Jump to Content

Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Yuba River Diversion Project for Yuba Consolidated Gold Fields Report MSS.197
MSS.197  
View entire collection guide What's This?
Search this collection
Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Arrangement note
  • Biographical/Historical note
  • Access Restrictions
  • Usage Restrictions
  • Scope and Contents note
  • Related Collections
  • Preferred Citation note
  • Immediate Source of Acquisition note
  • Publication Rights

  • Title: Yuba River Diversion Project for Yuba Consolidated Gold Fields Report
    Identifier/Call Number: MSS.197
    Contributing Institution: California State University, Chico, Special Collections, Meriam Library
    Language of Material: English
    Physical Description: 1.0 Linear feet 1 Box with 5 Folders, 233 Leaves including maps and photos
    Date: 1914
    Abstract: The collection consists of a report from H.R. Edwards, Chief Engineer of Hammon Engineering Company to W.P. Hammon, managing director of the Yuba Consolidated Gold Fields. Included in the report are sections on railroad possibilities and an irrigation scheme. Appendices include a history and appraisal of the debris situation, a geologist's report, a report on hydraulic development, and a copy of the Caminetti Act.
    Alternate Form of Material: No other forms of material.
    Language of Materials note: English
    creator: Hammon Engineering Company.

    Arrangement note

    Arranged numerically by report page numbers.

    Biographical/Historical note

    Gold dredging in California began in 1850 when a small river boat was fitted out as a dredge and gravel mining was attempted above Marysville, California on the Yuba River. The first successful gold dredge in California was built in 1898 by Biggs, Butte County resident Wendell P. Hammon, the "Dredger King," and his partner, Thomas Couch, a Montana mining businessman. This first model and those that followed consisted of a floating hull, a digging ladder, an endless chain of buckets, screening apparatus, gold-saving devices, pumps, and a stacker. The California dredge was developed from models used earlier in New Zealand and in Montana, proving to be much more efficient than earlier one-bucket attempts.
    Hammon was instrumental in founding the Yuba Construction Company in 1906, by purchasing the Western Engineering Company and merging it with his own steel from a casting foundry in Marysville. Four large machine shops were built near Oroville to maintain and build the dredgers. Hammon founded the Yuba Consolidated Gold Fields on the Yuba River in 1904. This company became a large, profitable placer operation, a proving ground for new dredge designs and a training ground for dredge operators and others in this global industry. As many as 50 dredgers worked in the Feather River/Yuba River drainage at one time.
    The Yuba Construction Company changed its name to the Yuba Manufacturing Company and later became a subsidiary of the Yuba Consolidated Gold Fields. In 1957 these companies merged into Yuba Consolidated Industries. Yuba dredges have been built and shipped from California to worldwide markets during the first half of the 20th century. These "gold boats" were shipped in pieces and assembled where the mining would take place. Locations included the countries of Malaya, the Philippines, Bolivia, Columbia, China, and Russia.

    Access Restrictions

    Collection is open for research without restriction.

    Usage Restrictions

    No restrictions.

    Scope and Contents note

    The collection consists of a February 18, 1914 report titled, “Report on Yuba River Diversion Project for Yuba Consolidated Gold Fields” from H.R. Edwards, Chief Engineer of Hammon Engineering Company to W.P. Hammon, managing director of the Yuba Consolidated Gold Fields. The report covers the estimated costs of the construction work necessary to accomplish the un-watering of the river bed above Hammonton and to generate adequate Hydro-electric power to supply the needs of the Yuba Consolidated Gold Fields. Included in the report are sections on railroad possibilities and an irrigation scheme. Appendices include a history and appraisal of the debris situation, a geologist's report, a report on hydraulic development, and a copy of the Caminetti Act. Additional accompanying materials include a variety of maps, plans and photos that help to illustrate the project and support the findings of the report.

    Related Collections

    A preliminary report on Scott Bar and Quartz Hill mining properties: Siskiyou County, California / For W. P. Hammon, San Francisco Gassaway, A. D. MSS 043, Special Collections, Meriam Library, California State University, Chico.
    Abstract of title to that certain real property, known as "Nickerson Orchard" Butte County Title Abstract Company 1914, MSS 063 Special Collections, Meriam Library, California State University, Chico.
    Report on Bald Mountain Consolidated Gold Mining Company placer mines and Plumas Development Company placer mines. Gassaway, A. D. , MSS 089 Special Collections, Meriam Library, California State University, Chico.
    Yuba Manufacturing Company Records 1898-1958, MSS 157, Special Collections, Meriam Library, California State University, Chico.
    W. P. Hammon Prospecting Log Books, MSS 305, Special Collections, Meriam Library, California State University, Chico.
    Wendell P. Hammon (1918-2006) Typescript: Gold Dredger as an Instrument of Conservation, 1955, MSS 306, Special Collections, Meriam Library, California State University, Chico.
    Yuba River Diversion Project for Yuba Consolidated Gold Fields Report, MSS 197, Special Collections, Meriam Library, California State University, Chico.
    Yuba Consolidated Gold Fields Records, MSS 315, Special Collections, Meriam Library, California State University, Chico.
    Yuba Consolidated Industries Records, MSS 322, Special Collections, Meriam Library, California State University, Chico.

    Preferred Citation note

    Yuba River Diversion Project for Yuba Consolidated Gold Fields, MSS 197, Special Collections, Meriam Library, California State University, Chico.

    Immediate Source of Acquisition note

    Source unknown.

    Publication Rights

    The library can only claim physical ownership of the collection. Users are responsible for satisfying any claimants of literary property.

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    Bowman Lake Systems.
    Brayton, Corey
    Eakle, Arthur S.
    Edwards, H. R.
    Excelsior Mining and Water Company.
    Hammon Engineering Company.
    Hammon, Wendell P., 1854-1939
    Pacific Gas and Electric Company.
    Yuba Consolidated Gold Fields.
    Yuba Consolidated Industries. Yuba Mining Division.
    Yuba Construction Company.
    Yuba Manufacturing Company, San Francisco.
    Yuba River Diversion Project.
    Dredges.
    Gold dredging
    Gold dredging -- California -- History.
    Gold mines and mining -- California -- History.