Your TR Source
President Roosevelt thanks Secretary of the Interior Garfield for the letter. He is glad Garfield is going to Maine, but tells him in confidence that he would not be surprised if a Democrat won the election there.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-07
President Roosevelt has not responded to Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock’s letter because he has been too busy and also wanted to consult the men who were present at the conference held by Roosevelt which Hitchcock did not attend. Roosevelt points out that due to Hitchcock’s absence at the meeting, his letter is full of errors which Roosevelt outlines in his letter to Hitchcock. A mistake within the Department of the Interior has resulted in a serious situation and Roosevelt feels Hitchcock’s arguments are inaccurate.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-25
President Roosevelt would like to know what he should do with the affidavits Ethan Allen Hitchcock gave him regarding the management of the General Land Office, particularly Assistant Commissioner George F. Pollock. Roosevelt would like to give them to the incoming Commissioner Richard Achilles Ballinger so he can conduct a thorough investigation and clean out the office.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-23
President Roosevelt tells Senator Piles that Richard Achilles Ballinger has finally accepted the position of Commissioner of General Land Office; therefore he will be sending Ballinger’s nomination to the Senate at once.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-18
President Roosevelt tells Governor Buchtel he highly regards John Wallace Springer, but the position of Commissioner of the General Land Office had already been accepted by Richard Achilles Ballinger before Springer’s name was suggested. Roosevelt would like Buchtel to show Springer this letter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-18
President Roosevelt tells Senator Ankeny that he is nominating Richard Achilles Ballinger for Commissioner of the General Land Office now that he has agreed to accept the position.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-18
President Roosevelt is “puzzled” by a telegram from Philip Battell Stewart about Rittenhouse, a name he does not recognize. Roosevelt has put forward D. C. Bailey’s name and is sorry Stewart could not accept the Commissionership of the General Land Office.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-15
On the recommendation of Commissioner of Corporations Garfield, President Roosevelt will offer the position of Commissioner of the Land Office to Richard Achilles Ballinger.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-11
President Roosevelt asks Philip Battell Stewart to be the Commissioner of the General Land Office. He is “discontented” with the current Interior Department, despite approving of Secretary of the Interior Ethan Allen Hitchcock. He plans to appoint James Rudolph Garfield as Secretary of the Interior, and to make a “pretty clean sweep” of the employees under him, except for men like Commissioner of Pensions Vespasian Warner and Commissioner of Indian Affairs Francis E. Leupp. He mentions that Gifford Pinchot would be one of Stewart’s coworkers, and emphasizes that Stewart would be perfect for the position.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-22
Chief Forester Gifford Pinchot provides President Theodore Roosevelt with a report on land office work after claims of possible fraud and of hardship. Pinchot recommends that Secretary of the Interior Ethan Allen Hitchcock be given an additional $500,000 to “bring the public land business of the United States up to date.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-11
Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock agrees with President Roosevelt that certain affidavits should be handed over to Richard Achilles Ballinger, who is about to begin his tenure as Commissioner of the General Land Office. Hitchcock also thinks it wise to give the affidavits to Commissioner of Corporations James Rudolph Garfield, who will replace Hitchcock as Secretary of the Interior in March. Hitchcock hopes he can meet with Garfield in person soon to explain to him more details that cannot be put in writing.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-24
Overton W. Price of the United States Forest Service suggests changes to President Roosevelt’s order regarding the issuance of patents for public lands to eliminate opportunities for fraud. Price also recommends changing the wording to allow any authorized officer of the government to investigate cases.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-22
This digest summarizes the need for Congress to make an immediate appropriation of enough money to bring the land office business up to date in order to relieve the land claimants, protect public property, and fulfill the laws.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-25
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-19
Clement S. Ucker presents a sworn statement relating to the Union Pacific Coal Company’s case. Ucker attests that there were affidavits and statements enough to form a case showing a conspiracy to defraud the United States government. Additionally there were records restoring the coal lands to the public domain, but these were “allowed to remain dormant in the files” of the office while conspirators tried to acquire the lands.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-04
George C. Stewart testifies to his experiences with corruption in the General Land Office.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-03
George F. Pollock submits a report to Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock following an order from President Roosevelt that no patent be issued to public land until an “examination on the ground” has been made by an agent of the Department of the Interior, in order to hinder “theft of the public lands.” Pollock reports on the current pending cases and requests additional funding to carry out the work.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-22
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-19
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-17
Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock updates William A. Richards, Commissioner of the General Land Office, on an order from July 26, 1906, and subsequent related orders. On any lands where substantial coal is found, all orders for “entry, filing, and selection under the coal and other land laws” are to be modified to “provide for the withdrawal of ‘such lands from coal entry merely.'” Richards is to advise all affected land districts, especially those in Juneau, Alaska.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-17