Fairchild, David, 1869-1954

David Fairchild’s letter convinced President Roosevelt to remove the consular agent at Basrah from his office.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-06-14

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

A letter from David Fairchild has convinced President Roosevelt that the consular agent at Basra should be removed.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-06-14

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

A letter of introduction for Barbour Lathrop and his assistant David Fairchild, who are traveling for the United States Agricultural Department “in the interest of plant culture.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-1909

Creator(s)

Unknown

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-06

Creator(s)

Fitz-Hugh, Carter H. (Carter Harrison), 1861-1932

Recipient

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Publication Date

2025-07-31

James G. Lewis explains how deforestation in China became a central part of President Theodore Roosevelt’s last annual message to Congress in December 1908. Lewis notes that Roosevelt’s conservation efforts had been increasingly thwarted by Congress in the last two years of his administration, and Roosevelt decided that he needed to make a strong case to Congress in his last message. Roosevelt used the example of what had happened to China’s soil, rivers, and climate after massive deforestation had rid many of its mountains of trees and vegetation. Roosevelt relied on evidence, eyewitness accounts, and photographs supplied by Frank Nicholas Meyer and Willis Bailey to emphasize the damage done in China. Lewis notes that Roosevelt was the first president to add photographs to his annual message. 

 

Five photographs appear in the article, including three of deforestation in China, a similar scene from Utah, and one of Meyer. 

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal