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John F. Stevens, chief engineer of the Panama Canal, objects to the construction bid made by W. J. Oliver, and updates Secretary of War Taft on the Panama Canal’s construction progress.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-30
John F. Stevens, chief engineer of the Panama Canal, cables Secretary of War Taft that he believes it is a mistake to award the contract to build the Panama Canal to W. J. Oliver.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-29
Corps of Engineers Lieutenant Colonel Leach summarizes James F. J. Archibald’s letter to President Roosevelt regarding the weak defense of the Hawaiian Islands. In general, the Pacific Ocean is very poorly defended and should be considered a vulnerability. Leach discuses the logistics of introducing submarine weapons into naval defenses and previous attempts to acquire such weapons. While Leach concedes that Hawaii is lacking in defense, he strongly disagrees with the position that the Pacific Ocean is vulnerable and proves this by listing the local forts and their weaponized capacity.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-21
Wililiam Loeb sends Assistant Secretary of War Oliver a request from Douglas Robinson regarding the two sons of Henry Corn who are in the 13th Cavalry.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-11
The War Department Board of Ordnance and Fortification formally notifies John H. Lorimer that it will make no change in its policy regarding “flying machines.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-08
A memorandum from the War Department discusses the historical accuracy of an alleged order from the Civil War used by President Roosevelt as an exhibit accompanying a message to the Senate concerning the discharge of soldiers in Brownsville. The alleged order is from Robert E. Lee disbanding the 22nd Virginia Battalion in 1864 for poor conduct. A search of the Confederate archives does not substantiate this order, instead showing that a request to redistribute members of the Battalion was never followed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-03
William Emlen Roosevelt explains to President Roosevelt that they have decided to lay the cable and would like to have it finished before hurricane season. Laying this cable is in line with the War Department’s vision for better communication between the Panama Canal and Washington D.C.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-13
Governor-General of the Philippines Wright advises Secretary of War Taft that two of the Russian ships are badly damaged near the waterline and will need repairs to be seaworthy; the third is not so badly damaged. The wounded have been treated. Wright is construing the President’s statement on neutrality to mean that the ships should be repaired and kept under guard.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-05
Adna Romanza Chaffee forwards a report from Captain March on his observations with the Japanese Army.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-02-02
Justice Kyle responded to Secretary of War Taft’s request that he resign his position as Justice of the Supreme Court, in the Canal Zone. Kyle also wrote rebuttal comments to the allegations about his poor performance of duty.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-17
Lieutenant-General Chaffee forwards a report from Lieutenant Fortescue on his observations of the defenses near Port Arthur (Manchuria).
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-17
Lieutenant-General Chaffee forwards a report from Captain Morrison on his observations with the Japanese Army.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-14
Lieutenant-General Chaffee forwards a report from Major Joseph Ernst Kuhn on his observations of the defenses near Port Arthur (Manchuria).
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-12
Governor General of the Philippines Wright writes to Secretary of War Taft about the appointment of James Francis Smith. Wright notes that Smith prefers a position on the Supreme Court to his current position as Secretary of Public Instruction in the Philippines. He urges Taft to hold Smith’s appointment until he receives another letter from him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-02
On behalf of Secretary of War William H. Taft, Fred W. Carpenter forwards a letter to Surgeon General O’Reilly stating that President Roosevelt wants to know if a “colored surgeon” can be appointed to serve “colored troops.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-23
Major Beach sends Captain Parker in Fort Snelling, Minnesota, a copy of report number 367. This report is from Captain Mott and is a translation of an article on “Machine Guns in the Present War.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-10
Transcript from the Panama Canal Appropriation discussion. Secretary of War William H. Taft, as well as Senators Shonts, Hall, Perkins, Wetmore, and Warren discuss various issues regarding the salaries of the Chief Engineer John Frank Stevens, as well as the use of auditors.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-12-21
George B. Cortelyou requests that William Loeb ask President Roosevelt to authorize Loeb to wire Secretary of War William H. Taft concerning the retirement of Major Henry A. Barber, who is to be replaced by Edward S. Fowler.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-07-26
Certificate stating completion of instruction at Plattsburgh, New York, by Quentin Roosevelt, with rank, recommendations.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
1915-08-06
Cartoon depicts General Nelson Appleton Miles protected in a bunker by heavy artillery from President Roosevelt’s and Secretary of War Elihu Root’s rebukes.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-04-01