The San Francisco call., 1913-08-23
No Slackening in Rate of
Construction, Says Vice
President of Pacific
Gas and Electric
STATEMENT ISSUED
BY JOHN A. BRITTON
Mile Long Tunnel Conplet-
ed and Great Progress
Made on Dam

Vice President John A. Britton of the
Pacific Gas and Electric company yes
.terday issued the following statement
dealing with plans of the corporation
for building a dam at Lake Spaulding
and increasing the amount of power
supply of the company:
Recent events In connection with the
activities of the Pacific Gas and Elec-
trio company have given rise TO certain
Eumors. which, If given general cred
snce. would establish in the minds Of
the people of northern-central Callfor-
MIA an entirely erroneous impression
concerning existing conditions in this
company. particularly with regard to
6 the immense construction work now In
progress In the high Sierras-
"All who take an interest in the de-
8velopment of the natural resources OF
our state are aware that we have IN
hand A stupendous undertaking which
commences at Lake Spaulding, near the
summit of the Sierras. and takes IN
the valley country Immediately below
that region. and means not only an i'm
mense extension of irrigation faculties
for the benefit of the extensive frult
growing region at the upper end OF the
Sacramento valley but also, by the use
If the stored water for power purposes,
additions to our electric power gen
Grating system. which, when fully COM
pleted. will enable us to place upward
Of 100000 horsepower more than we
have at present at the disposal OF our
consumers But mainly owing to the
= unrestful state of the money market
in the east there have been started
rumors to the effect that not only has
our proeress received a check, but that
aour construction in the Sierras has, for
the time being at least, entirely smut
down.
Gangs WORKING DAY AND NIGHT
This is so far from being the case
that think in justice not only 10 tnlS
company and it's stockholders, but also
10 the great public at large, whlch Is
expecting TO benefit TO an immense
degree from the Developments We "a ~ :
. Undertaken. the real facts Shoulo De
made known at this time. ANY one
who possesses the idea that the Lake
Spaulding Drum power prolect mas re.
ceived even a temporary check mas
only 10 journey up there on the great
railroad crossing the Sierras TO see TOT
himself how Things are. AS a maiter
IF fact the entire region stretching
from the summit of the S1erraS almost
to tie shores of San francisco pay re-
semSies succession of beehlVes with
nignl and day to the end that before
the winters SHOWS come IN upon the
scene the power station on Bear river
that is called after Our company
president Mr. F. G. Drum, shall be
added TO our list of electric generating
power plants in active operation.
LARGEST DAM IN THE WORLD
Taking first the great dam under
process of construction at Lake Spauld-
ing which, when completed TO its full
extent, will DE the largest dam In the
world. 505 feet high. and VII! trans
form what is now Lake Spauiding into
an immense storage reservoir or 3O,-
600. .000, 600 gallons capacity. Reports
from our engineers snow that greater
progress on this dam was made dur
ing the last month than during any
period of similar length since the work
started a year ago. Concrete is being
poured upon the dam at the rate OF
phenomenal record. This remarkable
progress has been made possible by the
regular delivery of gravel ana cement
each day, a somewhat difficult problem
at the outset of our construction work.
During the first 20 days of August an
average Of 1900 cubic yards of con-
crete per day of 10 hours was poured.
Our new distribution tower is in use
and the concrete mixers on the hillside
above the dam are ayera ging their full
capacity. We are working night and
dav night shift being engaged in
building forms and cleaning up.
STATED IN FIGURES
Coming down to figures, the dam is
already loo feet above bedrock, with
$1,000 cubic yards of concrete already
in place. BY November l the dam Will
reach q sutficient height to enable US
TO make use of it for the purpose of
our power plant below.
There is a mile long tunnel leading
from the dam through rock into the
Bear valley. The work of boring this
tunnel was completed May /, and since
then it has been a question merely of
RI ir11rra n nT2Cf1CAllN 4
an end. and the tunnel stands ready
for USE circular in shape and having a
diameter of 912 feet
From this tunnel to the site of the
new power house in Bear river gorge
the water is conveyed by a ditch or
canal So miles long OF this 10000
has been completed and three steam
shovels are at work averaging 1000
cubic yards or earth a day. The entire
canal will be finished by November /.
At the end of this canal we come to
the forebay, or regulating reservoir.
from which the water enters the pipes
that shoot it down to the power house
in the gorge 1875 feet below. This
reservoir is now S5 per cent completed,
and should be a finished work some
time next month. 1t is 13 acres In ex-
tent and will hold 400 acre feet of
water.
SEVENTY FEET DAY
"A great deal of the 72 inch pipe
that will shoot the water down the
DFeclplce TO the power mouse Is already
on the ground and is being laid in
place The extent a T. which this work
is being accomplished averages 10 feet
4 day.
The Drum power house building is
specifically completed in the rough. The
roof is on, the walls are in, the floors
are being finished and the plastering
will be done this month. Foundations
for the electric power generators al
ready are in place and one 5000
horsepower generator Is already on the
ground with two transformers, COVER
nors, oil pumps. switches and miscel-
Ianeous equipment ready TO be in
stalled. A second generator Of similar
capacity is on It's way from the east
and should arrive this month. I car
state positively that barring unfore-
seen accident the Drum power house
will be in a position to commence op-
erations by November l.
RECORD MOVING UP DAILY
Leading from Drum the electric
power will be conveyed along ia
mile double circuit steel tower line tC
the companys distributing station al
Cordelia. between Suisun and Benicia
whence the electricity is sent out tC
Oakland San Rafael. Napa and else
where in different directions. OF tht
total number of 735 steel towers 40f
have already been erected. while the
remainder are assembled at their foun-
dations awaiting erection. The wires
have been strung over q portion of the