UNITED STATES 
                        DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 
                                NATIONAL PAK SERVICE 
                                   CHICAGO/ILLINOIS 
      ADDRESS ONLY 
THE DIRECTOR. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE                            November 8,
1943. 
 
 
    Mr. Aldo Leopold, 
         Department of Wildlife Management, 
              University of Wisconsin, 
                   Madison, Wisconsin. 
 
    Dear Mr. Leopold: 
 
        With further reference to my letter of September 25 in which I outlined

    the buffalo ranch problem of Yellowstone National Park, I am sending
herewith 
    copy of a letter of October 29 from former Director Albright. As we anticipated,

    our point of view regarding the importance of a-balanced range condition
in Yel- 
    lowstone National Park does not stand unchallenged. Mr. Albright believes
that 
    the management of the wildlife of the park should be such as to provide
for a 
    herd of about 1,000 bisons even though this number may necessitate ranching

    operations. 
         It is my belief that ecologists, generally, look upon Yellowstone
National 
   Park as a reservation in which the wildlife picture should be presented
in a 
   wholly natural way and I think that many scientists outside of Gover'nment
of- 
   fices will join with the National Park Service and the Fish and Wildlife
Service 
   in our present project of reducing the number of bisons in the park to
limits 
   consistent with the natural forage. It is desirable to inform the public
of our 
   procedure in this connection and I am writing to a number of leaders in
the con- 
   servation field regarding my recent order to reduce the Lamar herd of
buffalo 
   to 300 animals. 
 
        Slaughter and disposal of the surplus bisons should be undertaken
in the 
   near future and I hope that you will find it possible to visit Yellowstone
Na- 
   tional Park before or during the reduction. In order that we may discuss
this 
   matter and other wildlife problems with you prior to your visit to the
park, I 
   venture to suggest that it would be helpful if you could find it possible
to 
   come to Chicago at any time convenient to you during the next two weeks.
It 
   was with pleasure that I noted approval of your appointment as "Collaborator."

   I also note that you were provided with a transportation request by Mr.
Tolson 
   on October 7. 
        I have to be in Washington on the 16th and 17th of November, but
any other 
   dates will be satisfactory to me. May I hear from you regarding the date
of 
   your arrival? 
 
                                            Sincergly yours, 
 
    RVICTORY                                     2 
       BUY 
       UNITED 
 
                  ATES                           Newton B. D 
        MS Director. ( 
        STAMPS 
 
     Enclosure 996791.