The story of the Panama Canal [1] /

Abstract

Compilation film revealing the story of the Panama Canal construction, which TR considered one of his most valuable contributions to foreign affairs. Most prominent views are of the need for building the canal, the early attempts, the actual construction, and finally the canal in operation. Sequences of stills, mostly maps, showing the need for a shorter way from ocean to ocean; views of the early attempts by Ferdinand de Lesseps; USS Oregon which had to sail around South America from the Pacific to fight in the Spanish-American War; scenes of President William McKinley and TR in 1901; brief shot of TR, Lyman J. Gage, Philander C. Knox, Ethan Allen Hitchcock, William R. Day, Elihu Root, Charles E. Smith, and James Wilson at McKinley's funeral in Canton, Ohio, 1901; medium close shot of Dr. William C. Gorgas, who had charge of sanitation during the building of the Panama Canal; workers clearing the canal of yellow fever; TR's visit to Panama in 1906 and his meeting with President Manuel Amador Guerrero; view of Colonel George W. Goethals, chief engineer and first governor; sequences of machinery, huge cranes, gigantic steam shovels, and men working on the actual construction of the canal; various shots of Gamboa Dike, Miraflores locks, and Gaillard (Culebra) Cut; launch of two barges in lock, boats, and battleships using the canal; final sequence is of President Calvin Coolidge speaking.Copyright: no reg.Editor, Caroline Gentry.Appearing: President McKinley, President Roosevelt, President Coolidge, President Manuel Amador Guerrero, Lyman J. Gage, Philander C. Knox, Ethan Allen Hitchcock, William R. Day, Elihu Root, Charles E. Smith, James Wilson, Dr. William C. Gorgas, Colonel George W. Goethals.Duration: 3:45 (part 1), 3:44 (part 2), 3:58 (part 3), 4:14 (part 4), 3:51 (part 5), 4:03 (part 6), 4:20 (part 7) at 18 fps.Sources used: Roosevelt Memorial Association. Annual report. 1927:17-18; Avery, Ralph E. America's triumph at Panama. 1913; Roosevelt Memorial Association. The Panama Canal (script).Nation Park Service acquired from Roosevelt Memorial Association. DLCReceived: 2/1976 from LC film lab; ref print, dupe neg; preservation; Theodore Roosevelt Association Collection