Your TR Source
Frank S. Wood sends Theodore Roosevelt a photograph he took at Roosevelt Dam showing an arrow reflected in the water.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-04-08
Ernest Harvier tells Theodore Roosevelt that Roosevelt’s “insurgent friends” saw wins in a recent California election and encloses a newspaper clipping from a Los Angeles newspaper that recognizes the Theodore Roosevelt Dam. He hopes Roosevelt does not get involved with a local canvass, which Harvier disagrees with.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-14
Batchelder states the Austin Dam failure was caused by criminal negligence because the problem was not fixed before disaster struck. He encourages Theodore Roosevelt to read an article from Engineering News about the failure of the dam. Batchelder believes dam failure could happen in more locations and asks Roosevelt to comment on the matter in The Outlook to raise awareness.
The Austin Dam in Austin, Pennsylvania, failed on September 30, 1911, killing 78 people. Within a few months of its construction in 1909, problems were detected, but dismissed as a normal response to drying concrete.
John W. Samuels asks for Theodore Roosevelt’s advice on how to get the government to build a new reservoir rather than fix the dam near his farm in Lakewood, New Mexico which is currently part of the Carlsbad Project. Samuels believes abandoning Lake McMillan and building a new reservoir closer to the Carlsbad Project will create thousands of acres of fertile farmland.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-30
President Roosevelt asks Secretary of War Root, “When is that [Pittsburg] dam business to be done? Can’t it be done Feb 28th?”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-02-28
An index to accompany a souvenir album of photographs compiled by Walter J. Lubken of the Roosevelt Dam. Photographs not included.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
1911-03-18
Secretary of the Treasury Leslie M. Shaw, riding on a hobby horse labeled “Shaw’s Orations,” calls out to fleeing citizens in a valley to stand their ground in the face of a weakening “Stand-Pat Dam” in the background. Caption: Secretary Shaw — Courage, stand-patriots! You can save the dam yet!
The context of Joseph Keppler, Junior’s, cover cartoon in Puck is recent remarks by Secretary of the Treasury Leslie M. Shaw. As a politician (former governor of Iowa) but with banking experience, he cast an eye on the 1908 presidential nomination.
Part of “Theodore Roosevelt: His Life Reviewed in Pictures,” this photo depicts the Theodore Roosevelt Dam on the Salt River in Arizona. Theodore Roosevelt dedicated the dam on March 18, 1911. Caption on verso summarizes how Roosevelt became president and lists some of his accomplishments.
Unknown
President Roosevelt addresses the crowd at the dedication of the Roosevelt Dam in Arizona and tells them about how the dam came to be. He knows the value of irrigation to the west, and through hard work, he was able to convince the east of the necessity of irrigation. Roosevelt congratulates all of the people involved with the construction of the dam and reflects on the honor of having the dam named after him. He considers the two material achievements he is most proud of in his administration to be the construction of the Panama Canal and the irrigation work in the western United States. Roosevelt also further reflects on what it means to be a citizen and the duty of Americans.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-03-18
Theodore Roosevelt informs William H. H. Llewellyn that he remembers the impressive argument he gave the government in Washington D.C. to allow the people of New Mexico 10 years to repay for the Leasburg division dam and he acted as requested only when every engineering feature had passed proper checks by authorities.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-20
Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary writes to John W. Sanner and says Roosevelt received Sanner’s letter, but he can not offer any aid or advice regarding trouble Sanner has faced from a dam, because he does not know enough about the situation. His suggestion is to speak directly to people involved in the dam construction or to contact a lawyer, and is sorry he cannot help.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-11
President Roosevelt directs Secretary of War Taft to have the Army Corps of Engineers submit all stipulations and specifications related to the approval of dams to Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-15
President Roosevelt notifies Attorney General Bonaparte that he has sent Secretary of War William H. Taft a memorandum requesting that the Army Corps of Engineers submit plans for dams to develop water power to Bonaparte. Roosevelt asks that Bonaparte consult with G. W. Woodruff, who is currently detailed with the Department of the Interior, on the plans.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-15
Isaac B. Mahon describes his ideas for irrigating deserts via the use of pipes connected to dams to Theodore Roosevelt, hoping Roosevelt can give him advice since he wants to bring his irrigation plans to the government.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-16
G. C. Brown tells Theodore Roosevelt about his travels near the Theodore Roosevelt Dam in Arizona six years ago, and tells him where to write if he wants to read the full chapters he has written about the trip.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-16
William Barnes expresses a wish to be present at the upcoming dedication of the Theodore Roosevelt Dam, and explains his reasons.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-03-17
C. J. Blanchard is scheduled to deliver lectures in New York City shortly, and asks whether it would be possible for him to speak with Theodore Roosevelt on one of the days he is there. Blanchard hopes to particularly speak with Roosevelt about his upcoming trip west in relation to the dedication of Roosevelt dam in Arizona. He hopes the event will be a success, and reports great enthusiasm from all the citizens of Arizona’s Salt River Valley.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-11-22
President-Elect Taft acknowledges receipt of a letter from William Loeb enclosing a report by John F. Stevens concerning the Gatun Dam.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-31
Daniel Keefe writes to President Roosevelt in his capacity as President of the International Longshoremen, Marine, and Transportworkers’ Association to say that he knows there has been a proposal to transfer the dredge in Philadelphia to the Lake Erie Ports. Keefe asks that Roosevelt not approve the proposal since it would hurt the Association’s interests.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-26
Ohio Senator Marcus Alonzo Hanna and Ohio Representative Charles Dick watch the “presidential boom for Hanna” river break a dam with the sign of “Roosevelt indorsement for 1904.” On the horizon are dark clouds labeled “fall selection.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-11-06