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The Outlook reports that the Isthmian Canal Commission has voted to recommend to the United States Government that a sea-level canal be constructed. The article recounts the history of the project and outlines the engineering problems associated with sea-level and lock canals in the area.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-12-02
Contract between the Isthmian Canal Commission and the International Contracting Company arranging for the hiring, transportation, payment, and care of Chinese laborers to work on the construction of the Panama Canal. The contract sets out how many laborers are to be hired, the wages they will be paid, how they will be transported and managed, and what their living conditions will be, among other factors.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-29
Paul Morton assures President Roosevelt that as head of the Isthmian Canal Commission, Theodore P. Shonts will do whatever it takes to carry out Roosevelt’s orders. Shonts’s desire to work directly with him instead of Secretary of War William H. Taft was simply because it would be a pleasure to work with Roosevelt. Shonts will work nicely with Taft or anyone else, as long as no one interferes with his work.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-17
Following his attack on the board of consulting engineers for the Panama Canal, Philippe Bunau-Varilla’s hopes of becoming an engineer on the project have been dashed. Bunau-Varilla had proposed first building a lock canal that would gradually be dug into a sea-level canal; this plan was rejected as extravagant and unfeasible. Current plans are for a sea-level canal to be dug, which will take fifteen years and cost $230,000,000.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-20
Secretary of War Taft sends President Roosevelt a report from the engineering committee of the Isthmian Canal Commission, and will give it to the Associated Press for publication after Roosevelt reads it. Taft also sends a statement from General George W. Davis to be considered with the letter from Ambassador John Barrett.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-02-25
In this journal article, George W. Crichfield proposes a plan for the completion of the Panama Canal. He begins by describing the environment of Panama and the current plans suggested by Admiral John Grimes Walker and the Isthmian Canal Commission before dissenting from these opinions due to his studies of the canal in January and February. Crichfield believes the canal should be divided into sections that are bid on by different contractors, as he does not think the Panama Canal should be in the hands of a single corporation. Based on his calculations, he recommends fifty-eight separate contracts. Crichfield also recommends that the canal is a tide-level canal rather than a lock canal. He disagrees with Brigadier General Peter C. Hains that African Americans are the best laborers for the job and instead recommends using people from the area. Crichfield encourages the government to guard against red tape and suggests the construction of the canal should be as serious as the prosecution of war: “The sooner it is finished the better.” Crichfield believes it is better to spend more and finish sooner than to spend less money but more time.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01
Call for proposals for organizations to apply for contracts to provide labor to the Isthmian Canal Commission for the construction of a canal in Panama. The document includes the conditions under which applications must be submitted and provisions that must be included in the contracts, as well as various laws and regulations relating to matters on the Isthmus. Handwritten notes state that the document is void and was not issued.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-07-22
Secretary of War Taft sends President Roosevelt a letter he received from Theodore P. Shonts, Chairman of the Isthmian Canal Commission, with a resolution from the commission widening the locks of the canal from 100 feet to 110 feet. While this will increase the cost of the canal and slightly reduce the capacity, Taft agrees with this decision in order to accommodate future ships, which will likely require the wider space.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-01-13
George W. Goethals, chief engineer of the Isthmian Canal Commission, reports on the increase in time and cost that will result in widening the locks in the Panama Canal. The Commission and engineers have spoken with the Navy General Board about their requirements and believe that the board should guide the requirements to ensure the canal can accommodate warships.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-01-11
Photograph of a trestle bridge over the Chagres River, Panama, showing the construction of a dam that is part of the Panama Canal project. Five men sit in a canoe near the bridge, one of whom is possibly William L. Sibert, member of the Panama Canal Commission.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09
President Roosevelt, in his annual message to Congress, praised the work that has been done and continues to be done on the Panama Canal. Many newspapers have published sensational articles alleging problems with the Gatun Dam in Panama, but these articles are contradicted by the facts, as the dam has not been constructed yet, and the work which has been done on it has been going smoothly.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-23
Joseph Wheeler encloses a letter he received asking if President Roosevelt took part in the Cuban battles during the Spanish American War. Wheeler found this question “remarkable” and also encloses his reply. He congratulates Roosevelt on construction beginning on the Panama Canal.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-02-24
Jacob A. Riis congratulates President Roosevelt on the canal vote which will forever link Roosevelt’s name with human history.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-02-25
Compilation film revealing the story of Panama Canal construction, which Theodore Roosevelt considered one of his most valuable contributions to foreign affairs. This portion of the film details the need for building the canal, and the early attempts to do so, and includes many still images and maps, in addition to the film clips.
Library of Congress Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound
1927
Set of 10 postcards with photographs of the Panama Canal during its construction. On the reverse side of each card is a short description of the photograph.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1977
Booklet with a two-page description of the historical effort to build a canal across the Isthmus of Panama and specific statistics about the construction and dimensions of the ongoing American effort. The booklet primarily consists of photographs of the construction.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1909-1911
This multicolored photograph shows a central crane on railroad tracks and six workmen. From the book, The Panama Canal; illustrated by color photography from the original autochrome photographs. Published by Moffat, Yard, New York, 1913.
Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site
1913
President Roosevelt is shown running a steam shovel at Pedro Miguel, the Culebra Cut of the Panama Canal.
Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site
1906
Governor Roosevelt encloses a document from an Oyster Bay, New York, neighbor who has questions regarding what circumstances would allow his discharge. Roosevelt is confused over Secretary of State Hay’s and President McKinley’s views on the canal treaty. If such a canal as they suggest existed during the Spanish-American War there would have been a great deal of anxiety over the Spanish fleet using the canal to attack the Pacific coast or Admiral Dewey in the Philippines. Roosevelt wants a canal held and fortified by the United States.
1900-02-16
Governor Roosevelt believes that the proposed canal should be fortified. If it is not, the canal would be another weak point to watch over during a conflict. If the canal had existed during the Spanish-American War, American forces would have needed to defend the canal to prevent the Spanish fleet from crossing into the Pacific Ocean and causing problems in a new theater. Roosevelt also favors an American canal as he does not want to see European powers gain new interests in the Americas.
1900-02-26