Inyo Development Company (1855-1916)

Inyo Development Company was formed to evaporate, process, and ship the natural soda found in the brines at Owens Lake, Inyo County, California. Soda works were located at Keeler, on the east side of the lake, where the company owned approximately three thousand acres of clay lands, and including town lots, buildings, soda vats, pipelines, furnaces, and other machinery.

H.M. Yerington incorporated this Nevada company in April 1885. Early officers were Yerington, president, and G.J. Ford, later E.B. Yerington, secretary. Stockholders included D.O. Mills, W.E. Sharon, and E.D. Boyle. Superintendents at Keeler included L.F.J. Wrinkle, R.J. Laws, Noah Wrinkle, and L.F. Young. Following H.M. Yerington’s death in 1910, the office of president was held by H.H. Taylor, and in 1911 by Jno. F. Cannon. In 1913 A.B. Davis became vice-president and general manger. These last three officers were based in San Francisco, California. The material ends with correspondence dated November 1916, at which time it appears the company was still active.

In 1885 the Inyo Development Company began by producing crude soda for the borax manufacturers. In the period 1898- 1899 the company also started producing soda ash which was sold to glass, soap, and other manufacturers. The company was represented by a soda agent in San Francisco and at various times employed chemists to experiment with processes and equipment.

Scope and Content

The Inyo Development Company records are contained in eight archival boxes plus several maps which are stored separately. The material covers the period 1885 to 1916. Over half of the collection is correspondence, the remainder consists of financial statements, receipts, labor records, soda records, and legal documents, The primary subject is the development, manufacture, and distribution of soda products from the Keeler works. The collection also contains Chinese and Indian payrolls, a transatlantic cable code, and several letters and newspaper clippings about the Owens Valley water project, gaps occur in the correspondence and most other records. For example, the company’s letterpress book no. 4 is missing. Some documents referred to in the correspondence, such as the ledgers and journals "only temporarily removed from Carson" (June 28, 1913), are not found within the collection. Material is primarily handwritten originals and typewritten copies.

This collection is divided into the following series:

Series 1	Correspondence
Series 2	Soda Memoranda and Shipping Records
Series 3	Legal Documents
Series 4	Financial Records and Accounts
Series 5	Labor Records
Series 6	Maps

Box 1-5   Series 1   NC73/1   Correspondence

The correspondence of the Inyo Development Company contained in this series mainly concerns soda production, equipment, employees at Keeler, soda shipments, company finances, and accounts. It covers the period 1885 through 1916. A gummed stub file exists in four pieces, 1885-1889. Loose correspondence is arranged chronologically in folders, 1886-1916. Twenty-three letterpress books are arranged by title and chronologically, 1885-1911. The material is mostly typewritten copies and handwritten originals.

Box 1

Gummed stub file, 1885-1889. Loose correspondence 1886-1904.

Box 2

Loose correspondence 1904-1916.

Box 3

Letterpress books 1885-1905.

Box 4

Letterpress books 19031911.

Box 5

Letterpress books 1902-1911

Box 5   Series 2   NC73/2   Soda Memoranda and Shipping Records

This series brings together material on soda. One folder includes memoranda and reports on experiments, processes, and production costs, 1891-1898. Six folders contain analyses of soda shipments and samples, 1898-1912. One letterpress book contains shipping orders, 1904-1911. Material is arranged chronologically within subject folders. Loose material is primarily original handwritten and typed.

Box 6   Series 3   NC73/3   Legal Documents

Grouped in this series are a sampling of company papers and legal documents ranging in date from 1885-1912, included are lists of stockholders, agreements and leases, an abstract of title and plat for town lots at Keeler, water and mining location notices, and a few papers from Natural Soda Products Co. vs. Inyo Development Co. in 1908- 1910. These are mostly handwritten and typed originals. Material is in chronological order within subject folders. 8 folders.

Box 6-7   Series 4   NC73/4   Financial Records and Accounts

A variety of the company’s financial papers covering the period 1885 to 1913 make up this series. It includes lists of taxable property and statements such as balance sheets, drafts drawn, distribution of accounts, expenses, assets, and liabilities, material consumed, cash account, distribution of labor and material, and boarding house account. Receipts and vouchers make up the bulk of the series. Also included are cancelled checks and bankbooks. Material is primarily original and is arranged chronologically.

Box 6

Contains 30 folders, one of taxable property, statements and accounts, 1892-1913, receipts and vouchers, 1887-1898.

Box 7

Contains 20 folders of receipts and vouchers, 1899-1901, 1911. Bundles of cancelled checks and four bankbooks are loose in the box.

Box 8   Series 5   NC73/5   Labor Records

The labor records in this series are chiefly payrolls, 1981-1900 and time rolls, 1985-1901. Cancelled payroll checks and receipts are also included. A few payrolls (in years 1898-1900) contain statements of labor expenses for manufacturing, maintenance, construction, etc. These are original, handwritten records, arranged chronologically in folders.

Map Storage   Series 6   NC73/6   Maps

The series includes three original, hand drawn maps, one blue print with pencil additions, and one hand drawn furnace diagram. Dates are 1898, 1902, 1909, and 1910. These maps show land ownership, land locations, soda vats and plant, the town of Keeler, the Carson and Colorado Railway line and spur lines, and Owens Lake shorelines. Housed in the California-Oregon-Utah map case drawer.

Manuscripts | Special Collections

Please direct questions to Jacquelyn Sundstrand
Updated October 14, 2008