Letter from Herbert J. Hagerman to Theodore Roosevelt
Subject(s): Campbell, Franklin L., 1843-1914, Cooley, Alford Warriner, 1873-1913, Curry, George, 1861-1947, Garfield, James Rudolph, 1865-1950, Governors--Term of office, Hagerman, James John, 1838-1909, Hitchcock, Ethan Allen, 1835-1909, Hopewell, Willard S. (Willard Samuel), 1847-1919, Land grants, Llewellyn, Morgan, 1879-1929, Loeb, William, 1866-1937, New Mexico, New Mexico. Commissioner of Public Lands, Pennsylvania Land Company, Pinchot, Gifford, 1865-1946, Political corruption, Presidents--Influence, Pritchard, George W., 1851-1935, Raynolds, James W. (James Wallace), 1873-1910, Resignation from office, Schomburg, Theodore A., 1864-1929, Timber, United States. Department of the Interior, United States. Dept. of the Interior, United States. General Land Office, Verbal self-defense
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Former New Mexico Territory Governor Hagerman responds to President Roosevelt’s letter accepting his resignation in language that “should not be considered less forceful because of the absence of harsh language.” Hagerman says that in 1898, Congress placed restrictions on land leases in New Mexico Territory which were inappropriate to the landscape and climate of the territory, and ever since, individuals and businesses have worked to skirt these restrictions. When Hagerman became governor, he tried to get guidance from the federal government regarding these restrictions and the seemingly illegal contracts granted by his predecessor, but received none. Hagerman was left to either break deals made by his predecessor, or fulfill them if no harm would come to the territory, and the Pennsylvania Land Company deal was one such deal. Hagerman holds that the action he took was neither illegal nor improper, and refutes several specific points from Roosevelt’s letter.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1907-05-15
Creator(s)
Hagerman, Herbert J. (Herbert James), 1871-1935
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
13
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 Herbert J. Hagerman to Theodore Roosevelt. [May 15, 1907]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o56111. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Hagerman, Herbert J. (Herbert James), 1871-1935. Letter from Herbert J. Hagerman to Theodore Roosevelt. [15 May. 1907]. Multi-image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. April 16, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o56111.
APA:
Hagerman, Herbert J. (Herbert James), 1871-1935., [1907, May 15]. Letter from Herbert J. Hagerman to Theodore Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o56111.
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. April 16, 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.
