Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Ethan A. Hitchcock

of STATE OF NEW York EXECUTIVE CHAMBER ALBANY June 5th, 1900. Hon. Ethan A. Hitchcock, Secretary of the Interior, Washington, D.c. My dear Mr. Hitchcock : I want to introduce to you personally one of the men whom I trust most in al the United States- and you know I do not give a letter of introduction to you unless I really mean it- The bearer of this is Mr. Sherman Bell, formerly of my absidely- regiment. Mr. Bel 1 was almost -- and I am tempted to say the A best only soldier in the regiment. It was not, that he was entirely fearless but that he was absolutely trustworthy in every shape and way He has been not only in the mining business on his own account and in connection with ex-Secretary Noble, but also United States Marshal and Deputy Marshal on many different occasions. He is one of the very few men whom the Wells, Fargo Express Company never took any bond from when they sent him with bullion of no matter what value. No small part of his life business has been the ferreting out of frauds and crimes under circumstances where he could not afford to make a mistake. I consider his judgment equal to his integrity, and higher praise than that I could not give him. I commend him most earnestly to your courtesy and consideration and vouch for him in most unqualified terms. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelp