Biltmore Forest Fair, 1908

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MR. JOLLEY is professor of history at Mars Hill College, Mars Hill, North Carolina. He is pres- ently on leave and is the historian for the National Forests in North Carolina, headquartered in Ashe- HARLEYE. JOLLEY ville. His assignments include study of the "Cradle of Forestry," the location officially designated by the U.S. Forest Service as the starting point of forestry in Ameriwa. Undesignated photographs supplied by the author.

6 FORESTHISTORY ometo tbjefair! timber stand improvement cuttings, and tree plant- is a familiar invitation that annually ing gave Vanderbilt the distinction of having the IIJhEl*I first scientifically managed forest in America. j 1irings E 1 throughout the land as autumn -- JJ approaches. "Come to the fair!" was Other interests caused Pinchot in 1895 to relin- also an invitation sent out in 1908 from the famed quish the role of Biltmore forester. His successor Biltmore Estate near Asheville, North Carolina, by was a brilliant young German Forstmeister, Carl Carl Alwin Schenck, resident forester. But his in- Alwin Schenck, freshly armed with a summa cum vitation was unique. Dancing bears, bearded ladies, laude Doctor of Philosophy degree from the Uni- and blue-ribbon farm products were not his featur- versity of Giessen. Determined to make a success ed attractions. He offered instead a three-day in America, Schenck focused all of his forestry excursion through the vast Biltmore Estate to skill on transforming Vanderbilt's forest into a demonstrate the accomplishments and possibilities national showpiece, the example par excellence of of practical forestry at a time when even the word successful practical forestry. It was to this forest forestry had a most uncertain meaning. Probably representing the labors of Olmsted, Pinchot, and no fair ever had a more energetic, enthusiastic, and Schenck that leaders of education, business, and competent majordomo, despite the fact that politics were invited. To make the bid more allur- Schenck was truly a stranger in a strange land - ing, Schenck infused his invitation with the idea a citizen of Germany steeped in German scientific that the fair was celebrating two outstanding for- forestry and filled with the Prussian concept of estry landmarks: the twentieth anniversary of authority. practical forestry in America and the tenth anni- Schenck's fairgrounds were the forests of the versary of Biltmore Forest School, the first forestry seigniory created by George W. Vanderbilt II, in school in the nation.2 the Appalachian mountains of North Carolina. Economics and politics also played a role in They represented the aesthetic skill of the nation's prompting the fair. The school needed money and most renowned landscape architect, Frederick Law the 10 dollar gratuity asked of each visitor would Olmsted, as implemented by the scientific forestry appreciably bolster the Biltmore "hospital fund." skill of Schenck and his predecessor, Gifford Pin- Moreover, the depression that had severely affected chot. But the practical-minded Schenck described the nation's lumber industry in 1907 also deprived his offerings as "3,000 acres of forest obtained by the school of income it normally received from the planting on abandoned fields; 40,000 acres of wood- Biltmore sawmill. lands which were rescued from wretchedness by Politically, Schenck was concerned lest the Dem- Mr. Vanderbilt since 1888; 90,000 acres of prime- ocratic candidate, William Jennings Bryan, win val forest wherein conservative logging is intro- the 1908 presidential election instead of the Repub- duced tentatively and gradually."1 lican, William Howard Taft: "If Taft was elected The forest lands were, in reality, an adjunct to I could hope for a recovery of my lumber business the Biltmore Estate proper and were begun only on which the financial maintenance of my depart- when Olmsted advised Vanderbilt that a forest ment and of my tree farms was depending. ... was a prerequisite for a baronial estate. There- Fortunately for me Taft was elected. Most for- after Vanderbilt pursued acquisition of the run- tunately, because now I could hope for a success down lands adjoining his and made a deliberate for that grand Biltmore Forest Festival. . .3 effort to convert those holdings into attractive and The festival's sponsor, widely known as "Doctor remunerative forests. Thus in 1890 Robert Doug- Schenck," would have been characterized by his las and Sons, an Illinois nursery firm, made the countrymen as a Realpolitiker, a man keen-witted initial efforts at reforestation on a 300-acre tract. and ambitious enough to capitalize on and make When he was advised that his forests would require the most of all opportunities. Hungry for success, the direction and supervision of a professional, he became one of the most flamboyant and con- Vanderbilt secured the services of European-trained troversial figures in pioneer American forestry. His Gifford Pinchot, who began his pioneering activities as Biltmore forester in January, 1892. Pinchot's 2Schenck's school began operation on September 1, 1898. drawing of a working plan for the entire forest, On September 22 or 23, 1898, Bernhard E. Fernow taught the first forest class at Cornell's New York State College of Forestry. Compare S. L. Frost, "The Plymouth Rock of 'Letter, Schenck to C. H. Miller, editor, Country Life Forestry," American Forests, 56 (July 1950) p. 15 with in America, November 16, 1908. Drawer 1, Folder 8, Bilt- Andrew Denny Rodgers III, Bernhard Eduard Fernow: more Room, D. H. Hill Library, University of North A Story of North American Forestry (Princeton: Prince- Carolina at Raleigh. The Biltmore Room is the recog- ton University Press, 1951), p. 262. nized depository for primary sources dealing with Schenck 3Carl A. Schenck, "The Dawn of Private Forestry in and his forestry activities in America. Unless otherwise America," (unpublished manuscript in Forest History So- indicated all cited material originated from that source. ciety Collection, Santa Cruz, Cal., n.d.), pp. 241-42.

APRIL 1970 7 forest fair was a bold and unique bid for publicity rank. The teasing letter to be sent out to the and recognition. representatives of the United States Forest Service in Washington, was the briefest and the Preceding events greatly facilitated his endeavor. D.C., gist Almost from the beginning the Vanderbilt estate of it was "I'll promise to you three of the most had been given widespread national and inter- interesting days in the woods which you have had There can national publicity. For example, as early as Feb- for a long time. be no doubt that the lessons in forest conservation ruary, 1894, the conservation-minded editor of object offered at Biltmore are not on this Garden and Forest was describing the forest oper- duplicated anywhere side ations on the Vanderbilt estate as a "most impor- of the water." tant step in the progress of American civilization."4 The invitation to the governors took another approach. For the of Moreover, in the brief years that Schenck had example Governor Nevada was "You are I been in America, 1895-1908, tremendous publicity told, going-so understand-to had been generating an awareness of the national attend the 'Conservation' Congress at Washington in am need for conservation of natural resources, includ- the early days of December. I not. I was ing timber. Well cognizant of this and of the not asked to attend either; powerful men only are invited, and the meek are to be uniqueness of the Biltmore forest, Schenck's stag- only blessed." ing of a forest fair reflected his astuteness. That Then the Governor was invited to come to the astuteness was duplicated throughout the fair from Biltmore Forest Fair but was warned that "At conception to completion. our forest fair there will not be any reception committees, nor any burning of incense; you need not bring along that elocutional barrel organ of onths before the event Schenck laid yours. . . . Our forest fair is a small affair and out the whole thing and methodically you will not attain any halo for attending it, nor pursued the great diversity of details will George Vanderbilt entertain you royally at required to make it a success. His Biltmore House." And then the punchline was diary for 1908 is replete with entry after entry delivered: "Stop over at Biltmore enroute to Wash- relating undeviating attention to matters calcu- ington: accept this invitation for what it is meant lated to achieve the greatest impact from the fair. to be an expression of our desire to have two or Those matters included the task of getting the three of the aristocrats (which translates into local display items in readiness. Areas to be visited best rulers) of the United States with us when were designated and consecutively numbered. Num- we celebrate at Biltmore the twentieth anniversary erous photographs were taken to illustrate visual of American Forestry practiced in Dixie Land." aid materials. Local arrangements were made for The addressees were told to wear a pair of good housing, feeding, and entertaining the guests. But shoes because not only would there be hikes the bulk of preparation was channeled into two through the forest but a 'possum hunt was to be areas; selecting the names of persons to be invited part of the scheduled festivities. To this attraction and wording their invitation in a manner to attract North Carolina's Governor R. B. Glenn, renowned an affirmative response, plus the making an of for his humorous remarks, replied that prior com- attractive booklet to serve as an illustrated guide mitments prevented him from appearing but that for those who came. Neither was a simple matter. "If I could have come I would have worn my old With the invitations Schenck was determined to breeches and patched coat and if mounted in any attract prominent persons, men of influence, whose style would have adopted the democratic mule favorable comments for would be a great asset. And locomotion. I would also have been for the booklet he a first class labored to compose a guide that aide in the 'possum hunt, for I would not swing an axe with only attract the reader's attention but a great deal of would fill power, and I certainly would have him with information and even enthu- made a 'full siasm hand' in eating the 'possum after he about the great accomplishments being dem- was caught." onstrated. The opposite approach to this flippant reply Schenck's dossier does not indicate schooling came from the Executive Chamber in in the art of Albany, New promotion but a modern day public York, where Charles relations Evans Hughes sent his regrets man might envy the finesse with which because "My work is so he handled exigent at this time that the invitations and other aspects of I can not be away." the fair. He divided the invitees hierarchically, with United States Senators ranked at the top. Surely more pleasing to Schenck was the re- He devised form letters to send members of each sponse made by Curtis Guild, Jr., of Massachu- setts, who, unable to come, delegated the state 4Garden and Forest, VII (February 21, 1894) p. 71. forester as his deputy and avowed that "I am

8 FORESTHISTORY particularly interested, as you know, in the res- ticularly to you. Regardless of prior engagements, toration of the New England forests, and you COME!" certainly at Biltmore have prepared for us all a In addition to the support of his forestry col- magnificent object lesson." leagues, Schenck hungered for favorable nation- Meanwhile to the United States Senators there wide publicity. He phrased and rephrased a letter went a letter deliberately phrased to act as a to the editors of periodicals. His finished product banderilla stinging the recipient into action. The took up three legal-size sheets of paper. It began opening sentence declared, "I admit that you have with this lengthy sentence: "The reading public, never shown any outward evidence of a decided and which is the thinking public, is interested nowa- deep interest in forestry. . . . 'Conservation' is a days in the upbuilding of the American common- noun with you; with us it is 20 years old." But wealth, economically and socially and particularly the sting was somewhat softened by the follow-up: in the conservation of the resources which have "Nevertheless, being told that you have something given this country such paramount importance in of an inclination toward forestry and forestry con- the Concert of Nations during the last 20 years." servation, this note means to say that you are twice Then, after shrewdly pointing out that the forests welcome at Biltmore if you can join us." and soils were the two resources disappearing most rapidly, he stressed the fact that practical forestry Among the senatorial targets were Robert M. had had its American origins on the Biltmore La Follette and Moses H. Clapp. Both replied in Estate and that, furthermore, "Nowhere else on the negative. Clapp, however, explained that he this continent, and nowhere in Germany - I am had engagements which could not be cancelled but German - can there be found object lessons in for- commanded Schenck, "Now do not throw the letter est conservation so interesting as those exhibited down at this point, as there are one or two matters at Biltmore." With this buildup came the care- I want to talk about." Then the Senator, probably fully planned appeal: "Knowing the enormous bristling, began ticking off a rebuttal to the charge influence which your publication has upon the up- that he had never evidenced any interest in forestry building of the country, I invite you, personally and conservation: "You say that I have never shown and especially . . . to get a close acquaintance with any interest in conservation. Long before conserva- forestry of the American character." And, perhaps tion became a ladder by which men could get into to dispel any misgivings about his German back- the public eye, in my humble way I was advocating ground, he let it be known that "Naturally, in this conservation, especially along the lines of preserv- country we cannot use the methods of German for- ing forests and the raising of trees.... In my hum- estry any better than we could use Chinese for- ble way I have assisted in placing lands in this state estry, if there be any. We will have to work out subject to forestry control, both federal and state." our own salvation." Then, in a parting supplica- In the end, however, after citing in detail his tion, Schenck impressed upon his readers the con- own conservation endeavors, the Minnesota Sen- viction that "I doubt whether you will ever have ator complimented and extended him a handshake. another chance to see forestry of the American character and type under as diversified While wooing the politicians, Schenck was also conditions as you will have here at Biltmore." especially anxious to gather all of the state foresters at his fair and hence devised a special appeal While seeking national coverage Schenck was to them. All were told "Deny it if you can: Bilt- careful not to neglect local support. Thus his in- more is the Mecca for the man interested in the vitation to North Carolina editors urged them to possibilities and the shortcomings of American be present "for your benefit and for that of your forestry, and object lessons now exhibited at Bilt- readers - above all for the good of the old 'Tar more cannot be duplicated anywhere else in the Heel State.'" Further play was made upon state world. That much I believed to be true, and I am pride when the editors were informed that the anxious - really anxious - for you . . . to join a "American world at large does not realize that it is party of 40 to 50 'pilgrims' at Biltmore on Novem- North Carolina which, through the Biltmore Estate ber twenty-sixth." Furthermore, a guarantee was is in the lead of the forestal procession. It is well issued that the "sun will shine," that there "will worth while, it seems to me, to emphasize, from not be a display of oratory," and that "your quiries time to time, the good which we have at home, will be answered and your criticism will be invited." lest we overlook it. We need not learn forestry Schenck's final enticement was that the "itinerary in Germany or in France; we may learn it at home, selected for our pilgrimage through the woods at Biltmore, N.C., more readily, more cheaply, and through the yellow pines and white pines and hard- more interestingly." woods - must be interesting to the lumbermen, the All in all, almost 400 persons received letters financier, the engineer, the statesman, and par- from Schenck inviting them to-"Come to the Fair!"

APRIL 1970 9 The addressees by vocation, ranged from President land into a hardwood forest. Bushels of nuts were of the United States to a local land agent (Schenck, planted in 1895-1896, as were thousands of year- upon learning the results of the national Presi- ling, two, and three-year-old hardwoods. The for- dential election, had telegraphed William Howard ester had originally hoped to show Vanderbilt that Taft an invitation and had received a cordial expres- this planting could be done for $5.00 per acre. But sion of Chief Executive appreciation and regret). Schenck confessed that by 1899 the success of the effort seemed so doubtful that "I got scared for my reputation; I then abandoned the idea of plant- long with the letters went a 55-page ing as cheaply as possible." So he bolstered his illustrated booklet entitled "A Forest prior efforts by replanting with more than 75,000 in Fair the Biltmore Forest, November white and yellow pines intermixed with some 3,000 l _ 26, 1908." It was a novel interpretive white oaks. This approach proved so successful tool to a designed convey meaningful comprehen- that the forester was moved to exclaim, "Nowa- sion of what 20 of years professional forestry could days it is a joy for me to crawl through this plan- accomplish. Of course much of the glory of achieve- tation! I feel like the Lord on the Seventh day of ment was to reflect upon Doctor Carl Alwin the Creation when I am crawling." Schenck, resident forester. Gifford Pinchot initiated this work in 1892 and man a had thereby pioneered scientific forestry in America. 1be Wbiotookg for reuarbboeS not After 1895 Schenck had greatly expanded upon beoerbeany. Pinchot's early efforts and the fair was calculated Natural regeneration was featured in Tip Num- to demonstrate their effectiveness. A great diver- ber 4. In 1905 Schenck had clean cut for cordwood of and sity forestry conservation practices, suc- an area with trees of little value and was now cessful and unsuccessful, were to be shared with depending upon nature to regenerate it: "There the visitors. Among those practices were reforesta- is no need, mind you, of any planting in this cove tion, natural regeneration, erosion control, timber ... nature will restore the forest wherever we cut stand improvement, forest finance, access roads and it away." He then proclaimed that the "effect of transportation, sawmilling, watershed management, nature's forces is a forest; you cannot prevent the and fire control. To show and interpret these effect unless you keep the soil ploughed or fired. Schenck put showmanship, forestry skill, a sense ... Only the fire, only the plough prevent nature of and humor, advertising expertise into his little from reestablishing the forest where we remove guide book. it," was his prevailing philosophy on natural regen- In the Forest Fair guide book the entire forest eration. As if that were not bold enough, he ven- was divided into 63 stations. These Schenck called tured a further declaration: "In the year all "Tips" and 2222, accompanied each with a narrative in- North America would be as primeval in character terpretation. Neatly sandwiched in between "Tips," (in the prairies, the deserts, and the woods) as it in bold red ink, were numerous Schenckian pre- was in anno 1111, if all mankind should die today cepts, beginning with from the plague." Thelbet ber ff*enStc, Iitfretcd unb gut! Schenck's ego and sense of humor emerged in Tip Number 5: "Here is a group of yellow pines Pobte be manhinb,benebotent anb goobt! planted by nature and saved by me. I saved it Tip Number 1 illustrated reforestation and soil by an 'improvement cutting', removing some six conservation showing how 26,500 white pines and cords of firewood per acre obtained from scrubby, 24,000 hardwoods from German and Biltmore nur- brushy, and low-crowned hardwoods which had no series had been closely planted in March, 1899, to prospective value and which were an impediment rehabilitate 12 acres of badly eroded land. Prior to the development of the pines.... Now we tra- to planting, gullies had been filled and wickerworks verse some irregular hardwoods where I have been erected to prevent further erosion. "I like this acting as undertaker, 'burying the dead,' or rather plantation; but one fool, with one match, may seeing that the dead were cremated as firewood in destroy it in one hour," closed Schenck's remark Asheville." on the station.5 As for all foresters, fire was of major concern A failure and a change of tactics were given for Schenck. Repeatedly he referred to and illus- prominence in Tip Number 2. Schenck, in com- trated its adverse effects. It was well he should pliance with Vanderbilt's desires, had attempted because his neighbors, the local mountaineers, tra- to convert 45 acres of eroded and abandoned farm ditionally used fire indiscriminately to green-up their pastures and to clean their new grounds. 5A1l comments in this section are based upon Schenck's Moreover, it was common for those fires to get guide booklet. out of hand, run wild, and damage hundreds of

10 FORESTHISTORY 3 Wtlltam, l5 5O: in a hundred had escaped it in the Appalachian tell pou, t bIat region. Logically several of his Tips included com- '3l1onephept in timberiW safer ments on forest fires. Accompanying the picture tlan monepkept tn tie oafe." of a fire-damaged tree in Tip Number 38 was the remark: "I hope that my plantation will not meet .... *top tje fire,Willtamo the fate of the white ash shown herewith-the fate of the majority of the trees in the Appalachians! The fires have bursted it from root to crown and acres of forest land. To make matters worse, there it is as hollow as a gun." were no local regulations to control, deter, or prevent it. This lack greatly irked Schenck, who had Prevention of erosion, like prevention of forest been reared in the attitude that the forest was a fire, was viewed by Schenck as an important role national treasure to be husbanded and protected: of the forester. Tip Number 14, a yellow pine "The citizens of the county do not realize - do grove developed by natural regeneration, provided not want to realize - that my work is for their a conservation lesson: "A slope of this character benefit as well as for that of my employer. We should not be cleared and used as this one was, have never found any encouragement whatsoever agriculturally. Look at these frightful gullies! Ero- in our work on the side of the state, the county, sion was rank in this lot prior to the time at which or the town. We are aliens; we do things out of the slope was left alone, left unburned, unpastured, the ordinary; that is cause enough for suspicion unused! We want conservatism, and we want con- for antagonism and enmity." servation!" Fire damage was so widespread and so devastat- But the practical forester, the one who constantly ing that Schenck was convinced that only one tree preached that "That forestry is best which pays

Horses and horse-drawncarriages with top-hatted drivers conveyed the guests from Tip to Tip.

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_~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~i $ best!", came out in the Schenckiana which accom- be mentioned editorially at an early date. Then panied the Tip: came words which must have highly elated Schenck: "I do not know much about the divinity of our Lord, but I do know and believe in the divinity Wajtington,Aobember 26, 190$. of a tree. Therefore I believe in your work and you.") Mear(Conterbatton: The dean of the forestry faculty at the Uni- (Conserbation,sDear conterbatton! -too; 3] versity of Toronto, Bernhard E. Fernow, one time bkoulblobe to Oerbepou! ?ou are chief of the Forestry Division of the U. S. Depart- ri'abt, ment of Agriculture, wrote his old acquaintance goob,noble,== nobo@ benteo tt. jfut belao! that a visit to Biltmore and the instructive exhibits Pour oerbtreit perfecttetf tettraint,== of a 20-year systematic forestry program would be "an inspiration even to an old stager whose en- peaft ft elf benfat! thusiasm of younger years has not been quite I am to torrp! destroyed by the bickerings, fault-findings and disappointments prepared by friends and enemies." A valuable political contact was inherent in anmeritanJt'bertp the reply by Claude Kitchen, North Carolina Preservationists must have suffered a tremor governor-elect, who assured Schenck that "Your when they encountered Schenck's comment in Tip booklet delighted me very much. I read it 'clean Number 40 regarding destructive forestry: "The through' last night without stopping. It has aroused forest, near No. 40, will be cleared away this com- within me much interest in forestry and forestry ing winter and will be converted into farmland. conservation." Mind you: Forestry is business; forest destruction W. G. M. Stone, president of the Colorado State is quite frequently the best business, and destruc- Forestry Association, was keenly appreciative of tive forestry is quite frequently the best forestry." Schenck's forestry contributions and was most In a similar manner, Schenck repeatedly argued enthusiastic about the unique fair and the guide that silviculture as a business was impractical for book: "It gives one a raging fever. . . . It prom- American forestry. He did so on the grounds that ises to be the most ideal and the most remarkable whereas in Germany timber was high-priced and Thanksgiving in the annals of inventive genius. the woods homogeneous, in the United States tim- The scheme is wonderful in its conception and ber was low-priced and the woods heterogeneous. will give forestry one of the best boosts it ever Hence each separate group of trees required sep- had. I wish every Senator and every Congressman arate and distinctive treatment making the practice could be present, and the members of every legis- of silviculture prohibitively expensive. Therefore lature in the Union. Such an object lesson would he advised: "Leave nature alone, or help nature! be worth a whole forest of speeches." Give it increased chances! Do not hitch it up, Farley Price, a New Orleans lumberman, told using narrow-mindednessfor the harness! William, Schenck that "I have been watching the results I tell you! Skip the lectures on silviculture and of your labors with a great deal of interest, and I learn from nature." want to take this opportunity of expressing my hearty appreciation of the same. It is to you and your efforts largely that this country will eventu- s the letters and guidebooks were really be indebted for its continued lumber supply." ceived various reactions and replies In a similar vein, a Mississippi lumberman de- flowed back to Biltmore. From Walter clared that "We are becoming more interested H nes Page, editor of the influential every day in practical forestry and are very glad World's Work, came an expression of interest in indeed to know that lumbermen are going to have "the excellent result that you are working out at an opportunity to become acquainted with your Biltmore" and the plea that the reply be delivered work." to "the gentleman whose signature is on the en- closed sheet, for to speak with frankness, I can't "I always knew you were a genius, but my con- read it." viction is now more deeply rooted than ever," expressed the convictions of Charles H. Herty, a Elbert Hubbard, renowned as an American man university chemistry professor. W. A. Murrill, the of letters and humor, congratulated Schenck on his assistant director of the New York Botanical Gar- booklet, told him that it was the finest thing of dens, went even further: "I have just received the kind ever issued in America and that it would your exceedingly interesting booklet on Biltmore

12 FORESTHISTORY Forest Fair, which contains, according to my no- his readers that "They all go bareheaded and tion, about all there is to learn about forestry." coatless, wear leather leggings, and their physique glows with brawn and brain and the color of Meanwhile, from a lawyer in Houston, Texas, health. They are as handsome as Buffalo Bill." came praise for the object lesson being offered: Another editor wrote that "These young men "The work you are doing will bear fruit a hundred impressed the visitors as without exception a fine fold and I have no doubt that the object lesson lot of enthusiastic, wideawake, intelligent, clean- you can furnish at Biltmore, if it could be seen cut, embryotic foresters, superb horsemen, well- under your guidance, would do more to bring out grounded and practical woodsmen, well equipped practical results for the conservation of the forests as surveyors, engineers, inspectors, mentally and of the country than all the theoretic teaching physically fit, technically and practically, to enter which is being done in the schools." tirelessly and intelligently into the handling of Even as these comments were being digested, wooded estates - the finished product of a thor- preparations were continued and plans completed oughly practical course of comprehensive instruc- for the arrival of the expected guests. The Battery tion and experience."7 This praise, coming from Park Hotel in Asheville, North Carolina, was estab- the editor of the most influential lumber periodical lished as headquarters. Despite the fact that the in the nation, was priceless advertising as Schenck fair coincided with Thanksgiving, a holiday tradi- had calculated. tionally meaning dinner with the family at home, One of the things which attracted such favor- some 200 guests put in their appearance. Although able attention to the Biltmore students was their no senators or governors appeared, there were melodious singing, en route, of their favorite school botanists, forest engineers, lumbermen, furniture songs, such as "The Good Old Mountain Dew" and manufacturers, state foresters, railroad and mining company representatives, statesmen, university pro- 7J. E. Defebaugh, "Three Days Forest Festival on the fessors, paper company spokesmen, editors, state Biltmore Estate," American Lumberman, December 5, forestry commissioners, American Forestry Associ- 1908, p. 36. ation officials, lawyers, tanning and lumber company men, and a judge. However no United States Forest Service per- sonnel accepted Schenck's invitation: "I was much chagrined over this failure. Not that I missed the men; no, I saw it clearly that Gifford Pinchot's and my ways had parted forever. From that time on, 2:te Ian Wljo LookB'Like Elje Raiter I had no connection with the Forest Service except through some of its staff members who came to man the Biltmore School during their vacations as Vbo fBitje tjat if ribingalong, teachers of this or that topic."6 In fact, although 6inging tte tuorbBof an olb ?ermansong, Forest Service stalwarts such as Royal S. Kellogg, Tellingtje bopBtjat theroab if runwrong? William L. Hall, Herbert A. Smith, and Overton 'Ti! tie mantubo lookB like tie iaiger. W. Price sent Schenck their regrets and warm wishes, Gifford Pinchot apparently did not even Wboif tje manon the coatblactk teeb, acknowledge the fair. *Ribingalong at tie utmostspeeb, Littlefur muffanb a capo' greentbueeb? 'Vf tie mantubo lookB! litfe the Raifer. ut in the meanwhile, true to Schenck's * r "guarantee," the sun was shining and Wtjoif ttieman on theborte nameb 3)uncb, a the fair opened with a gay proces- Ribingalong at thebeab of a bunch, sion from the hotel to the forest. The Oon'teben gibe UB the time to eat lunch? guests were mounted on horses or provided seats 'tTi man iaiter. in open carriages. Green and white, the colors of the tuhotooks likfe the the Biltmore Forest School, bedecked the horses Vbo fi theman that corrects our "exams", and equipage. Guests were delighted with the for- uo ourpapers are not estry students who served both as mounted escorts QieTl that Worthtiuo bamnul; and as tour guides. One editor-guest reported to *aping thatour antiverB are notbing but zbam? 'Ti. theman bho lookslike the itaiter. 6Schenck, "Dawn of Private Forestry," p. 248.

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"The Man Who Looks Like the Kaiser." The lat- f menofoutb Iotb tfeir peace,tie trees ter, the equivalent of an alma mater, caricatured their moustached German schoolmaster. Woutbcrp atoub: "Jonor anb tbanko to pou, Upon arrival at the hotel each guest had been XeorgeV. Vanberbitt!" provided a three day schedule of events and Schenck, with great gusto, saw to it that those three days were fully utilized. The first day's When the final Tip of the day had been examined outing covered Tips 1 through 25 and gave the a sumptuous Thanksgiving dinner was awaiting host an opportunity to expand upon ideas which all at the hotel. Schenck, acting as master of he had introduced in the guide booklet. At one ceremonies, paid his respects to the visitors and station for example, while pointing out local suc- thanked all who had come and all who had labored cesses and failures, he indicated a need for the to make the fair a success. Then he announced, services of a soil scientist: "We need a genius like "And there is another man, last but not least, Burbank or Edison to tell us of the biology of the whom I want to mention, George Vanderbilt." At soil, because on this soil depends the life of the that point he was interrupted by loud applause trees. Someone has counted the bacteria in a gram and then allowed to continue: "George is not here of soil, estimating them at 200,000 to the gram. today and does not know anything of this little Of this life we know nothing except that it is inter- fuss, but I want to say that George Vanderbilt is woven with the life of the trees."8 a nobly spirited American, as high principled a man I Schenck vigorously kept the group moving and as ever met; a man of high ideals, reticent provided a running commentary. His pace was so if you meet him but of splendid purposes, and who has given me all I want of a chance to develop, a rapid that one of the guests gasped, "He goes like to the and the chance to work, chances to put in our ideas, and a machine geared up highest speed I man who follows him and does not 'blow' has stout thank Mr. Vanderbilt." Again loud applause interrupted him. When it had quieted he con- muscles and good lungs."9 Station after station was thus visited with the host vividly interpreting cluded, "And now, if you will do me a favor, join me in each. three cheers for George Vanderbilt." There- upon everyone rose and loudly cheered the master of Biltmore. 8Asheville Gazette News, November 25, 1908, p. 2; The Biltmore Forest School students, in turn, Defebaugh, op. cit., p. 37. 9Charlotte Evening Chronicle, editorial, November 30, serenaded their teacher and his guests with a round 1908. of school songs, which were also rewarded by hearty

14 FORESTHISTORY ~~~~~m~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4 Robe W"

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cheers. The master of ceremonies then directed only in the United States but in Canada and has that thereafter any member of the group should brought a few Canadians down here to learn some- feel free to speak "as the spirit moved him." J. E. thing." Finally, as an expression of the admira- Defebaugh, editor of the American Lumberman tion and high respect which all present had for was the first to be "moved." He praised Schenck their host, a lumberman from Wisconsin proposed most highly for his leadership and outstanding con- three cheers for Doctor Schenck. These were joy- tributions in the field of practical forestry. ously given and were accentuated by the rising of Then, somewhat more formally, D. T. Keith of all present to join in singing "For He is a Jolly Wilmington, North Carolina, read a paper entitled Good Fellow." "The Future Destiny of the South Depends Upon Schenck responded most appropriately: "I asked the Protection of Its Forests," which condemned my neighbor here a question he did not answer - the piney woods "rooter," scrub cattle, and reck- what would he do if he were a peacock? I told less lumbermen as the greatest enemies of the for- him that if I were a peacock I would have my tail est and asked for a concerted effort to secure leg- feathers spread out like this just now." islation which would protect the forests. Next morning, "the edict of Forester Schenck, who is of that class whom people obey instinctively, forced an early beginning of the second day of the hereafter the dinner meeting turned forest festival," so one of the participants reported. into a resounding encomium for Doc- And as the entourage traveled onto the Biltmore tor Schenck. Starting with the Com- Estate many were impressed with the over 200 miles missioner of Forestry from Pennsyl- of good macadam roads. Their host credited Van- vania, one by one guests arose and praised their derbilt with introducing macadam roads to that host for his remarkable accomplishments in prac- section of North Carolina and repeatedly pointed tical forestry and forestry education. The Reverend out the importance of good roads to remunerative R. P. Swope, rector of All Soul's Church at Bilt- forestry, both as an essential aid to lumber trans- more, eulogized the high moral character of Schenck portation and to fire control. and added, "He is an appreciative lover of nature; Using those roads the party visited, among other he also appreciates keeping in touch with the things, the Biltmore herbarium (one of the best in younger generation that is coming into his hands the nation at that time), the nurseries, the dairy, and he is molding them to make of them successful the pig and poultry farms (all of which were na- foresters." A Canadian asked indulgence to de- tionally famous), and were taken, with appropriate clare that "Dr. Schenck's work has spread not explanatory remarks, through numerous plantations

APRIL 1970 I5 -teebg are tte megapjonefor tuorb0,buitt= out tte noflOe. of locust, pine, cherry, walnut, oak, and other The next morning there was an excursion by species planted between 1899 and 1908. Each train to Pisgah forest where the visitors were led stop demonstrated some facet of practical forestry into the forest primeval and shown some of the and provided live amplification of the material in largest trees in eastern America. Included were the guide booklet. giant poplars measuring eight to ten feet in diam- The rapid pace of the tour created appetites eter and extending more than 100 feet into the which were satisfied at noon by a bounteous lun- sky. Here, too, Schenck demonstrated logging and cheon served out of doors around an old log cabin. sawmilling. Mrs. Schenck, aided by some of her female friends, Finally, after three arduous but exciting days, presided over the serving. Both the food and the the fair was over and the guests paid their depart- friends made a hit with the guests.'0 ing compliments. The editors began filing reports After lunch the tour included more plantations and others filled the mails with letters to Schenck, and more interpretation, highlighted by a study of telling how beneficial and important his object les- regeneration of yellow poplar. The day was topped sons had been. A North Carolina editor considered off with a delightful barbecue accompanied by the events worthy of two columns of his editorial music and dancing. For the more adventurous, page and declared, after praising Schenck, that and the less fatigued, the final piece-de-resistance "So far as Vanderbilt is concemed, The Chronicle for the day was a 'possum hunt. A dozen hounds, wishes the state had a thousand men like him. His led by half as many Negroes famed for their skill vast investment of wealth in westem North Caro- as 'possum hunters, made their way into the woods lina is not money squandered as by the whim of followed by about 100 curious visitors. Soon they a rich man.... Vanderbilt is spending money not trooped back into a camp with a sack filled with alone for his own pleasures but for the common a mother 'possum and her brood. When the jolli- good of posterity, in general, and North Carolina fications were at an end the tired participants in particular."'1 returned to their quarters to generate enough energy to face what promised to be an even more strenuous third day. ewspapers from as far west as Colo- 1OJ. E. Defebaugh, American Lumberman, January 16, rado and as far north as Canada car- 1909, pp. 53-54. His series of articles on the Fair is the source for the material between this and the preceding ried articles giving similar extremely footnote. favorable publicity to Schenck, the r 1P Biltmore Forest School, and George W. Vanderbilt II. Defebaugh filled the American Lumberman, between December, 1908, and January, 1909, with highly enthusiastic and detailed descriptions of Schenck, Vanderbilt, the Estate, the School, and

4 vi the events of the fair. An editorial in the Asheville Gazette News assured all readers that "Dr. Schenck certainly proved to all who were fortunate enough to see his work and gain his ideas that he is not a theorist but that he is extremely practical, and that the time has come when it is profitable from 4 a financial standpoint to cultivate the forests, or rather let nature do its work unhindered." It also affirmed that "This meeting, aside from being a great advertisement to Asheville, is the starter of a movement that will eventually revolutionize the whole country."'12 A preceding editorial had expressed the hope that America at large would re-

"Charlotte Evening Chronicle, editorial, November 30, 1908. 44' 12Asheville Gazette News, November 30, 1908, p. 4.

16 FORESTHISTORY 4-

The joviality of Dr. Schenck greatly added to the picnic provided by Mrs. Schenck and her friends. alize that North Carolina, through Biltmore, was an American forester. From that time on there in the "lead of the forestal procession," and vouched came a steady decline.""l4 the opinion that the "journalistic world knows how In a sense he was right: By 1909 he had severed big and important these things are, and what relations with Vanderbilt and by 1914 was back journalism knows the world will soon begin to per- in Germany, having abandoned his forestry school. ceive. Dr. Schenck's happy idea of a forest festival But in a larger sense he was wrong. Thanks par- will do much to diffuse this information."'13 tially to the widespread and lasting influence of Similar widespread editorals and many letters the publicity generated by and reflected in the testified to the impact and success of the forest forest fair, partially to other factors, and especially festival. Although possessed of a most fertile and to the loyalty of his Biltmore Forest School alum- imaginative brain, it is most unlikely that Schenck's ni, his fame became international. Thus he was original dreams had wholly encompassed the great- repeatedly brought back to the United States, feted ness of the reception which could be accorded his across the continent by foresters and statesmen, forest fair. Many years later, as he reminisced and had forests (including giant redwoods) named in composed The Biltmore Story, he confided that "I his honor, and was "immortalized"by considered my Biltmore Forest Festival a great the reestab- lishment of his success." He was also convinced that the enthusi- old forestry school in the Pisgah asm of the participants was not feigned: "For the Pink Beds and its conversion into the "Cradle of first time in their lives they had seen real forestry Forestry in America." Thousands of visitors an- in America; for the first time they had visited a nually tour his "campus" and learn more about tract of primeval woods not devastated, but actu- his work. ally flourishing, after lumbering. The men acted Thus his fair, and his work in America repre- like the Greek soldiers of Xenophon when for the sented by it, were indeed a success. Three cheers first time they saw the Aegean Sea. Actually I for Doctor Schenck! [2 had arrived at the highest point of my career as '4Carl Alwin Schenck, The Biltmore Story (St. Paul: 13Ibid., November 27, 1908, p. 4. American Forest History Foundation, 1955), p. 165.

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