Railroads--Design and construction

Letter from John N. D. Brown to Theodore Roosevelt

John N. D. Brown reminds Theodore Roosevelt that he has written Roosevelt before offering a chance to invest in his railway construction invention. Now Brown has submitted his patent, has been in communication with the examiner, and can infer almost all his invention has passed. Roosevelt still have a chance to invest in patents in foreign countries and Brown is sending him copies of the patents, prints, and the specifications.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-14

Meeting minutes of the Board of Directors of the American China Development Company

The Imperial Chinese Government has cancelled and annulled the contract between the government and The American China Development Company for a railroad between Canton and Hankow in China. The settlement for the cancellation of the contract is currently under negotiation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-20

Messages and documents, War Dept., part I, 1872-73

Excerpts from government documents pertaining to the establishment of several forts and conflict with Native Americans.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Creation Date

Unknown

Letter from Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt to Jesse Robb

On behalf of Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt, the secretary thanks Jesse Robb for the letter. She will be unable to do anything regarding Robb’s railroad proposal.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-11-01

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Edgar Borah

Theodore Roosevelt believes that the platform should state that conservation means the development of natural resources. For example, he thinks that the government should build an Alaskan railroad.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-06-08

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Moody

President Roosevelt outlines for Attorney General Moody the tension between those in the state of Colorado who favor the construction of the Moffatt Railroad at the expense of dams, and those along the lower Colorado River who insist that the dams are vital to their well-being. The railroad owners and investors insist that the railroad cannot be built without great expense if the dam in question is built, though the Reclamation Services says that it can. Roosevelt asks Moody to contact Gifford Pinchot and Secretary of the Interior Ethan Allen Hitchcock on the matter at once. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-10-09

Letter from Theadore Roosevelt to Arthur William Merrifield

President Roosevelt writes to Arthur William Merrifield to explain that he regretfully can not intervene with the development of the Great Northern Railway as it is not a land-grant railway, but is constructed under the March 1875 act.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-05-28

Letter from Kermit Roosevelt to Theodore Roosevelt

Kermit Roosevelt expresses his regret that he could not be at home to take part in the “grand fight” of the Progressive Party, but feels it is for the best that he has come to Brazil. He tells Theodore Roosevelt that he will be trying a hand “at all the difficult smaller branches” of the project, and may be put in charge of the construction work afterward. He tells Roosevelt about the other men he works with and a fight he got into with one man.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-11-20

Letter from Kermit Roosevelt to Theodore Roosevelt

Kermit Roosevelt expresses his worry over the recent assassination attempt on Theodore Roosevelt and wishes he could be with him. He also discusses the work he is doing in Brazil and two wild mammals he saw while taking a break.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-10-15

Letter from Charles J. Bonaparte to Theodore Roosevelt

Attorney General Bonaparte updates President Roosevelt on a variety of cases the Administration has in courts. First, Civil Service Commissioner Alford Warriner Cooley is reluctant to travel to Colorado or Oregon because two cases relating to civil service law will be tried in the Supreme Court soon. Second, Bonaparte has sent a report about a scandal involving New Mexico judge Daniel Hugh McMillan to New Mexico, as the report damages only McMillan. Bonaparte has also arranged for Thomas Carl Spelling and L. Allison Wilmer to prepare and conduct cases against coal-carrying roads under the Hepburn Act. Finally, Bonaparte encloses a communication relating to matters regarding the Alaska Syndicate and the Morgan-Guggenheim interests in Alaska. A dispute between Senator Simon Guggenheim and Governor Wilford B. Hoggatt over land rights of railroads has led to bloodshed.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-08

Letter from James Francis Smith to William H. Taft

Governor-General of the Philippines Smith provides his analysis of the upcoming formal establishment of the Philippine Assembly to Secretary of War Taft. This includes a brief description of the history and political affiliations of the country’s governors, the party leanings of each province, and the number of votes for each party from the most recent election. Smith also reflects on how the United States can improve upon Spain to ensure better relations with the Philippines. Smith considers self-government to be the ultimate goal of American involvement in the Philippines, but cautions that granting independence too quickly could leave the country vulnerable to dictatorships or foreign invasion. Smith ends the letter with a report on the status of various government projects across the country.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-10-07

Letter from Theodore P. Shonts to William H. Taft

Chairman Shonts of the Isthmian Canal Commission sends Secretary of War Taft proposals for securing alternative sources of labor for the construction of the Panama Canal. He recommends Spanish or Chinese laborers, and outlines the costs for either group. He asks Taft for his input on the proposals.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-16

Pyramid Park, 1879-1883, where Theodore Roosevelt came to hunt buffalo

Two versions of an article written for North Dakota History magazine. The first, by Olaf T. Hagen, focuses on the history of Theodore Roosevelt’s time in the Dakota Badlands. The latter, revised and expanded by Ray H. Mattison after Hagen’s death, describes the history of the region from Custer’s time through the 1890s. Mattison’s revision focuses more on the arrival of the railroad and its effects on the game in the region, which had been plentiful but declined rapidly as hunters and adventurers decimated the herds.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Creation Date

1949

Letter from Charles E. Magoon to William H. Taft

General Consul for the Isthmian Canal Commission Magoon reports to Secretary of War Taft about his observations about the work of the Commission. Magoon describes at length the construction of the canal and the operation of the railroads, and the organization and administration of the government.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-05

Edward E. Britton

Edward Earl Britton writes his autobiography in several parts, discussing his youth and involvement in many business pursuits. He breaks briefly in 1908 before continuing in a second portion, written in 1911. After reaching the present, Britton continues on by offering a prediction for the future of economic development in Central and South America. During his life Britton became connected with the Eagle Savings and Loan Company, wand was sentenced to serve some time in prison for the company’s deeds. The final pages of his autobiography feature several letters from friends petitioning New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes for clemency.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03

Stanley expedition of 1873

Summary of the Stanley expedition of 1873.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Creation Date

Unknown

Stanley expedition of 1872

Summary of the Stanley expedition of 1872 on behalf of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Creation Date

Unknown

Civilian Conservation Corps job completion record

This Civilian Conservation Corps project involves surfacing fourth-tenths of a mile of road within Peaceful Valley Ranch in the southern unit of Roosevelt Recreational Demonstration Area (SP-8) in western North Dakota. The project will grade, surface, and blading the section of road near park headquarters.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Creation Date

1941

Letter from Gifford Pinchot to Theodore Roosevelt

Gifford Pinchot sends his first impressions of the Philippines and information about his journey across Russia and Manchuria. Governor Taft is in excellent health and everyone speaks highly of him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-10-27