Freeman, John Ripley, 1855-1932

President-Elect Taft forwards a letter from John Ripley Freeman to President Roosevelt concerning the recent trip to examine the Panama Canal. Taft is sure that reports that Alfred Noble has expressed doubts about the dam are unfounded. Joseph Pulitzer is planning to visit the Isthmus with some engineers, “for the purpose of stirring up as much mud as he can.” Taft welcomes this, as he believes that “liars will be at a disadvantage in the end.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-24

President Roosevelt is sending President-elect William H. Taft with seven highly qualified engineers to determine the current status of the Panama Canal. Roosevelt wants to appoint Captain Allen to join them.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-19

President Roosevelt notifies F. P. Stearns that president-elect William H. Taft will shortly be making a trip to investigate the Panama Canal in the company of several engineers, and that he would like Stearns to be one of those engineers. Roosevelt lists the other engineers who will be accompanying Taft.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-28

President Roosevelt notifies James D. Schuyler that President-Elect William H. Taft will shortly be making a trip to investigate the Panama Canal in the company of several engineers, and that he would like Schuyler to be one of those engineers. Roosevelt additionally lists the other engineers who will be accompanying Taft.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-28

President Roosevelt notifies Isham Randolph that President-Elect William H. Taft will shortly be making a trip to investigate the Panama Canal in the company of several engineers, and that he would like Randolph to be one of those engineers. Roosevelt additionally lists the other engineers who will be accompanying Taft.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-28

President Roosevelt notifies Allen Hazen that President-Elect William H. Taft will shortly be making a trip to investigate the Panama Canal in the company of several engineers, and that he would like Hazen to be one of those engineers. Roosevelt additionally lists the other engineers who will be accompanying Taft.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-28

President Roosevelt informs Arthur Powell Davis that President-Elect William H. Taft will shortly be traveling to inspect the Panama Canal in the company of a number of engineers. Roosevelt would like to appoint Davis as one of these engineers to travel with Taft, and asks him to respond as quickly as possible.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-28

President Roosevelt sends President-elect Taft a number of letters, including one from Edwin C. Burleigh, the former governor of Maine, on behalf of William Wingate Sewall. Roosevelt reminds Taft that Burleigh is a strong friend in Maine, and has informed him that Taft already said that he was going to reappoint Sewall. Another of the letters which Roosevelt has forwarded deals with Taft’s upcoming trip to Panama, and he says that unless Taft objects, he will contact the named engineers to accompany Taft on his trip.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-23

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-03-13

Creator(s)

Noble, Alfred, 1844-1914

Recipient

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Alfred Nobel has considered President Roosevelt’s wish for him to travel to Panama to inspect the canal there, but does not believe he can in good conscience leave his current project in its current conditions. Nobel does not believe there is any new information that would change his opinion that building the Panama canal with locks is preferable to a sea level canal. He agrees with the views of Major Cassius E. Gillette, and suggests adding John Ripley Freeman or Isham Randolph to the proposed board of engineers. Nobel does not believe that any of the names suggested by Theodore P. Shonts, John F. Stevens, or Jackson Smith would strengthen the board, although they are all capable engineers.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-22

Secretary of War Taft sends Isthmian Canal Commission Chairman Shonts his recommendations for Shonts’s board resulting from a conversation between him, Elihu Root, and President Roosevelt. Taft does not think Jackson Smith should be included since he is not an engineer and the board has to include an Army and a Navy engineer. John Ripley Freeman is a good choice since he works well with John F. Stevens. Taft ends his letter by listing potential names for the board.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-31