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Want to support this channel and help us preserve old films? Visit Visit our website This film shows the construction of the Oroville Dam; an earth filled embankment dam situated on the Feather River in California. A massive dredge (:29) such as those which had once scoured California’s land during the gold rush years opens the film. The land is depicted as covered in mine fillings though it had once been lush landscape (:57). California's main water sources were in far remote locations from much of the state’s population (1:34). A map points to the plan designed by water conservationists (1:44). This led to the construction of the Oroville Dam in Oroville (1:53). It was to channel southwards to San Diego (2:02). Feather River follows (2:09). Gold dredge trainings were cut into the country side (2:24). This land was set to be used for the dam (2:31). Workers drill into the stone narrows (2:48). The mammoth diversion tunnel (2:53) was built to divert the water flow of the river. The concrete core block which anchors the dam is shown to be larger than most dams themselves (3:03). This became the greatest earthmoving project (3:10). A diagram follows showing the cone shape that was to be set atop the core block (3:18). Large scale equipment was required for the massive undertaking (3:45). The monstrous stripping wheel is pointed to (3:50). A conveyor belt feeds the stockpiles and drag lines scoop earth into tractors (4:25). Earth movers are pictured equipped with Goodyear tires (4:37) which were used exclusively for the job. Clay was sourced from a clay borrow pit (5:27). Big scrapers move tons of clay (5:43). Loads are unloaded into hoppers (6:21). Materials flow through conveyors (6:35) to further hoppers as a train arrives to be loaded up (6:40). Cars were tipped over in sets of two by massive machinery (7:33). The materials were then sent over the river (8:12) and deposited to another stockpile (8:17) that would be used for the dam (8:23). Bottom dumps slide under the double hopper (8:31). Bulldozers flatten the dumped materials (9:14). Compactors move in after the bulldozers (9:28). Loaders cart giant jagged pieces of granite (10:02). The granite chunks were used to resist erosion (10:18). Goodyear employees arrive to service the tires (10:33). Photographs show a train wreck as two car sit stacked atop one another (10:41). The rail began running again four days later (11:23). More earth was moved in a short duration for this project than in the history of man (11:41). The project was completed in 1968 (12:06). Seven of the countries leading contractors participated in the job (12:12). A list of the contractors follows (12:18). The boss of overall construction was J. Rodney Mims (12:46). The completed dam follows (12:54) rising 770 feet above the valley. A shot of the resivor follows (13:14). It was developed under the guidance and control of California Department of Water Reservoirs and produced by the Audio-Visual Department of The Goodyear Tire Company (13:56). We encourage viewers to add comments and, especially, to provide additional information about our videos by adding a comment! See something interesting? Tell people what it is and what they can see by writing something for example: “01:00:12:00 -- President Roosevelt is seen meeting with Winston Churchill at the Quebec Conference.“ This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit
