Railroads--Trains

Bearding the Lion Killer in His Den

Paul V. Collins recently had the chance to speak with Theodore Roosevelt on a train approaching the Twin Cities, as well as in the offices of The Outlook, and recounts his experience speaking with the ex-president. Rather than Roosevelt being interviewed, Collins writes, it felt as though he was doing the interviewing. The two spoke about reciprocity and the political situation in the United States, although Roosevelt did not grant permission to be quoted.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-25

Letter from William Shadrack Shallenberger to Theodore Roosevelt

Assistant Postmaster General Shallenberger answers an inquiry from President Roosevelt about details given by Representative Victor Murdock in a speech to Congress. The issue is the average amount of mail carried by the railroads, which influences the amount the government pays to the railroad companies. Shallenberger describes the way in which the mail ought to be measured, provides a history of the issue and related developments, and notes that this issue has been previously examined by many lawyers. After presenting evidence for his argument, Shallenberger concludes that Murdock’s statement was incorrect.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-27

Letter from Nicholas Murray Butler to William Loeb

Nicholas Murray Butler confirms travel plans with William Loeb, President Roosevelt’s personal secretary. Butler has enclosed a letter and a newspaper clipping to be forwarded to Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-15

Theodore Roosevelt and engineer

President Theodore Roosevelt shaking hands with the engineer after making a train journey.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1901-1908

Eleanor Butler Alexander on train

Eleanor Butler Alexander sits in a train car and looks out the window. Noted in album: Eleanor’s mother, Grace Green Alexander, had a large folding Kodak, which took 5×7 negatives.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1895-1897

Railroad rebates

Galley proofs for Ray Stannard Baker’s article about railroad rebates: what rebates are, how they are paid, who pays them, and how they affect industry.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Long Island Division Pennsylvania Railroad

Theodore Roosevelt raises concern to management of the Long Island Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad about the numerous accidents occurring at a busy “grade crossing” of a highroad and the railroad located before the entrance of the 59th Street Bridge. Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt was aboard a train from Oyster Bay involved in an accident which the train hit two automobiles and one man was killed.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-07-25

Letter from Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt to Frank M. Chapman

On behalf of Theodore Roosevelt, his secretary invites Frank M. Chapman to lunch at Oyster Bay next Saturday. He suggests Mr. Chapman bring Mr. Beebe, since he has been out for pheasants, and that they take the 11 a.m. train from Pennsylvania Station. As an alternative, he suggests lunch at The Outlook office on Tuesday at 1 p.m.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06-20

Letter from Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt to Hamilton Wright Mabie

Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary invites Hamilton Wright Mabie and Mrs. Mabie to Oyster Bay, New York, for lunch on Thursday, June 1, 1911.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-05-25

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Dudley Foulke

President Roosevelt cannot accept William Dudley Foulke’s offer, but invites him to lunch with Vice President Charles W. Fairbanks and himself aboard their train near Indianapolis, Indiana.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-11

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Martin A. Knapp

President Roosevelt tells Chairman Knapp, of the Interstate Commerce Commission, that he feels the commission’s agent should procure information on whether passenger trains will still run past towns where there is a dearth of fuel and food. He that the mail could be taken on freight trains instead of passenger trains in order to avoid causing undue suffering. The crisis in North Dakota is grave at present, and Roosevelt feels he has the right to require railroads to do their part to meet it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-30

Telegram from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt instructs Secretary of War Taft on which train he should use to get to Oyster Bay, and hopes he can stay for lunch.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-07-06

Letter from Kermit Roosevelt to Theodore Roosevelt

Kermit Roosevelt describes the work he is doing in Brazil. He finds the work very interesting and something he is fitted for. He also talks about the wildlife there and an encounter with a “barefooted old man” who brought him an armadillo, which he “saved.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912

Letter from Robert Erskine Ely to Frank Harper

Robert Erskine Ely asks Frank Harper for advice for which trains Count Apponyi should take for his upcoming visit to Oyster Bay.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02-07

Letter from C. J. Blanchard to Frank Harper

C. J. Blanchard tells Frank Harper that, with regards to Theodore Roosevelt’s upcoming trip in the American Southwest, Harper has come up with the most practicable routes and trains, with one exception. He addresses some of the plans for the trip, including a stop in El Paso to deliver a short speech and a trip to the Grand Canyon.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-01-23

Letter from William Augustus Patton to William Loeb

William Augustus Patton of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company has received William Loeb’s letter, and apologizes for the failure of the railroad to follow instructions regarding the transportation of President Roosevelt’s horses from Jersey City to Washington, D.C. He assures Loeb that the instructions were properly given, and promises to make an investigation as to why they were not followed.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-07

Letter from William Augustus Patton to William Loeb

William Augustus Patton, of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, tells William Loeb that there will be no objection to the man who is accompanying the horse riding in the caboose of the train, but asks for the exact date of the shipment to make sure that this is able to work.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-28

Signet train car schematic

A diagram illustrating the layout of a Signet train, including five private rooms and the dining and observation room.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

Unknown

Letter from Herbert Parsons to William Loeb

Herbert Parsons would like to come to Washington, D.C., to speak with President Roosevelt about the matter of Parsons’ recent letter. Parsons’ schedule is busy and would like to take an early train.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-24

Telegram from Nelson P. Webster to William Loeb

Nelson P. Webster at the White House forwards to William Loeb at Oyster Bay, a telegram from Jacob Sleeper, charge d’affaires in Havana, Cuba, to Secretary of State Elihu Root. Sleeper reports that he has unofficially informed the emissary to Faustino “Pino” Guerra that negotiations for an armistice in Cuba between the government and revolutionary forces have thus far been unsuccessful. Sleeper also provides information on the progress of a train.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-08