Engineering

Theodore Roosevelt introduces George W. Goethals to George Palmer Putnam, who is on his way home to Oregon with his newly wed wife. Putman is the son of John Bishop Putnam, an old friend of Roosevelt’s, and a nephew of George Haven Putnam. Roosevelt does not know Putnam personally but is willing to guarantee that Putnam is as straight as a string knowing his father and uncle. Putnam wishes to see what is happening on the Isthmus and wants to know the present status of the engineering, social, and political matters. Roosevelt appreciates any help he can give Putnam.

Theodore Roosevelt introduces George W. Goethals to George Palmer Putnam, who is on his way home to Oregon with his newly wed wife. While Roosevelt does not personally know Putnam, he is acquainted with his father and his uncle and believes that Putnam is just as trustworthy as his relatives. Putnam wishes to see what is happening on the Isthmus and wants to know the present status of the engineering, social, and political matters.

Theodore Roosevelt introduces Joseph Bucklin Bishop to George Palmer Putman, who is on his way home to Oregon with his newly wed wife. Putman is the son of John Bishop Putnam, an old friend of Roosevelt’s, and a nephew of George Haven Putnam. Roosevelt does not know Putnam personally but is willing to guarantee that Putnam is as straight as a string knowing his father and uncle. Putnam wishes to see what is happening on the Isthmus and wants to know the present status of the engineering, social, and political matters. Roosevelt appreciates any help he can give Putnam.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-19

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-05

Creator(s)

Batchelder, Charles C. (Charles Clarence), 1867-1946

Thomas L. Fell, secretary to Dr. John Alexander Low Waddell, sends Theodore Roosevelt a copy of Addresses to Engineering Students to enjoy.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-12

Creator(s)

Fell, Thomas L. (Thomas Lloyd), 1882-1943

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

Theodore Roosevelt returns blueprints and notifies P. W. Keene that Kermit Roosevelt is no longer an engineer.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-11-24

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt tells Secretary of War Taft that he believes that Colonel T. W. Symons’s conduct is not sufficient to convince Roosevelt to appoint him head of the Engineer Corps. While Roosevelt disapproved of Symons’s buying a piece of property in Coos Bay while he was a government engineer in that district, that alone would not disqualify him. It has now come to light, however, that while he was a government engineer in a district including Seattle, he accepted employment as a consulting engineer or a company wishing to build a canal competing with the one the government was building at the same time. These together show a lack of propriety on Symons’s part, and Roosevelt is not willing to make him head of the Corps. Roosevelt asks Taft to investigate whether Colonel James M. Marshall has ever acted in a similar way.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-09

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt describes his trip to Panama to his son Kermit Roosevelt. They have been extremely busy during their stay. He describes the feeling of coming to Panama and his thoughts about several rebellions that have happened in the area when he first became president. He explains the begins of the canal by the French and how now that the Americans have taken over, the process will be longer than planned. He describes the progress of the canal’s construction as well as the environment of Panama. Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt did not tramp through the mud like Roosevelt did, but she enjoyed herself and the beautiful area.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-11-20

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

The trip back from Panama has not been as pleasant as the trip there. President Roosevelt describes their arrival to Panama and the “mass of luxuriant tropic jungle” that he calls “strange and beautiful.” Roosevelt was impressed by the crew’s progress on the canal. Roosevelt was busy all day with Dr. Presley Marion Rixey as his companion and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt by herself.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-11-20

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt believes that the engineers who graduate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have the ability to secure a “healthy working agreement between the representatives of capital and labor.” Roosevelt also thinks they can influence the country with “common sense, straightforward, manly fashion.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-29

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt thinks Ira N. Hollis should see the enclosed letter, which has “some sense, and more nonsense.” He believes it shows the mindset that makes dealing with the engineer corps difficult. Roosevelt will not have it published and asks Hollis to return it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1897-09-15

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Edward Earl Britton introduces Theodore Roosevelt to Joel Gray Barri’s consulting and construction firm. Britton lists the many areas of expertise Barri has after 20 years of professional work and expresses the competency of Barri’s employees. Britton hopes Roosevelt will be their patron and recommend the firm to others.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-15

Creator(s)

Britton, Edward Earl, 1859-1921

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-20

Creator(s)

Holbrook, Franklin F. (Franklin Fessenden), 1837-1916

Recipient

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Language

English

In a commencement address to the faculty and students of the University of Illinois, German Ambassador Hermann Speck von Sternburg urges the graduating students to use their theoretical and practical knowledge for the public good.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-09

Creator(s)

Sternburg, Hermann Speck von, Freiherr, 1852-1908

Estevan Antonio Fuertes recommends Eugene E. Haskell for appointment to the commission set forth in the River and Harbor Bill.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-11-01

Creator(s)

Fuertes, Estevan Antonio, 1838-1903