United States, West

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles W. Beeman

President Roosevelt informs Charles W. Beeman that he is unable to accept Beeman’s invitation to attend the New Mexico Irrigation Celebration. However, he extends his congratulations to the people of New Mexico for their achievement, which is “of real national interest.” Roosevelt observes that irrigation has been carried on in New Mexico for thousands of years and now Americans are developing irrigation further, which is a necessary precondition for further development of the West.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-06-29

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Victor Howard Metcalf

President Roosevelt orders Secretary of the Navy Metcalf to have a complete stock of fuel at all department offices in the West prior to the first of October, to avoid any shortages during the winter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-06-11

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George von Lengerke Meyer

President Roosevelt tells Postmaster General Meyer that the federal government should set a good example for the rest of the nation by purchasing adequate fuel supplies for its offices in the Northwest to ensure that there is enough energy for that region during the winter months.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-06-11

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Wilson

President Roosevelt tells Secretary of Agriculture Wilson that the federal government should set a good example for the rest of the nation by purchasing adequate fuel supplies for its offices in the Northwest to ensure that there is enough energy for that region during the winter months.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-06-11

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Francis E. Warren

President Roosevelt summarizes his position on federally controlled rangelands to Senator Warren. In Roosevelt’s view, government policy must work to protect the small rancher and homesteader, not the big sheep ranchers. The issue of fences illegally erected on public land is likely to be most divisive in the West. Unless Congress can protect the right of small ranchers to keep their fences on public land, Roosevelt will not support their legislation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-11

Report upon the organization of the Department of the Interior

Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Keep, Comptroller of Currency Murray, and Chief Forester Pinchot provide President Roosevelt with a detailed report of the organization and operations of the Department of the Interior. The report highlights “grave defects” in the structure of the Department such as redundant job functions, an “abuse of letter writing” that impedes public business, and rampant inefficiency. The report recommends the dissolution of several divisions.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-22

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Thomas MacDonald Patterson

President Roosevelt tells Senator Patterson that because he appointed Franklin K. Lane of California to the Interstate Commerce Commission, he does not believe that he can appoint another person from the Pacific or Inter-mountain states. If he were able to remake the Commission entirely, he may be able to take Patterson’s advice, but barring that does not believe it will be possible.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-07-12

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Curtis Guild

President Roosevelt gives Governor-elect Guild permission to make his statement public. He says that there is no sign that any leaders in Congress are willing to take up tariff revision, and Roosevelt feels it is foolish to attempt to bring up the issue if it has no effective backing. He also praises Lieutenant-Governor-elect Eben S. Draper.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-12

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James L. Davenport

President Roosevelt thanks Deputy Commissioner of Pensions Davenport for his work in the Bureau of Pensions and believes he has done an excellent job in the bureau. However, the president hopes to appoint a veteran from the West since many veterans live in Western states and offered the position to Missouri District Attorney William Warner, but does not know if he will accept.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-23

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Nicholas Murray Butler

President Roosevelt sends a letter to be given to Albert Shaw upon his return from travel in the western United States.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-01-30

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to the Irrigation Congress

With the passage of the national irrigation law, President Roosevelt advocates careful study and cautious advancement for the “development of our arid lands and their settlement.” Irrigation development must also be accompanied by a forest reserve policy for one cannot succeed without the other.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-09-15

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Riis

President Roosevelt believes that there are greater opportunities for a young man in the west but success requires a particular set of skills. Not everyone is equipped to work on a ranch, for example.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-10-08

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Scudder McLain

President Roosevelt has a “peculiar feeling” for the West and strongly supports irrigation for western arid regions.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-06-23

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous

Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt is glad that Frederick Courteney Selous enjoyed his hunting trip, but is melancholy to realize that the United States has lost so much of its hunting grounds. Roosevelt recalls a few of his own hunting experiences: “I was just in time to see the last of the real wilderness life and real wilderness hunting.” Roosevelt also recommends several books to Selous and provides information about his experience ranching in North Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1897-11-30

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Fidelio S. Carter

Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt agrees with Fidelio S. Carter that more people from the West should be recruited for the United States Navy, and there is currently a naval officer traveling in the west to enlist more western men.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1897-08-11

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to F. C. Huyck & Sons

Theodore Roosevelt informs F. C. Huyck & Sons he would like to use their sleeping bag the next time he travels to the West, but does not believe he will go this year.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1897-05-24

Draft of a letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Gifford Pinchot

President Roosevelt amends a letter in which he remarks on the successful work undertaken since the passing of the Reclamation Act in 1902, but cautions of “dangers and difficulties” still ahead. Roosevelt heralds the success of the Forest Service, whose policy has been shaped by the will of the people.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-24

Letter from Hamilton Fish to William Loeb

Assistant United States Treasurer Fish informs William Loeb that he would be pleased to come have lunch with President Roosevelt on Thursday. Fish recently returned from a trip to the West coast, and thinks it would be good for people who criticize the administration to take a similar trip, as their views would be changed upon their return.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-09-22

Letter from Henry Cantwell Wallace to Gifford Pinchot

Henry Cantwell Wallace writes to Gifford Pinchot about how people in the west are responding to Theodore Roosevelt’s critiques of the Wilson administration. The general feeling is that it is important to stand by the administration. People are also opposed to preparedness programs. Roosevelt should put the “soft pedal” on universal training when he comes west.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1918-01-22

Letter from Gifford Pinchot to Theodore Roosevelt

Gifford Pinchot recommends Alexander Proctor as the sculptor for a statue of Buffalo Bill. Pinchot thinks Proctor “knows and understands the West, and the spirit of the West.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1917-03-10