Illustrations from
BUILDING THE ULTIMATE DAM
Chapters Five & Six
Construction in progress on the Hume Lake Dam, summer
1908.
While awaiting authorization to begin
construction of the Big Creek hydropower system, in the Spring of
1908 Eastwood contracted with the Hume-Bennet Lumber Company to build a
dam on Ten-Mile Creek, a tributary of the Kings River about 50 miles south
of the Big Creek/San Joaquin watershed.
The Hume Lake Dam is a
61-foot-high structure originally designed to
impound water for the company's logging pond and lumber flume. This
view shows the construction plant (in the left foreground) as well as the
timber formwork
used for construction of the arches.
Construction in progress on the Hume Lake Dam, summer 1908.
While awaiting authorization to begin construction of the Big Creek hydropower system, in the Spring of 1908 Eastwood contracted with the Hume-Bennet Lumber Company to build a dam on Ten-Mile Creek, a tributary of the Kings River about 50 miles south of the Big Creek/San Joaquin watershed.
The Hume Lake Dam is a 61-foot-high structure originally designed to impound water for the company's logging pond and lumber flume. This view shows the construction plant (in the left foreground) as well as the timber formwork used for construction of the arches.
Unidentified workman placing wet concrete in the arch/formwork
of the
Hume Lake Dam, summer 1908.
In taking direct control over the
design and construction of the Hume Lake Dam, Eastwood learned firsthand
about the technology of reinforced concrete dam-building. In 1910-11 he
further refined his understanding of the technology by buildinfg the Big
Bear Valley Dam in Southern California (see
Ilustrations for Chapter One for a view of this structure). It was
after completion of the Big Bear Valley Dam that he received final
notification of his dismissal from Henry Huntington's Big Creek project.
Unidentified workman placing wet concrete in the arch/formwork
of the Hume Lake Dam, summer 1908.
In taking direct control over the design and construction of the Hume Lake Dam, Eastwood learned firsthand about the technology of reinforced concrete dam-building. In 1910-11 he further refined his understanding of the technology by buildinfg the Big Bear Valley Dam in Southern California (see Ilustrations for Chapter One for a view of this structure). It was after completion of the Big Bear Valley Dam that he received final notification of his dismissal from Henry Huntington's Big Creek project.
Construction underway in October 1912 on Eastwood's Big
Meadows Dam. Designed for a height of over 150 feet, this dam was to
impound North Fork of the Feather River in
Northern California.
In 1911, Eastwood received authorization to
build
the Big Meadows Dam from the Great Western Power Company. Impetus for
this commission came from H.H. Sinclair, vice president of
the GWPC, an electrical engineer/businessman who had known Eastwood since
the
1890s and who was familiar with Eastwood's success in building the Big
Bear Valley Dam.
Eastwood's selection as designer/builder of the Big
Meadows Dam raised the ire of John R. Freeman, a prominent East Coast
engineer, who was involved in the financial affiars of the GWPC and who
had previously clashed with Sinclair over planning for the Feather River
hydroelectric power system. After the death of Edwin Hawley, president
of the GWPC and a supporter of Sinclair, in 1912, Freeman began working
to displace Eastwood (and his multiple arch dam design) so that he could
build a gravity dam at Big Meadows.
In attacking the visual character
Eastwood's design as "pyschologically" unsettling and liable to cause
uneasiness among the general public, Freeman eventually
convinced the GWPC to abandon the partially completed multiple arch dam
in favor of an earthfill gravity dam.
This view of the arches in
the center section of the dam shows how far Eastwood's
project had gotten before the final work stoppage in the late October 1912.
Construction underway in October 1912 on Eastwood's Big Meadows Dam. Designed for a height of over 150 feet, this dam was to impound North Fork of the Feather River in Northern California.
In 1911, Eastwood received authorization to build the Big Meadows Dam from the Great Western Power Company. Impetus for this commission came from H.H. Sinclair, vice president of the GWPC, an electrical engineer/businessman who had known Eastwood since the 1890s and who was familiar with Eastwood's success in building the Big Bear Valley Dam.
Eastwood's selection as designer/builder of the Big Meadows Dam raised the ire of John R. Freeman, a prominent East Coast engineer, who was involved in the financial affiars of the GWPC and who had previously clashed with Sinclair over planning for the Feather River hydroelectric power system. After the death of Edwin Hawley, president of the GWPC and a supporter of Sinclair, in 1912, Freeman began working to displace Eastwood (and his multiple arch dam design) so that he could build a gravity dam at Big Meadows.
In attacking the visual character Eastwood's design as "pyschologically" unsettling and liable to cause uneasiness among the general public, Freeman eventually convinced the GWPC to abandon the partially completed multiple arch dam in favor of an earthfill gravity dam.
This view of the arches in the center section of the dam shows how far Eastwood's project had gotten before the final work stoppage in the late October 1912.