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Yellowstone National Park Superintendent S. B. M. Young sends President Roosevelt photographs of two individuals convicted for poaching. Young acknowledges the hard work of Chief United States Game Protector T. S. Palmer in prosecuting the criminals.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-14
Lieutenant General S. B. M. Young, Superintendent of Yellowstone National Park, informs William Loeb that he plans to present a scheme for a civil guard called the “National Park Guard” to Congress. If Young’s plan is approved, it would be a waste of money to build new quarters at Yellowstone National Park now. Even if Congress does not approve the National Park Guard, the quarters could be built next year if needed, although Young thinks it will be much less cost-effective. He includes information about the civil guard for President Roosevelt and Secretary of the Interior James Rudolph Garfield.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-11
Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Young tells President Roosevelt that it would not make sense to remove E. C. Waters, owner of the Yellowstone Lake Boat Company, until after tourist season. Young now feels he is able to do the demanding work expected of his position, and he will not let small disturbances interfere with carrying out his duties. He will stay in the park for the winter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-05
Superintendent of Yellowstone National Park Young thanks President Roosevelt for promoting Brigadier General William Penn Duvall to major general to fill General William Spencer McCaskey’s vacancy. Young knows Duvall is highly qualified for the position.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-29
S.B.M. Young tells President Roosevelt about his vacation on Colonel Robert Means Thompson’s houseboat The Everglades. He would like to talk business with Roosevelt before accepting the appointment of superintendent of Yellowstone Park.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-28
S. B. M. Young refutes a rumor he fears William Loeb may have heard that he is trying to remove General Hamilton Smith Hawkins from the leadership of the Soldiers’ Home, and states that he has “no desire to in any way inconvenience Gen. Hawkins.” Young does wish, however, for his grandson, Burton Y. Read, to be appointed as a cadet at the Military Academy in 1908. He wishes the Roosevelts and the Loebs a pleasant summer.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-02
S. M. B. Young briefly updates Theodore Roosevelt on Wood of the Brownsville Court of Inquiry, and Governor Young of the soldier’s home. He reports the “boiling of our political cauldron is gradually working for the betterment” in business and politics.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-04-21
S. B. M. Young congratulates President Roosevelt on his one-day, ninety-mile horseback ride, which he made in response to the negative reaction to his physical fitness orders for the Army. Young agrees with Roosevelt’s orders, specifically that the Army should be “up to the fighting standard” in peacetime.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-14
S. B. M. Young, superintendent of Yellowstone National Park, would like to be appointed Governor of the Soldiers’ Home if President Roosevelt can do so without “doing injustice to anyone.” He celebrates that Roosevelt “did fray that crazy quilt [William Jennings] Bryan to a frazzle,” and believes that his administration will go down in history on par with those of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-12
Knowing the Yellowstone stagecoach robberies will be highly publicized, Superintendent of Yellowstone National Park S. B. M. Young wants President Roosevelt to hear the details from him. Young enumerates the events preceding and following the robberies, including the park’s soldiers’ failure to respond. Young cannot remain superintendent where his authority is ignored, and he is powerless to enforce rules. He fears for the park’s welfare if it is continued to be used as a military reservation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-07
Major General S. B. M. Young informs President Roosevelt about the date of an upcoming ceremony, and about his travel plans.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-02
S. B. M. Young hopes to present his soon-to-be wife to President Roosevelt sometime in 1908 and thinks the appointment at West Point would be a perfect trip for a bride. Though he would welcome the appointment, if there is another who Roosevelt would honor this year, he can wait until 1909. He is currently busy handling coyotes, and he enjoys the climate as well as the work.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-12-30
Superintendent Young of Yellowstone National Park describes actions he has taken to ensure that the officers, soldiers and scouts on duty observe and enforce park rules. Although there have been challenges retaining enlisted men, in three months he has been able to convict eleven poachers, including a non commissioned officer. Young describes the difficulties of working with state game wardens, and he hopes that being a civilian administrator in a position higher than that of the officer selected to command the troops does not breed resentment.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-12-06
Superintendent Young updates William Loeb on recent unlawful activity in Yellowstone National Park. He and Major Henry T. Allen, commander of the troops at Fort Yellowstone, “encouraged” the conviction of a corporal from Tower Falls station for poaching as well as another soldier who vandalized a tree. Young believes he should stay in the park until mid January to prevent poaching and asks what President Roosevelt’s feelings are about a mounted police force to protect the park. Young will attend the wedding of Ellen Dean Child, daughter of a family with concessions in the park, and William Morse Nichols of California.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-05
S. B. M. Young updates President Roosevelt on his recent travels, which has included spending significant time at the extremely impressive Louisiana Purchase Exposition in Saint Louis, Missouri. Young believes, from what he has gathered during his travels, that Roosevelt will easily win the presidential contest against Democratic candidate Alton B. Parker. Young will be traveling to Hot Springs, Arkansas, as well as Texas later this year, but hopes to be able to visit Roosevelt around Christmas. He recalls when Roosevelt was forced into the Vice Presidency, and that he always believed that Roosevelt would be “the exception to the fate of all former VP’s.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-10-20
Lieutenant General Young tells President Roosevelt about poacher Charles Purdy of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, who has been arrested for illegally hunting game on federal lands. He includes a photo of Purdy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09
The notes contain General Young’s plan for a civil guard in Yellowstone National Park, including where they would be stationed, the pay they would receive, and the equipment they would need. An estimated total cost is $50,000 per year. Young thinks this would be a significant savings over the current military station, and would better serve the interests of the park.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-11
S. B. M. Young expresses his pleasure in President Roosevelt’s refusal to arbitrate in the Venezuelan Situation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-1
General Young expresses appreciation as he retires as Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-01-11
General Young submits a memorandum for President Roosevelt’s consideration in order to advance the interests of the U. S. Army.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-12-30