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Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1900-06-21
Hitchcock, Ethan Allen, 1835-1909
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
English
Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock tenders his resignation to President Roosevelt to take effect on March 4, 1907. He thanks Roosevelt for his support and the time in his administration.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-01
Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock agrees with President Roosevelt that certain affidavits should be handed over to Richard Achilles Ballinger, who is about to begin his tenure as Commissioner of the General Land Office. Hitchcock also thinks it wise to give the affidavits to Commissioner of Corporations James Rudolph Garfield, who will replace Hitchcock as Secretary of the Interior in March. Hitchcock hopes he can meet with Garfield in person soon to explain to him more details that cannot be put in writing.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-24
Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock relates to President Roosevelt the circumstances which led to Hitchcock’s order that any land available for purchase must be inspected by a federal agent before the deed is granted. Hitchcock recalls that Roosevelt asked him to modify this order, and provides two options: one order that modifies the previous order, and another – which Hitchcock prefers – that replaces the previous order.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-19
Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock writes President Roosevelt with his advice on the complicated matter of withdrawing coal lands. On Roosevelt’s direction, the Department of the Interior and the General Land Office began surveying and drafting a list of townships that contained rich coal lands with the intention of withdrawing them from homestead exemptions, and the Department is working quickly to wire all of Roosevelt’s orders to appropriate land offices around the country. However, it is apparent that oil industry men can use many loopholes to obtain the land.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-17
Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock updates William A. Richards, Commissioner of the General Land Office, on an order from July 26, 1906, and subsequent related orders. On any lands where substantial coal is found, all orders for “entry, filing, and selection under the coal and other land laws” are to be modified to “provide for the withdrawal of ‘such lands from coal entry merely.'” Richards is to advise all affected land districts, especially those in Juneau, Alaska.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-17
Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock hopes that given the election results in Missouri, President Roosevelt will now decide to accept the invitation of Missouri Governor David R. Francis to visit the World’s Fair in St. Louis.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-09
Interior Secretary Ethan Allen Hitchcock sends President Theodore Roosevelt several papers related to conditions in Big Horn County, Wyoming. Included as well is a summary report from Special Land Inspector Edward B. Linnen.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-01
Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock provides President Roosevelt with a summary and documentation pertaining to investigations by the Department of the Interior into alleged illegal fencing and land fraud in Wyoming. Hitchcock reports that notices have been issued in 165 cases, proceedings have been instituted in ten with favorable results for the government, two enclosures have been removed in response to notices, two cases are pending before the Special Agent in Charge, one case is pending before the District Attorney, no report has been filed and no action taken in eight cases, and the fences in the remaining cases are presumably still standing. The item includes a detailed list of enclosures.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-30
Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock will send President Roosevelt a copy of the Wyoming report along with another one and copies of affidavits that accompanied both. The documents are currently being copied, and they will not be ready to be sent until the next Monday.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-13
Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock encloses a confidential letter addressed by him to William A. Richards, Commissioner of the General Land Office, which he think will provide the information President Roosevelt desires. Hitchcock also encloses a copy of a Circular giving instructions to Special Agents under the act of February 25, 1885, instead of the Proclamation Roosevelt had requested. Hitchcock explains that the substitution of the Circular for the Proclamation was a result of a conference had by Governor Richards with both Roosevelt and Hitchcock.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-11
Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock instructs Commissioner of the Land Office Richards to provide a full statement of the actions taken in connection with the issuance of the Circular dated January 29, 1904. The statement should include the names of all Special Agents stationed in Wyoming at the time of the Circular, a list of the individuals who received the Circular, and a list of all notices sent to offending parties of the Act of February 25, 1885. Hitchcock also requests a full statement about whether or not the parties he has named have been reported to Richards as offenders against the Act.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-10
Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock writes President Roosevelt with updates on the New Hampshire gubernatorial campaign. Winston Churchill was seen as a serious contender to win the nomination but Charles Miller Floyd, who was the favorite of the Boston and Maine Railroad, ended up winning over Charles Henry Greenleaf, making considerable progress given his lack of experience.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-19
Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock assumes responsibility for publishing the Higgins correspondence as a pamphlet and will conform to President Roosevelt’s wishes in the future. Hitchcock is not surprised that Roosevelt has heard complaints about the investigations in the Indian Territory; “‘Weary Willie’ grafters” are prone to making charges “against those uncovering their scoundrelism.” However, he thinks that the final reports will prove these investigations were warranted.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-01
Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock confirms that he received President Roosevelt’s letter and will work to follow Roosevelt’s directions. He will ask Commissioner of Corporations James Rudolph Garfield to begin working on a report on the Standard Oil case. Having only met Colonel Butler through this investigation, Hitchcock is very impressed by him and excited that Butler will meet Roosevelt at Oyster Bay. Hitchcock is attaching his response to T. B. Latta in a related matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-24
In a confidential letter, Interior Secretary Ethan Allen Hitchcock agrees with newspaper editor Thomas Albert Latta about the distressing condition of oil interests in the Indian Territory. Hitchcock thinks the best remedy would come from independent operators “unitedly building” pipe lines and refineries to make them independent of Standard Oil and its subsidiaries. He promises the full protection of the Department of the Interior to this class of operator. Hitchcock closes by thanking Latta for his support and asking if he may seek further assistance from him in the future.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-23
Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock responds to President Roosevelt’s request for information regarding an account of the correspondence featured in a New York Sun editorial from August 16, 1906. Hitchcock tells Roosevelt that he was not responsible for the editorial except to the extent that correspondence referenced was issued by his authority. The correspondence, which he summarizes, pertains to the hearings before Hitchcock on the leasing of oil lands and natural gas wells in Indian Territory and the Territory of Oklahoma.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-22
Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock repeats what President Roosevelt said in Roosevelt’s note about a bill. Regarding the bill, Roosevelt intends for it to specify that the city of Los Angeles is not allowed to let individuals or corporations have the right to sell water from the city for irrigation use.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-29
In reply to a letter from William Loeb, Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock writes to President Roosevelt regarding banker Cassius Marcellus Cade’s case. Hitchcock reports that Cade has no experience that would qualify him to serve as register in a land office and that Cade has indicated he would resign immediately if he were appointed. Hitchcock also suggests that any nominations put forth by Governor Frank C. Frantz and Bird S. McGuire be postponed due to a situation in Oklahoma that requires investigation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-05-26
Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock forwards a telegram from Francis J. Heney to the White House. It addresses the issue of William C. Bristol’s removal from office following the investigation against him. Heney asks that President Roosevelt hear him before action is taken.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-02-20