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To James Gall, Jr.
PERSONAL
| Dear Mr. Gall:- | 4th May, 1891. |
I think you ought to know that Mr. Vanderbilt has twice intimated to members of our firm that he thought that an undertaking of so much importance, not only to himself, but to the country, as that of the proposed Biltmore Forest, ought to be under the direction of some one better prepared by systematic training than we are, or than you are; that he had been making inquiries and had heard of three foresters trained in Europe and now in this country. One of these is the son of a friend of his with whom I formerly had some acquaintance,- Mr. Pynchot, a resident of New York who has a considerable property and a country seat somewhere in Pennsylvania. This son has been for several years in one of the government training schools of foresters abroad. Since his graduation there, he has been in this country and you may have noticed some articles on forestry, signed by his name, in “Garden & Forest.” I heard that he was going out to Europe again this Summer. I do not know him personally, but have heard him spoken of as a man of much promise.
Yours Truly
Fredk Law Olmsted.
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To John Charles Olmsted
| Dear Jno. | 14th May, 1891 |
We have been able to make but one short visit to the Ground—so much important business holding us at the central Offices. I was much
[343]relieved and gratified in seeing what had been done; I mean more particularly in Ulrich’s work. He seems to have caught the spirit of the design and I have increasing confidence in it. I am pleased, also, with the staff generally—I mean the number, organization and character of the specialists. The enormous work to be done is very impressive & the impression that it needs all one’s time continuously to do it any justice is irresistible. Other obligations are however so pressing that spite of it, I suppose that we shall go to Louisville Monday night—or Tuesday—more likely Tuesday.
I have had a gratifying interview with Edison of which you will see a slight report in the Tribune of today—
You should talk with Howe & Mrs Wells about such details as towels, sand, the desired fence, the proper level of the floor of the shelter, &c. eno’ to keep a guiding hand upon what is done.
F.L.O.
(called off.)