Illustrations from
BUILDING THE ULTIMATE DAM
Chapters Three & Four
John S. Eastwood during construction of the diversion
canal
for the San Joaquin Electric Company (SJEC), 1895.
Eastwood came to Fresno, California in the 1880s
and worked as a surveyor/civil engineer in the Central Valley and the
Sierra Nevada mountains. His first major project was a
hydroelectric power system which transmitted current from a
powerplant on the North Fork of the San Joaquin River to Fresno starting in
1896.
The SJEC system was financed with
limited capital from investors, a factor which
precluded construction of a storage dam to impound spring floods.
for the San Joaquin Electric Company (SJEC), 1895.
Eastwood came to Fresno, California in the 1880s and worked as a surveyor/civil engineer in the Central Valley and the Sierra Nevada mountains. His first major project was a hydroelectric power system which transmitted current from a powerplant on the North Fork of the San Joaquin River to Fresno starting in 1896.
The SJEC system was financed with limited capital from investors, a factor which precluded construction of a storage dam to impound spring floods.
Stringing
wires for the SJEC's 35-mile-long transmission line to Fresno.
After coming "on line" in the Spring of 1896, it
comprised the world's longest commercial electric power
transmission line.
As the SJEC's chief engineer, Eastwood
achieved considerable reknown in the burgeoning world of large-scale
electric power systems. And so long as
sufficient rain and snow accumulated in the San Joaquin watershed, the SJEC
system functioned well. Unfortunately for Eastwood, the California
drought of 1898-99 dried up the
streamflow, brought the company's turbines to a halt, and
forced the company into bankruptcy.
The SJEC soon
reoranized as a new firm, the San Joaquin
Light & Power Company (that eventually became a part of the Pacific Gas
and Electric Company), but Eastwood held no financial
interest in this new enterprise. He nonetheless remained committed to
developing the
Sierra Nevada's power potential and soon began planning a new system
deeper in the mountains.
Known as Big Creek, this new
project would focus his attention
on the importance of water storage and innovative dam design.
As the SJEC's chief engineer, Eastwood achieved considerable reknown in the burgeoning world of large-scale electric power systems. And so long as sufficient rain and snow accumulated in the San Joaquin watershed, the SJEC system functioned well. Unfortunately for Eastwood, the California drought of 1898-99 dried up the streamflow, brought the company's turbines to a halt, and forced the company into bankruptcy.
The SJEC soon reoranized as a new firm, the San Joaquin Light & Power Company (that eventually became a part of the Pacific Gas and Electric Company), but Eastwood held no financial interest in this new enterprise. He nonetheless remained committed to developing the Sierra Nevada's power potential and soon began planning a new system deeper in the mountains.
Known as Big Creek, this new project would focus his attention on the importance of water storage and innovative dam design.
John S.
Eastwood and survey team crossing Big Creek, ca. 1902
Eastwood
(wearing hat) is crossing on the upstream rope.
Big Creek is a tributary of the San Joaquin River that
drops over 6000 feet
within a distance of about 20 miles.
Eastwood proposed a huge hydropower system of several
hundred thousand horsepower based around storing the
flood waters of Big Creek and other streams within the upper
San Joaquin watershed.
To finance the "Big Creek Project," Eastwood became associated with the
Southern California entreprenuer Henry Huntington and his two
associates, William G. Kerckhoff and Allan C. Balch.
Eastwood (wearing hat) is crossing on the upstream rope.
Big Creek is a tributary of the San Joaquin River that drops over 6000 feet within a distance of about 20 miles. Eastwood proposed a huge hydropower system of several hundred thousand horsepower based around storing the flood waters of Big Creek and other streams within the upper San Joaquin watershed.
To finance the "Big Creek Project," Eastwood became associated with the Southern California entreprenuer Henry Huntington and his two associates, William G. Kerckhoff and Allan C. Balch.
The massive curved gravity dam built to impound Big
Creek. Built by the Boston-based engineering firm of Stone & Webster,
1912-13
While designing the Big Creek system (and filing all
necessary water rights claims), Eastwood developed his first multiple
arch
dam design. However, Huntington, Kerkhoff and Balch expressed no
interest in the new technology -- despite the potential it offered to
save several hundred thousand dollars.
Huntington eventually dismissed
Eastwood from the project (with minimal financial compensation) and
replaced him with Stone & Webster.
Subsequently, Eastwood was forced to find other
clients to finance initial construction of his multiple arch
designs.
Today, the
Big Creek system is owned and operated by Southern California Edison
Company; it possesses a generating capacity approaching one million
horsepower.
While designing the Big Creek system (and filing all necessary water rights claims), Eastwood developed his first multiple arch dam design. However, Huntington, Kerkhoff and Balch expressed no interest in the new technology -- despite the potential it offered to save several hundred thousand dollars.
Huntington eventually dismissed Eastwood from the project (with minimal financial compensation) and replaced him with Stone & Webster. Subsequently, Eastwood was forced to find other clients to finance initial construction of his multiple arch designs.
Today, the Big Creek system is owned and operated by Southern California Edison Company; it possesses a generating capacity approaching one million horsepower.