Letting of contracts

President Roosevelt addresses three issues with Treasury Secretary Cortelyou. Roosevelt asks if it is necessary to appoint civil servants to the Assay Office without examination; registers his concern regarding the construction company Woodbury & Leighton in the matter of a new courthouse in Portland, Maine; and asks if laborers in the auction house in New York can be given a raise. He invites Cortelyou to join him for lunch to talk these matters over.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-14

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

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.

After serious review, Secretary of War Taft asks Chairman 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” due to the bidders’ desire to split profits with investors. Taft informs Shonts of the resignation of John F. Stevens, chief engineer of the project, and solicits to have him replaced with Major George W. Goethals, who agrees with Taft and Stevens that a new contract must be drafted. In the meantime, Taft requests that the Commission reject the two bids aforementioned. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-23

Creator(s)

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

Secretary of War Taft lists the names of the heads of companies making a bid on contracts for the Panama Canal project and asks John F. Stevens if he has any more information on them.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-06

Creator(s)

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

Leslie M. Shaw details the conflict in Cleveland, Ohio, over the use of local sandstone in a federal building project and the resulting resolution currently pending in Congress. Although Theodore E. Burton has changed his mind since introducing that legislation, Shaw has committed to a course of action and must depend on the passage or rejection of that bill by Congress.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-05

Creator(s)

Shaw, Leslie M. (Leslie Mortier), 1848-1932

President Roosevelt returns Acting Secretary of the Navy Newberry’s letter as well as Senator Henry Cabot Lodge’s communication regarding the bids for supplying the Navy with electric lamps. He asks Newberry to forward all papers relating to this matter to Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte, and wishes Bonaparte to examine the matter and take action against the bidders.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-05-13

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt advises Secretary of War William H. Taft that they should wait to open any bids on carrying cement until pending legislation on the use of American bottoms in Panama is voted on.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-16

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt informs Colonel Hodges that he reluctantly approves the Panama Canal Commission rejecting all bids and re-advertising for contracts. Roosevelt urges the Commission to be mindful that rejected bidders often do not bid again, and other bidders sometimes benefit. The Commission should not do anything that will arouse suspicion and discourage honest contractors from bidding on government work.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-09

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

After serious review, President Roosevelt asks Chairman Shonts whether to accept a bid for the construction of the Panama Canal under the present contract or to reject all bids entirely. Roosevelt 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” due to the bidders’ desire to split profits with investors. Roosevelt also informs Shonts of the resignation of John F. Stevens, chief engineer of the project, and solicits to have him replaced with Major George W. Goethals, who agrees with Roosevelt and Stevens that a new contract must be drafted. In the meantime, he requests that the Commission reject the two bids aforementioned. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-26

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt accepts John F. Stevens’ resignation as Chief Engineer on construction of the Panama Canal, and Stevens will be relieved as soon as he can be replaced. The government has not yet decided how to proceed on the work.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-14

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt asks John F. Stevens for his opinion on a number of contractors and businessmen who Roosevelt proposes should be involved in the construction of the Panama Canal. He is firm in his belief that the terms agreed upon be met before any bid is accepted.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-07

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt informs Secretary of War Taft that he does not think they should send for Oliver as he does not feel he is suitable for the work that needs to be done, especially if Oliver cannot find two appropriate contractors with the money that has been secured. Instead, Stevens may be called on to do the work. Roosevelt is impressed by Pearl Wight’s letter and is ready to act on it if needed.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-28

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Augustus C. Wrenn reports to Secretary of the Navy Metcalf on coal contract bids for fleets at sea in South America and the Caribbean. Wrenn provides a detailed cost analysis for several ports and companies, along with recommendations and analysis for which contracts the Department of the Navy has accepted. Wrenn requests Metcalf’s attention on an issue regarding logistics and taxation discussed by Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-10-17

Creator(s)

Wrenn, Augustus C. (Augustus Cantor), 1869-1937

Theodore P. Shonts sends John Stevens a copy of the invitation for bids to complete the Panama Canal. Shonts reminds Stevens that it is still a working document and sends a letter that should have gone on a previous boat about the nature of the competitive bids, in particular, that contractors select their own machinery but be held responsible for the work accomplished. Shonts asks for Stevens’ recommendations on these matters.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-11

Creator(s)

Shonts, Theodore P. (Theodore Perry), 1856-1919

Chief Engineer of the Isthmian Canal Commission (ICC) Stevens informs Chairman of the ICC Shonts that he has received the invitations for proposals and thinks it would be a mistake to individuals or firms of fewer than six members.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-05

Creator(s)

Stevens, John F. (John Frank), 1853-1943

J. B. Solomon writes to Francis C. Travers in regards to a bid for Manila rope the company lost to another bidder. Because the contract was awarded to a company who bid a higher price on a different grade of rope than what the Quartermaster requested, Solomon thinks that Travers should investigate the matter further.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07-01

Creator(s)

Solomon, J. B.

Captain Bailey informs John P. Nawrath that the War Department accepted a bid of higher grade twine than what he submitted.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-28

Creator(s)

Bailey, George G. (George Guilford), 1861-1935

President Roosevelt accepts John F. Stevens’ resignation as Chief Engineer of the Panama Canal project, expecting him to stay in the position until a suitable replacement can be selected and trained. He does not, however, accept all the complaints Stevens has leveled against the Isthmian Canal Commission, Congress, and the realities of “public service.” Roosevelt has not yet decided which, if any, of the bids made on the project will be accepted.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-14

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Canal contractors are pleased that Governor Odell may run for a third term as a change in the state administration could create problems with their contracts.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-05-12

Creator(s)

Unknown