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Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt informs Richard Henry Dana he hopes to get the double turrets on the USS Kentucky and the USS Kearsarge removed. Roosevelt believes the builders at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company agrees with him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-05-21
The London Times relays reports from its correspondent in America regarding various issues and events in the United States. In particular, the correspondent provides updates on political policies and legislation, as well as events that have happened in Washington, D.C., and between the United States and countries abroad, such as Venezuela and Haiti.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-30
In light of damage which has occurred to the ships Foote and Rodgers, Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt reports on past experience with various iron works and shipbuilders. Moving forward, Roosevelt advises Secretary of the Navy Long that contracts should be given primarily on the basis of good work, with cost being a secondary consideration.
Massachusetts Historical Society
1898-01-22
Theodore Roosevelt thanks the workmen of the Navy Yard for the token. He also emphasizes that victories in Manila and Santiago are due to the men who prepared the ships for battle.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-05-23
Uncle Sam stands with his arms spread on a solid dock labeled “U.S.” next to a sign that states, “Uncle Sam – The ship builder re-established with great success in 1893. American ships for American commerce!!” A huge steamship appears in the background. Across a body of water is John Bull standing, in a state of shock, on the shore of “England” next to a sign that states, “John Bull – The old reliable ship builder since 1861. Ships for American commerce a speciality.” Caption: John Bull–Good ‘evins! – wotever ‘ll become of my ship-building monopoly, if that there Yankee is going to turn out boats like that right along?
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1895-07-24
Uncle Sam, as a pig farmer, holds a bucket labeled “Ship Subsidy” that he is about to pour into an overflowing trough labeled “Dingley Tariff” for a large hog labeled “Organized Greed.”
Udo J. Keppler’s mastery of caricature grew stronger through the years, even for imaginary characters like Uncle Sam. The frustration and disgust of the iconic Uncle Sam is so distorted that many readers probably were inclined to share the negative emotion before studying the labels.
Almost lost to history is the complicated and long-running matter of ship subsidies. It touched politics, economics, trade, and rivalries between the trusts. During his presidency, President Roosevelt fought hard, year after year, to have Congress increase Naval appropriations and have to settle, eventually and on average for only two major Naval ships per year.
Secretary of the Navy Long defends the naval appropriations.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-01-28
Theodore Roosevelt is sorry he will not be able to speak at Long Island. Roosevelt believes that sea-power is playing an important role in the current war, and the United States must build up the navy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-06-29
President Roosevelt tells Secretary of the Navy Metcalf that he thinks the armor belt on ships should be higher, and asks where it will be on new ships. He also asks about plans for turrets on the new ships. He proposes having a line officer as Second Assistant Secretary of the Navy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-23
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt discusses battleship design elements and naval gunnery options with Richard Henry Dana and makes comparisons to British ships.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-05-08
President Roosevelt writes Senator Hale (the chairman of the Committee on Naval Affairs in the Senate) looking to clarify recent comments by the president which he feels have been interpreted incorrectly. Roosevelt states that he is in favor of authorizing more than one naval ship per year, and that his recent comments on the topic were misconstrued. Roosevelt notes that he had “limited myself to asking one ship a year” believing that was Hale’s desire, but closes by noting, “Of course my desire is for that ship, and another.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-07
President Roosevelt is not surprised by the conclusion Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte is coming to in the Charleston navy yard matter. He offers his view regarding the work done in the Washington, D.C., navy yard, saying that while labor people are concerned with making sure work is given to the laborers there, they also demand extra rights and holidays that laborers in exterior shipbuilding yards do not get. Roosevelt feels they should act along the lines they decided on earlier in the summer and see what the result is.
The “Charleston navy yard matter” refers to an incident in which Lieutenants J. W. G. Walker and Francis R. Harris were transferred out of supervisory roles in the Charleston navy yards, seemingly due to political pressure from a corporation that had been contracted to conduct government work, and which Walker and Harris had been holding to strict standards of quality. While Secretary of the Navy Charles J. Bonaparte concluded the transfer was not influenced, he ultimately reversed it so as to avoid the appearance of having been pressured.
President Roosevelt is pleased to hear that Sultan Abdülhamid II is satisfied with the ship built by William Cramp & Sons for his government.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-04-21
After speaking with Judge Gray, President Roosevelt came to the conclusion that Florence La Farge’s advice was correct. The situation in Delaware is horrid with no satisfactory solution. Roosevelt states that the shipbuilding matter justifies his course in dealing with trusts and big corporations.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-10-14
President Roosevelt asks Admiral Taylor for ideas to improve the Navy’s “gun pointing” and battleship design. Of the two topics, Roosevelt believes marksmanship to be the most important in fighting a war.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-12-27
President Roosevelt is eager for Senator Lodge to visit so they can discuss several matters. On economic matters, Roosevelt intends to do what he outlined in his acceptance letter, though he is unsure of how to deal with reciprocity and the ship subsidy. In terms of appointments, senators and congressmen shall name the men but Roosevelt will set the standard. He hopes to appoint good men in the South, regardless of race, but preferably Republicans.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-10-11
Wilbur S. Hinman gives S. J. Herben information about the USS Constellation‘s construction.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-10-11
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt explains to William S. Cowles that he is not involved in those matters. Still, he will forward the application to the Bureau of Navigation with his endorsement. He enjoyed being with the fleet and learned a lot. Cowles is correct about the fleet moving compactly and swiftly. Therefore, Roosevelt will do what he can to keep it together. He agrees about the torpedo boats, but members of the Herreshoff family are difficult to work with, and the ships they build are undependable.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-09-17
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt shares with Secretary of the Navy Long that many are frantic about Francis T. Bowles being put in charge. There is a call for a court of inquiry which Roosevelt finds pointless and will not grant unless Long directs him to. He enjoyed and profited from his time with the squadron and will write a full report later. Roosevelt recently talked to John A. Howell about the Armor Board, which is a more expensive task than Congress thinks. He comments on several other matters.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-09-10
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt is glad Isaac Newton Seligman liked his speech. Roosevelt is unwilling to make comparisons between shipyards, but was greatly please with Charles H. Cramp’s shipyard.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-06-07