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Exposition president William J. Oliver and his assistant Sandford H. Cohen will escort Theodore Roosevelt. The locals are most excited to see him, the hero of the Pan-American War. The Appalachian Exposition has been very successful for the conservation movement and local development.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-09-23
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-23
Chief Engineer Stevens knows nothing of George Pierce and Company or the Milan Dredging Company, and considers these companies to make no significant contribution to W. J. Oliver’s proposal for building the Panama Canal. Stevens also expresses concern about the involvement of William Barclay Parsons, August Belmont, and John B. MacDonald. Stevens finds Oliver’s quotation “unfortunate” and does not want a one-man proposal like Oliver’s to be the winning bid.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-06
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-06
Secretary of War Taft asks John F. Stevens if he knows the men W. J. Oliver proposes as his associates for his work on the Panama Canal. Taft is investigating Oliver before they accept any bid.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-02
John F. Stevens, chief engineer of the Panama Canal, objects to the construction bid made by W. J. Oliver, and updates Secretary of War Taft on the Panama Canal’s construction progress.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-30
John F. Stevens, chief engineer of the Panama Canal, does not think that W. J. Oliver is the right person for the contract, and advises Secretary of War Taft to call for new bids.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-29
John F. Stevens, chief engineer of the Panama Canal, cables Secretary of War Taft that he believes it is a mistake to award the contract to build the Panama Canal to W. J. Oliver.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-29
Theodore P. Shonts informs the United States Isthmian Canal Commission that the bid of W. J. Oliver for construction of the Panama Canal will be accepted if he can come up with new satisfactory associates in ten days.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-28
Theodore P. Shonts informs John F. Stevens that the government has agreed on a price after a conference including Secretary of State Elihu Root, Secretary of War William H. Taft, and President Roosevelt. Shonts is investigating the financial responsibility, integrity, and past performance of the Oliver & Bangs construction company.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-18
John F. Stevens, Chief Engineer of the Panama Canal, wires Secretary of War Taft, objecting to a person who has submitted a bid to build the canal. Stevens asserts that the person lacks the “nature, experience or achievement.” He advises that the contract should not have been advertised yet, and that more time should be taken to secure the best combination of contractors for the work.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01
Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary encloses a letter from W. J. Oliver for Senator Dixon’s attention.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-08-14
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-26
Frederic John Paxon, President of the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, asks Theodore Roosevelt to have his secretary send his current plans for his upcoming visit to the city. He mentions several possible engagements for Roosevelt, as well as a proposal to have a small committee escort Roosevelt from Knoxville, Tennessee, to Atlanta, Georgia.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-08-04
Josiah Kingsley Ohl recommends that President Roosevelt invite William J. Oliver, a railroad builder and contractor, on his team to Panama. Ohl is confident that Oliver’s knowledge of construction would make his advice valuable.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08