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William Crawford Gorgas thanks Theodore Roosevelt for his actions to ensure the Sanitary Department and sanitation policy in the Panama Canal zone were not overthrown. The Sanitary Department is now being praised, but it would not have been possible without Roosevelt’s support in 1905.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-24
Minutes of a conference held in Colón, Panama, between Secretary of War William H. Taft and three steam shovel operators working on the Panama Canal over the rate of pay and medical care for the operators.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-04-03
Chief Engineer Stevens was surprised to learn of Chairman Shonts’s resignation and President Roosevelt’s acceptance. He had understood that Roosevelt was not going to take action without consulting Stevens. Stevens does not desire to be the only one in charge of the Panama Canal construction; he had wanted the post in the Philippines instead and only accepted the position in Panama reluctantly. Stevens wanted to be in charge of construction and not a political actor. He complains that his salary is too low and the “honor” of the position is not enough. Stevens worries that the upcoming election might change the plan for construction, and he expresses particular concern for the future of the Republican party. He argues on behalf of the Isthmian Commission. He is not anxious to continue in the service, and wishes to return to railroad work.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-30
Secretary of War Taft reports to President Roosevelt on his conversation with John Findley Wallace, chief engineer of the Panama Canal Commission. Taft has asked for Wallace’s immediate resignation, which Wallace has promised to send to Washington. Taft thinks Roosevelt’s response to it is important “as discipline for all others.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-25
Nicholas Murray Butler relays to President Roosevelt some suggestions that William Barclay Parsons made to him about the Isthmian Canal Commission. Among these suggestions is the idea that the Commission should be cut down to three members and contain no engineers.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-16
This memorandum discusses developments on the Panama Canal and surrounding areas between July 1, 1904 and January 1, 1905, including dam plans, the Culebra Cut, and the building and mechanical departments. It is suggested that if the progress continues in the next six months as it has in the past six months, the canal can be completed in ten years by January 1, 1915.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-01
Elbert F. Baldwin suggests that President Roosevelt is misquoted regarding the Panama Canal locks. Baldwin would like to correctly quote Roosevelt in his editorial and suggests adopting engineer John Findley Wallace’s sea level plan for the locks.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-23
President Roosevelt reaches for his “big stick” as he holds a paper in his left hand that reads, “Panama Canal–By contract or government work? Change of plans?” Secretary of War William H. Taft depicted in a dress holds up his hands while John F. Stevens, crossing his arms, looks in the doorway. On the wall is a paper with the names of “John F. Wallace” and “Theodore P. Shonts” crossed off. A subtitle reads, “Who will ‘make the dirt fly’ now?”
The Panama Canal, arguably one of the greatest accomplishments of Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency, and called the Eighth Wonder of the Modern World, in its first years of construction met with severe challenges. Personality conflicts and concomitant different theories of design (for instance, whether the canal would be sea-level or employ locks), added to the enormity of the work and serious obstacles of yellow fever and malaria.
President Roosevelt points revolvers toward several items: a “beef trust” bull, a “railroad rebate” locomotive, and a “Standard Oil” can. Meanwhile, John Findley Wallace runs toward the “subway.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-07-02
Philippe Bunau-Varilla writes to the board of consulting engineers to propose solutions to the Panama Canal construction. He discusses the dominating factors of the “Panama problem,” namely the future necessity of a sea-level canal and the availability of comparable projects to use as reference points. Examining the topography of the adjacent waterways, he provides justification for placing dams at Gamboa and Bohio to help with flood control of the Chagres River and with the storage of water for dry seasons. He then dispenses with problem of the Culebra cut, which he does not see as “the controlling factor” of the construction. In the third part of his report, Bunau-Varilla rebuts the view of Chief Engineer John F. Wallace and others by arguing that, without interruption to international navigation, a canal built with locks can be gradually transformed into a sea-level waterway if the dimensions of the channel bottom are increased from 150 feet to 300 feet. He goes on to explain the logistics of that future transformation and the costs involved. Feeling he has satisfied “all the enormous interests involved,” Bunau-Varilla concludes by arguing that his plan offers the fastest and safest solution that “affords the required ample and permanent communication between the oceans.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-09-15
Secretary of War William H. Taft proposes to President Roosevelt that an Executive Committee be created for the Isthmian Canal Commission, to include a Chairman (by appointment), the Chief Engineer, and the Governor of the Canal Zone. Other members of the Commission would then serve in an advisory role, with salaries adjusted accordingly. Taft assumes that any publicity regarding such a structure should be delayed until after the Senate adjourns.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-03-10
A bloated businessman labeled “Railroad Interests,” smoking a cigar and wearing a gold necklace of railroad passenger cars, sits on the hillside at the Culebra Cut in Panama. He is speaking to Uncle Sam, who is standing on the edge of the Cut, his coat over one arm and holding a pick-axe with the other. Stuffed head-first, in the businessman’s pocket, is John F. Wallace, chief engineer of the canal construction until his resignation in 1905. Caption: Gentleman in the Background — Sam, here’s an engineering problem for you. If it’ll take ten years to cut through Culebra, how many years will it take to cut through me?
It was in June of 1905, weeks before Puck published this centerspread cartoon by Joseph Keppler, Junior, that John F. Wallace, the Chief Engineer of the Panama Canal project, abruptly resigned his position. He was succeeded by John F. Stevens. Both men were railroad designers and engineers in the United States before and after their work on the Canal.
President Roosevelt encloses a letter from John Lundie, which Lundie wanted to be kept private. He tells Secretary of War Taft that the letter shows Lundie’s unfitness to have any of his assertions considered, and will not answer or pay heed to his letter unless Taft believes it is advisable. Roosevelt would like to stop Lundie’s company’s operations in Panama.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-27
President Roosevelt assures John M. Glenn that “the spirit of fair play and a square deal” was adhered to in connection with John Findley Wallace’s resignation as Chief engineer of the Panama Canal, and there is no need for further investigation. All proceedings in the matter were open to the public, and there is no further information to reveal.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-10-14
President Roosevelt is very interested in Philippe Bunau-Varilla’s letter, and asks him to see Theodore P. Shonts, who is chairman of the new Isthmian Canal Commission.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-04-01
President Roosevelt returns a letter and a memorandum to Secretary of War Taft and shares his thoughts concerning the proposed Isthmian Canal Committee. Roosevelt asks Taft to have William Barclay Parson and John Findlay Wallace give their opinions on Lindon W. Bates’s canal proposal followed by a review by “the best engineers obtainable.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-03-13
President Roosevelt tells John Thompson that he informed the Civil Service Commissioners that John Findley Wallace, Chief Engineer of the Isthmian Canal Commission, must be given a free hand.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-03-11
President Roosevelt sends Secretary of War Taft an engineering report by Lindon W. Bates regarding the Panama Canal. Roosevelt is very impressed with the work, and wants to get together the best engineers in the country to evaluate the proposals therein. Payment for Bates’s work is at the judgement of the board of engineers.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-03-10
President Roosevelt is interested in what Lafayette Young writes about Panama. He agrees there should be changes in the Isthmian Canal Commission.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-02-15
President Roosevelt writes to Elihu Root about whether Germany or England should “act as the policeman of the Caribbean.” Roosevelt also shares that General Leonard Wood is frustrated about not being put in command of the Philippines. Roosevelt suggests that Root stress the need to prevent change in the work being done in Panama.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-06-07