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William Crawford Gorgas notifies Theodore P. Shonts that passengers who have landed at Venezuelan or Colombian ports are not allowed to land at Colón, Panama, without undergoing a six day quarantine.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-02
Chief Engineer Stevens opines on the nature of the government contracts for those building the Panama Canal; he thinks the plan suggested by John F. O’Rourke, a railroad engineer who is one of the bidders, to be “misleading and dangerous.” Stevens says that, in his experience, when dealing with contractors it is necessary “to be ‘as wise as a serpent, and apparently as harmless as a dove.'”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-25
John F. Stevens discusses contracts and contractors for the building of the Panama Canal with Chairman of the Panama Canal Commission Theodore P. Shonts.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-18
Chief Engineer of the Isthmian Canal Commission (ICC) Stevens informs Chairman of the ICC Shonts that he has received the invitations for proposals and thinks it would be a mistake to individuals or firms of fewer than six members.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-05
Secretary of War Taft forwards a letter to Theodore Shonts from President Roosevelt. Thomas J. Dolan has asked Roosevelt that his men be given first-class passage to Panama and while Taft agrees with the accommodations, he wants Shonts to be clear with Dolan that the men must behave and any objectionable conduct by the laborers is to be met with discipline from the ship’s captain. Taft instructs Shonts to return the enclosure to William Loeb to be filed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-01
John F. Stevens thinks that construction will benefit if they seek out the best workers and contractors for every type of work needed, rather than relying solely on one company to provide them. That way, each “class of construction” will be overseen and carried out by experts who are the best at what they do.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-04
John F. Stevens, Chief Engineer of the Panama Canal Commission, offers Theodore P. Shonts his views on how the canal should best be constructed. Stevens advocates the commission keeping as much control and oversight over the process as possible, while using the best contractors from different parts of the country.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-27
Chief Engineer Stevens is familiar with Walston H. Brown, and knows him “to be able.” He recommends that, if it is amenable to President Theodore Roosevelt and Secretary of War William H. Taft, the government enter into a contract with Brown and his associates as soon as possible to ensure a quick start to construction in Panama.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-27
John F. Stevens complains to Theodore P. Shonts about the lack of labor for the construction of the Panama Canal. Stevens states he would like to hire Chinese and Spanish laborers instead of West Indian laborers.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-05-04
John F. Stevens writes to Theodore P. Shonts regarding George T. Kenly, who was let go from his job with the Isthmian Canal Commission because of his less than professional behavior. Because of disputes from Kenly, Stevens wants to clarify some points of contention with Shonts.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-03-10
President Roosevelt requests that Theodore P. Shonts pay special attention to the letter from George F. Dunn when making the report on the subject of wages. Roosevelt feels that ample wages are needed to keep up a satisfactory level of work and to attract the best workers.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-18