Letter from Leslie M. Shaw to Theodore Roosevelt
Subject(s): Canals, Interoceanic--Design and construction, Civil engineers, Government contractors, McDonald, John B. (John Bartholomew), 1844-1911, New York (State)--Albany, New York (State)--New York, Panama--Panama Canal, Pennsylvania--Philadelphia, Railroads--Design and construction--Management, Sanitary engineers, United States. Department of the Treasury. Office of the Secretary, United States. Dept. of the Treasury. Office of the Secretary
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Secretary of the Treasury Leslie M. Shaw makes recommendations to President Roosevelt regarding the administration of the Panama Canal. The government had bought steamships to use the canal, but Shaw recommends selling them to private companies and taking sealed bids for contracts to operate the canal routes. He also suggests that the government should use private contractors on building and operating the isthmian railroad the government owns as well, as this will prevent red tape and potential scandals. He does recommend hiring many civil and sanitary engineers to oversee the work, however. Shaw uses examples of government projects using private contractors in Albany and New York City, New York, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to strengthen his argument.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1905-10-17
Creator(s)
Shaw, Leslie M. (Leslie Mortier), 1848-1932
Recipient
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Language
English
Period
U.S. President – 2nd Term (March 1905-February 1909)
Repository
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Page Count
5
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 Leslie M. Shaw to Theodore Roosevelt. [October 17, 1905]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o51597. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Shaw, Leslie M. (Leslie Mortier), 1848-1932. Letter from Leslie M. Shaw to Theodore Roosevelt. [17 Oct. 1905]. Multi-image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. January 15, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o51597.
APA:
Shaw, Leslie M. (Leslie Mortier), 1848-1932., [1905, October 17]. Letter from Leslie M. Shaw to Theodore Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o51597.
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 15, 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.
