1829 – 1906
Inducted 2001
“When speaking of the preservation of forests, we do not mean that they should be kept untouched and unused as a miser keeps his hoards, but that they should be made useful in a way preventing their destruction and even improving their value.The destruction of the forest of this country will be the murder of its future prosperity and progress.” – Carl Schurz
Carl Schurz earned the title “The Father of the Forest Preserve” through his efforts to create and protect renewable forest resources across America. A German immigrant, Schurz had many interests, from politics and humanitarian causes to journalism and conservation.
He moved to Watertown from his native Germany in 1852 and stayed in the state until 1860. He and his wife, Margarethe, are both listed in the standard reference, Wisconsin Biographies. The Schurz home, known as the “Octagon House,” is a historic attraction in Watertown. Margarethe Schurz is generally recognized as having established the first American kindergarten, in Watertown.
As Secretary of the Interior from 1887-91, Schurz set out to reform and advocate for modern forestry policy. He acted quickly to remove politics from everyday forest management. New job candidates and those proposed for promotion were required to take an examination. For this, he is generally credited with giving birth to the Civil Service system.
Historians take note of Schurz’s interest in conservation and land use. Schurz battled against views still prevalent at that time that saw forests as an obstacle to civilization, fit only to be slaughtered and burned. The belief that timber resources were inexhaustible still prevailed.
Schurz made it one of his special duties as interior secretary to educate Congress and the people. He earned the title “The Father of the Forest Reserves” for his efforts to rescue and reinvigorate America’s forests. It was Schurz’s job to educate, so that others would later act. As secretary, Schurz called for establishment of a system of federal forest reserves, initiation of reforestation practices, charges to the users of natural resources and stiff fines for willful setting of forest fires. He also called for a campaign of public education on the conservation of forests, trees and soil. Most of his agenda was squashed or ignored.
Schurz continued to lobby the cause after leaving office. He sought to rally support for a national forest policy with the American Forestry Association, and momentum built for reform. In 1891, Congress empowered the president to withdraw forest reserves from the public lands, creating the Forest Reservation Act. That led to creation of 132 million acres of national forests. This is still the major part of the National Forest System. Carl Schurz, one of America’s first conservationists, lived to see the creation of our nation’s forest system.
Resources
Carl Schurz Legislative Citation
Wisconsin Historical Society Historical Essay – Carl Schurz
Watertown History – Carl Schurz
Mr. Lincoln and Friends – The Officers: Carl Schurz (includes photos)
Smithsonian The William Steinway Diaries – Carl Christian Schurz
Historic Missourians – Carl Schurz
Wikipedia – Carl Schurz (includes photos)