Your TR Source
Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary informs Anne D. Megary Stanley that Roosevet has received her letter. To obtain the information Stanley seeks, he recommends writing to either George W. Goethals or Joseph Bucklin, both of whom are in Panama.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-24
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-09-29
Baker, Bernard Nadal, 1854-1918
English
African Safari (March 1909-1910)
President Roosevelt received the report regarding conditions in Panama. He is greatly impressed and will submit it with recommendations to Congress. Likewise, he will send it to Colonel George W. Goethals, asking that he implement the recommendations where possible. Roosevelt commends the work of the Panama Canal, especially the advances in hygiene in the region. While there are needed corrections, the United States government looks after the welfare, health, and comfort of those working for it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-21
President Roosevelt thanks James Burton Reynolds for the reports and accompanying papers he sent. Roosevelt asks what Reynolds recommends doing with the reports, whether he should make them public and send the recommendations to Congress.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-12
President Roosevelt tells Joseph Bucklin Bishop that he will keep his letters confidential, but asks him to tell Chairman of the Isthmian Canal Commission George W. Goethals to prepare the governorship business, which Roosevelt will take care of in Secretary of War William H. Taft’s absence.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-16
President Roosevelt thanks Joseph Bucklin Bishop for his letter and believes Colonel George W. Goethals is glad that Bishop has come to the Isthmus. Roosevelt concurs with Bishop’s letter and states he will “back up the Colonel on all points.” The president also informs Bishop of some political business in New York State and asks Bishop to send “a not too long rough draft” about the Panama Canal that Roosevelt could include in his annual message.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-11
President Roosevelt is glad George W. Goethals is working as chief engineer of the Panama Canal and is pleased Joseph Bucklin Bishop, secretary of the Isthmian Canal Commission, is enjoying his position.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-06
President Roosevelt received Joseph Bucklin Bishop’s letters. He directs Bishop to have George W. Goethals, Chairman and Chief Engineer of the Isthmian Canal Commission, telegraph him, and he will arrange for their publication. Roosevelt understands Goethals’s frustration with the commission’s administration.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-29
President Roosevelt does not need further recommendations from Ralph M. Easley until George W. Goethals comments on Gertrude Beeks’s book. Secretary of State Elihu Root will likely not be able to speak at Easley’s conference, but Roosevelt would be delighted if Secretary of the Treasury George B. Cortelyou could. Roosevelt agrees with Root about the proposed Reynolds Commission’s excellence.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-24
Joseph Bucklin Bishop’s letters to President Roosevelt and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt “delighted our souls.” Roosevelt is highly pleased by Bishop’s report of conditions at the Isthmus of Panama. Regarding Bishop’s suggestion of a newsletter, Roosevelt proposes it include a summary of outside current events. He sends his regards to Colonel George W. Goethals and directs him to take leave whenever necessary.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-22
President Roosevelt returns the enclosures to Secretary of War Taft and agrees that George W. Goethals’ plan seems best. Taft’s speech is admirable, and Roosevelt hopes the Republican Party will choose Taft.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-19
President Roosevelt tells Ralph M. Easley of the National Civic Federation that he is impressed with sociologist Gertrude Beeks’ Panama report. Before publishing it, however, Roosevelt strongly recommends removing any unsubstantiated claims of bribery. He asks Easley how he can best provide assistance and suggests sending the report to Colonel George W. Goethals, Chairman of the Isthmian Canal Commission, to review.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-10
Charles C. Bull writes to Theodore Roosevelt about progress on the Panama Canal construction, which he says is going well. He states his opinion that though he opposes “white slaves traffic,” as by law women cannot be brought across country lines for “immoral” purposes, he says there is a problem in Panama where there are too many canal workers and too few prostitutes, and the prostitutes that are there have venereal diseases. Bull thinks there needs to be a way to bring (specifically white) prostitutes who have freely chosen the vocation to Panama and to have better health monitoring. He discusses San Francisco politics and greater U.S. politics, stating he will not support William H. Taft and he does not think the Republican Party will do well the next couple of terms, so he hopes the Democratic Party runs a presidential candidate he does not dislike too much so he does not have to vote Socialist. Lastly, he believes part of the Panama Canal construction area is not well fortified and is vulnerable to potential attack.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-14
Frank G. Hobbs encloses multiple letters to Theodore Roosevelt. He hopes that Roosevelt will take up his case for employment with Colonel George W. Goethals. He recounts his employment history with railroads.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-18
Joseph Bucklin Bishop tells President Roosevelt that Colonel George W. Goethals was pleased with the excavation in August, but that the showing will not be as good in September due to holidays. Bishop updates Roosevelt on the work of the Isthmian Canal Commission, including careful examination of a report that criticizes its conduct.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-09
Joseph Bucklin Bishop informs President Roosevelt of a situation in the Panama Canal Zone beyond the scope of canal construction. Bishop describes how the executive order signed on November 17 virtually abolished the office of Governor and conferred power on the General Counsel, creating a bad situation in which General Counsel Richard Reid Rogers took advantage of his new power. When Secretary of War Taft visited in March, he issued a new executive order to address this situation, conferring the majority of government power on the chairman of the Isthmian Canal Commission and acted on by the governor of the Panama Canal Zone, Joseph C.S. Blackburn. Bishop states that Blackburn is doing excellent work and is well-respected, unlike Rogers.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-06
Isthmian Canal Commission Secretary Bishop updates President Roosevelt on his family. Chairman and Chief Engineer of the Isthmian Canal Commission Colonel George W. Goethals requested Bishop’s presence on the Isthmus to have a channel of communication to Roosevelt, and Roosevelt’s recent letter pleased him. Bishop says the only major issue is the arrogant behavior of Jackson Smith, the Head of the Department of Labor, Quarters, and Subsistence on the Panama Canal Commission. Additionally, the engineer Joseph Ripley created incorrect blueprints and has been proven to be no expert on locks, but Major William L. Sibert is excellent. Bishop thinks the Republican Club of New York’s motives for disparaging Roosevelt’s canal policy are political. In response to Roosevelt’s suggestion to include local events in the new paper, Bishop explains that it may be hard to keep current, but he will try his best.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-03
Joseph Bucklin Bishop, secretary of the Isthmian Canal Commission, reports to President Roosevelt that matters on the Isthmus are in good condition thanks to Chief Engineer and Commission Chairman George W. Goethals’s systematic military organization. Goethals is an effective leader and greatly appreciates Bishop’s help, especially in handling complaints. Bishop compliments Roosevelt’s Provincetown speech and gives an update on his family.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-29
Civil Service Commissioner McIlhenny thanks President Roosevelt for the consideration has shown Putnam Bradlee Strong, whom Major George W. Goethals of the Isthmian Canal Commission has recently hired as a foreman.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-20
Joseph Bucklin Bishop shares with President Roosevelt that Colonel George W. Goethals, chairman and chief engineer of the Isthmian Canal Commission, finds the administrative body “cumbersome and inefficient” and wants it reformed. Bishop is preparing a report on August’s work results for publication.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-19