Guide to the Western Pacific Construction Agreements MS 712
Library & Archives Staff
California State Railroad Museum Library & Archives
2019-09-24
111 "I" Street
Sacramento, California 95814
Library.CSRM@parks.ca.gov
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
California State Railroad Museum Library & Archives
Title: Western Pacific Construction Agreements
source:
Wyatt, Kyle K.
Identifier/Call Number: MS 712
Physical Description:
1 Linear Feet
(3 manuscript boxes)
Date (bulk): bulk
Abstract: Collection contains agreements for construction between Utah Construction Company and Western Pacific main line, agreements
between Western Pacific Railway and construction companies and Boca & Loyalton Railroad reports.
Physical Location: SMCC (I2.210.N7)
Scope and Contents
The collection contains construction agreements and contracts between Utah Construction Company and Western Pacific Railway
between 1905-1915 relating to the construction of the mainline between Oroville, CA and Salt Lake City, Utah; agreements between
Western Pacific Railway and construction companies for buildings, section houses, depots, the Oakland Mole, Boca & Loyalton
Railroad Annual Reports to the ICC and a physical valuation for the railroad from 1912.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research by appointment
Arrangement
MS 712 is arranged into three series:
Series 1. Utah Construction Company
Series 2. Construction Agreements
Series 3. Boca & Loyalton Railroad
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright has not been assigned to the California State Railroad Museum. All requests for permission to publish or quote from
manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the CSRM Library & Archives.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Western Pacific Construction Agreements Collection, MS 712, California State Railroad Museum Library
and Archives, Sacramento, California.
Biographical / Historical
The Western Pacific Railway Company was in operation from 1903 (incorporated June 6, 1903) until it was reorganized and renamed
the Western Pacific Railroad Company on June 6, 1916. WP lands stretched from the San Francisco Bay through California and
Nevada to Salt Lake City, Utah, and north-south from the Feather River Canyon to near the Oregon line. Construction on a line
between San Francisco and Salt Lake City began in the fall of 1905. Despite a court challenge by Southern Pacific to prevent
construction, Western Pacific workers successfully erected a waterfront terminal at Oakland.
On November 1, 1909, after a series of delays and cost overruns, the last spike was driven on the Spanish Creek bridge in
the Feather River Canyon. This new line, known as the Feather River Canyon Route, was 924 miles long and included 41 steel
bridges and 44 tunnels. It was significant because it was competitive with the Southern Pacific Overland Route, the original
transcontinental route. It crossed the Sierra at 5,000 feet, a lower elevation than the Southern Pacific line’s 7,200 ft.
elevation, and thus faced fewer problems with the weather. The Western Pacific grade, at 1%, and a 10% curvature, made navigation
on this line easier than Southern Pacific’s. Through freight service on the Feather Canyon Route began on December 1, 1909
and passenger service commenced in August of 1910.
Utah Construction Company was a construction company founded in 1900 by Edmond Orson Wattis, Warren L. Wattis and William
H Wattis. In 1906 the company was awarded the contract to build the Feather River Train route for the Western Pacific Railway
and completed construction in 1911. The Feather River Route connected the cities of Oakland, California and Salt Lake City,
Utah.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Western Pacific Railroad Company
Boca & Loyalton Railroad
Utah Construction Company
Railroads--Buildings and structures--United States--Congress
Construction
Construction contracts--Management
Corporation reports--U.S.
Wyatt, Kyle K.
box 1
Utah Construction Company
bulk
Scope and Contents
This series contains construction agreements and contracts between Utah Construction Company and Western Pacific Railway between
1905-1915 relating to the construction of the mainline between Oroville, CA and Salt Lake City, Utah.
box 1, folder 1
California-Nevada State Line to Hot Springs, Nev., Agreement
bulk
box 1, folder 2
Deeth to Desert, Arnolds Loop Construction, Agreement, Amendments, Certificates
bulk
box 1, folder 3
Deeth to Great Salt Lake, Payments
bulk
box 1, folder 4
Oroville to Calif-Nev State Line, Agreement & Extensions
bulk
box 1, folder 5
Oroville to State Line, Preliminary Agreement
bulk
box 1, folder 6
Salt Lake City to Silver Zone Pass, Agreement
bulk
box 1, folder 7
Spanish Creek to Beckwith Pass, Certificates of Completion
1910
box 1, folder 8
Winnemucca to Deeth, Nev., Agreements, releases & Indemnities
bulk
box 1, folder 9
Winnemucca to Beowawe, Agreement
bulk
box 1, folder 10
Supplemental Agreement (draft)
bulk
box 1, folder 11
Construction Contracts, Minutes & Resolutions
bulk
box 1, folder 12
Summary of Checks Drawn
1907
box 2
Construction Agreements
bulk
Scope and Contents
This series contains agreements between Western Pacific Railway and construction companies for buildings, section houses,
depots, and the Oakland Mole.
box 2, folder 1
C.P Gilmore, Agreement; Nicolaus Section Buildings
1909
box 2, folder 2
C.P. Gilmore, Agreement: Tesla Jct. Section Houses
1909
box 2, folder 3
J.J. Murray & Co., Agreement, Construction of Standard Combination Depots
1909
box 2, folder 4
G.D. Patterson Co., Agreement, Construction of Oakland Mole
1909
box 2, folder 5
Ransome Concrete Co., Agreement, Construction of train shed at Oakland Mole
1909
box 2, folder 6
Ransome Concrete Co., Agreement Jeffery Shop Walls
1910
box 3
Boca & Loyalton Railroad
bulk
Scope and Contents
This series contains Boca & Loyalton Railroad Annual Reports to the ICC from 1911-1916. Included is a physical valuation
for the railroad from 1912.
box 3, folder 1-6
Annual Report to ICC
bulk
box 3, folder 7
Physical Valuation - California Railroad Commission
1912
