President Theodore Roosevelt inspects progress while on a steam shovel at the Panama Canal, Nov. 15, 1906. The Times reported the next day that he was enthusiastically welcomed everywhere as he talked to the canal's employees. November 17, 1906.

President Roosevelt wanted to see for himself the Panama Canal, which he called ''the biggest thing that's ever been done.'' On November 17, 1906, The Times reported on his visit with the headline: "The President Climbs a Canal Stream Shovel; Also Inspects the Culebra Cut From a Work Train; Sees Laborers' Quarters; Listens Patiently to Men's Complaints - Gets Wet Through and Is Covered With Mud."

"At 8:30 o'clock the Presidential train arrived at Pedro Miguel, where some steam shovels were at work," The Times wrote. "The President had this train stopped for the purpose of making a personal examination. At this point in the cut the peculiar soil conditions have resulted in more or less frequent landslides, and this fact was brought to the President's attention.

"President Roosevelt descended from his train and climbed upon one of the steam shovels, taking a seat alongside Engineer Gray, whom he subjected to a searching fire of questions regarding the work ... He stayed on the steam shovel about twenty minutes. By this time it was raining hard."

Construction of the canal had started in 1903 and would continue until its opening in 1914.