Aug. 26, 1932 
Mr. Seth Gordon, President 
American Game Association 
Investment Building 
Washington, D. C. 
Dear Sethi 
The research work on Wisconsin prairie chickens and sharptails 
on which Dr. Gross made a progress report in 1930 has been going forward

since that time in charge of his former apprentice, Franklin J. Schmidt.

Excellent progress has been made. 
During the coming year Schmidt wants to return to school to 
work for his degree. I have been urging Wisconsin to make it possible 
for him to take his degree in cickens, thus automatically continuing the

work at very slight expense, but as nearly as I can learn the work is now

to be dropped upon the completion of a report this winter, just at the time

when enough results have accumulated to warrant actual application in 
management. A proposal to try out these findings by cropping chickens on

a sample area of reverted lands in Wisconsin has met with no response. 
I learn upon inquiry that Schmidt is willinig to work on chickens 
for a fellowship stipend of $500 per year plus travel expenses, provided

he can attach himself to some competent university for his degree. If we

estimate travel at $600-$1000, this makes his services available for less

than half of what research projects cost a few years Wgo. 
I am personally interested in preventing this venture from 
lapsing. It is the first seric s attempt at prairie chicken conservation
ever 
made in the United States, and it reflects scant credit on the conservation

movement that this trained man should have to drop this project, and resume

his study of snakes or field mice, in order to get a degree. 
The following states probably have the requisite combination of 
chickens, and a competent university:  Iowa, the Dakotas, Kansas, Nebraska,

Minnesota, and Texas. 
I am sending copies of this letter to personal friends in Iowa, 
Minnesota and Texas, and would suggest your providing your field force with

copies so that they can follow -p any opportunities to interest the 
universities or game departments in the states mentioned. 
I am also sending copies to the members of the Wild Life 
Conittee of the National Research Council, although that organization has