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William Crawford Gorgas thanks Theodore Roosevelt for his actions to ensure the Sanitary Department and sanitation policy in the Panama Canal zone were not overthrown. The Sanitary Department is now being praised, but it would not have been possible without Roosevelt’s support in 1905.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-24
Philippe Bunau-Varilla urges President Roosevelt to meet again with Panama Canal Commission Chairman Theodore P. Shonts before his departure, in order to secure influence with the engineers of the canal to implement the ideas Roosevelt and Bunau-Varilla have discussed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-09-24
Theodore Roosevelt introduces George W. Goethals to George Palmer Putnam, who is on his way home to Oregon with his newly wed wife. Putman is the son of John Bishop Putnam, an old friend of Roosevelt’s, and a nephew of George Haven Putnam. Roosevelt does not know Putnam personally but is willing to guarantee that Putnam is as straight as a string knowing his father and uncle. Putnam wishes to see what is happening on the Isthmus and wants to know the present status of the engineering, social, and political matters. Roosevelt appreciates any help he can give Putnam.
Theodore Roosevelt introduces George W. Goethals to George Palmer Putnam, who is on his way home to Oregon with his newly wed wife. While Roosevelt does not personally know Putnam, he is acquainted with his father and his uncle and believes that Putnam is just as trustworthy as his relatives. Putnam wishes to see what is happening on the Isthmus and wants to know the present status of the engineering, social, and political matters.
Theodore Roosevelt introduces Joseph Bucklin Bishop to George Palmer Putman, who is on his way home to Oregon with his newly wed wife. Putman is the son of John Bishop Putnam, an old friend of Roosevelt’s, and a nephew of George Haven Putnam. Roosevelt does not know Putnam personally but is willing to guarantee that Putnam is as straight as a string knowing his father and uncle. Putnam wishes to see what is happening on the Isthmus and wants to know the present status of the engineering, social, and political matters. Roosevelt appreciates any help he can give Putnam.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-19
President Roosevelt thanks Representative Denby for the letter; it provided the information he desired. He will take up the matters with the Isthmian Canal Commission and the Department of State.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-02
President Roosevelt sends a copy of the Panama Canal report to Colonel Goethals, chairman and chief engineer of the Isthmian Canal Commission. Roosevelt congratulates Goethals and requests that he implement the commission’s recommendations and, if unable to do so, report to Roosevelt with the reasons.
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
William Loeb sends William Archer a letter of introduction for him from President Roosevelt to Joseph Bucklin Bishop, Secretary of the Isthmian Canal Commission.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-25
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
Joseph Bucklin Bishop sends President Roosevelt two copies of the second edition of “The Canal Record,” which he says gives more space to information that interests canal employees. The paper has been well-received, but Bishop does not believe it needs to include Roosevelt’s suggestion for American news because there are already plenty of American newspapers available to canal workers. Bishop thanks Roosevelt for his telegram and mentions that he included it in “The Canal Record.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-12
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
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
George W. Goethals responds to recent criticisms of the food supply on the Isthmus of Panama and details the provisions made available by the government and those that are available privately.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-04-18
Secretary of War Taft informs President Roosevelt from the Mayflower that his letter concerning the wages paid on the Isthmus of Panama will be delayed for want of a ship to carry it. Taft expects to arrive in San Juan on Sunday.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-04-12