Your TR Source
Secretary of War Taft reports to President Roosevelt on his conversation with John Findley Wallace, chief engineer of the Panama Canal Commission. Taft has asked for Wallace’s immediate resignation, which Wallace has promised to send to Washington. Taft thinks Roosevelt’s response to it is important “as discipline for all others.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-25
John Hay returns a letter from Andrew Carnegie to President Roosevelt. Hay denies congratulating Carnegie as the Senate did not accept the amendments of the first canal treaty and prophecy by Carnegie was not fortunate after all.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-02-07
Robert John Thompson encloses a letter to President Roosevelt in which he suggests the issuance of a series of small denomination bonds could finance the building of the Panama Canal and help prevent bank failures in the United States.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-17
Joseph B. Potter informs William Loeb that he and the other members of his branch of the Grand Army of the Republic are not in favor of the Service Pension Bill. Potter clarifies that they do not believe a service pension is wrong per se, but they want to “build the Canal and improve America and the Philippines first.” Until then, they are opposed to “all efforts to give Medals of Honor for bravery to those who were not brave” and pensions “for wounds to those who were not wounded.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-16
Nicholas Murray Butler relays to President Roosevelt some suggestions that William Barclay Parsons made to him about the Isthmian Canal Commission. Among these suggestions is the idea that the Commission should be cut down to three members and contain no engineers.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-16
Secretary of War Taft informs President Roosevelt that he has enclosed a copy of the Isthmian Canal Commission report in lieu of the memorandum Roosevelt handed him. Taft says the report contains all of the information that the president wanted and he is also returning Roosevelt’s original draft.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-12
Secretary of War Taft transmits the annual report of the Isthmian Canal Commission to Congress via letter. Taft supports a personnel change for the commission, citing the current members as ineffective, and also recommends to reduce the number of members to five or three.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-12
William Emlen Roosevelt encloses an article for President Roosevelt and underscores the importance of finishing construction of the Panama Canal during Roosevelt’s term.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-10
Secretary of War Taft suggests to Justice Kyle that he take a leave of absence and then resign from his position, citing Kyle’s lack of desire to adapt to Spanish law and the region.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-07
John Grimes Walker responds to Secretary Taft’s request for his opinion on the necessity of maintaining and constructing steamships. Walker has nothing to say directly about that issue, but responds to the suggested abandonment of the Panama Steamship Line. He feels such a move would be disastrous for construction of the Panama Canal.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-03
Secretary of War Taft notifies President Roosevelt about the formation of a commission to guide acquisition of local land for living quarters while the United States continues construction of the Panama Canal. This commission will consist of local Panama people, people from the United States, and the English Consul, for a total of five commissioners. Taft is sending information on this task to the lsthmian Canal Commission in order to conform to the provisions of the treaty. Taft also mentions building houses in Manila, Philippines.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-03
This memorandum discusses developments on the Panama Canal and surrounding areas between July 1, 1904 and January 1, 1905, including dam plans, the Culebra Cut, and the building and mechanical departments. It is suggested that if the progress continues in the next six months as it has in the past six months, the canal can be completed in ten years by January 1, 1915.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-01
List of major government expenditures for 1904.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904
Elbert F. Baldwin suggests that President Roosevelt is misquoted regarding the Panama Canal locks. Baldwin would like to correctly quote Roosevelt in his editorial and suggests adopting engineer John Findley Wallace’s sea level plan for the locks.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-23
William Nelson Cromwell writes to President Roosevelt in regards to current legislation on the Panama Canal. Cromwell discusses the inclusion of a commission, which was not included in the original bill, and assures the president he will soon offer further reflection.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-19
Secretary of War Taft wires that an executive order was accepted by the Panamanian authorities. Taft will be traveling to Jamaica to discuss migrant labor.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-04
Frank J. Hecker is concerned that his resignation from the Isthmian Canal Commission will be used by newspapers to create a scandal. Hecker asks for a meeting with President Roosevelt to discuss the matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-15
Representative Smith, a New York Republican, congratulates President Roosevelt on the recent election results. Smith praises Ambassador John Barrett and Hugh Gordon Miller for giving particularly important speeches in his district. Both speakers were especially forceful in countering charges made by the Democratic candidate against Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-12
If the enclosed newspaper clipping is correct, A. R. Smith, superintendent for the Port of New York writes, the Isthmian Canal Commission is now in control of the Panama Steamship Line, and will no longer move forward with the plan to construct new steamships. This will make it difficult for the government to withdraw, and private steamship operators would prefer that they do so. Private operators already control the Pacific side, and the Atlantic side should be no different. They can offer services more cheaply than the government. President Roosevelt should involve himself in these matters directly, on behalf of steamship operators in need of business, and Smith asks that William Loeb relay this information.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-03
John Lewis Griffiths praises President Roosevelt’s character and the achievements of his administration.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-03