Frederick Law Olmsted SUBJECT FILE Parks Adirondacks, N.Y. 1884-86[*IV Scenic Adirondacks Preservation*] [*from [?] Bullard*] Northville. N.Y. Oct. 2. 1884 My Dear Mr. Olmstead: By the fortunes of letter=forwarding to a traveller it happens that your very kind letter has but just reached me. I thank you deeply for your interest. I have just mailed to Prof. Sargent some acc't of my work for the month of September. I have pervaded the country from here to Plattsburg, along the Mohawk, via [of] Schenectady & the Del & Hudson Canal Co's R.R. & Lakes George & Champlain, talking with many hundreds of people. The feeling among the people seems to me encouraging on the whole. The difficulties will arise from the extent and complexity of the problem, and the number of opposite interests to be considered.We need an advance in Civilization to save the Adirondacks. You ask if I find that I can feel a spontaneous interest or enthusiasm. I have long been deeply interested in the subject; and have all my life felt strongly drawn to efforts for the public welfare, to movements which make steps forward in civilization. If the work for Niagara succeeds I shall be glad that I tried to help, & should like to aid, if possible, in a wise policy for the State forests. As you say, the duty is not an easy one. But I do not know whether any one else wd undertake it. One cannot always choose his work. One can do so little, it matters little where or what, it is.-- If I cd really choose I suppose I should be with Gordon, as one of his lieutenants.-- if he is really to rule and discipline the Soudan. But I was long ago set over a Soudan of my own, wh I cannot leave, tho 3 sad enough sometimes that the resources of my province are so scanty, its civilization and capabilities so limited and low.) My chief regret & hindrance here is, that I do not know more, by actual observation, of the whole Adirondack region, its condition, treatment, etc. I have seen it only from Keene Folley to North Creek & Indian Lake. If I cd accomplish anything efficient & valuable I wd gladly devote much time & effort to the work. I should be glad of any suggestions regarding the subject. Letters addressed to me at Fonda N.Y. -- or at Glens Falls -- will be forwarded, wherever I may be. With best wishes, Gratefully Yours, J.B. Harrison. P.S. My love to Mr. Norton, please, if you see him. J.B.H.J. B. Harrison 2nd October 1884 [*IV Scenic -- Adirondacks --*] Copy Cambridge, 8 October, 1884 My dear Olmsted:-- Your note finds me here, whither I returned a few days since thus early for the sake of the children's school. I am glad to hear of Harrison as engaged in this work in New York. I have bene solicitous about him, and have been trying, in vain, to find some suitable employment for him. Could he not to advantage write some letters to the papers on the Adirondack region, and the preservation of its woods? I am glad to hear that Mrs. Olmsted and Marion are well. My household, too, are all well. I am expecting Sally from Europe in about a fortnight. I mean to come to see you soon, and am, always, Affectionately yours, (Signed) C. E. Norton [*Mr. Harrison had been to "see Prof. Sargent about the Adirondack work" about 1st of of Sept. (letter JBH to FLO -- Aug 29/84. filed Niagara*] [*IV Scenic*] [*Norton copies Th PA*] Cambridge, Christmas, 1884 My dear Olmsted:- I am much obliged to you for letting me see this letter of Harrison's. I heartily hope that he has got into a train of employment that will at least keep him from starving. If possible I shall be at the dinner on Saturday with the hope of seeing you, but I have been shut up for more than a week past by a heavy cold, and I may, I fear, still be prevented by it from going to town on Saturday. I am very glad to hear that your recent accident was not more severe. With hearty good wishes for you all, I am Affectionately Yours, (Signed) C. E. Norton. [*dupl - Other*] [*Prof. IV Scenic Adirondacks*] copy July 1st, 1885. My dear Olmsted: Is it worth while to try to raise money to keep Harrison in the field for a time? I think I might get two or three hundred dollars for the purpose, if the scheme were endorsed by you and Professor Sargent, and some one well known New York man. I go to Ashfield tomorrow. This letter came today. Ever yours, C. E. Norton.[*IV - Scene - Adirondacks B - 1 sts.*] 27th July, 1885. [*FLO to CER (p. 2 is filed IV - Bost)*] My dear Norton: I have your message to Professor Sargent in which you said that if a fund were proposed to be raised to employ Mr. Harrison in the Adirondack work you thought you could obtain a certain amount for it. Professor Sargent asks me to say to you that he has since been canvassing the matter. Mr. Jessup declined. Mr. James' offers to give two hundred and fifty dollars. Sargent will undertake to provide something additional and though he cannot see his way to the permanent employment of Mr. Harrison he is inclined to put him in the field, trusting that if once again well started he will be continued. He asked me to tell you this and to say that he would be glad to have whatever you can conveniently raise. He has had some correspondence with Harrison who would be glad to take his chances. I hope you regard as I do, this proposition to give General Grant a family burial lot in the Central park as a very silly and unfortunate one. [*Prof - Adirondacks*] COPY Ashfield 30th July, 1885. My dear Olmsted: I am glad that the Adirondacks are to be saved. I do not think it ought to be done quite in the way in which your suggestion of raising money seems to point,-That is by purely private effort. I have been talking the matter over with George Curtis, and he agrees with me that it would be well to get up an Association like the Niagara Reservation Ass'n. with its headquarters in New York, and with some well known man at its head, and Mr. Harrison as its salaried agent. I suggested W. E. Dodge as the head, and Curtis thought well of him. I know Dodge and should be quite ready to propose the matter to him, if the plan meets yours and Professor Sargent's approval. Curtis is of course ready to help if anything is undertaken. He asked me to give his love to you and to ask you to send him at once, for use in an article for the Easy Chair, a brief statement of the course of things at the beginning or the movement for saving Niagara,- with dates of the first suggestion for its rescue, of Lord Dufferin's -2- speech about it, of your own first intimate connection with it, etc. etc. The park Commissioners may be supposed to be legally within their rights, but their action is outrageous. You will have a new pamphlet to write soon. If indignation always made verses I should write a poem. I feel wholly as you do, indeed, I cannot conceive of a really sensible man feeling otherwise, about the proposed burial place of Grant. Riverside Park is but little better than Central for the purpose. Always most truly yours, C. E. Norton.[*IV Scenic*] [*Adirondacks dupl. A*] COPY 6th aug. 1885. My dear Norton: Since writing yesterday I have seen Sargent and reported your view of the Adirondack movement. First, he wants to be sure that you understand that he has been moving on what he thought to be your suggestion. I find that you wrote to me asking: "Is it worth while to try to raise money to keep Harrison in the field for a time? I think I might get two or three hundred dollars if the scheme were endorsed by you and Prof. Sargent and some well-known New York man." You will see that he was moving precisely on this line. There has been such an association as you suggest, probably Dodge was a member of it. It did little or nothing and is supposed to have died. The real work has been done by a few gentlemen not in the name of the Association. A law was made last winter providing for a new Adirondack Commission. Under it the Governor immediately appointed Mr. Vasselin as the first Commissioner. Vasselin is the principal-2- lumber man of the region and has been for several years the head of the lobby working against the movement. With him Mr. James was appointed but feeling that Vasselin's appointment was an insult and outrage he at once declined and persists in declining. No other Commissioners have been appointed but Sargent understands that the Governor some time since promised to appoint Ed W. Shepherd - a partner of Albert Stickney and Secretary of the old Adirondack Commission of which Sargent was Chairman - a very good man. It is likely that the third will be well selected, as the Governor has been made cautious by Mr. James's course. Still the situation will be a ticklish one and it cannot be assumed that the Commission will be allowed to proceed wisely or that its influence on public opinion will be favorable. Therefore the attitude of the outside movers should be a waiting and tentative one. Sargent's idea seems to be that Harrison will do better work if he has no official position but is free voter guided by circumstances and to act entirely at his personal discretion. He does not think that he (Sargent) or that an association-3- could afford to take either an antagonistic or a supportive position toward the new Commission; but he does think that Harrison, acting confidentially, could obtain information and give a cant to popular sentiment in a manner exactly fitted to the circumstances. I enclose a note written by Harrison two days ago which indicates a state of preparation on his part. Cordially yours, (Signed) Frederick Law Olmsted[*Prof. --*] COPY Ashfield, 15th August, 1885. My dear Olmsted: Here is the first contribution toward what I hope to get for Harrison's Adirondack work. I return his letter. He is coming here in the course of a week or two, and I can then indoctrinate him with any views which Professor Sargent or you may wish to enforce. Harrison seems to me to have the root of the matter in him. It seems to me that for justice to him, and on other accounts, Prof. Sargent should make some definite arrangement with him for salary, and should require as strict an account of expenses as if we had to submit our accounts to a Board of Trustees. I daresay that he has seen to all this; but if not, perhaps you will suggest it to him. I have not seen your letter about the Grant Monument, but I know beforehand that I should think with you in the matter. I hope that public sentiment will compel the removal of Grant's body to National ground at Washington. His burial in New York would do much to prevent-2- the permanent growth of a national sentiment about his, -- especially where it is most needed. Ever yours, C.E.N.[*Prof --*] COPY Ashfield, 19th Aug. 1885 Mr dear Olmsted: I enclose a check from W. E. Dodge, endorsed to your order, for the Adirondack Work. Ever yours, C. E. Norton.[*IV Scenic-Adirondacks From Miss Brillard*] The Niagara Falls Association. Membership Fee $10. President, Howard Potter, 59 Wall St., N.Y. Vice Presidents, Daniel Huntington, Geo. William Curtis, Cornelius Vanderbilt. Secretary, Robert Lenox Belknap, Mills Building, Broad St., N.Y. Treasurer, Charles Lanier, Cor. Nassau and Cedar Sts., N.Y. Executive Committee, J. Hampden Robb, 52 East 34th Street, N.Y. Buchanan Winthrop, James T. Gardner, J. T. Van Rensselaer, Francis H. Weeks. Corresponding Secretary, J. B. Harrison, [P.O. Box 105, New York City.] Franklin Falls. N.H. Nov. 11. 1885. My dear Mr. Norton. My expenditures during the recent two months of Adirondack work were as follows. Printing 5000 Adirondack "Broadsides". $56.84 Wrappers, Envelopes, Stamps, etc. 109.68 Advertising Adirondack "Broadside". 21.40 Newspapers and other periodicals. 28.14 Letter paper printed 3 reams. 10.00 N.Y. State Business Directory. 6.25 " " City Visiting " 6.14 Folding Broadside. 3.00 Sundries, Paper, Ink, Postage, etc. 8.55 Total $250.00 Receipts-Mr. D. Willis James' Check for Expenses. 250.00 The work occupied a little more than two months time. I have received from Prof. Sargent, as Salary for this work, $100. (and may receive more as I have but just sent him my final reports) I have sent to Mr. Sargent Bills and Receipts asThe Niagara Falls Association. Membership Fee $10. President, Howard Potter, 59 Wall St., N.Y. Vice Presidents, Daniel Huntington Geo. William Curtis, Cornelius Vanderbilt. Secretary, Robert Lenox Belknap, Mills Building, Broad St., N.Y. Treasurer, Charles Lanier, Cor. Nassau and Cedar Sts., N.Y. Executive Committee, J. Hampden Robb, 52 East 34th Street, N. Y. Buchanan Winthrop, James T. Gardner, J.T. Van Rensselaer, Francis H. Weeks. Corresponding Secretary, J.B. Harrison, P.O. Box 105 New York City. Vouchers for nearly the entire amount expended If anything in the enclosed reports is not clean, or satisfactory please let me know. I advertised the Adirondack Letters in the leading N.Y. Journals, and had many applications in response from every part of our country; sent The Letters to all Editors in The State of N.Y. and received many notices, extracts, etc. in their papers, and wrote a vast number of letters to leading citizens of the State, and had encouraging responses. I can now address directly about 12,000 of the principal citizens of that State. There is nothing more to be done in this interest at present. I must wait till the new Forestry Commission has done something. I go the first of next week to Pennsylvania, to learn about some possible work there. Do not know how long I shall be absent. For the present letters should be addressed to me here, at home. I am Very Truly Yours, C.E. Norton, Esq. J.B. Harrison.The Niagara Falls Association. Membership Fee $10. President, Howard Potter, 59 Wall St., N.Y. Vice Presidents, Daniel Huntington, Geo. William Curtis, Cornelius Vanderbilt. Secretary, Robert Lenox Belknap, Mills Building, Broad St., N.Y. Treasurer, Charles Lanier, Cor. Nassau and Cedar Sts., N.Y. Executive Committee, J. Hampden Robb, 52 East 34th Street, N.Y. Buchanan Winthrop, James T. Gardner, J.T. Van Rensselaer, Francis H. Weeks. Corresponding Secretary, J.B. Harrison [P.O. Box 105, New York City.] Franklin Falls, N.H. Oct 11. 1885 My dear Mr Olmsted: I thank you for your kind letter of the 29th ult., and am very glad you could make even a short journey in The South. I was very near the region you mention, and saw some fine forests. Your recognition of the fact that I find the workingman "at the root of the matter" is very gratifying and encouraging to me, and nothing else could give me such satisfaction as to be able to deal directly with him. I should rejoice to be able to help make such a newspaper as you describe. But I suppose our road lies rather in the direction of such experiences as that of the past week in St. Louis. Apropos of "an enlightened newspaper for working men" I am not sure that I expressed my idea clearly when we talked of it last spring in New York. What I meant was that such a paper wd not be self-supporting at first, but wd have to be sustained in much the same way as my present Adirondack work, or the effort for the redemption of Niagara. I am very glad you cd see Niagara just now, that you found things looking so well. I wish very much you could have charge of the tree=planting and landscape building there for a few years. I hope Prof. Sargent and Mr. Stiles may print some account of their journey. I have not yet heard of their return. I am still sending out the Broadside, & writing letters on the subject. I do not know any one of the members of the new Forestry Commission of New York. We may hear from them, I suppose, after the election. I am Very truly yours, J.B. Harrison.Prof. C O P Y Cambridge, 18th Nov. 1885. My dear Olmsted:- This statement of Harrison's seems to me interesting and satisfactory. I think he ought to receiev some ad- ditional oayment for his book. If you agree with me, will you find out if Mr. Sargent has money to send him? If not, we must try to get something more. I hope all goes well with you. I have a little too much work to do just now, and am always, Most truly yours, C. F. Norton. Prof C O P Y December 7th 1885. My dear Olmsted: I am very sorry to hear that you have been ill. Since receiving your note I have wanted to go to Brookline to find out how you are, but work and a cold have prevented. I hope you are steadily getting better. I send you the last note I had from Harrison, to show you what he is doing. I do not want it again. I had a preceding note in which he told me of Professor Sargent's having send him a sim of money which was very welcome to him, and which gave him an ample salary for his Adirondack work. I am sorry to have lost this note, or you would have liked to see it. Professor Sargent's suggestion that Harrison should be employed as a propagandist of Free Trade is excellent. He would, I fancy like the work; and he would be especially effective with the well-meaning but muddle-headed class who Horace Greeley used to pervert. Get Well! One of the precepts of the Seven Sages was "Do well to thyself." Every yours, C. E. N.ARNOLD ARBORETUM, HARVARD UNIVERSITY, DIRECTOR'S OFFICE, Brookline, Mass, Jan 23 1886. My dear Mr Olmsted, I owe you and Professor Norton an apology for not having sooner rendered this statement of the expenditures of the money confided to my care for Harrison's Adirondack work. It was found necessary, as you know, some time ago, owing to Governor Hill's attitude towards the Adirondack business, to abandon, for the present at least, Mr Harrison'sfurther employment in this work. The money, I believe, has not been entirely thrown away, however, and sooner or later he shall see the results of his excellent efforts to save the forests. Faithfully Yours, C S. Sargent. F. L. Olmsted Esq BrooklineWith the Harrison Adirondack Fund. To cash. Disbursements made through J. B. Harrison O. A. Lowne Printing 81 84 Franklin P. O. Wrappers. Envelopes. 109 68 N. Y. State Business Directory 6. 25. N. Y. City Directory 6. 14 Bry[?] for folding "Broadside" 3 00 Advertising . 21 40 Newspaper Subscription 16 12 Sundries. Stationary, postage &c 5 57 250 00 To cash paid J. B. Harrison Salary. 260 00 510 00 The vouchers covering the Harrisons' Expenditures, now in my hands, have been examined, and are found to be correct: They are at the disposition of any of the Subscribers C. S. Sargent Brookline, Mass. January 25 / 86P.S. Sargent in cash account By cash. Check from D. Willis James. 250.00 " " Checks through Prof. Norton 150.00 " " Checks from Miss G. Wright 110.00 510.00 Mr. Harrison has sent me this following statement of his work. C.S.S. "I have printed 5000 copies of the "Tribune Letters" and have sent them to all the newspapers in the State of N.Y. & All the country clerks, judges, Sheriffs, and thousands of the prominent citizens in all parts of the State. I advertised the letters in the N.Y. Herald, Times, Tribune, World, Sun, Evening Post, Nation, Graphic, Star, Hom.(?) Adventure etc and had in response, many applications from all parts of our country. I have also written a vast number of letters to prominent men in all parts of N.Y. and had many responses. Many newspapers every where printed brief 4 tracts from my "Broadside" With favorable comments. Public attention has been awakened and directed to the subject in a degree not before squalled at any time where no Legislative action was pending and the way is thus prepared for the work of the New Commission. This is all I expected to accomplish at present.Adirondacks See also letter 15 Mar. 1886 Stiles to fLO filed Niagara.