Shovels

Uncle Sam, wearing boots (one that says “Army” and the other that says “Navy”), marches forward with a shovel and a pail toward “Panama.” Beside him is an elephant holding a shovel. President Roosevelt is in the distance away from Panama waving a white paper.

comments and context

Comments and Context

In the last week of February 1907 President Roosevelt held White Houses conferences with Theodore P. Shonts, Chairman of the Isthmian Canal Commission (ICC) and Secretary of War William H. Taft over progress on the Panama Canal’s construction. After some challenges and delays, many caused by the necessity to choose between precise routes, health matters, and festering personnel problems, pathways of both geographical and organization natures were in place.

Secretary of State Elihu Root rolls up his sleeves and reaches for a large shovel in “Panama” with “engineering difficulties,” “politics,” “yellow Jack,” and “red tape” in it. Meanwhile, Secretary of War William H. Taft uses a megaphone on a crowded “seeing the Philippines” boat.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-10

President Roosevelt uses an “administration scoop” to dig the “Panama Canal.” He digs up a number of men, including a “grafter,” “revolutionist,” and “favored contractors.” There are more men still in the canal.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-04-01

Photograph of Civilian Conservation Corps enrollees shoveling dirt while working on a project at the Chateau de Morès State Historic Site in Medora, North Dakota.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Creation Date

1930-1939

Uncle Sam holds a shovel as he faces a number of rocks in Panama: “opposition,” “Dem. opposition,” and “R.R. lobby opposition.” Caption: “Well, I’m here at last, but it’s a tough road!”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-02-25

President Roosevelt, armed with a shovel and various weapons including a sword in his mouth, disembarks from the USS GOP on “the Roosevelt Doctrine” gangplank onto “Panama” and prepares to shake the hand of the waiting “Republic of Panama.” In the distance, armed men of “Columbia” look on.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-11-09

President Roosevelt calmly sits by a shovel as “Panama” brings him a “Cuba 1898” sword. “Panama” says, “You’ll need this, too.” In the background, a group of Colombian men come charging toward Roosevelt saying, “Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-11

A sleepy Uncle Sam, wearing a robe, stands in the snow marked with “$” at the foot of snow-covered steps, with the “U.S. Treasury” in the background. He is handing a shovel labeled “Repeal of the Silver Coinage Law” to a diminutive man labeled “Buckner” with papers in his pocket labeled “Chairman Coinage Com.” who refuses to take it, saying he’ll come back later. Liberty observes from a window behind Uncle Sam. Caption: Buckner “Not just now – I’ll see you later!”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1884-01-02