Canal construction workers

Letter from Charles C. Bull to Theodore Roosevelt

Charles C. Bull writes to Theodore Roosevelt about progress on the Panama Canal construction, which he says is going well. He states his opinion that though he opposes “white slaves traffic,” as by law women cannot be brought across country lines for “immoral” purposes, he says there is a problem in Panama where there are too many canal workers and too few prostitutes, and the prostitutes that are there have venereal diseases. Bull thinks there needs to be a way to bring (specifically white) prostitutes who have freely chosen the vocation to Panama and to have better health monitoring. He discusses San Francisco politics and greater U.S. politics, stating he will not support William H. Taft and he does not think the Republican Party will do well the next couple of terms, so he hopes the Democratic Party runs a presidential candidate he does not dislike too much so he does not have to vote Socialist. Lastly, he believes part of the Panama Canal construction area is not well fortified and is vulnerable to potential attack.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-14

Creator(s)

Bull, Charles C. (Charles Caldwell), 1877-1939

Letter from Joseph Bucklin Bishop to Theodore Roosevelt

Joseph Bucklin Bishop sends President Roosevelt two copies of the second edition of “The Canal Record,” which he says gives more space to information that interests canal employees. The paper has been well-received, but Bishop does not believe it needs to include Roosevelt’s suggestion for American news because there are already plenty of American newspapers available to canal workers. Bishop thanks Roosevelt for his telegram and mentions that he included it in “The Canal Record.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-12

Creator(s)

Bishop, Joseph Bucklin, 1847-1928

Letter from R. R. Bowker to Theodore Roosevelt

R. R. Bowker reports to President Roosevelt regarding complaints he has heard about worker conditions in Panama. Most of the complaints relate to the types and quality of food available to workers there. One possible solution would be to purchase more fresh supplies locally. It might also be worthwhile to send someone who is familiar with providing food to large numbers of people to inspect the operations.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-30

Creator(s)

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

Telegram from John F. Stevens to William H. Taft

John F. Stevens writes to Secretary of War Taft that news has reached Panama that steam shovels and men are coming to “make dirt fly.” Stevens warns that careful organization is needed, especially if they use the labor of southern African American prisoners.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-31

Creator(s)

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

Letter from George Otto Trevelyan to Theodore Roosevelt

George Otto Trevelyan writes to President Roosevelt about Panama and the Philippines, drawing parallels with Macaulay’s histories and Ancient Rome. Trevelyan discusses the British diplomatic service and his latest work on the American Revolution. He also describes a recent visit from Charles Francis Adams and his wife, and he muses on what it is like to be old. Trevelyan writes of their shared love of English literature, mentioning Milton, Chaucer, and W. W. Jacobs.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-12

Creator(s)

Trevelyan, George Otto, 1838-1928

Letter from Peter C. Hains

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

Panama Canal appropriation

Transcript from the Panama Canal Appropriation discussion. Secretary of War William H. Taft, as well as Senators Shonts, Hall, Perkins, Wetmore, and Warren discuss various issues regarding the salaries of the Chief Engineer John Frank Stevens, as well as the use of auditors.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-12-21

Creator(s)

Unknown

Canal salaries

Reconsideration by the U.S. Senate of appointments to the Panama Canal Commission may include the issue of salaries for commission members. The author sees the Senate’s action as an attack on President Roosevelt’s administration.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-12-21

Creator(s)

Unknown

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Kermit Roosevelt

President Roosevelt writes to his son Kermit to tell him about his trip to Panama with Edith. He includes the history of the area, the Panama Canal work site, and the scenery.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1906-11-20

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Memorandum on construction of Panama Canal

Author gives breakdown of Panama Canal construction stating that several hundred engineers and over a thousand laborers are working on the project. Additional information is given about the use of old French machinery being used in conjunction with newer machinery.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-12

Creator(s)

Unknown

President Roosevelt discussing America’s task with workmen at Bas Obispo, Panama Canal

President Roosevelt speaking to a group of workmen beside a steam shovel

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1906-11-26

Creator(s)

Underwood & Underwood

Letter from Anne D. Megary to Theodore Roosevelt

Anne D. Megary recently read Theodore Roosevelt’s article about the Panama Canal in The Outlook and writes to ask him for recommendations on whom to write to in order to help her brother find a job working on the Canal.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-17

Creator(s)

Megary, Anne D.

Letter from Elihu Root to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of State Root spent two days touring the work on the Panama Canal. Root saw the work that had been done for the residence of officers and workmen, as well as for repair and construction shops. Root was particularly impressed by the amount of excavation being done near the Culebra Cut. Root concludes by suggesting that the biggest danger facing the Canal at present is the possibility of losing good and able men to profitable employment elsewhere.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-12

Creator(s)

Root, Elihu, 1845-1937

Letter from Theodore P. Shonts to John F. Stevens

Theodore P. Shonts, Chairman of the Isthmian Canal Commission, discusses options for selecting the contracting firms that will be working on the Panama Canal.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-14

Creator(s)

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

Letter from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of War Taft sends President Roosevelt a copy of a letter written to Theodore P. Shonts, chairman of the Isthmian Canal Commission. Taft notes the antagonism that often exists between capitalists and labor organizers, and he hopes that it will be possible to avoid “unnecessary quarrels” with labor unions during their work on the Isthmus.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-01

Creator(s)

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

Letter from John A. Sleicher to Theodore Roosevelt

John A. Sleicher is grateful for President Roosevelt’s message to his daughter, and he discusses the possibility of Frank Wayland Higgins being nominated for Governor. Sleicher notes that Chinese laborers are being used for the construction of the Panama Canal, and he suggests the possibility that Filipinos might be used instead.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-28

Creator(s)

Sleicher, John A. (John Albert), 1848-1921

Letter from John F. Stevens to Theodore P. Shonts

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-04

Creator(s)

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

Memo for contract by percentage

Proposed contract for a company to complete work needed for the Panama Canal. The contract outlines what the company would work on and how much they would be compensated.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-07-26

Creator(s)

Isthmian Canal Commission (U.S.)

Letter from Theodore P. Shonts to William Loeb

Theodore P. Shonts, chairman of the Isthmian Canal Commission, writes to William Loeb regarding social conditions of the Isthmian laborers and the steps taken to accommodate them. President Roosevelt is very concerned that the workers are provided with recreation and diversion. Shonts describes the organization of clubs, masonic groups, reading rooms, and even attempts at baseball teams. The married workers receive cottages for their families and the Commission offers reduced transportation for their family members to travel to the Isthmus.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-12

Creator(s)

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

Letter from Grenville M. Dodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Grenville M. Dodge writes to President Roosevelt regarding the Panama Canal construction and comparing it to the Union Pacific Railway construction. Dodge also discusses contracting labor.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-12

Creator(s)

Dodge, Grenville M., 1831-1916