Research


Scope and Content Note

This series is comprised of 10 volumes of accounts of the Western Division Engineers Department dating from 1870-1905. These volumes list accounts, payments, mileage, and other expenses for the various contractors and engineers working for the department. The volumes are organized by date. Each account usually lists the project, date, name of contractor/employee, expenses, total expenses, and any notes about the expenses. These volumes are not indexed.

Many of the accounts in this series are related to the nine million dollar canal improvement project that started in 1895. Canal improvements included deepening the canals to no less than nine feet except over and across aqueducts, culverts, and other permanent structures, in which case the water depth would be at least eight feet. The deepening was to be performed by raising the banks whenever practicable, and the law also provided for building vertical stone walls when necessary, as well as lengthening or improving locks. Other projects included fixing or constructing bridges, repairing and paving roads along the canal, dredging, wall construction, basin improvement, culverts, and other projects.