to his death, a period of nearly twenty-five years, under 

 the firm conviction that every forest owner owes it to thos -. 

 who follow him to hand down his forest property to them un- 

 impaired by wasteful use. I keenly sympathize with his 

 belief that the private ownership of forest land is a publi . 

 trust, and I probably realize more keenly than any one else 

 can do how firm was his resolve never to permit injury to 

 the permanent value and usefulness of Pisgah Forest. I wish 

 earnestly to make such disposition of Pisgah Forest as will 

 maintain in the fullest and most permanent way its national 

 value as an object lesson in forestry, as well as it s. wonde: - 

 ful beauty and charm; and I realize that its ownership by 

 the Nation will alone make its preservation permanent and 

 certain. 



Accordingly I have decided to make as large a 

 contribution as I can, in order to help bring this result 

 about. I offer Pisgah Forest at a total price over two 

 hundred thousand dollars below that on the basis of which 

 negotiations were entered into with the Government before 

 my husband's death, my offer to the Government of Pisgah Fo: 1 

 est now being at a price of five dollars per acre. 



I make this contribution towards the public owner- 

 ship of Pisgah Forest with the earnest hope that in this way 

 I may help to perpetuate my husband's pioneer work in forest 

 conservation, and to insure the protection and the use and 



