MAJOR GENERAL GEORGE W. GOETHALS - AUTOGRAPH 10/19/1922 - HFSID 24182
Price: $700.00
GEORGE W. GOETHALS
George W. Goethals signs a piece of paper eight years after the
Panama Canal was opened to commercial traffic in 1914.
Signature: "Geo. W. Goethals/New York/Oct 19/22", 4½x2½ piece
of paper. Signed eight years after the Panama Canal was opened to commercial
traffic in 1914. In 1907, President Theodore Roosevelt had appointed George
Washington Goethals (1858-1928) as Chief Engineer (1908-1914) and Chairman of
the Panama Canal Commission. Goethals took complete charge of both in
January 1908. The Panama Canal, which was made possible by a pact between the
Republic of Panama and the U.S. in 1903, opened ocean travel between the
Atlantic and Pacific (prior to its opening, ships had to travel around the
southern tip of South America). Goethals, who carried the canal
construction through its completion in 1914, was promoted to Major
General in 1915, while serving as Governor of the Canal Zone
(1914-1917). He was appointed Governor by President Woodrow Wilson; that
position was appointed by the President of the U.S., while other officials of
the Canal Zone were appointed by the President and Congress. Goethals, who had
graduated from West Point in 1880, was a Second Lieutenant with the Corps of
Engineers and taught civil and military engineering at West Point. He was
construction supervisor of the Muscle Shoals Dam Project on the Tennessee
River and served in the Spanish-American War (1898) as Chief of
Engineers. Following duty in WWI, Goethals became chief consultant for
the Port of New York Authority through his own engineering firm. A bridge
connecting New York City with New Jersey is named in honor of the Brooklyn-born
engineer. Slightly soiled at lower portion to left of date. Fine condition.
Framed in the Gallery of History style: 22¼x16¼.
Following offer submission users will be contacted at their account email address within 48 hours. Our response will be to accept your offer, decline your offer or send you a final counteroffer. All offers can be viewed from within the "Offer Review" area of your HistoryForSale account. Please review the Make Offer Terms prior to making an offer.
If you have not received an offer acceptance or counter-offer email within 24-hours please check your spam/junk email folder.