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Collection Guide

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Inventory of the Dept. of Public Works. Division of Highways. District I Records

F3766

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Table of contents

Arrangement and Description

District I, Headquarter Files, 1936-52.

Scope and Content Note

Arranged by headquarter's numerical filing system and chronologically thereunder unless otherwise noted. Contains correspondence, memoranda, reports, forms, news releases, also, some photographs, blueprints and newspaper clippings.

Broken series - only certain subjects exist.

Folder F3766:165-236

101.572 Accounting, Federal Aid Secondary. 1944-52.

Physical Description: 72ff.

Scope and Content Note

Arranged chronologically and by County, Route and Section thereunder. Consisting of corr., memoranda and reports re. contracts, materials and construction of Federal Aid Secondary Projects.

Folder F3766:237-242

201.02 District Engineer, Monthly Reports. 1948-52.

Physical Description: 6ff.

Scope and Content Note

Copies of reports providing statistical data on quantity and costs of work orders, emergency engineering and surveys on specific sections of roadway.

Folder F3766:243-246

201.46 Misc. Types of Construction. 1948-52.

Physical Description: 4ff.

Scope and Content Note

Corr., memos, circulars, blueprints, charts and photographs re. designs for road connections, proposed pavement thickness, roadbed erosion, and bank protection methods.

Folder F3766:247-251

201.47 Culverts. 1948-52.

Physical Description: 5ff.

Scope and Content Note

Corr., memos, inspection reports, photographs and drawings involving failed culverts caused by washouts and settlements.

Folder F3766:252-256

Bridges. 1948-52.

Physical Description: 5ff.

Scope and Content Note

Corr., memos, inspection and completion reports, photographs and drawings dealing with damages to bridges.

Folder F3766:257

401.201 Outdoor Advertising Signs. 1948-52.

Physical Description: 1ff.

Scope and Content Note

Corr., memos, applications for erecting signs, violation citations and authorizations for removals.

Folder F3766:258

401.19 Weed Eradication. 1948-52.

Physical Description: 1ff.

Scope and Content Note

Corr., and memos re. methods of weed eradication along roadways, including burning, mowing and spraying with sodium chlorate.

Folder F3766:259-262

401.22 Traffic Signs. 1948-52.

Physical Description: 4ff.

Scope and Content Note

Corr., memos and sketches concerning a variety of traffic signs, locations of signs and requests from private citizens for signs to be erected.

Folder F3766:263)

401.241 Monthly Traffic Obstruction Reports. 1941.

Physical Description: 1ff.

Scope and Content Note

Reports giving map index no., road, specific location, nature of hinderance, and remarks concerning traffic control at point of obstruction.

Folder F3766:264

Road Condition Information. 1941, 1948-50.

Physical Description: 1ff.

Scope and Content Note

Corr., reports and memos on road conditions: snow, ice, flooding and effects of heavy equipment on roadways.

Folder F3766:266)

Road Closings. 1948-50, 1952.

Physical Description: 1ff.

Scope and Content Note

Corr., and memos concerning the closing of sections of highway for weather conditions, construction and maintenance.

Folder F3766:265

401.74 Speed Checks - Traffic Hazards. 1948-49, 1951.

Physical Description: 1ff.

Scope and Content Note

Corr., and memos regarding speed zone surveys.

Folder F3766:267

501.02 Test Reports. 1941.

Physical Description: 1ff.

Scope and Content Note

Corr., and reports from materials and research department on surfacing materials, road oil medium curing products, soils, power boring and foundation conditions.

Folder F3766:268-270

701.00 Legal and Rights of Way. 1945, 1948-52.

Physical Description: 3ff.

Scope and Content Note

Corr., general instructions from headquarters, and reports dealing with appraisals, acquisitions, evictions, relocation of utilities and condemnations.

901.00 Unclassified.

Folder F3766:271-273

Redwood Empire Association. 1942-43, 45, 48-50, 52.

Physical Description: 3ff.

Scope and Content Note

Corr., memos, newspaper clippings, and some publications regarding R.E.A.'s interest in U.S. Route 101. Also includes R.E.A. News Bureau Releases and Master Schedule of Recommendations.

Folder F3766:274-275

Newspaper Clippings. 1950-52.

Physical Description: 2 Vols.

Scope and Content Note

Mainly concerning highway accidents in District I, some bid awards and editorials. The Humboldt Times and The Humboldt Standard, indexed.

Folder F3766:276-278

901.81 Parks. 1936-47.

Physical Description: 3ff.

Scope and Content Note

Corr., reports, memoranda, blueprints and maps dealing with state parks in District I. Covers such subjects as landscaping, and the Redwood Highway.

Includes: Excerpts from memorandum by Frederick Law Olmsted on the problem of highway improvement in Humboldt State Redwood Park, California, 1936.

District I Engineer's Records

Additional Note

General Correspondence:

Subject Files, F.G. Somner, 1912-25. 109ff. (F3766:1-108a).

Folder F3766:1-21)

1. RIGHTS OF WAY. 1912-24.

Physical Description: 21ff.

Scope and Content Note

Arranged by county, route, section and chronologically thereunder.

Includes incoming correspondence from Highway Engineer, residents of District I, county boards of supervisors, various concerned civic organizations, Mendocino County Abstract Bureau; copies of outgoing correspondence from District Engineer to all the above, but primarily to the State Highway Engineer; copies of deeds, property abstracts, maps, resolutions of county boards of supervisors and viewer's statements. Covering such subjects as abstracts of land, titles of ownership, encumbrances on lands, taxes on property, removing and relocating fences, cleaning along the right of way, processing claims against the California Highway Commission for stumpage by property owners, and numerous routine matters of rights of way.

Folder F3766:22-72

2. CONTRACTS. 1912-24.

Physical Description: 51ff.

Scope and Content Note

Arranged by county, route, section, contract number and chronologically thereunder.

Includes incoming correspondence and copies of outgoing correspondence between the District Engineer and the Highway Engineer, contractors, subcontractors, and residents and various interest groups within District I; copies of agreements, inspection reports and monthly reports of progress. All concerning supplies (i.e. hardware and machinery), labor, payment of claims and complaints from both residents and contractors. See also Headquarter's files, Contracts, Series # 22, (F3778:489-1098).

Folder F3766:73-81

3. REPORTS AND ESTIMATES. 1913-24.

Physical Description: 9ff.

Scope and Content Note

Arranged by county, route, section and chronologically thereunder.

Includes typescript reports to Highway Engineer, preliminary and final of work proposed to be done on a section of roadway. Provides information concerning location of existing section of road, proposed new route, reasons for choice, details regarding change of base line, grade, roadbed, road metal and binder, width and crown of roadway, side ditches, materials, culverts, streams encountered, bridges and existence of trees. Also includes District Engineer's estimate of cost and inspection report.

Folder F3766:82-85

4. RESIDENT ENGINEER. 1913-24.

Physical Description: 4ff.

Scope and Content Note

Arranged by county, route, section and chronologically thereunder.

Includes incoming correspondence and copies of outgoing correspondence between the District Engineer and his resident engineers, mostly concerned with giving detailed instruction to the resident engineer concerning all aspects of construction and maintenance, the efficient use of labor, surveying methods, and accounting matters.

Folder F3766:86-94

5. MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS. 1913-24.

Physical Description: 9ff.

Scope and Content Note

Arranged by county, route, section and chronologically thereunder.

Includes incoming correspondence and copies of outgoing correspondence between the District Engineer and the Highway Engineer, resident engineers and local residents; and copies of final reports to headquarters. All dealing with road conditions on the various sections of the roadway. Specifically: surfacing, types of materials used, widening shoulders, leveling and ditching, slides and channel changes, changing pipe culverts, repairing embankments and triming trees.

Folder F3766:95-101

6. BRIDGES AND CONCRETE STRUCTURES. 1913-24.

Physical Description: 7ff.

Scope and Content Note

Arranged by county, route, section and chronologically thereunder.

Includes incoming correspondence and copies of outgoing correspondence, the District Engineer to the Highway Engineer concerning requests for authorization to proceed with construction, estimates of cost, recommendations for revisions, discussions of the various types of materials (i.e. redwood, steel and concrete) lengthy and detailed expositions of engineering problems and solutions (i.e. types of trusses, stresses on chord and web members, wind stress and load bearing problems).

Folder F3766:102-108a

7. BRIDGES AND CONCRETE STRUCTURES, NOTES AND DRAWINGS. 1913-17.

Physical Description: 8 Vols.

Volume Volume 1

Timber Structures, 1913.

Scope and Content Note

Pencil drawings, calculations, sketches, blueprints and descriptions of wood bridges in District I, including bills of materials, and charts of load bearings, sheering stresses, and bending stresses.

Volume Volume 2

Miscellaneous, 1917.

Scope and Content Note

Consists of sketches of concrete bridges, pipe culvert dimensions and quantities, wingwall specifications, calculations for constructing culverts, blueprints showing plan of frame for culverts, sketch of pier forms for South Fork Bridge No. 1 (Men-1-K), and tentative sketch of concrete bridges over Bear Creek (Hum-1-B).

Volume Volumes 3-5

Notes on the Design of..., 1916-17.

Scope and Content Note

Vol. 3, East Branch, Culvert Chart, Arch Culvert; Vol. 4, South Fork #2, South Fork #1, Rattlesnake #2, Elk Creek; Vol. 5, Big-Dan Creek, Red Mountain Creek, McCoy Creek.

Includes costs of various sections, preliminary cost estimates, dimensions and loading, descriptions and calculations of load and wind stresses, notes on detailing quantities in abutments and piers, bills of timber, hardware, steel, castings, and final estimates of cost.

Volume Volume 6

Concrete Bridges, 1916.

Scope and Content Note

Pencil drawings, calculations for cantilever beams, resisting moments, approximation for wings, outside garder and wings, maximum moment of abutment and foundation abutment.

Volume Volume 7

1916.

Scope and Content Note

Detailed pencil drawings of various types of joints and supports such as diagonal castings for timber trusses, steel castings for diagonal blocks, channel beaming of wood truss joints, sphere plat with keyes, and reinforced concrete joint for wood truss.

Volume Volume 8

Preliminary Report(s) for Sidehill Viaducts and Cribs between Wilson Creek and Last Chance Ditch in Del Norte County, I-DN-I-B.

Scope and Content Note

Consisting of seven preliminary reports, including copies of correspondence, blueprints, maps and photographs covering construction of viaducts and cribs in District I-DN-I-B.

Folder F3766:132-164

8. CHRONOLOGICAL FILES. 1925-48.

Physical Description: 33ff.

Scope and Content Note

Arranged chronologically.

Letters received and copies of letters sent with such related documents as circular letters, memoranda, reports and maps covering all activities and functions of District I. These comprise advance planning, design, construction, right of way, maintenance, preparation of personnel and operating expense budget, and subvention programs for city streets and county roads.

Folder F3766:110-118

9. DISTRICT ENGINEER'S MONTHLY REPORTS. 1915-16, 1918-26.

Physical Description: 9ff.

Scope and Content Note

Arranged chronologically.

Copies of monthly reports to Highway Engineer covering rights of way, surveys, construction and maintenance activities under sections of District I roadway. These provide description and data regarding labor force (i.e. men, animals and motor vehicles), size of respective sections, topography, rights of way problems (i.e. local politics), conditions of road, convict camp conditions and projected progress of construction.

Folder F3766:119-128

10. DISTRICT ENGINEER'S WEEKLY REPORTS. 1917-26.

Physical Description: 10ff.

Scope and Content Note

Arranged chronologically.

Copies of weekly reports to Highway Engineer, including the weekly reports of the chiefs of party. Consists of daily account of division engineer's time (i.e. in office, examining surveys, on contract D-56 etc.). Reports of chiefs of party consists of location of party and breakdown of man hours and miles completed on various tasks such as base line, levels, and cross section. Also a short statement on weather conditions.

Folder F3766:129

11. GEOLOGISTS'S WEEKLY REPORT. Mar. 24 - June 6, 1912.

Physical Description: 1ff.

Scope and Content Note

Arranged chronologically.

Handwritten weekly reports to Highway Engineer providing a short descriptive summary of weeks activities (i.e. examined formations, located gravel beds), followed by a more detailed summary of road materials found, such as gravel beds, chert, schists, shales and sandstones.

Folder F3766.130

12. WEEKLY ROAD CONDITION REPORTS. 1920-21.

Physical Description: 1ff.

Scope and Content Note

Arranged chronologically, sampled 1 per month.

Copies of reports sent to Highway Engineer stating the condition of roads, where extraordinary repairs are under way, where detours are necessary for any other abnormal conditions exist, and anticipated conditions for the ensuing week. This data was used by headquarters for release to the press.

Folder F3766:279

13. SHOP I, SUPT'D OF EQUIPMENT. 1925-31.

Physical Description: 1ff.

Scope and Content Note

Arranged chronologically, sampled.

District Engineer's copies of incoming correspondence of Headquarters Equipment Engineer to District I Superintendent of Equipment. Deals with such routine matters as the requisition, rental, replacement, repair and maintenance of equipment. In addition to road building machinery, this also includes motor vehicles and safety equipment.

Miscellaneous Records

Folder F3766:131

14. EMPLOYEES, LIST OF. 1912-14.

Physical Description: 1ff.

Scope and Content Note

Arranged chronologically and alphabetically thereunder.

Typescript list of District I employees giving name, temporary address, home address, grade, salary, (date) service began, (date) service ceased.

Folder F3766:109

15. OILING PROGRAM. 1926-27.

Physical Description: 1ff.

Scope and Content Note

Arranged in chronological order.

Consists of incoming, copies of outgoing correspondence between the District Engineer and Headquarters, county officials, the Federal Government and the public; reports; and press releases. Relating to methods of applying oil to road surfaces for minimizing dust, the advantages of different types of oils, results of laboratory tests on the subject, and explanations to motorists of the benefits to be derived.

Folder F3766:310

16. DAILY EXTRA WORK REPORTS. 1942.

Physical Description: 1ff.

Scope and Content Note

Arranged by district, county, route, section and chronologically thereunder.

Consisting of forms with handwritten entries. Includes description of work performed i.e. erecting and dismantling signs, traffic control, removing debris etc.; job breakdown by headings: labor, equipment and material. Also, includes Daily Memo forms giving weather conditions and remarks by Resident Engineer.

Folder F3766:280

17. POST WAR PROJECTS. 1943-45.

Physical Description: 1ff.

Scope and Content Note

Arranged chronologically.

Correspondence, memoranda, reports, charts, blueprints, drawings and maps dealing with post World War II highway construction, resurfacing, bridges and maintenance stations.

Folder F3766:281

18. CRITICAL SECTIONS. 1944.

Physical Description: 1ff.

Scope and Content Note

Two charts entitled: Basis for selection of projects in critical list....1944 and Critical Bridges. Providing road section number, traffic statistics, remarks on congestion, lack of lane widths, and relative critical rank in district.

Photographs

Folder F3766:311a-c, 312

19. PHOTOGRAPHS. 1937.

Physical Description: 3 Vols., and 105 loose.

Scope and Content Note

Three volumes, (110 photographs) entitled, Views of State Highway, U.S. 101, Humboldt Redwoods State Park, California Illustrating Problems in Highway Widening and Realignment, includes maps of locations and accompanying narrative.

Loose photographs, 6" × 3 1/2", covering District 1 - Mendocinol-A to Humboldt-l-G (Ferndale). Highway coast views include Cottoneva Valley, Bear Harbor, Cape Mendocino, Point Gorda and Ferndale.

District Construction Engineer's Records. Prison Labor Projects. Camp #36, Burnt Ranch

Folder F3766:282-295

20. GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE, C.P. SWEET. 1945-50.

Physical Description: 14ff.

Scope and Content Note

Arranged chronologically.

Copies of outgoing correspondence, memoranda and telegrams relating to the routine affairs of managing a highway prison labor camp. Subjects include personnel management, both prisoners and free persons; training; discipline; materials and supplies; and accounting matters. File is indexed.

Folder F3766:296-309

21. MONTHLY REPORTS OF DAY LABOR WORK. 1942-55.

Physical Description: 14ff.

Scope and Content Note

Arranged chronologically.

Consists of project descriptions with statistical data on equipment, supplies and preliminary and actual costs; a detailed analysis of expenditures; and a narrative report covering population size of camp, job assignments of prison laborers, changes in personnel and a description of weather.

Arrangement and Description

District I, Headquarter Files, 1936-52.

District I Engineer's Records

1. RIGHTS OF WAY. 1912-24.

2. CONTRACTS. 1912-24.

3. REPORTS AND ESTIMATES. 1913-24.

4. RESIDENT ENGINEER. 1913-24.

5. MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS. 1913-24.

6. BRIDGES AND CONCRETE STRUCTURES. 1913-24.

7. BRIDGES AND CONCRETE STRUCTURES, NOTES AND DRAWINGS. 1913-17.

8. CHRONOLOGICAL FILES. 1925-48.

9. DISTRICT ENGINEER'S MONTHLY REPORTS. 1915-16, 1918-26.

10. DISTRICT ENGINEER'S WEEKLY REPORTS. 1917-26.

11. GEOLOGISTS'S WEEKLY REPORT. Mar. 24 - June 6, 1912.

12. WEEKLY ROAD CONDITION REPORTS. 1920-21.

13. SHOP I, SUPT'D OF EQUIPMENT. 1925-31.

Miscellaneous Records

14. EMPLOYEES, LIST OF. 1912-14.

15. OILING PROGRAM. 1926-27.

16. DAILY EXTRA WORK REPORTS. 1942.

17. POST WAR PROJECTS. 1943-45.

18. CRITICAL SECTIONS. 1944.

Photographs

19. PHOTOGRAPHS. 1937.

District Construction Engineer's Records. Prison Labor Projects. Camp #36, Burnt Ranch

20. GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE, C.P. SWEET. 1945-50.

21. MONTHLY REPORTS OF DAY LABOR WORK. 1942-55.