Gorgas, William Crawford, 1854-1920

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-21

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Secretary of War Taft relays a telegram to John F. Stevens, chief engineer of the Panama Canal construction project, that his telegram was received.  Taft informs Stevens that he will be made Chairmen of the Isthmian Commission on March 5th and “will exercise supreme control” until his departure.  

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-28

Creator(s)

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

Fred W. Carpenter, private secretary under the direction of Secretary of War William H. Taft, instructs Theodore P. Shonts, Chairman of the Isthmian Canal Commission, to relay a telegram to Chief Engineer John F. Stevens that his telegram was received.  Carpenter informs Stevens that he will be made Chairmen of the Isthmian Commission on March 5th and “will exercise the supreme control” that the position entitles to him.  

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-28

Creator(s)

Carpenter, Fred W., 1873 or 1874-1957

Secretary of War Taft requests Commissioner Shonts forward the following dispatch from President Roosevelt to Chief Engineer John F. Stevens. After serious review, Taft asks Shonts whether to accept a bid for the construction of the Panama Canal under the present contract or to reject all bids entirely. Taft cites that the two most desirable bids, McArthur Syndicate then William J. Oliver and Anson M. Bangs fit all the requirements with exception to “the least expense of the Government.” Taft informs Shonts of the resignation of Stevens, Chief Engineer of the project, and solicits to have him replaced with Major George W. Goethals. In the meantime, Taft requests that the Commission reject the two bids aforementioned. In a typed postscript, Taft informs Stevens that Goethals will replace him as Chief Engineer and Chairman of the Commission. Roosevelt expects him to use every attempt to assists Goethals with “as little friction and as little loss of efficiency” as possible.

Admiral Walker is not unwilling to cut expenses, but is in favor of retaining the New York office and a steamship line.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-11

Creator(s)

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

This memorandum discusses developments on the Panama Canal and surrounding areas between July 1, 1904 and January 1, 1905, including dam plans, the Culebra Cut, and the building and mechanical departments. It is suggested that if the progress continues in the next six months as it has in the past six months, the canal can be completed in ten years by January 1, 1915.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-01

Creator(s)

Barrett, John, 1866-1938

Theodore Roosevelt has received General Hamilton’s letter, the contents of which were wired to him in San Francisco. In response to the letter, Roosevelt wrote to Colonel Goethals, Colonel Gorgas, and Joseph Bucklin Bishop at the Isthmus, and he is confident that they will do all they can to help Hamilton. Roosevelt requests that Hamilton come out for the evening on the 8th or 9th.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-21

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt regrets that he has to turn down both of John A. Wyeth’s dinner invitations and asks that Wyeth extend his apologies to the hosts of both events.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-21

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt appreciates R. R. Bowker’s investigation of the Panama Canal commission and hopes that he continues to publish stories of his travels to Central America. Roosevelt is concerned about John F. Stevens’s insomnia and the dispute between Stevens and Dr. William Crawford Gorgas.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-22

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt details and debunks several complaints by machinists about working conditions, wages, and food at the Panama Canal.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-11-27

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt describes his trip to Panama and Puerto Rico. He comments on the uniqueness of Panama and the canal project. He praises William Crawford Gorgas’s work regarding the health of the Americans working on the canal. Black workers from Jamaica have not been as healthy, and Roosevelt feels as though they may need to get Chinese laborers as Jamaican Governor James Alexander Swettenham has been disagreeable to work with. He describes the trip and some reading he has done, saying about John Milton, “What a radical republican, and what a stanch partisan, and what an intense protestant the fine old fellow was!” He plans to read more Greek and Roman literature.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-11-23

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt has recently spoken with a number of people regarding the Panama Canal Zone, and while he feels that Chairman of the Isthmian Canal Commission Theodore P. Shonts and Chief Engineer John F. Stevens are too hard on Governor Charles E. Magoon, it may still be best for Magoon to be reassigned elsewhere. He tells Secretary of War Taft that he is inclined for Shonts to take the role of administrator himself, as long as Taft deems such a thing wise. That being said, he also would like William Franklin Sands to be appointed minister in spite of opposition from Shonts and Stevens, as he would better be able to work with foreign governments. In a postscript, Roosevelt also refers Taft to some letters he received from Francis B. Loomis he would like him to look into, as well as an editorial he would like Stevens to comment on.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-14

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt promises to wait and not take any action until he sees Secretary of War Taft in September, but mentions that he believes Taft’s suggestion to send Charles E. Magoon to the Philippines, make William Crawford Gorgas Governor of the Panama Canal Zone, and appoint William Franklin Sands as Minister to be the correct course of action. He instructs Taft to make his labor speech along the lines they have taken.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-08

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt forwards Alexander Lambert a confidential letter from Secretary of War William H. Taft with the understanding that it is for his private information only.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-21

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt encloses a memorandum from William Crawford Gorgas, and asks Chairman of the Isthmian Canal Commission Gorgas to review it. It is necessary to take “every hygienic precaution” in Panama.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-04-03

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt instructs Secretary of War Taft that under the Isthmian Canal Commission, Dr. William Crawford Gorgas should receive a $10,000 salary. He does not understand Admiral John Grimes Walker’s wish to leave the “useless and expensive” office of the Panama Railroad in New York, while at the same time seeking to economize the medical service improperly.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-09

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt has recommended William Crawford Gorgas to the Isthmian Canal Commission. He would like Alexander Lambert to send his views to William Barclay Parsons and Mr. Burr.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-03-16

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-30

Creator(s)

Bishop, Joseph Bucklin, 1847-1928

Recipient

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Publication Date

2025-07-31

Alexander Lambert asks William Loeb if William Crawford Gorgas has returned to the Isthmus of Panama yet, as he would like to see him before he goes.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-24

Creator(s)

Lambert, Alexander, 1861-1939

Secretary of War Taft corrects an omission in his previous letter to President Roosevelt regarding the composition of the Isthmian Canal Commission.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-11-01

Creator(s)

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