Your TR Source
President Roosevelt appreciates Henry Kirke Bush-Brown’s suggestion, but it would cost a lot of money and thus would require very active interest in Congress, and therefore is not feasible at this time.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-26
President Roosevelt has not responded to Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock’s letter because he has been too busy and also wanted to consult the men who were present at the conference held by Roosevelt which Hitchcock did not attend. Roosevelt points out that due to Hitchcock’s absence at the meeting, his letter is full of errors which Roosevelt outlines in his letter to Hitchcock. A mistake within the Department of the Interior has resulted in a serious situation and Roosevelt feels Hitchcock’s arguments are inaccurate.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-25
Representative Parsons informs William Loeb about his trip to Yellowstone National Park and sends his regards to President Roosevelt. He hopes to see Roosevelt before the president leaves on his trip.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-10
Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock writes President Roosevelt with his advice on the complicated matter of withdrawing coal lands. On Roosevelt’s direction, the Department of the Interior and the General Land Office began surveying and drafting a list of townships that contained rich coal lands with the intention of withdrawing them from homestead exemptions, and the Department is working quickly to wire all of Roosevelt’s orders to appropriate land offices around the country. However, it is apparent that oil industry men can use many loopholes to obtain the land.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-17
Gifford Pinchot has heard that Senator Alfred B. Kittredge will no longer oppose the transfer, likely referring to the transfer of forest reserves in the Black Hills to the Department of Agriculture.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-22
President Roosevelt fires a “rapid-firing message gun” from the White House at Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon as a “third term” animal looks over Roosevelt’s shoulder. Cannon bends over as he is hit with “forest reserves,” “postal bank law,” “anti-injunction,” “executive control,” “power over securities,” and “control of wealth.” The United States Capitol building is in the distance and a “big maul” gavel and “former messages” are on the ground.
Joseph Harry Cunningham’s drawing in the Washington Herald is an unfortunate example of how an important and even salient point might be buried at the hands of an inferior cartoonist. The context is simple — and historically significant — about the management of President Roosevelt reform program; a major policy address, recently delivered to Congress as a Special Message; and the growing intransigence of the Republican Old Guard regarding Roosevelt’s initiatives.
Gifford Pinchot offers conservation themed speaking points that President Roosevelt can use in South Dakota during his western trip.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-03-30
Gifford Pinchot offers conservation themed speaking points that President Roosevelt can use in Montana during his western trip.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-03-30
Gifford Pinchot offers conservation themed speaking points that President Roosevelt can use in Minnesota during his western trip.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-03-30
George B. Cortelyou sends Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock communications regarding forest reserves in Oregon. President Roosevelt would like a report on the matter from the Department of the Interior.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-01-28
President Roosevelt tells Francis Folsom Cleveland, President Grover Cleveland’s widow, that he has recently had the honor of signing a proclamation changing the name of the San Jacinto National Forest to the Cleveland National Forest. Roosevelt reviews how that forest first came to be reserved for conservation purposes by President Cleveland and praises his foresight in recognizing the importance of conservation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-13
President Roosevelt is pleased and interested in the work and mission of the Appalachian National Forest Association. He quotes a letter from 1905 where he said that the eastern states should place a large portion of land in reserve. He still holds this opinion, and tells association president Ligon Johnson of his belief that the waters in the Appalachians are very important and should be better preserved. He stands behind the movement to purchase the forests.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-01-11
President Theodore Roosevelt asks Chief Forester Gifford Pinchot for material to answer the forest reserve questions of Governor Albert E. Mead of Washington.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-19
President Roosevelt would like to talk to Gifford Pinchot about Governor Frank Robert Gooding’s note about the grazing bill and forest reserves. Roosevelt believes they must be cautious in the creation of new reserves.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-09
President Roosevelt informs Secretary of Agriculture Wilson that ranchman Walter C. Staton will submit evidence of the case. The farmers involved are unsure how to proceed and are potentially “suffering a grievous wrong.” As it is of “great personal interest,” Roosevelt instructs Wilson to thoroughly investigate the matter, reiterating that if the allegations are true, “immediate and drastic action is called for.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-05
Men interested in the preservation of the forests and wildlife of the U.S. have been in touch with Theodore Roosevelt and told him how important the work of Representative Lacey has been. Roosevelt agrees that a memorial to Lacey may be created.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-16
President Roosevelt congratulates Representative Lacey on getting the Grand Canyon forest reserve bill through the House.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-27
President Theodore Roosevelt informs Forestry Chief Gifford Pinchot that some Nebraska congressmen are concerned about the growth of forest reserves in their state. Roosevelt encloses a newspaper clipping which shows that some of the cattlemen who had been engaged in illegal fencing are pushing for the reserves.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-09
After discussing the matter of grazing rates in forest reserves with Attorney General William H. Moody and Secretary of Agriculture James Wilson, President Roosevelt disagrees with Senator Patterson about the matter. He encloses letters between himself and Wilson that show that their policy is made in the interest of the smaller ranchmen and stockmen.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-12-21
President Roosevelt provides John Barber White with additional instructions outlining what he should investigate on the Minnesota National Forest Reserve. Eugene S. Bruce of the Forest Service will assist White.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-12-07