The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-22
Widow Offers &c, 200 Acres of
Woodland in North Caro-
lima at SIS an Acre.
BILTMORE NOT INCLUDED
Property G.. w. Vanderbilt Con-
served for 25 Years Will Be
Game Refuge Also.


mountain estate of the late George W.
Vanderbilt browning the Allegheny Noun
tains in western North Carolina. $1,000
acres in extent. will shortly become a part
OF the national forest reserve. The Ma
tional Forest Reservation Commission APP
proved to-day the purchase OF the vast
Pisgah Forest tract Mt an average price
of 50 an acre, which brings the total
cost TO s+33.500. a considerable discount
from the figure Mt which Mr.. Vanderbilt
was willing to dispose of the property.
even with the Federal Government for his
purchaser.
The tract includes portions OF Transyl-
vanla, Henderson. Buncombe and Hay
ward counties in North Carolina. II
covers the entire eastern slope and con-
siderable portions OF the northern and
western slopes OF the Pisgah range. ono
of the most picturesque of the southern
Appalachian Mountain chain. Its forests
are traversed for the most part by tribu.
taries OF the French Broad River. which
unites with the Holstein River at Knox
Vile. Tenn. to form the Tennessee River.
The offer of the property was conveyed
in the following letter from Mrs. Wander.
bilt:
"SIR: I now confront the question Of
what disposal / shall make OF Pisgah
Forest, which. under the terms of my late
husbands will. has passed TO me without
qualification or condition. This letter con-
stitutes my formal offer for the sale OF
Pisgah Forest TO the Government for ma
al. th.
eminent fail to acquire 1t must dispose
of Plsgah Forest in some other way. l
hope earnestly that in view of the terms
OF my offer no such contingency may
arise.
Mr.. Vanderbilt Conserved Forest.
"Mr. Vanderbilt was the first of the
large forest owners in America to adopt
the practice OF forestry. lie has con-
served Pisgah Forest from the time he
bought II up to his death. n period Of
nearly twenty-five years. under the Arm
conviction that every forest owner owes
It to those who follow him TO hand down
his forest property to them unimpaired
by wasteful use.
II keenly sympathize with his belief
that the private ownership OF forest land
is public trust and I probably realize
more keenly than any one else can do how
firm was his resolve never to permit in
Jury to the permanent value and useful
ness of Piseah Forest
II wish earnestly to make such disposi-
ton OF Pisgah Forest as will maintain in
the fullest and most permanent way It's
national value as an object lesson in for
estry as we'll as Its wonderful beauty and
charms; and / realize that Its ownership
by the nation will alone make its preser-
walton permanent and certain.
"Accordingly I have decided TO make
as large a contribution as 1 can in order
Piseah Forest at total price over
5000. 900 below that on the basis OF which
negotiations were entered into with the
Government before my husbands death.
my offer to the Government OF Pisgah
Forest now being at a price Of IS an acre.
Would Perpetuate Husbands Work.
"I make this contribution toward the
public ownership OF PIsgah Forest with the
to perpetuate my husbands pioneer work
In forest conservation and 10 insure the
protection and the use and enjoyment OF
Pisgah Forest as a national forest by the
American people for all time.
"In the event that my offer is accepted
I shall be glad for the Government to as
sumo control OF Pisgah Forest as soon
as II may desire. In the same event II
would be a source OF very keen gratif-
cation to me II the tract retained as q
national forest. the title Of Pisgah For.
est which my late husband gave 1t.
VERY truly yours.
EDITH s. VANDERBILT"
In accordance with Mrs. Vanderbilts
expressed wish the commission will re-
tain the name OF Pisgah Forest. 1t also
purposes to make of II a game refuge
for the preservation OF the fauna OF the
eastern mountains. 1t is particularly well
suited to this purpose. az II is already
we'll stocked with game and fish, includ-
Ing deer, wild turkey and pheasants and
in the streams are rainbow and brook
trout.
The members OF the commission regard
the acquisition OF the Pisgah tract as the
best purchase yet authorized because the
forest is In the rinest possible condition.
With this purchase and with others APP
proved to-day the sum total of acreage
OF the new Appalachian forest reserve
As now approximately 1.077,0OO acres.
Biltmore, the North Carolina home OF
George w. yanderbilt's family, il not In
cluded in the purchase. With it's $500
acres of beautiful forest and farm land
A. occupies a position on the opposite