Richards, William A. (William Alford), 1849-1912

Letter from Ethan Allen Hitchcock to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock relates to President Roosevelt the circumstances which led to Hitchcock’s order that any land available for purchase must be inspected by a federal agent before the deed is granted. Hitchcock recalls that Roosevelt asked him to modify this order, and provides two options: one order that modifies the previous order, and another – which Hitchcock prefers – that replaces the previous order.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-19

Testimony of George C. Stewart

George C. Stewart testifies to his experiences with corruption in the General Land Office.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-03

Testimony of Benjamin F. Sparhawk

Benjamin F. Sparhawk of the General Land Office testifies in court as to certain “wrong and irregular” acts by colleagues in his department, including improper approvals of land lieu selections and favoritism in the selection and promotion of employees. Sparhawk particularly implicates John McPhaul, his division chief.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-19

Letter from Ethan Allen Hitchcock to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock writes President Roosevelt with his advice on the complicated matter of withdrawing coal lands. On Roosevelt’s direction, the Department of the Interior and the General Land Office began surveying and drafting a list of townships that contained rich coal lands with the intention of withdrawing them from homestead exemptions, and the Department is working quickly to wire all of Roosevelt’s orders to appropriate land offices around the country. However, it is apparent that oil industry men can use many loopholes to obtain the land.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-17

Letter from Stewart Edward White to Theodore Roosevelt

Stewart Edward White, a novelist and spiritualist, congratulates President Roosevelt on his election victory, and says none will rejoice more than he will. This shows that the people at large are a good judge of character. He appreciates the offer to be appointed as Trust Inspector, but has written to Commissioner of the General Land Office William A. Richards to decline the appointment. The salary is greater than corresponds to the time he would be able to put into the job. He also believes W. A. Langille is doing a far better job than he ever could and should be kept.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-09

Wyoming

Gifford Pinchot offers conservation themed speaking points that President Roosevelt can use in Wyoming during his western trip.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-03-30

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Ethan Allen Hitchcock

President Roosevelt writes to Secretary of the Interior Ethan Allen Hitchcock about Commission of the General Land Office William A. Richards. Roosevelt addresses complaints against Richards from Edward B. Linnen, also of the Department of the Interior concerning things Richards may have done in 1885. Roosevelt feels that the complaint was adequately addressed during the Cleveland administration.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-01

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Lincoln Steffens

President Roosevelt has no intention to remove Joseph H. Kibbey as Governor of the Arizona territory, despite the efforts of Senator Albert J. Beveridge and his supporters. While Roosevelt is disappointed that some public officials make accusations that cannot be backed up by facts, he will protect anyone making serious accusations as long as there is sufficient evidence to support those accusations. The next time he sees Lincon Steffens he would like to review what Steffens has found out about Government officials in the West before anything is made public. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-26

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Ethan Allan Hitchcock

President Roosevelt forwards Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock correspondence he received from William A. Richards, Commissioner of the General Land Office. Richards’s has concluded that the charges made by Chief Inspector Edward B. Linnen towards the Red Bank Cattle Company are fictious and unfounded.  Roosevelt would like to hear Linnen’s response to Richards’ findings.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-25

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Ethan Allen Hitchcock

President Roosevelt has heard of several newspaper reports alleging charges against General Land Office Commissioner William A. Richards. Roosevelt asks Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock to submit any charges against Richard to him and would like to meet with Richards.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-11-28

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Ethan Allen Hitchcock

Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock’s letter to Commissioner of the General Land Office William A. Richards will get President Roosevelt the information he needs. Roosevelt inquires about illegal fencing in Wyoming. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-12

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Ethan Allen Hitchcock

President Roosevelt believes that the allegations of fraud concerning Senator Francis E. Warren and Commissioner of the General Land Office William A. Richards, both of Wyoming, should be thoroughly and impartially investigated before any public statement is made from the Department of the Interior on the matter. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-09

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Thomas Henry Carter

President Roosevelt sends Senator Carter some letters about Crosby showing why he cannot appoint him. He additionally sends a report about Receiver John E. Lewis at Kalispell, Montana, showing that he should be replaced. Roosevelt asks Carter to return the letter so that he can return it to Secretary of the Interior Ethan Allen Hitchcock to give to the Department of Justice.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-01

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John H. Fimple

President Roosevelt regrets that John H. Fimple is resigning from his position as Assistant Commissioner of the General Land Office, as he has rendered excellent service in that office.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-11

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frank Basil Tracy

President Roosevelt encloses a further report on the Rosebud lands, which he asks Frank Basil Tracy to return when he is finished with. So far, not a single accusation from William R. Lighton has proved true, and most have been conclusively proven false.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-12-08

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Stewart Edward White

President Roosevelt tells Stewart Edward White that he will be named a special inspector for the California Forest Reserve. He then comments on various hunting adventures. Ted Roosevelt went camping with a friend in the Canadian backwoods and killed a moose with a 56-inch horn spread. President Roosevelt was impressed with White’s description of a hunting trip where 105 pigs were killed in two weeks. He would like White to write a “really first class hunting book.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-08

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Stewart Edward White

President Roosevelt will see about Stewart Edward White’s appointment. Roosevelt hopes White enjoys his hunting trip.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-19

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Matthew Stanley Quay

President Roosevelt will sign the bill if he can. The land on the Rosebud Agency has been raised from $3 to $4, which the agent, Assistant Secretary Ryan, and Commissioner Richards believe is enough.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-04-21

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Roger S. Baldwin

President Roosevelt appreciates Baldwin’s public spirit and encloses a confidential letter from Commissioner Richards of the General Land Office to show the difficulties under which they work.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-09-11

Summary of reports regarding the Big Horn Ditch

This report summarizes allegations by Inspector Edward B. Linnen related to the construction of a canal in Wyoming which was fraudulently used to claim desert land as having been reclaimed. A second canal was constructed by the company which acquired title to the lands from the original company. In order to effectively irrigate the lands, the second canal had to be constructed in a materially different manner than the first, proving that the first project was a fraud.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-01