P G. & E. was continuously enlarging the canals to carry more water to the plants to generate more power. In July 1931, enlarging the South Yuba-Bear River Canal System was begun. This comprised 23 miles of canal, three tunnels totaling nearly two miles over 3/4 miles of reinforced concrete, and metal flumes over shifting ground. Capacity increased from 350 to 475 cubic feet per second. The canals were gunited (sealed) with a mixture of sand and Portland cement applied through a nozzle from 1 ½ to over 2" where needed.
In remote areas, the berms along the canals were not wide enough for trucks. So the sacks of cement and supplies were loaded into tubs at road crossings, floated down to the work areas and unloaded. Then the empty tubs continued to the next road crossing. sometimes as far as six miles, where they were removed and returned upstream a dozen at a time by truck. Later supplies could be loaded onto caterpillar treaded trailers and drawn along the bottom of the ditch.
On Thanksgiving Day, 1923, Vice President and General Manager, John Britton (formerly of the Oakland Gas and Light Company) closed the switch at Wise powerhouse to send electricity to Cordelia 110 miles away. Even though work on the plants was not complete, everything worked. There was no breakdown, power outage or any failure of equipment. Quite a feat for engineers building a new type system that had never been done before.
Later, when construction was complete, the press was brought from the Bay Area for a tour. The people came by train to Cisco and were driven down into Lake Spaulding where lunch was served on the top of the dam. A lattice archway had been built the length of the dam with a long banquet table set beneath it. The press was taken on a tour of the powerhouse and stayed the night. The next day, a motorcade came down the highway stopping at each development along the way. By evening, they were returned to their homes.
H. M. Cooper staffed the first business office in 1910, which was upstairs in the Rattlers Firehouse in East Auburn (it has been moved to the corner of LincolnWay & ElDorado St.). By 1911, larger quarters were needed. W. R. Arthur built a building on Lincoln Way for lease to PG&E This is now the location of Nats Men’s Store. The business office for the Drum Division of PG&E on High Street in Auburn was completed in December, 1928 at a cost of $50,000 and is still in use as of this date.
The PG&E legal representative in Placer County was John Fulweiler, a well known attorney. Fulweiler Ave. in Auburn is named for him as it is near the location of his home which was on six acres facing the Auburn Ravine.
Over the years PG&E continued to enlarge and advance in technology. In the 1960's, most of the system was converted to remote control and most hands-on operation was no longer needed. This is when the landmark ditch-tenders and powerhouse worker’s family homes were removed and workers relocated and consolidated.
The PG&E. facilities are named in honor of the talented pioneers associated with the company. PG&E is also responsible for road improvements, bridges, and parks. They were at one time one of the largest employers in Placer County, and one of the largest land owners. This outline just gives you an idea of how extensive this system is and gives me a whole new appreciation for the light globe.