Building--Contracts and specifications

Letter from R. R. Bowker to Theodore Roosevelt

President Roosevelt’s message to R. R. Bowker confirms to Bowker what he has heard from many in Washington about John F. Stevens’ resignation as Chief Engineer on the Panama Canal. Bowker believes Stevens’, “a man of railroad training and association”, resignation may have been influenced in part by Roosevelt’s policies on railroad regulation. Bowker will send a memorandum or report to Roosevelt in person on the situation to improve the transport of supplies to the canal workers.  

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-28

Creator(s)

Bowker, R. R. (Richard Rogers), 1848-1933

Letter from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of War Taft believes that the steam shovel men need to put what they say in writing and that permission to visit President Roosevelt would interfere largely with discipline on the Isthmus.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-06

Creator(s)

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

Telegram from John F. Stevens to William H. Taft

John F. Stevens, chief engineer of the Panama Canal, objects to the construction bid made by W. J. Oliver, and updates Secretary of War Taft on the Panama Canal’s construction progress.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-30

Creator(s)

Stevens, John F. (John Frank), 1853-1943

Telegram from John F. Stevens to William H. Taft

John F. Stevens, chief engineer of the Panama Canal, does not think that W. J. Oliver is the right person for the contract, and advises Secretary of War Taft to call for new bids.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-29

Creator(s)

Stevens, John F. (John Frank), 1853-1943

Telegram from John F. Stevens to William H. Taft

John F. Stevens, chief engineer of the Panama Canal, cables Secretary of War Taft that he believes it is a mistake to award the contract to build the Panama Canal to W. J. Oliver.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-29

Creator(s)

Stevens, John F. (John Frank), 1853-1943

Telegram from Theodore P. Shonts to United States Panama Canal Commission

Theodore P. Shonts informs the United States Isthmian Canal Commission that the bid of W. J. Oliver for construction of the Panama Canal will be accepted if he can come up with new satisfactory associates in ten days.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-28

Creator(s)

Shonts, Theodore P. (Theodore Perry), 1856-1919

Telegram from Theodore P. Shonts to John F. Stevens

Theodore P. Shonts informs John F. Stevens that the government has agreed on a price after a conference including Secretary of State Elihu Root, Secretary of War William H. Taft, and President Roosevelt. Shonts is investigating the financial responsibility, integrity, and past performance of the Oliver & Bangs construction company.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-18

Creator(s)

Shonts, Theodore P. (Theodore Perry), 1856-1919

Telegram from John F. Stevens to Isthmian Canal Commission

John F. Stevens writes the Isthmian Canal Commission that the lowest bid is still too high, but they should examine the record and capacity of the bidders.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-16

Creator(s)

Stevens, John F. (John Frank), 1853-1943

Telegram from Theodore P. Shonts to John F. Stevens

Theodore Shonts replies to John F. Stevens that the bids before the Commission will be taken up on their merits after construction bids are acted upon.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-11

Creator(s)

Shonts, Theodore P. (Theodore Perry), 1856-1919

Letter from Andrew J. Corcoran to Theodore Roosevelt

Andrew J. Corcoran responds to President Roosevelt’s letter from January 25, 1905, explaining his reasons for recommending the installation of a new 40,000 gallon water tank at Sagamore Hill. Corcoran also explains the problems with repairing the current system and installing a 20,000 gallon tank on the back porch.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-28

Creator(s)

Corcoran, Andrew J., 1838-1921

Letter from Andrew J. Corcoran to Noah Seaman

Andrew J. Corcoran recommends to Noah Seaman that President Roosevelt accept his offer to replace the tower, tank, and wheel attached to the windmill at Sagamore Hill because the existing structure is old, worn, and provides an inadequate water supply.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-20

Creator(s)

Corcoran, Andrew J., 1838-1921

Letter from Andrew J. Corcoran to Theodore Roosevelt

Andrew J. Corcoran submits a proposal to take down the windmill and tower at Sagamore Hill and replace it with a new tank, pump, supporting tower, and re-erect the windmill for a cost of $3,786. If President Roosevelt also wants to replace the existing wheel the total cost would be $4,248.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-19

Creator(s)

Corcoran, Andrew J., 1838-1921

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt has reviewed letters from Secretary of War Taft and Secretary of State Elihu Root regarding the recommended construction to provide the city of Cienfuegos, Cuba, with a water and sewage system. Roosevelt agrees with the views of Taft and Root that this construction is important, as Cienfuegos is a major Cuban port, and will become even more important with the opening of the Panama Canal. Roosevelt has heard of some local resistance to this construction, largely centered around rival politicians trying to use the construction to get an edge on their rivals, but assumes that Governor Charles E. Magoon will be able to navigate the construction in such a way to not provide political advantage to any party.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-02

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt has considered both Secretary of War Taft’s recent letter, as well as a letter from Secretary of State Elihu Root, on the history of construction contracts made arranging for the construction of sewers and paving of roads in Havana, Cuba. Roosevelt agrees with the conclusions that Taft and Root came to, and is glad that there appears to be a clear way to move forward in these areas.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-02

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to C. Grant La Farge

President Roosevelt heard from Postmaster General Cortelyou that C. Grant La Farge is one of the architects competing for the post office building, and asks La Farge to let him know “if there is any hitch.” He is glad that La Farge’s son, Christopher LaFarge, enjoyed reading his book Outdoor Pastimes. Roosevelt hopes to see La Farge and his wife, Florence Bayard La Farge, soon.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-07-03

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Davis Long

President Roosevelt shares an unspecified memorandum on delays in construction which makes clear that commercial work has been prioritized over government contracts. Roosevelt instructs great care be taken that this does not happen again.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-11-09

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Kermit Roosevelt to Theodore Roosevelt

Kermit Roosevelt tells Theodore Roosevelt about a dinner he had with David Goodrich, during which they discussed the work Goodrich has done with the Progressive Party and the possibility of war with Japan. He also talks about a lunch he had with Percival Farquhar. Roosevelt expresses the desire to pick up more contracts.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Kermit, 1889-1943

Telegram from John F. Stevens from Theodore P. Shonts

John F. Stevens discusses contracts and contractors for the building of the Panama Canal with Chairman of the Panama Canal Commission Theodore P. Shonts.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-18

Creator(s)

Stevens, John F. (John Frank), 1853-1943

Letter from Theodore P. Shonts to Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore P. Shonts notifies President Roosevelt that the Purchasing Officer for the Panama Canal Commission found that by inviting new bids he could get a lower price on sheet lead of domestic production. Shonts would like Roosevelt to approve a rule “where bids submitted on materials of foreign production are lower than on material of domestic production,” that after adding duty to the bids received on foreign materials, the award should be made to the materials of foreign production.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-17

Creator(s)

Shonts, Theodore P. (Theodore Perry), 1856-1919

Letter from Josiah Kingsley Ohl to William Loeb

Josiah Kingsley Ohl recommends that President Roosevelt invite William J. Oliver, a railroad builder and contractor, on his team to Panama. Ohl is confident that Oliver’s knowledge of construction would make his advice valuable.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08

Creator(s)

Ohl, Josiah Kingsley, 1863-1920