Foothill Rails--American River Land & Lumber Co
Remnants: American River Land & Lumber Co
Quick History
The American River Land & Lumber Co was founded in 1889 by Horatio Gates Livermore and eventually became
the Michigan-California Lumber Co many years later. Horatio actually bought the timberlands and started
building the infrastructure as early as 1866. This included a dam and mill on the American River at Folsom.
The timberlands were near Camino on the South Fork of the river. The idea was to float the logs down the
river to the mill. Logging began in 1890 with the first logs in the river in 1891. The whole endevour eventually
failed due to several factors including lack of water and the rocky narrow canyons. It was never profitable.
After ten years of operations, the company was sold and reorganized as the El Dorado Lumber Co. Many
remnants of the original company can still be found. 110+ years later, this tour starts at the woods and
follows downriver to Folsom.
The Chute
At first logging took place on the south side of the river at Iowa Canyon but soon moved to the north side
near Slab Creek. The logs were brought out of the woods, eventually by narrow guage train, at what
is now North Cable or Cable Point and slid down a 2900ft chute into the river below. A view from the top of the
chute appears in the first image. The next two images by Doug Jensen show the remains of this chute at water
level on Slab Creek Resevoir which has since partially filled the canyon.
Salmon Falls Dam
Besides the narrow rocky canyons, unreliable water flow and the falls themselves, one of the obstructions to the logs coming downriver
was a diversion dam built by the Natomas Water & Mining Co, ironically another Livermore company, at Salmon Falls. Logs would
get caught up here regularly and would have to be helped over the dam.
Here we see whats left of this dam at Salmon Falls. This area is usually covered by the waters of Folsom Lake.
Folsom Dam & Quarry
Built between 1888 and 1893, a 89ft high, 450ft long granite block dam was constructed across the river at Folsom
to provide a stopping point for the logs. From here a canal fed water and logs to the mill and powerhouse downriver.
All the granite blocks used in the dam and canal came from the prison quarry seen in the third image. Convicts provided
most if not all the labor.
The dam was in use providing water to the Folsom power house until 1952 when it was partially removed and a much larger
multipurpose Folsom Dam was constructed upriver. The quarry is now full of prison buildings. Also of note, the quarry was served by a branch of the Sacramento Valley
Railroad which followed along the canal.
The Mill & Canal
With logs already in the river a push was made to finish the mill in 1896. It was the first ever electrically
powered mill in the world. In 1901 the machinery was moved to Pino Grande and driven by steam.
Starting with the first image taken at Riley Street, we see the 50ft wide 8ft deep canal and the only remaining
portion of the mill. The second image gives you a close up of the mill remains. The following images travel along
the canal upstream until the border of Folsom Prison prevents passage.
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