Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Eleroy Curtis
Subject(s): Bonynge, Robert W. (Robert William), 1863-1939, Brooks, Franklin E. (Franklin Eli), 1860-1916, Colorado, Flint, Frank P. (Frank Putnam), 1862-1929, Grunsky, C. E., 1855-1934, Hallett, Moses, Hogg, Herschel M. (Herschel Millard), 1853-1934, Loeb, William, 1866-1937, Moffat, David H. (David Halliday), 1839-1911, Moody, William H. (William Henry), 1853-1917, Newell, Frederick Haynes, 1862-1932, Public lands, Railroads and state, Stewart, Philip Battell, 1865-1957, Teller, Henry Moore, 1830-1914, United States Reclamation Service
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President Roosevelt has looked into the matter of Gore Canyon, and he provides William Eleroy Curtis a thorough accounting for the actions of the government in allowing a railroad to go through there instead of reserving the land for the work of the United States Reclamation Service. Roosevelt was told by many people in Colorado of the importance of a railroad through Gore Canyon in opening up more of the state for settlement and development. Furthermore, the Reclamation Service had not taken and was not in the position to take any steps towards developing Gore Canyon as a reservoir. Although the land had been withdrawn, when a judgement was passed in favor of the railroad, Roosevelt agreed and had Attorney General William H. Moody dismiss the government’s follow-up proceedings. Roosevelt asks Curtis to treat the portions of the letter containing quoted correspondence as private but allows him to use the rest of the letter.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1906-05-19
Creator(s)
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Recipient
Curtis, William Eleroy, 1850-1911
Language
English
Period
U.S. President – 2nd Term (March 1905-February 1909)
Repository
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Page Count
7
Production Method
Record Type
Multi-image
Resource Type
Rights
These images are presented through a cooperative effort between the Library of Congress and Dickinson State University. No known restrictions on publication.
Citation
Cite this Record
Chicago:
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Eleroy Curtis. [May 19, 1906]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o195553. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Eleroy Curtis. [19 May. 1906]. Multi-image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. January 23, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o195553.
APA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919., [1906, May 19]. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Eleroy Curtis.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o195553.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. January 23, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
APA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
