The Story of Big Creek

Nature never intended Southern California to be anything but desert so they said. But man turned into farms factories and living area for millions. The key to that development was 300 miles to the north in the High Sierra where the company that became the Southern California Edison Company undertook one of the great water power developments in the world. They call it Big Creek. Finally finished in 1929 this great work of art involved six dams eight tunnels (one of them 13 miles long) three major artificial lakes and five power houses - all to ensure electric power for a growing Los Angeles and its Southland suburbs. David H. Redinger was Resident Engineer for this great project and in this his story he tells about building a railroad into the High Sierra in 157 days....carving roads and tunnels through hostile terrain...fighting snow at high altitudes ... and accomplishing near miracles with brainpower man-power mulepower and steampower. Hardcover with dust jacket