Letter from Peter C. Hains
Subject(s): Bates, Lindon W. (Lindon Wallace), 1858-1924, Budget--Cost control, Canal construction workers, Canals--Design and construction, Employees--Housing, Engineering, Fluid dynamics, Isthmian Canal Commission (U.S.), Locks (Hydraulic engineering)--Evaluation, Panama Railroad Co., Panama--Colon Free Zone, Panama--Isthmus of Panama, Stevens, John F. (John Frank), 1853-1943, United States. Atlantic-Pacific Interoceanic Canal Study Commission, Working capital--Management
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Major General Hains responds to allegations made by Lindon W. Bates in The Crisis at Panama, claiming the criticisms are exaggerated and unfounded. For example, despite the reference to a lock canal in the original resolution passed on June 29, 1906, the Consulting Board of Engineers provided alternate solutions that have been selected for construction. The resolution passed by Congress focused more on flexibility rather than locking engineers into one type of canal construction, as evidenced by the flurry of changes that were made at the turn of the twentieth-century to the canal. The Isthmian Canal Commission also worked to eradicate the poor sanitary and housing conditions that plagued the workers there. Hains argues that Bates does not understand that before any work is to be done, a large amount of money must be spent on the plant itself. He also writes that Bates’ characterization of everything from the lengths of the locks to the location of construction does not consider best practices.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1906-12-11
Creator(s)
Hains, Peter C. (Peter Conover), 1840-1921
Language
English
Period
U.S. President – 2nd Term (March 1905-February 1909)
Repository
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Page Count
9
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 Peter C. Hains. [December 11, 1906]. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o55011. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Hains, Peter C. (Peter Conover), 1840-1921. Letter from Peter C. Hains. [11 Dec. 1906]. Multi-image. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. December 4, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o55011.
APA:
Hains, Peter C. (Peter Conover), 1840-1921.: , [1906, December 11]. Letter from Peter C. Hains. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o55011.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. 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 Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. December 4, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
APA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
