. } pprof^rialcncss and . I p j^rcciation 
23 
Roosevelt's Approval of the Original Plans 
That Roosevelt himself heartily approved not only of wild life 
research in general but of the general program w^hich is now the 
foundation of this Memorial Station, is, as has been stated, its 
most distinctive feature. 
A brief plan for research in wild life was presented to Mr. Roose- 
velt on December 29, 1916. He at once approved the idea, and sug- 
gested that as a member of the Executive Committee of the Boone 
and Crockett Club he would gladly present this matter to the Com- 
mittee at an early meeting, and requested that I write him a fuller 
statement. This plan was outlined in my letter to him of January 8, 
1917. as follows : 
In response to your recent request for a working plan for the 
scientific investi-gation of the life history and natural history of 
the large game and fur-bearing animals, I would suggest the 
following : 
Statement of the Problem 
" In view of the fact that there are several organizations and 
endowments devoted solely to the protection and propagation of 
the large game and fur-bearers, and none devoted solely to the 
investigation of their life history and natural history, it is evident 
that this field is greatly neglected. I know of no one whose time 
is devoted solely to this kind of investigation. 
The present critical economic condition will certainly influence 
these animals. The recent organization of our National Park Serv- 
ice, and the extensive area of National Forests suitable for large 
game, and the impending crisis of the beaver problem in New York, 
are examples which show the urgency of scientific investigation of 
those problems by technically trained men before the management 
and administration of these animals in preserves and forests can 
be executed intelligently. 
" Whi'e of course considerable is known about the life histories 
and habits of our larger animals, yet much more remains to be 
learned about even the beaver, possibly the best known species. At 
present our knowledge of these larger animals is verv superficial 
indeed, when compared with what is known of many harmful insect 
pests, such as the Chinch Bug, Rock\- Mountain Locust, and the 
San Jose Scale, ^^'e are passing through an important awakening 
as to the value of wild animals, and yet we have no generally 
recognized policy for the management of animal sanctuaries because 
we know so little about the larger dominating species. 
" Special attention should be called to the fact that emphasis is 
here placed not on the technical details of species and varieties 
(a subject which for the North American fauna has reached the 
