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Finding Aid to the Spring Valley Water Company Records, 1856-1952
BANC MSS C-G 189  
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Collection Overview
 
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Description
The Spring Valley Water Company records, 1856-1952, consist of minutes, organizational papers, and correspondence from the presidencies of William B. Bourn and Samuel P. Eastman, along with property, stock, and financial records for the "S.V.W.Co." and its predecessors, Spring Valley Water Works and San Francisco City Water Works. The bulk of the collection contains correspondence, legal documents, reports, maps, plans, and financial records, chiefly concerning the acquisition, ownership and management of real property, rights of way, and riparian rights in connection with establishing a reliable water supply for the City of San Francisco. Also includes materials pertaining to the pension fund for Spring Valley Water Company employees, and subsidiary companies, including The Suburban Company, Amador Valley Mutual Water Company, Eureka Lake and Yuba Canal Co. Consolidated, as well as Empire Mines, The Empire Mines and Investment Company, The River Mines and the Fioli organizations.
Background
Spring Valley Water Company and its predecessor companies, San Francisco City Water Works and Spring Valley Water Works, were organized in California for the purpose of supplying water to San Francisco. They actively acquired properties and riparian rights throughout the counties of San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Alameda, and since 1858 supplied nearly all the water used in San Francisco.
Extent
Number of containers: 17 boxes, 56 cartons, 152 volumes, 5 oversize boxes and 162 oversize folders Linear feet: circa 150
Restrictions
Materials in this collection may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction of some materials may be restricted by terms of University of California gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and publicity rights, licensing and trademarks. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Availability
Collection is open for research.