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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
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
Acting Secretary of War Oliver sends William Loeb a copy of a report made by Rear Admiral John Grimes Walker, Chairman of the Isthmian Canal Commission related to transportation contracts and the shipping of materials to the Canal Zone.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-03
Congress authorizes President Roosevelt to purchase the interests of the New Panama Canal Company of France and to construct the Panama Canal.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-06-28
President Roosevelt writes to his son Kermit to tell him about his trip to Panama with Edith. He includes the history of the area, the Panama Canal work site, and the scenery.
1906-11-20
President Roosevelt asks George W. Goethals of the Isthmian Canal Commision about his opinion regarding the location of telegraph lines in the Panama Canal Zone. Roosevelt believes it would be best to have the cables entirely in American Territory so as to avoid the constant friction arising from parts of the cable being controlled by the Panamanian government.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-05
President Roosevelt authorizes Secretary of War Taft to use funds to stable the cavalry at Boise, Idaho as General Fred C. Ainsworth mentioned. Roosevelt additionally comments on several appointments, saying he believes that Walston H. Brown should be allowed to carry out his proposal, that he has decided to appoint James Shanklin Harlan to the Interstate Commerce Commission, and that he is inclined to appoint Horace H. Lurton, which will necessitate appointing a new Circuit Court Judge. Roosevelt also writes at length about some recent articles by Poultney Bigelow which contain some “slanderous falsehood,” but about which he believes some response should be made.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-17
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-14
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-08
President Roosevelt enjoyed reading Secretary of War Taft’s letter and expresses his admiration for Taft. He can sympathize with the difficulties Taft worries about but does not feel they are as great as Taft makes them out to be. While Taft will likely be attacked on Panama and the Philippines, Roosevelt reassures him that he believes Taft has acted correctly, comments that they “play the game very much alike,” and describes some of the difficulties he is presently encountering. Roosevelt is glad that Taft will be staying in his cabinet longer.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-02
President Roosevelt introduces John F. Stevens, Chief Engineer of the Isthmian Canal Commission, to A. Bruce Minear of the Young Men’s Christian Association. Minear will be traveling to Panama to organize Y. M. C. A. work there, which Roosevelt believes would be a positive addition to the region. He asks Stevens to help Minear organize space and equipment to allow his work to flourish.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-05-21
President Roosevelt confidentially informs Senator Hanna that the “Panama title is all right.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-09-29
Joseph Bucklin Bishop calls Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary’s attention to his proper mailing address.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-12-02
William Emlen Roosevelt informs President Roosevelt that per Secretary of State Elihu Root’s request, they have removed their cable at both sides of the Panama Isthmus to get landings in the Canal Zone. He believes they have fulfilled all the government’s requirements, but they are still held up by Panama Railroad officials who will not make any agreement unless they get free telegraph service over their cable. This would be on better terms and at better rates than the government asked for. William asks his cousin to give orders to lay the cable under the conditions that Colonel George W. Goethals will prescribe, and not refer to Panama Railroad officials.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-02-08
Journalist Frederick Palmer permits President Roosevelt to share his letter about administration in the Canal Zone where it “will do good.” He also thanks Roosevelt for the invitation to lunch.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-03
George Campbell, a sanitary inspector in Bas Obispo, informs the Chief Sanitary Inspector for the Canal Zone, J. A. LePrince, that he has not had problems with his pail closets.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-22
Sanitary Inspector Rayon reports to his superior, J. A. LePrince, that the night soil pails are regularly emptied and are rarely full. There were a few problems in the past, but they have already been addressed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-22
Sanitary Inspector Quayle reports to his superior, J. A. LePrince, that he has not had any trouble keeping the pail closets clean. A complaint made to headquarters was investigated and determined to be unfounded.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-22
Sanitary Foreman Garcia reports to his superior, Chief Sanitary Inspector LePrince, that the night pails are emptied regularly and are never allowed to be over full. The only problem Garcia finds is that the pails in houses 22, 32, and 51 sit too low relative to the height of the seat. Garcia also reports finding the closet that had been carried away by the river.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-22