Goethals, George W. (George Washington), 1858-1928

General Ian Hamilton has recently finished an inspection tour of Egypt and Sudan, and reports to Theodore Roosevelt about the continuing effect his speech has had there. Hamilton is about to begin an inspection tour of the West Indies, and while traveling hopes to be able to see the Panama Canal as a tourist. Hamilton asks if it would be possible for Roosevelt to write him a letter of introduction to someone knowledgeable about the area who would be able to give him good information about the canal. He will be briefly stopping in New York on the return trip to England, and hopes he will be lucky enough to see Roosevelt then.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-28

Creator(s)

Hamilton, Ian, 1853-1947

Joseph Bucklin Bishop thanks Theodore Roosevelt for the “grateful and sustaining words” given at Harvard. Colonel George W. Goethals is also pleased with Roosevelt’s tribute to Bishop and wishes he could appoint him as his executive officer. However, President William H. Taft thought it unwise but assured Bishop of a worthy position once he ensured the bill abolishing the Isthmian Canal Commission passed. Yet, like with most of his promises, Taft changed his mind, and the bill will not be passed. Bishop discusses the disturbing reports of political scheming regarding appointing a new commissioner and governor of the Canal Zone. Goethals declared such things would not happen if Roosevelt were president.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-01-02

Creator(s)

Bishop, Joseph Bucklin, 1847-1928

 Olivia Worden Hammond reminds Theodore Roosevelt that he once advised her not to pursue a position in the Navy Department following the death of her father, Admiral John Lorimer Worden. She now asks Roosevelt to write President William H. Taft a letter recommending her son, Daniel W. Busbee, for work on the Panama Canal.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-12-28

Creator(s)

Hammond, Olivia Worden, 1856-1933

Fred L. Hartigan requests a meeting with Theodore Roosevelt. He discusses his employment on the Panama Canal and subsequent resignation due to a misunderstanding.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-12-31

Creator(s)

Hartigan, Fred L., 1870-

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-11-30

Creator(s)

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

Recipient

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Language

English

Joseph Bucklin Bishop reports widespread pleasure at Theodore Roosevelt’s remarks in his Omaha speech about the canal. Colonel George W. Goethals hopes Roosevelt will visit Panama and renew the public’s interest in the canal.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-09-26

Creator(s)

Bishop, Joseph Bucklin, 1847-1928

Joseph Bucklin Bishop hopes Theodore Roosevelt will visit Colonel George W. Goethals while he is in the United States. He shares an amusing telegram from President William H. Taft to Minister Thomas Cleland Dawson, saying he wants to visit Panama since the canal is “the great work of my administration.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-09-28

Creator(s)

Bishop, Joseph Bucklin, 1847-1928

President-elect Taft was sorry to hear about Harry Johnston’s unpleasant stay in Colón, and he addresses Johnston’s grievances in detail. The natural geography of the Colón harbor would make the kind of breakwater Johnston suggests both difficult and expensive to construct, but the board of engineers does plan to address the matter. The weather conditions that stranded Johnston in Colón were unusual, so travelers rarely have to stay at the Hotel Imperial. Although Taft agrees that the hotel is “dreadful,” it will probably be impossible to open the government’s hotels in Colón to ordinary travelers. These government hotels anger local hotel owners who must compete with them for customers. The Hotel Tivoli in Panama City is an exceptional case. Colón’s water supply has already improved greatly, but a filtration system is currently being added. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-06

Creator(s)

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

President-elect Taft describes his pleasant journey to Colón to inspect the construction of the Panama Canal. He informs President Roosevelt that changes among the engineering staff have resulted in clear improvements. The committee is not inclined to change the plans for the canal’s locks and dams. They worry that too much money is being spent on safety precautions, but Taft disagrees. He approves of Roosevelt’s decision to widen the canal, and is optimistic that it will be finished before the projected completion date. Additionally, Taft discusses cabinet and diplomatic appointments he is considering.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-01

Creator(s)

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

Secretary of the Isthmian Canal Commission Bishop thanks President Roosevelt for his constant support, and says that if Roosevelt is satisfied with his work, then he does not mind criticism from other parties. Work on the Panama Canal is proceeding smoothly and at a faster pace than was initially thought possible, for which he gives credit to Chairman and Chief Engineer of the Isthmian Canal Commission George W. Goethals. Bishop blames irresponsible reporting for reopening an argument about whether a canal with locks or a sea level canal is better, but believes the upcoming visit by President-Elect William H. Taft should help settle the debate. Bishop approves of Roosevelt’s denunciations of journalists William MacKay Laffand and Joseph Pulitzer, and says that it is important to fight against “lying and debased journalism.” Bishop’s wife, Harriet Hartwell Bishop, appreciates being remembered by Roosevelt, and he praises her strength in remaining sanguine during their long residency away from the United States. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-26

Creator(s)

Bishop, Joseph Bucklin, 1847-1928

George W. Davis offers President-elect Taft his opinion regarding several engineers who are candidates to accompany Taft on a trip to inspect the Panama Canal. If a change to the canal plans is required, as Davis suspects it may be, it should be done early enough before public opinion begins to be swayed against the canal by a lack of confidence.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-15

Creator(s)

Davis, George W. (George Whitefield), 1839-1918

Recipient

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

James Bronson Reynolds recalls that President Roosevelt has offered Daniel J. Keefe his choice between the position of Labor Secretary to the Panama Canal Commission and Commissioner General of Immigration. Should Keefe choose Labor Secretary, Reynolds recommends that the salary be increased to $8000 per year. If he chooses to become Commissioner General, Reynolds asks Roosevelt to change the law to give Keefe more power so that he can enact change.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-02

Creator(s)

Reynolds, James Bronson, 1861-1924

Secretary of War Taft relays conditions in the Canal Zone, detailing two main points. First, he describes the self-serving actions of Jackson Smith and recommends he be removed from service. Second, Taft outlines the political situation in Panama and a plot by Manuel Amador Guerrero and his supporters to steal the election from Jose Domingo de Obaldia, creating the risk of another revolution.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-05-09

Creator(s)

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

Secretary of War Taft reports to President Roosevelt on his visit to the Panama Canal Zone. Taft was investigating reports of poor conditions in the Subsistence Department to head off a scandal. As a result, Jackson Smith has resigned from the Commission, and Taft suggests personnel and organizational changes. Taft also reports on attempts to rig the upcoming election in Panama.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-05-16

Creator(s)

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

Secretary of War Taft sends President Roosevelt the text of cables from William Nelson Cromwell and George W. Goethals regarding measures to be taken to ensure fair elections in Panama.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-05-18

Creator(s)

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

Ambassador Reid encloses a critical article about Panama, based on writing from John Bigelow. Reid speculates that Bigelow’s writing is influenced by his desire to defend his son.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-21

Creator(s)

Reid, Whitelaw, 1837-1912

William Emlen Roosevelt returns letters from George W. Goethals to President Roosevelt. He is sorry for the sentiment that seems to be against James Alexander Scrymser, and does not think that there is any right in the demand of the railroad to have access to thousands of miles of cable in return for laying only a few miles of cable across Panama. William Emlen Roosevelt is sorry he only caught a short glimpse of President Roosevelt while he was in Washington, and wishes that he could have spoken with him to better understand his views on some subjects. He was very pleased about what Roosevelt said about Philip J. Roosevelt’s poem. William Emlen Roosevelt has not focused on the poem at great length, as Philip is somewhat ashamed of the amount of notice it has attracted, but Roosevelt would be pleased if Philip developed his writing ability.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-25

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, William Emlen, 1857-1930

William Emlen Roosevelt informs President Roosevelt that per Secretary of State Elihu Root’s request, they have removed their cable at both sides of the Panama Isthmus to get landings in the Canal Zone. He believes they have fulfilled all the government’s requirements, but they are still held up by Panama Railroad officials who will not make any agreement unless they get free telegraph service over their cable. This would be on better terms and at better rates than the government asked for. William asks his cousin to give orders to lay the cable under the conditions that Colonel George W. Goethals will prescribe, and not refer to Panama Railroad officials.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-08

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, William Emlen, 1857-1930

William Emlen Roosevelt does not think the fault is purely to be placed on the Panama Railway Company, as the officials in Panama have not been able to closely follow all correspondence to which he has been privy due to a large change in the heads of the company. Roosevelt believes that the root of the problem comes from an honest desire to make an all-American cable, making the American government obliged to the company. He also updates President Roosevelt on the difficulties in the banking field this winter. The depression has hurt business. While Roosevelt supports some regulation, he urges his cousin to impose more moderate fines on corporations.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-01-29

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, William Emlen, 1857-1930

Upon reading a memorandum from George W. Goethals, William Emlen Roosevelt updates President Roosevelt on issues that have arisen regarding telegraph cables to be set up along the Panama Canal. The heart of the problem is that although the company is setting the cable, it is at the request of the American government, which is not providing any support. Further, there have been arguments between the company and the government of Panama regarding jurisdiction in the construction of the poles and laying of the cable. The troubles largely come from officials in Panama.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-01-13

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, William Emlen, 1857-1930