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On behalf of Secretary of War William H. Taft, Fred W. Carpenter sends a typescript of a telegram to William Loeb. George W. Goethals describes labor negotiations with and resignations of Isthmian Canal construction workers. Goethals reports that men are returning to work and he has no fear of the outcome.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-05-16
President Roosevelt rewrites a telegram that was to be sent to Jørgen Løvland expressing his gratitude at being named the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. Roosevelt changes the telegram’s statement that the prize money will go towards the building of the Panama Canal and changes it so that the money will go towards a “permanent industrial peace committee.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-03
On behalf of Secretary of War William H. Taft, Fred W. Carpenter forwards duplicate copies of the cablegram Taft sent to John F. Stevens.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-04
Panamanian president Tomás Arias announces the separation of Panama from Colombia and the creation of their own independent nation. The “pacific” nature of the people and the open, honest government both contributed to this end result. There is hope that the Panama Canal and Panama’s relationship with the United States will bring happiness and abundance to the nation, still reeling from the “demoralization caused by the last war.” The Hay-Bunau Varilla Treaty signed November 2 will help ensure this new time of peace and rebuilding. Self governance must be done with the good of the entire community in mind and a unity of purpose, as the intolerance of old will lead to ruin. The report writer recounts internal disagreements around the last election and the detention of Colombian, Cuban, Mexican, and Nicaraguan officials who were working against this new unity.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-23
Ambassador Meyer notifies President Roosevelt of the social problems unfolding in Russia at the prospect of granting concessions to the Jewish people. The proposed bill would allow every Jewish person who finishes his military service to move freely throughout the country, although Jewish people would still not be permitted to own land outside the Pale of Settlement. The “Jewish problem” is a difficult one for the Russian Cabinet to solve. Meyer thinks it will not be settled by foreign intervention, but by the country’s financial necessities.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-26
Sanitary Inspector J. A. Corrigan reports to his superior that in the past year only two pail closets remained unemptied and in those instances only for twelve hours.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-22
Sanitary Inspector Heinemeyer informs his superior, Chief Sanitary Inspector LePrince, that only three night soil pails were nearly full–two on account of water being poured into them and the other from not being emptied the night before. According to Heinemeyer, the pails have to be watched very carefully or men will say they emptied them when they did not.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-22
Sanitary Inspector Mitchell informs his superior, Chief Sanitary Inspector LePrince, that he has not had any difficulties with the pail closets. The pails are emptied every night and also in the middle of the day when they are full.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-22
Chairman Shonts, head of the Isthmian Canal Commission, responds to allegations by Lindon W. Bates, an American civil engineer, that work on the canal is moving too slowly, and that the commission is mishandling funds and overspending. Shonts asserts that preliminary progress has been made, and that the plan is still in the early stages where visible progress is not evident.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-10
The French chargé d’affaires to Panama, Henri Arthur Marie Barre Ponsignon, sends an excerpt of a report to Foreign Affairs Minister Stéphen Jean Marie Pichon about President Roosevelt’s recent visit to Panama. Roosevelt and heads of department left Ancón at seven in the morning to visit the Panama Canal work site in the rain and mud. Roosevelt, who spoke to many workers and asked questions, was able to fully appreciate the technical difficulties to be overcome. He made it clear to the new republic that he did not want any revolutions to hinder the work of the Canal, where over 7,000 Americans are currently employed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-19
List of barracks and colored married quarters in the Canal Zone, showing the number of the building, number of persons in it, distance to closet and seating capacity of closets. It is broken down by region in Panama.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-20
Sanitary Inspector Everett Frederick Quimby informs his superior that he has inspected the condition of “pit, pail, and flush closets” and has found the labor camps amply supplied in every instance.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-21
Secretary of War Taft sends Isthmian Canal Commission Chairman Shonts his recommendations for Shonts’s board resulting from a conversation between him, Elihu Root, and President Roosevelt. Taft does not think Jackson Smith should be included since he is not an engineer and the board has to include an Army and a Navy engineer. John Ripley Freeman is a good choice since he works well with John F. Stevens. Taft ends his letter by listing potential names for the board.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-31
W. Leon Pepperman, Chief of the Office of Administration for the Isthmian Canal Commission, encloses an abstract of the estimates for appropriation submitted by Theodore P. Shonts, Chairman of the Commission. Secretary of War Taft suggested the estimates be sent to President Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-29
John F. Stevens tells Theodore P. Shonts to read Brigadier General Peter C. Hains’s letter regarding the specifications for the work to construct the Panama Canal. With two revisions in the amounts of material to be moved at the entrance and in the lake section, Stevens believes the specifications are ready for publication.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-29
John F. Stevens tells Theodore P. Shonts to read Brigadier General Peter C. Hains’s letter regarding the specifications for the work to construct the Panama Canal. With two revisions, in the amounts of material to be moved at the entrance and in the lake section, Stevens believes the specifications are ready for publication.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-29
Senator Lodge agrees with President Roosevelt’s decision not to provide a letter of support for Lodge’s son-in-law, Augustus Peabody Gardner. Although Gardner’s campaign to keep his seat in Congress is not going well, others are doing what they can to support him. Lodge is also somewhat concerned about the Republican race for Governor of Massachusetts against John B. Moran. The Panama labor question is being used against many political candidates who voted with the administration. On another matter, it may be worthwhile for Secretary of War Taft to respond to James H. Blount, who has been making speeches about the Philippines which are harmful to the administration of the islands.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-23
John Warne Gates shares with President Roosevelt his assessment of the upcoming New York gubernatorial election. The Republican Party finds itself financially limited by the new law on corporate contributions. According to Gates, “one man, and one alone . . . can come into this campaign and turn the tide for Hughes,” and thus he entreats that man—Roosevelt—to join the campaign in New York.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-17
Representative Gardner tells Senator Lodge that President Roosevelt should comment on recent resolutions by the Massachusetts Federation of Labor. The Federation has condemned nine Massachusetts Republican Congressmen for their attitudes on child labor and the eight hour workday.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-11
Secretary of State Root spent two days touring the work on the Panama Canal. Root saw the work that had been done for the residence of officers and workmen, as well as for repair and construction shops. Root was particularly impressed by the amount of excavation being done near the Culebra Cut. Root concludes by suggesting that the biggest danger facing the Canal at present is the possibility of losing good and able men to profitable employment elsewhere.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-12