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President Roosevelt asks Consul Kellogg to “thank those two ‘Uncle Sam’s canal laborers from Jamaica'” for the gift for Roosevelt’s son Quentin Roosevelt and give them two enclosed photographs.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-29
President Roosevelt describes his trip to Panama and Puerto Rico. He comments on the uniqueness of Panama and the canal project. He praises William Crawford Gorgas’s work regarding the health of the Americans working on the canal. Black workers from Jamaica have not been as healthy, and Roosevelt feels as though they may need to get Chinese laborers as Jamaican Governor James Alexander Swettenham has been disagreeable to work with. He describes the trip and some reading he has done, saying about John Milton, “What a radical republican, and what a stanch partisan, and what an intense protestant the fine old fellow was!” He plans to read more Greek and Roman literature.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-23
Secretary of War Taft discusses the process of hiring labor for the Panama canal project. Taft believes that they can hire Chinese labor, and he prefers workers from China over locals and the Caribbean in general. Taft also believes they should not let any contracts before they receive all bids and that if they start advertising now, they can bring over the first wave of workers from China. Taft estimates that they need no more than 2,500 men but should leave room in the contract for more if need arises. John F. Stevens also believes they should employ workers from a variety of places, including Spain, in case they end up having problems with one particular group. They will begin once he hears back from President Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-27