Canals, Interoceanic--Design and construction

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt has received the letters from both Secretary of War Taft and W. Leon Pepperman of the Office of Administration of Isthmian Canal Affairs regarding the use of Chinese labor for the construction of the canal. Roosevelt emphasizes that his primary belief is that the canal must be constructed, and that therefore that means getting whatever laborers necessary, limited only by “the law of the land and the requirements of morality.” Roosevelt believes this first contract for Chinese laborers does not need to be bid on, as it is only for a small number of laborers and is “in the nature of an experiment,” but if there need to be further contracts then such contracts should be advertised for bids.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-07-27

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William P. Hepburn

Secretary of War William H. Taft recently recommended that the wording of the Panama Canal bill in the Senate be amended from noting that the lock canal was recommended “by the minority of the Consulting Board of Engineers” to being recommended “by the President and the Secretary of War.” President Roosevelt does not feel that the change is absolutely necessary, but suggests to Senator Hepburn that making such a change may eliminate an opportunity for opponents of the lock canal to protest.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-27

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt forwards Secretary of War Taft a telegram he received from Chairman Theodore P. Shonts of the Isthmian Canal Commission and Chief Engineer of the Panama Canal John F. Stevens. Construction on the Panama Canal has already been delayed because of investigations in Washington, and Roosevelt believes the object of proposed investigations in Panama is to delay the construction further. Roosevelt thinks that if people have reasons the canal should not be built they should simply say that, which would lead to a frank debate. Conducting these sorts of investigations to delay construction, however, is underhanded and has no point. Roosevelt is willing to say all of this in a message to Congress if Taft thinks this would be proper.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-27

Telegram from Theodore Roosevelt to William P. Frye

President Roosevelt hopes that Senator Frye can see a way to act in favor of the proposed lock canal design for the Panama Canal, as Roosevelt believes that trying to construct the canal as a sea-level canal “would be a calamitous blow to the entire project.” If Frye can do this, Roosevelt asks him to telegraph Senator William B. Allison.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-19

Telegram from Theodore Roosevelt to Winthrop Murray Crane

President Roosevelt sends Senator Crane a rush telegram telling him he hopes Crane will be sure to be present in the Senate tomorrow morning when the vote for the lock canal is taking place, or that he will make an alternate arrangement to this effect.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-20

Telegram from Theodore Roosevelt to R. A. Alger

President Roosevelt hopes that Senator Alger will telegraph Senator Philander C. Knox or John C. Spooner to pair him in favor of a lock canal. Roosevelt is deeply interested in the issue because he feels that a sea-level canal would be ruinous.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-18

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt confirms receipt of the letter from Secretary of War Taft regarding the purchase of two steel dredges for the Panama Canal. Roosevelt approves of Taft’s views, and will transmit the letter to Congress to act on.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-14

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick B. Miles

President Roosevelt was pleased to hear from Frederick B. Miles and hopes that Miles will understand that, as John F. Stevens is to continue as the Chief Engineer of the Panama Canal project, Roosevelt wants to pay attention to his wishes.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-10

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt would like the administration to respond to statements made in the Star by L. W. Ferguson, a locomotive engineer in Panama. Secretary of War Taft should get Chief Engineer John F. Stevens and Isthmian Canal Commission President Theodore P. Shonts to answer the statements in detail.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-03-05

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John F. Stevens

President Roosevelt asks John F. Stevens, chief engineer of the Panama Canal, to look at the enclosed documents. Roosevelt believes that the United States should maintain the possibility of converting the canal from a lock canal to a sea-level canal in the future.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-02-26

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Grenville M. Dodge

President Roosevelt thanks Grenville M. Dodge for his letter, and wishes that Dodge would allow him to publish some of the sentences from it. He complains that “unscrupulous” newspapers are creating obstacles to the speedy completion of the Isthmian canal.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-15

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt requests a meeting with Secretary of War Taft early next week regarding the engineers associated with the Panama Canal.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-14

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt sends Secretary of War Taft an engineering report by Lindon W. Bates regarding the Panama Canal. Roosevelt is very impressed with the work, and wants to get together the best engineers in the country to evaluate the proposals therein. Payment for Bates’s work is at the judgement of the board of engineers.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-10

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Thompson

President Roosevelt tells John Thompson that he informed the Civil Service Commissioners that John Findley Wallace, Chief Engineer of the Isthmian Canal Commission, must be given a free hand.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-11

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt returns a letter and a memorandum to Secretary of War Taft and shares his thoughts concerning the proposed Isthmian Canal Committee. Roosevelt asks Taft to have William Barclay Parson and John Findlay Wallace give their opinions on Lindon W. Bates’s canal proposal followed by a review by “the best engineers obtainable.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt officially grants supervision of the Panama Canal construction and governance of the Panama Canal Zone to Secretary of War Taft in cooperation with the Isthmian Canal Commission. Roosevelt provides instructions for how to govern the canal zone, construct the canal, and maintain the region.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-05-09

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Isthmian Canal Commission

President Roosevelt instructs the members of the Isthmian Canal Commission on their duties and goals.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-03-08

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John F. O’Brien

President Roosevelt contacted Admiral Walker regarding a Panama Canal position for John F. O’Brien’s brother. Unfortunately, the Isthmian Canal Commission may have been influenced by press reports that an appointment for O’Brien’s brother was being pursued for only political reasons. Walker stated that he did not believe his brother was suitable for secretary. The commission makes all appointments and everyone should remember that the canal should be built without regard to politics.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-03-14

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Thomas Roberts Slicer

President Roosevelt is unsure what he can do for Mr. Shepard. Competent men are needed for canal work and competent men do not tend to be “hard up” like Shepard. Roosevelt suggests that Thomas Roberts Slicer send references for Shepard and Roosevelt will discuss the matter with Admiral John Grimes Walker. He agrees with Slicer’s views on gambling and objects to it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-02-29

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Grimes Walker

President Roosevelt encloses a letter from Dr. Welch which provides information about Dr. Wright. Sanitation and hygiene will be of the first importance on the isthmus of Panama. Employees must be healthy to complete their work and Roosevelt wants the best medical professionals in the country to supervise.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-02-24