10 



predating the actual need of men and realizing the great ad- 

 vantages of a practical school connected with actual forest work, 

 Dr. Rothrock decided to establish such a school under the con- 

 trol of the Department of Forestry and locate it upon a State 

 reserve. In the spring of 1902 the State Forester, Mr. George 

 H. Wirt, a Biltmore graduate, was sent to Mont Alto to take 

 charge of the property recently purchased from the Mont Alto 

 Iron Company, and establish a forest nursery. Although the 

 legislature of 1901 had refused to adopt Dr. Rothrock's plans, 

 he felt sure that two years would find a change in sentiment, 

 and, as a preliminary measure, four young men, Ralph E. Brock, 

 Charles Delaney, Robert G. Conklin, and Harvey E. Franken- 

 field were sent to help Mr. Wirt and get some instruction in 

 Forestry.* In January, 1903, a German forester, Paul E. Arnold, 

 of Tharandt, was added to the force. By act of May- 13, 1903, 

 the school was formally recognized and plans were made for the 

 entrance of the first class. Previously the Commission formally 

 adopted, on June 4, 1902, the curriculum and plan of work sub- 

 mitted by Mr. Wirt for his forest school. 



The original idea was that the students admitted should be 

 composed of young men from the wooded districts with prac- 

 tical woods experience and the first class was partly composed 

 of such men, appointed by the Commissioner of Forestry. It 

 was soon recognized that these men were often unable to do the 

 mental work required in a study of scientific forestry and the 

 entrance requirements were made strictly competitive with both 

 physique and mental ability entering into the test. This plan 

 has been constantly adhered to since that time. 



At first there was some thought of moving the school to the 

 Caledonia purchase as possessing better facilities, but this was 

 finally given up and the administrative buildings of the old 

 furnace at Mont Alto were utilized for the school. These were 



