Your TR Source
President Roosevelt requests a hearing before the Senate Committee on Public Lands for Mr. Holmes of the Geological Survey regarding aspects of the pending coal land legislation. He would like definite legislation before Congress adjourns and is willing to discuss the matter with Senator Hansbrough or other committee members.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-29
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
President Roosevelt has given a letter to Charles D. Walcott and J. A. Holmes, both from the U.S. Geological Survey, to present to Senator La Follette to explain why he has chosen to withdraw coal lands from entry. Roosevelt states that there will be great opposition to La Follette’s bill because it will significantly impact the states that are affected. Roosevelt has given Walcott a draft of a bill to show La Follette which supports the essentials of La Follette’s bill and leasing natural resources in the public lands, but leaves some matters up to the discretion of the Secretary of the Interior.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-23
President Roosevelt updates Director of the U.S. Geological Survey Walcott regarding the efforts to repair the break in the Colorado River at the California-Mexico border. He forwards a telegram from Director of the Union Pacific Railroad Company Edward Henry Harriman regarding his organizations efforts to repair the break, and he says that Secretary of State Elihu Root received permission from Mexico to perform whatever maintenance is needed. Roosevelt asks Walcott to prepare information that he can share with Congress when they reconvene from their winter break.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-20
President Roosevelt updates Director of the U.S. Geological Survey Walcott regarding the efforts to repair the break in the Colorado River at the California-Mexico border. Roosevelt writes that Mexico will help however they can within reason with the repairs. He states that the Union Pacific Railroad Company and their director Edward Henry Harriman must conduct the repairs in the immediate, but that the U.S. government should be prepared to conduct all further maintenance. Roosevelt feels the government and California Improvement Company should share future maintenance responsibilities, and asks Walcott to formulate a plan that can be submitted to the State Department.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-20
President Roosevelt updates Secretary Root regarding the Colorado River break in Southern California and Mexico, writing that Union Pacific Director Edward Henry Harriman had agreed to repair the break. Roosevelt says that he told Harriman that Congress will negotiate with Mexico on the issue as soon as their holiday break is over, and asks Root to tell the Geological Survey to take up the repair work. Roosevelt encloses a recent telegram sent to Harriman.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-20
President Roosevelt encloses to Secretary Root two letters he has recently sent to Director of the U.S. Geological Survey Charles D. Walcott regarding the break and repair of the Colorado River in Southern California and Mexico. Roosevelt also includes a message from Union Pacific Chairman Edward Henry Harriman, which appears to indicate “a very satisfactory condition of affairs.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-20
President Roosevelt tells Secretary Hitchcock that his order was intended to “withdraw the coal lands from coal entry merely,” and had been fashioned after consulting with Forest Service Chief Gifford Pinchot and Geological Survey Director Charles D. Walcott. He notes that the ordered has been misinterpreted at some point I the Department of the Interior’s chain of command to forbid all homestead and other land entries, which was not his intent. Roosevelt asks Hitchcock to correct the order so that it only pertains to coal lands in Alaska and other states and territories, and asks him to issue the order to relevant land offices on Monday morning.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-15
President Roosevelt asks Secretary Root for his opinion regarding a recent telegram from Union Pacific Railroad Chairman Edward Henry Harriman regarding a land matter in Southern California. Roosevelt asks Root to consult with Director of the Geological Survey Charles D. Walcott regarding the issue. Roosevelt states that he has already consulted with California Senator Frank P. Flint on the matter; Senator Flint recommended purchasing lands from Mexico to solve the problem. Roosevelt desires Root’s opinion on all the aforementioned matters so that they can begin drafting a message to congress on the issue.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-13
President Roosevelt asks for Senator Perkins’s opinion on a recent telegram from Union Pacific Railroad Chairman Edward Henry Harriman, which he has enclosed. Roosevelt feels the government “should help in the matter,” and notes that the Director of the Geological Survey Charles D. Walcott feels the matter is of great importance for thousands of residents in Southern California.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-13
President Roosevelt asks for Senator Flint’s opinion a recent telegram from Union Pacific Railroad Chairman Edward Henry Harriman, which he has enclosed. Roosevelt feels the government “should help in the matter,” and notes that the Director of the Geological Survey Charles D. Walcott feels the matter is of great importance for thousands of residents in Southern California.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-13
President Roosevelt tells chief engineer of the Panama Canal project John F. Stevens that the government is researching building materials and fuels. Roosevelt informs Stevens that he is appointing him a member of the newly-formed Advisory Board on Fuels and Structural Materials as a representative of the Isthmian Canal Commission. Stevens will be required to locate a proxy in Washington D.C. to attend meetings as his representative, and he will be tasked with making occasional reports to the board
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-05
President Roosevelt informs E. V. D’Invelliers that he has appointed him as a member of the Advisory Board on Fuels and Structural Materials, based in part on his membership with the American Institute of Mining Engineers. Roosevelt lays out the position’s duties and encloses a list of other people he has invited to become members of the board.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-05
President Roosevelt informs Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance Crozier that he has appointed him as a member of the Advisory Board on Fuels and Structural Materials as the representative of the Army’s Ordinance Department. Roosevelt lays out the position’s duties and encloses a list of other people he has invited to become members of the board.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-05
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Keep, Comptroller of Currency Murray, and Chief Forester Pinchot provide President Roosevelt with a detailed report of the organization and operations of the Department of the Interior. The report highlights “grave defects” in the structure of the Department such as redundant job functions, an “abuse of letter writing” that impedes public business, and rampant inefficiency. The report recommends the dissolution of several divisions.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-22
President Roosevelt tells Secretary of War Taft of a request he received from the National Advisory Board for Fuels and Structural Materials that Captain John S. Sewell of the Army Corps of Engineers be authorized to cooperate with investigations into the effects of the recent San Francisco earthquake on building materials. Roosevelt asks Taft to make this assignment, given the importance of the subject.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-20
President Roosevelt invites James Knox Taylor to become a member of the newly-formed Advisory Board on Fuels and Structural Materials. The Board will investigate the properties and best methods of using the United States’s fuels and building materials.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-03-12
President Roosevelt invites John W. Sibley to become a member of the newly-formed Advisory Board on Fuels and Structural Materials. The Board will investigate the properties and best methods of using the United States’s fuels and building materials.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-03-12
President Roosevelt invites Frederick Haynes Newell to become a member of the newly-formed Advisory Board on Fuels and Structural Materials. The Board will investigate the properties and best methods of using the United States’s fuels and building materials.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-03-12
President Roosevelt invites Nelson W. McLeod to become a member of the newly-formed Advisory Board on Fuels and Structural Materials. The Board will investigate the properties and best methods of using the United States’ fuels and building materials.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-03-12