course of instruction extremely valuable
as it will ripen practical results.
From the enclosed statement some
more details relative to the course of
instruction at Biltmore may be taken.
It is worth mentioning , perhaps , that
the students get acquainted at the same
with all office work coinciding with
forestry administration on a compara
tively large scale.
Again as regards the necessary prepar
ation of a student for a course of studies
at Biltmore , I do not think it wise to
insist on a thorough college preparation
in natural sciences , mathematics , politi
cal economy and principles of law. For
estry is business. The forester is a bus
iness man. A business man has not the
time as a rule to spend three years at a
tiniversity in order to obtain a degree.
On the other hand he will be glad to
receive instruction in a condensed way
in the above-mentioned branches. It is
impossible for one human head anyhow ,
to master botany , mineralogy , zoology ,
geology , climatology , mathematics , po
litical economy , etc. , etc. All we can
do , to be absolutely honest , is to swim
on the surface and to take a deep plunge
into a science only when necessary.
The college preparation should enable
the forester to quickly master any more
complicated questions of natural
sciences , etc. , in case they come up. It
will be impossible for him to be prepared
for all emergencies a priori.
I have recently recommended to var
ious universities in the south the adop
tion"of a plan similar to the university
extension courses now spreading over
Germany and Austria. These courses
give in. a concentrated way information
in the various xmiversity branches to
business men for business purposes. I
think that a one year's course would be
sufficient for a bright young man as
preparation for Biltmore work and
hereafter practical forestry work. Af
ter having left Biltmore it will be very
necessary for him to get fully acquainted
with the lumber interests of the various
sections. This seems to me more neces
sary than a trip abroad with the view of
studying German or French forestry.
I must confess that since I came to
this country I have had to shako off so
many prejudices acquired by my educa
tion in German forestry , that I have
often wished not to have known any
thing about German forestry previous
to coming to this country.
In preparing working plans for var
ious sections of this country the leading
points are :
First. The mapping of the forests.
Second. Study of the lumber inter
ests , freight rates , etc.
Third. Stock talcing of the forest ,
viz. : ascertaining the market value of
the mature and immature stumpago.
Fourth. Ascertaining whether it is
financially wise to decrease the capital
invested in the forest by rapid lumber
ing , or to increase the capital invested
by road building , ' etc. At a certain
figure of money invested in the forests
the entire undertaking must prove most
beneficial to the owner. This figure is
the one which the forester must ascer
tain to begin with.
Fifth. Study of the rate of growth
of the various trees and of the possibili
ties of regeneration from self-sown seed.
There is no need stating that in almost
no case planting of forests by artificial
means will be found remunerative in
this country.
THE CONSERVATIVE is filling a great
social mission when advocating the
forestry interests of the West. Under
your giiidance there cannot bo any
doubt that the results achieved will bo
great. Very respectfully ,
C. A. SOHENCK , Forester.
Before the campaign for the presi
dency in the year 1000 shall have fairly
begun the utter impossibility of a second
term for William McKinley , "the reluc
tant , " will have so "expanded" that
even the place-hunters will fail to
annex themselves to his cause. His
eulogists and photographers depict
McKinley as so gigantic intellectually
and so magnificent morally that along
side of his individuality Washington ,
Jacltson , Jefferson , Cleveland , Lincoln ,
and all the other celebrities who have
ever been domiciled in the Execu
tive Mansion seem pigmies , puny Tom
Thumbs. The adulation of a man in
the presidential office is stimulated by
an increase of opportunities to secure
patronage from that office. The Span
ish war created thousands of new offices
and with each one a now fountain of
adulatory slush and gush was estab
lished and its hose turned at once upon
"the reluctant William. "
According to the Railway Agent of
Cleveland , the pennant for fast running
on American railroads has been trans
ferred from the East to the country west
of the Mississippi river. The splendid
showing made by the Burlington fast
mail trains between Chicago and Coun
cil Bluffs is what has brought about the
change. These trains now make the 500
mile run between Lake Michigan and
Missouri river at the rate of nearly 50
miles an hour including stops.
The first exclusive fast mail train for
the West left Chicago , March 11,1884.
It consisted of a mail car and a baggage
car. Two trains , one of four , the other
of five cars are now required. The
schedule of the first fast mail was 15
hours 50 minutes. The present schedule
is 10 hours 15 minutes.