Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Sevier River Land and Water Company Papers, 1901-1940
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Sevier River Land and Water Company
- Title
- Sevier River Land and Water Company Papers
- Dates
- 1901-1940 (inclusive)19011940
- Quantity
- 54 tubes, (110 drawings)
- Collection Number
- UUS_COLL MSS 334
- Summary
- This collection contains the papers of the Sevier River Land and Water Company and spans the period 1901-1940.
- Repository
-
Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives Division
Special Collections & Archives
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
Logan, UT
84322-3000
Telephone: 4357978248
Fax: 4357972880
scweb@usu.edu - Access Restrictions
-
No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan.
- Languages
- English
Historical NoteReturn to Top
Incorporated in 1908 and based in Lynndyl, Utah, the Sevier River Land and Water Company (SRL&WC) was one of many speculative companies formed after the passage of the Carey Act of 1894. The law gave private companies permission to construct irrigation systems in the semi-arid West and profit from the sales of water from those systems. Companies like the SRL&WC would front money for water projects like canals and reservoirs, then advertise the newly-irrigated land to prospective buyers. The company would then attempt to turn a profit by charging the landowners fees for the use of water originating from company-owned infrastructure. Often several water companies would collaborate to finance the construction of a headgate, pipeline, or dam. In 1913 the SRL&WC entered into an agreement with three other companies concerning ownership of water rights in the Sevier Bridge Reservoir (Juab and Sanpete Counties). The SRL&WC would own 41%, the Deseret Irrigation Company 26%, the Delta Land & Water Company 17%, and the Melville Irrigation Company 16%. The companies were to share the cost of improvements to the reservoir in the same proportion. By 1920, many of the speculative companies in this region encountered financial hardship, including the SRL&WC. Unable to pay its taxes, the company folded on June 14, 1920.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
This collection contains the papers of the Sevier River Land and Water Company and spans the period 1901-1940. The bulk of the collection is comprised of land surveys, structural diagrams, and hydrographs produced by the company’s surveyors and engineers. The surveys are labeled with an "S", the diagrams with a "D", and the hydrographs with an "H", each followed by an identifying number. Drawings labeled with an "M" (miscellaneous) mainly include drawings done by Leland Callister, for various engineering classes at the University of Utah. Leland was the son of Thomas Clark Callister, Jr., a construction engineer for the Sevier River Land & Water Company and the founder of the Pahvant Irrigation Company.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.
Permission to publish material from the Sevier River Land and Water Company Papers must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.
Preferred Citation
Initial Citation: Sevier River Land and Water Company Papers USU_COLL MSS 334, Box [ ]. Special Collections and Archives. Utah State University Merrill-Cazier Library. Logan, Utah.
Following Citations:USU_COLL MSS 334, USUSCA.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
Arranged by subject matter.
Acquisition Information
The materials included in this collection were originally passed from SRL&WC construction engineer Thomas Clark Callister, Jr. to his son, Leland Callister. The papers subsequently appear to have been donated to USU, along with some other Millard County materials, by Craig Callister in the 1980s.
Related Materials
For more information about Thomas Clark Callister, Jr. see:
"Thomas Clark Callister, Jr." In History of Utah Since Statehood, v. 4, edited by Noble Warrum, 574-576. Chicago: The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1919.
For more information about irrigation companies operating along the Sevier River see:
The Melville Irrigation Company Papers, 1907-1930 COLL MSS 140
Minutes of meetings of the Deseret Irrigation Company, 1913-1934 (COLL MSS 238 no. 102).
Bibliography
Sources:
Crafts, Dudley. History of the Sevier Bridge Reservoir Delta, UT: DuWil Publishing Co., 1976. Jensen, William R. "Canals and Canards: Three Case Studies of Land and Water Speculation in Utah, 1905-1920." M.A. thesis, Utah State University, 1971.Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Surveys, 1901-1936Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| tube | ||
| 1 | S-1: State of Utah index map of lower Sevier River system, Lloyd Garrison |
1925 |
| 1 | S-2: "Original map of unirrigated lands under filing # 296" |
undated |
| 1 | S-3: Survey of Piute Reservoir, H. S. Kleinschmidt
(survey is also a legal document with detail information, and signed by the president of the Otter Creek Reservoir Company)
|
1908 |
| 1 | S-4: Pahvant Irrigation Company land surveys of Millard County Utah |
undated |
| 1 | S-5: Three maps concerning "Valuable farming lands submerged by the enlarged Sevier Bridge Reservoir," Richard R. Lyman & Clarence S. Jarvis, SLC |
1914 |
| 2 | S-6: Land surveys along Sevier River Canal (10+ maps) |
undated |
| 3 | S-7: "Map of Sevier River from Clear Creek to Rocky Ford Reservoir, Van Dyle & Tracing" |
undated |
| 4 | S-8: Survey of water levels near Wellington, Leland C. Callister |
1935 |
| 4 | S-9: Survey and affidavit of "Enlarged Sevier Bridge Reservoir" |
1909 |
| 5 | S-10: Sevier Bridge Reservoir |
1903 |
| 6 | S-11: Original Lynndyl Townsite |
1913 |
| 6 | S-12: "Van Dyke of Sevier Bridge Reservoir" |
undated |
| 7 | S-13: Sevier River Land & Water Company Project map, Millard Co., UT |
undated |
| 7 | S-14: Sevier River Land & Water Company Project map, Millard Co., UT, Elmer A. Porter |
undated |
| 8 | S-15: Millard Townsite & Vicinity: Showing Irrigation Systems, Sevier Land & Water Company E. E. Forshay |
1909 |
| 8 | S-16: Maps of land along the Sevier River, Sevier River Water & Land Company |
undated |
| 9 | S-17: "Sevier River from Clear Creek to Rocky Ford Reservoir showing un-irrigatable lands under filing 296" |
undated |
| 10 | S-18: Surveys of "Delta, Mellville Reservoir" |
undated |
| 11 | S-19: Affidavit and survey of Fool Creek Reservoir, Sevier River Water & Land Company |
1920 |
| 11 | S-20: Surveys of property ownerships (three maps) |
undated |
| 12 | S-21: "Map showing amended location of reservoir # 1", Sevier River Water & Land Company |
1920 |
| 12 | S-22: Survey concerning the Sevier River Water & Land Company Project, Elmer A. Porter |
undated |
| 13 | S-23: Blueprints/surveys/hydrographs of Fool Creek Reservoir |
undated |
| 14 | S-24: Blueprints/surveys/hydrographs of Fool Creek Reservoir |
undated |
| 14 | S-25: Survey and affidavit of Otter Creek Reservoir |
1901 |
| 15 | S-26: Sevier River Land & Water Company & Pahvant Irrigation District, L. H. Kimball |
undated |
| 15 | S-27: Survey and contour map of Fool Creek Reservoir |
undated |
| 16 | S-28: Surveys of "Delta, Mellville Reservoir" |
undated |
| 17 | S-29: Survey of Utah State Land Board Piute Project |
undated |
| 18 | S-30: Map of the McCornick Townsite, Sevier River, Land, & Water Company |
1920 |
| 18 | S-31: Map of Sevier River Watersheds showing locations of weather and gauging, canals and reservoirs, Richlands Irrigation Company |
1915 |
| 19 | S-32: Sevier Canal Company maps of canal and blueprints of the "weir gage" |
1922 |
| 19 | S-33: Affidavit and survey concerning the Sevier River Water & Land Company |
1913 |
| 20 | S-34: Affidavit and survey of Fool Creek Reservoir, Sevier River Water & Land Company |
1920 |
| 20 | S-35: Amended plat map of Lynndyl, Utah, Leland H. Kimball |
undated |
| 21 | S-36: "Map of the Sevier River Watershed," F. W. Cotternell |
undated |
| 21 | S-37: "Profile and map of main canal" (20 + maps) |
undated |
| 21 | S-38: Map/survey of the "Sevier River from Clear Creek to Rocky Ford Reservoir" showing towns and canals |
undated |
| 21 | S-39: Topographical maps complied by the Sevier River Land & Water Company |
undated |
| 21 | S-40: Map of the Sevier Bridge Reservoir and Fool Creek Reservoir |
undated |
| 22 | S-41: Map of the Layton drainage |
undated |
| 23 | S-42: Surveys of property in sections 11 and 19, Sevier River Water & Land Company |
undated |
| 23 | S-43: Fishlake National Forest, Utah, USDA |
1925 |
| 23 | S-44: "Delta township map showing proposed "sewer mains, outlets, and sundry structures," Sevier River Water & Land Company |
undated |
| 23 | S-45: Survey of reservoir # 1 and 2", Sevier River Water & Land Company |
1920 |
| 24 | S-46: "Map showing land actually irrigated" |
undated |
| 24 | S-47: Survey of "Township 15 range 5," ( a town along the Sevier River) |
undated |
| 25 | S-48: Map of electrical lines near Lynndyl, Utah |
undated |
| 25 | S-49: Survey of Delta High School property holdings, L. C. Callister |
1936 |
| 26 | S-50: Survey of property ownerships |
undated |
| 26 | S-51: Land Classification Map of Utah, USGS |
1931 |
| 27 | S-52: "Distribution system and canal map," Deseret Irrigation Company |
1931 |
| 27 | S-53: Sevier Bridge Reservoir index survey map |
undated |
| 28 | S-54: Survey maps of land along the Sevier River
(copies of the originals)
|
1874 |
| 28 | S-55: Central Utah Water Company Project, Millard County |
undated |
| 29 | S-56: Survey of the Sevier River showing land owners and property sales |
1929 |
| 29 | S-57: "Sketch of plat damsite and proposed river change for the Sevier River," Sevier River Water & Land Company |
1912 |
| 29 | S-58: Survey of lands |
1921 |
| 29 | S-59: Sevier Bridge Reservoir |
1922 |
Diagrams, 1908-1940Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| tube | ||
| 30 | D-1: Ogden Canyon Pipeline, Ogden City Corporation Engineering Department |
1935 |
| 31 | D-2: "Plans of house at Sevier Bridge Reservoir" |
undated |
| 32 | D-3: Blueprints, Sevier Dam |
1914 |
| 32 | D-4: "Details of outlet tunnel gates and hoists for Sevier River Bridge Dam," R. R. Lyman |
1912 |
| 32 | D-5: "Details of concrete prop," Sevier River Land & Water Company of Lynndyl, Utah, drawn by E. A. J. (chief engineer) |
1919 |
| 33 | D-6: "Details of Standard County road bridge" (10 maps) |
undated |
| 33 | D-7: Blueprints for a diversion dam (project goal was to move water from the Sevier River, Juab County) Sevier River Land & Water Company |
1918 |
| 34 | D-8: Blueprints, Sevier Land & Water Company, Salt Lake Iron & Steel Company |
undated |
| 34 | D-9: Taylor Flat, Power Canal Division Gates |
undated |
| 35 | D-10: Diagrams, "C. W. W. Co., diversion gates" |
undated |
| 36 | D-11: "Deseret High Line" Deseret Irrigation Company, Leland C. Callister |
1938 |
| 36 | D-12: "Details of outlet at reservoir # 1", Sevier River Water & Land Company |
undated |
| 37 | D-13: "Repairs to Sevier Bridge Reservoir", T. Clark Callister |
1938 |
| 37 | D-14: Plans for wooden truss bridges of varying lengths |
1922-1927 |
| 38 | D-15: Blueprints concerning the diversion spillway, Sevier River Water & Land Company |
1918 |
| 39 | D-16: "Profile of inverted siphon, Lynndyl, Utah" |
1940 |
| 39 | D-17: Blueprints for Fool Creek Reservoir Dam |
undated |
| 40 | D-18: "Details of concrete check intake, reservoir," Sevier River Water & Land Company |
1919 |
| 40 | D-19: "Details of brace for the 40’ shew truss bridge," near Delta, Utah |
undated |
| 40 | D-20: "Details of bridge and canal gage," Sevier River Water & Land Company |
1917 |
| 41 | D-21: Blueprints for a dam, Sevier River Water & Land Company |
undated |
| 42 | D-22: Blueprints of "Water Gates," Sevier River Water & Land Company |
undated |
| 42 | D-23: General plans of enlarged Sevier Bridge Dam |
1914 |
| 43 | D-24: Blueprints, Sevier Bridge Reservoir |
1915 |
| 44 | D-25: "Diversion spillway/diversion dam," Sevier River Water & Land Company |
undated |
| 44 | D-26: Forms for standard 30’ span bridge near McCormick, Utah |
1927 |
| 45 | D-27: WPA Project, Lynndyl Siphon |
undated |
| 46 | D-28: Misc. Diagrams, Sevier River Land & Water Company |
1917-1921 |
Hydrographs, 1908-1927Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| tube | ||
| 47 | H-1: “Hydrograph of Sevier to Vermillion” |
undated |
| 47 | H-2: Blueprints, hydrograph of Sevier River |
1912 |
| 48 | H-3: Diagram, “Callister Lateral” |
undated |
| 48 | H-4: Hydrographs of inflow, outflow, diversions, etc., Piute and Otter Creek Reservoirs |
undated |
| 49 | H-5: “Hydrograph of Lower River” |
undated |
| 49 | H-6: Taylor Flat lateral |
undated |
| 49 | H-7: “Main canal profile before enlargement” (located near Parley Basin) |
1940 |
| 49 | H-8: Lynndyl lateral |
1908-1918 |
| 50 | H-9: Taylor Flat lateral |
1908-1918 |
| 50 | H-10: Main Canal |
1908-1918 |
| 50 | H-11: Hydrograph of return flow between Gunnison and Sevier Bridge Reservoir |
1916 |
| 50 | H-12: Delta Point lateral |
1908-1918 |
| 50 | H-13: Hydrograph of inflow to Sevier Bridge Reservoir |
1914-1919 |
| 50 | H-14: Hydrographs of Sevier River from Clear Creek to Sevier Bridge Reservoir |
1927 |
| 51 | H-15: Main Canal |
1908-1918 |
| 51 | H-16: Main Canal |
1908-1918 |
Miscellaneous, 1929-1931Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| tube | ||
| 52 | M-1: Survey of University of Utah land holdings, Arnold Finlayson |
1931 |
| 52 | M-2: Mechanical Engineering class drawings, University of Utah, Leland Callister |
1931 |
| 52 | M-3: Civil Engineering class drawings, University of Utah, Leland Callister |
1929 |
| 52 | M-4: Civil Engineering class drawings, University of Utah, Leland Callister |
1929 |
| 52 | M-5: Civil Engineering class drawings, University of Utah, Leland Callister |
1929-1930 |
| 53 | M-6: Engineering class drawings, University of Utah, Leland Callister |
1929 |
| 54 | M-7: Civil Engineering class drawing, University of Utah, Leland Callister |
undated |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Dams--Utah--Sevier River Watershed--Design and construction.
- Hydrographic surveying--Utah--Sevier River.
- Irrigation canals and flumes--Utah--Maps.
- Irrigation canals and flumes--Utah--Sevier River Watershed.
- Irrigation engineering--Utah--Sevier River Watershed.
- Reservoirs--Utah--Sevier River Watershed--Design and construction.
Corporate Names
- Sevier River Land and Water Company-Records and correspondence.
Geographical Names
- Juab County (Utah)--Surveys.
- Millard County (Utah)--Surveys.
- Sanpete County (Utah)--Surveys.
- Sevier County (Utah)--Surveys.
- Sevier River (Utah)--Maps.
- Sevier River (Utah)--Surveys.
- Sevier River Watershed (Utah)--Maps.
- Sevier River Watershed (Utah)--Surveys.
Finding aid/Register created by Clint Pumphrey
2011
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
