Canals--Design and construction

Theodore P. Shonts milks a cow labeled “Canal Commission” that is feeding on a mixture of hay and money labeled “Appropriation.” Shonts has a bucket labeled “Progress” between his knees. Secretary of State William H. Taft stands in the background holding a pitchfork. Up a hill on the right is an outbuilding labeled “U.S. Treasury” full of hay.

comments and context

Comments and Context

J. S. Pughe’s cover cartoon in Puck is a virtual lesson in cartoon iconography — hay-barn, fodder, milk, funds. The actual context is the figures and the dialog-caption, addressing a rather continuing challenge in the construction of the Panama Canal, centered in the Culebra Cut.

A bloated businessman labeled “Railroad Interests,” smoking a cigar and wearing a gold necklace of railroad passenger cars, sits on the hillside at the Culebra Cut in Panama. He is speaking to Uncle Sam, who is standing on the edge of the Cut, his coat over one arm and holding a pick-axe with the other. Stuffed head-first, in the businessman’s pocket, is John F. Wallace, chief engineer of the canal construction until his resignation in 1905. Caption: Gentleman in the Background — Sam, here’s an engineering problem for you. If it’ll take ten years to cut through Culebra, how many years will it take to cut through me?

comments and context

Comments and Context

It was in June of 1905, weeks before Puck published this centerspread cartoon by Joseph Keppler, Junior, that John F. Wallace, the Chief Engineer of the Panama Canal project, abruptly resigned his position. He was succeeded by John F. Stevens. Both men were railroad designers and engineers in the United States before and after their work on the Canal.

A frenzy of activity is underway as many politicians and capitalists join the labor forces to construct the Panama Canal. Theodore P. Shonts, chairman of the Isthmian Canal Commission, is standing on the right, holding a whip, and directing the laborers. In the background, large groups of men labeled “Order of Walking Delegates, The Idle Rich, Amalgamated Aldermen, [and] Insurance Presidents Union No. 6” are waiting, with tools, to be called into action. Caption: Let our superfluous citizens do the work.

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Comments and Context

S. D. Ehrhart’s expansive cartoon in Puck seized upon the news of labor challenges in the Culebra Cut portion of the Panama Canal construction, and built an elaborate cartoon-fantasy about people in politics, the social world, and finance being put to work at manual labor.

The governor of New York, Benjamin B. Odell, is tied with a rope labeled “Contracts” to a submerged barge labeled “$255,000,000 Barge Canal.” He is up to his neck in water labeled “Popular Indignation” and cannot touch the “sand” with his feet.

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Comments and Context

It was perhaps indicative of Puck Magazine’s pessimistic outlook on the 1904 presidential election that one week before voters went to the polls, the magazine devoted its front-page cartoon to a tempest in a teapot in state politics in New York.

Senator George F. Hoar, as an old woman waving an umbrella, yells at Uncle Sam as he confidently walks away from her with a shovel on his shoulder and papers labeled “Canal Plans” under his arm. Two diminutive figures labeled “Colombia” and “Philippines” are standing next to Hoar.

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Comments and Context

George Frisbie Hoar, Republican Senator from Massachusetts, was an old-line part loyalist for years, but a maverick on the issue of expansionism. He was consistent on this issue, to the extent of speaking out against the Spanish-American War; a leading opponent of territorial expansion and acquisition of defeated Spanish possessions, he never actually joined the American Anti-Imperialist League. The organization, founded by Mark Twain and whose members included former president Grover Cleveland, made prominent arguments in public debates but was short-lived.

A Frenchman stands outside the U.S. Treasury building, holding in one hand a newspaper that states “Colombia Rejects Canal Treaty” and in the other hand a paper labeled “40,000,000 for France if Treaty is Ratified.” It appears that he was about to cash in a promissory note for $40 million, only to discover at the last moment that it is worthless.

comments and context

Comments and Context

The disappointed Frenchman in Pughe’s cartoon reflected the angrier (if possible) reaction of President Roosevelt, Secretary of State John Hay, Senator John Spooner (R-WI), and other American proponents of a canal through the Panamanian region of Colombia. A treaty, with all business and financial arrangements, had been negotiated, only to be rejected by the Colombian senate.

Theodore Roosevelt writes about the necessity of the canalization of Mississippi, one part of his progressive program.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-08-19

Theodore Roosevelt feels that the flooding from the Mississippi River must be dealt with by the nation as a whole and by all the states that share its watershed. Roosevelt writes that had recommendations from the Inland Watershed Commission been followed damage would have been averted. If elected president, Roosevelt will commence a comprehensive study of the Mississippi River focused on the River’s economical and ecological usefulness, impacting transportation, housing, food production, and emigration. Roosevelt supports conservation policies and the 14-Foot Waterway Board of Army Engineers plan to construct an efficient, extensive canal and levee system.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-06-06

President Roosevelt forwards a letter from Henry W. Taft to Lieutenant Colonel Goethels introducing Frederick C. Lobnitz whose firm, Lobnitz & Co., specializes in developing rock-breaking equipment and techniques.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-18

President Roosevelt is astonished to learn that in 1827 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe predicted both the construction of the Panama Canal and that the United States would build it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-10-28

President Roosevelt tells Joseph Bucklin Bishop he will change his upcoming message to reflect the changes requested by Bishop and Colonel George W. Goethals. Roosevelt will ask for the Isthmian Canal Commission members to be appointed in the order Bishop suggests, and will ask for the design specifications Bishop mentions to be carried out by government workers. Roosevelt asks Bishop to give his regards to Goethals.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-10-25

President Roosevelt writes to Henry S. Pritchett about the construction on the Panama Canal. Roosevelt says that the construction is going well but laments the resignation of Chief Engineer John F. Stevens.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-01

Francis B. Loomis informs William Loeb that Walton H. Brown will be sending the President his memorandum on contractors for the Panama Canal shortly. It has been difficult to gather the best contractors in the country, because they are all busy with numerous projects. Many contractors would be willing to work on the canal, but, as they have “contracts aggregating millions of dollars” that they will have to accept or reject, they would like to know “in a general way” how their proposals are being regarded. Loomis would not like Loeb to publish the clipping that he sent, as it was just for Roosevelt’s reference.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-16

President Roosevelt encloses a letter from the Minister to Colombia that shows there was no chance of securing rights to a canal by treaty. The other option was Nicaragua which many engineers strongly advocated against. Roosevelt is against supporting a secessionist movement in Panama but admits that he would be delighted if Panama was an independent state. He will not speak publicly on the matter for that would be taken as instigation for a revolt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-10-10

Richard Johnson asks Theodore Roosevelt for help finding information about the fortification of the Panama Canal for a speech he is writing.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-05-15

President-elect Taft describes his pleasant journey to Colón to inspect the construction of the Panama Canal. He informs President Roosevelt that changes among the engineering staff have resulted in clear improvements. The committee is not inclined to change the plans for the canal’s locks and dams. They worry that too much money is being spent on safety precautions, but Taft disagrees. He approves of Roosevelt’s decision to widen the canal, and is optimistic that it will be finished before the projected completion date. Additionally, Taft discusses cabinet and diplomatic appointments he is considering.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-01

Secretary of the Isthmian Canal Commission Bishop sends President Roosevelt a rough draft of talking points he can use in his message about the Panama Canal. Bishop also includes a detailed description of the canal’s progress, as well as his evaluation of some other members of the Commission.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-10-16

Joseph Bucklin Bishop updates President Roosevelt on his arrival to the Canal Zone. Colonel George W. Goethals, chief engineer and chairman of the Isthmian Canal Commission, welcomed him and looked forward to Bishop’s aid. Bishop reports that the work is progressing “splendidly,” and it appears the dissatisfaction among the workers has been resolved. Excited by what he sees, Bishop thanks Roosevelt for sending him. He closes by describing his proposed semi-weekly newspaper for the “regular dissemination of accurate information about the canal.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-13

On behalf of Secretary of War William H. Taft, Fred W. Carpenter sends a typescript of a telegram to William Loeb. George W. Goethals describes labor negotiations with and resignations of Isthmian Canal construction workers. Goethals reports that men are returning to work and he has no fear of the outcome.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-05-16

Chief Engineer John F. Stevens informs President Roosevelt that he will sail with the first ship and will have all the data regarding the Catun dams and locks.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-04