Isthmian Canal Commission (U.S.)

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Lyman Abbott

President Roosevelt complains to Lyman Abbott about a number of matters that are being affected by partisanship. In particular, he is upset about partisan opposition to two of his nominations: Franklin K. Lane to the Interstate Commerce Commission and Joseph Bucklin Bishop as Secretary of the Isthmian Canal Commission. He is also frustrated that Democratic Senators are blocking the ratification of the Santo Domingo treaty “on mere partisan grounds,” and would normally favor the treaty if he were not a Republican president.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-12-14

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt encloses a letter from John Lundie, which Lundie wanted to be kept private. He tells Secretary of War Taft that the letter shows Lundie’s unfitness to have any of his assertions considered, and will not answer or pay heed to his letter unless Taft believes it is advisable. Roosevelt would like to stop Lundie’s company’s operations in Panama.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-27

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Paul Morton

President Roosevelt tells Paul Morton that he clearly laid out the role of Isthmian Canal Commission Chairman Theodore P. Shonts in a May circular. The circular stated that the Chairman would answer to the Secretary of War; Shonts must thus report to William H. Taft, and not directly to Roosevelt. No man can make decisions entirely independently.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-15

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Paul Morton

President Roosevelt tells Paul Morton that Theodore P. Shonts did understand that the circular in question applied to the new Isthmian Canal Commission just as much as it did to the old. However, he foresees any conflict as being between Shonts and John F. Stevens, the chief engineer of the Panama Canal project, rather than between Shonts and Secretary of War William H. Taft.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-18

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Theodore P. Shonts

President Roosevelt asks Isthmian Canal Commission Chairman Shonts to read the enclosed letter from Commissioner West. Roosevelt wants to give “young colored men who do their duty” a chance and would like Shonts to allow some Black engineers to go work on the Isthmus. He asks if Shonts would object to Roosevelt writing Chief Engineer John F. Stevens about the matter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-22

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt is glad that Secretary of War Taft offered to go to Santo Domingo, but believes that it is not necessary as matters there have died down. He is very interested to hear what Taft thinks of conditions in Panama, especially following reports in the press about friction among members of the Isthmian Canal Commission. Roosevelt hopes Taft and his wife Helen Herron Taft will join Secretary of State Elihu Root at a dinner with historian James Ford Rhodes.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-10

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Paul Morton

President Roosevelt outlines for Paul Morton what Theodore P. Shonts’s role should be as Chairman of the Isthmian Canal Commission. Shonts apparently wants to directly report to Roosevelt, rather than being under a Cabinet officer (in this case Secretary of War William H. Taft). Roosevelt believes that Shonts should model his behavior and conduct after that of Taft when he was Governor General of the Philippines. Taft was then focused more on doing his work than getting credit for his work, and Shonts should do the same in Panama. Roosevelt will speak with Taft about ensuring Shonts gets credit for his work, because it is imperative that Shonts and Taft are able to work together.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-11

Remarks of the President to the Consulting Board of Engineers on the Isthmian Canal Commission

President Roosevelt speaks to the consulting board of engineers on the Isthmian Canal Commission as they begin to consider the design and construction of the canal. In particular, Roosevelt wants them to consider the costs and benefits of a multi-level, multi-lock canal verses a sea-level canal, as he believes a sea-level canal is most desirable. However, Roosevelt would like the practicality, cost, and feasibility to be considered.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-11

Letter from William Loeb to George W. Davis

President Roosevelt would like Major General Davis to go over the enclosed copy of his remarks to the Consulting Board of Engineers of the Isthmian Canal Commission. Roosevelt also asks that Davis review the remarks with William Barclay Parsons. William Loeb says that Roosevelt suggests that the remarks be published if Davis and Parsons agree.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Joseph Bucklin Bishop

President Roosevelt tells Joseph Bucklin Bishop not to “talk nonsense,” and says that the only thing that will make Roosevelt regret Bishop’s new position on the Isthmian Canal Commission is if it changed their relationship.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-14

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Theodore P. Shonts

President Roosevelt asks Theodore P. Shonts, Chairman of the Isthmian Canal Commission, to read a letter from Senator George C. Perkins and an article by Benjamin M. Hall. He wonders if it would be worth inviting Hall, a Civil Engineer, to address the commission, or putting him on the board.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-08-31

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Joseph Bucklin Bishop

President Roosevelt tells Joseph Bucklin Bishop the only foreseeable trouble is that Dominic I. Murphy, the secretary of the Isthmian Canal Commission, is “considered to be a very strong man.” While Roosevelt does not like Murphy personally, he has been helpful.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-05-31

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Philippe Bunau-Varilla

President Roosevelt is very interested in Philippe Bunau-Varilla’s letter, and asks him to see Theodore P. Shonts, who is chairman of the new Isthmian Canal Commission.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-04-01

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Andrew Jackson Montague

President Roosevelt explains to Governor Montague that he was unable to appoint everyone he wanted to the new Panama Canal Commission because of the limited number of open spaces.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-04-01

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Hermann Speck von Sternburg

President Roosevelt asks Ambassador Sternburg to thank Emperor William II for agreeing to send an expert to the Isthmian Canal Commission. Roosevelt was impressed by Russian Admiral Zinoviĭ Petrovich Rozhestvenskiĭ’s ability to get part of his fleet near Japanese waters in relatively good condition. He tells Sternburg that his wolf hunt has been very enjoyable.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-04-14

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Osceola Kyle

President Roosevelt informs Judge Kyle that if he decides to dismiss someone involved with the Isthmian Canal Commission, that person will be dismissed. While Roosevelt will try to do so without hurting any feelings, he is under no obligation to meet with them personally once he is satisfied as to the facts of the matter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-18

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt returns a letter and a memorandum to Secretary of War Taft and shares his thoughts concerning the proposed Isthmian Canal Committee. Roosevelt asks Taft to have William Barclay Parson and John Findlay Wallace give their opinions on Lindon W. Bates’s canal proposal followed by a review by “the best engineers obtainable.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Jacob H. Gallinger

President Roosevelt informs Senator Gallinger that he has sent the letter and memorandum from Professor Fletcher to Secretary of War William H. Taft. Unless the House bill regarding the Isthmian Canal Commission is passed, which Roosevelt doubts will happen, no good work can be done.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-02

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Lafayette Young

President Roosevelt is interested in what Lafayette Young writes about Panama. He agrees there should be changes in the Isthmian Canal Commission.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-02-15

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Byrne

President Roosevelt accepts John Byrne’s proposal to come to Washington, D.C., to discuss the business aspects of the Panama Canal, but will wait until after his upcoming inauguration. Roosevelt has some candidates for the Isthmian Canal Commission for Byne to consider.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-02-18