The story of the Roberts & Doan steam wagon starts with two men:
Riley R. Doan immigrated from Ohio to California in 1852. By 1870 he was working at the Baltic sawmill in El Dorado county. While there he started development of a steam wagon. In 1874 he moved to Sacramento and built the first of these machines. He continued building and operating his steam wagons until at least 1888. From 1885 to 1898 Doan partnered with Captain John Roberts in a gold mine in Shasta county. Doan retired to ranching in that year and died in 1902.
Captain John H. Roberts came to California in 1850 from Detroit, MI. He, with others, joined the Sacramento Wood Company in 1866 to run steamboats on the Sacramento River. This became the Sacramento Transportation Co. in 1879. He later invested in mining and sawmilling. Upon his death in 1909, he left an estate in excess of $1,000,000. That is $30,000,000 in 2021 dollars.
Riley R. Doan immigrated from Ohio to California in 1852. By 1870 he was working at the Baltic sawmill in El Dorado county. While there he started development of a steam wagon. In 1874 he moved to Sacramento and built the first of these machines. He continued building and operating his steam wagons until at least 1888. From 1885 to 1898 Doan partnered with Captain John Roberts in a gold mine in Shasta county. Doan retired to ranching in that year and died in 1902.
Captain John H. Roberts came to California in 1850 from Detroit, MI. He, with others, joined the Sacramento Wood Company in 1866 to run steamboats on the Sacramento River. This became the Sacramento Transportation Co. in 1879. He later invested in mining and sawmilling. Upon his death in 1909, he left an estate in excess of $1,000,000. That is $30,000,000 in 2021 dollars.
In January 1875 Doan received a patent for his steam wagon: https://patents.google.com/patent/US158923 The California Farm and Road Locomotive Company was incorporated on February 13, 1875 for the purpose of manufacturing, selling and operating road locomotives. The directors were Latimer E. Doan, Joseph M. Doan, Wallace Doan of Boca, and W. S. Doan and Riley R. Doan of Sacramento. Capital stock was $25,000. A working model of a steam wagon identical to the patent drawing was displayed at Sacramento and Truckee at this time. The proposed dimensions of the full size machine were: 30’ long, 7’ wide, 4 drivers 7’x12” with a chain drive, steering wheel 7’, horizontal boiler 12’ long, 2 cylinders 9x18, weight about 7 tons. By March the prototype was under construction at the Union Iron Works in Sacramento. One major change from the patent drawing was the use of a vertical boiler.
The steamer was out for trials in July and by the 14th, alterations had been made and the machine did well except for the boiler foaming. The gearing was changed to reduce the speed and increase the pulling power. On August 20th the steam wagon was completed to the satisfaction of its owner and was demonstrated at the State Fair in September. It wasn’t until the next April that the steam wagon found suitable employment moving houses around the city.
The steamer was out for trials in July and by the 14th, alterations had been made and the machine did well except for the boiler foaming. The gearing was changed to reduce the speed and increase the pulling power. On August 20th the steam wagon was completed to the satisfaction of its owner and was demonstrated at the State Fair in September. It wasn’t until the next April that the steam wagon found suitable employment moving houses around the city.
In January 1877 a contract was let to J. J. Cunningham for a horizontal return flue boiler to be used on a second steam wagon. Besides the boiler several other changes were made. The chain drive was replaced with bevel gears and shafts and the number of wheels was reduced from five to three, all driven. Total weight dry was seven tons. On April 5th the beast made its first test run from the shop of the Sacramento Plow Manufacturing Co. Testing continued into June, on the 9th the shaft to the back wheels broke and it was driven back to the shop by the front wheel only. The next day it was pronounced a success. The intention was to use a fleet of steam wagons to haul freight from Reno to Virginia City, NV.
In March 1878 the Doan Brothers had contracted to do the hauling for the San Francisco Sulphur Co. at Rabbit Hole, NV. The six-month contract called for the steam wagon to haul 20 tons of Sulphur 60 miles at $5 per ton. The round trip would take two days and consume two cords of wood. The first trip to the mine was made March 25th. By the end of May it was reported that the contract at Rabbit Hole had been abandoned and the steamer was to haul oar at Rye Patch, NV. Both of these operations failed because the steamer was not up to navigating the primitive roads. The machine was returned to Sacramento.
Here the story takes a turn, Captain John H. Roberts of the Sacramento Wood Company and the San Joaquin Company was looking for a way to make his riverboats, San Joaquin and Naruna, competitive with the railroad in the upper Sacramento Valley. If he could get grain to the river cheaply enough he could undercut the railroad. In September 1878 Captain Roberts took the Doan steam wagon up the river to Princeton and ran the machine 16 miles to Willows. Here they picked up a load of 20 tons of wheat and returned to Princeton. Despite the boiler foaming and the braking of a drive shaft the trip was considered a success. Wheat could be delivered from Willows to shipside in San Francisco for $3 a ton beating the railroad’s price.
The steamer was returned to the Union Iron Works for repairs and was back at Princeton by August 2nd. Trains of wheat were arriving at the river daily. Captain Roberts stated that he was going to invest $60,000 in having two or three Doan road steamers built and drawings were being done up for the project. Steam wagons were to be used at Ca\olusa, Princeton and Jacinto. The Doan Brothers had found what they needed, someone with deep pockets and the vision to make their wagon a success. Things were looking up.
A new steam wagon was under construction at the Union Iron Works by early November. The weight was 23,000 pounds fully loaded, it had two 8x10 cylinders, three wheels with bevel gear drive. This article includes an illustration:
Pacific Rural Press 11 January 1879 — California Digital Newspaper Collection (cdnc.ucr.edu), p. 25.
The new steamer was shipped up the river with nine wagons in July 1879 and was first used to haul from Chico.
On January 25, 1881 it was announced that the Union Iron Works had contracted to build yet another Doan steam wagon. The machine rolled out of the shop in late June. Unlike the last wagon this one was bigger, 17 or 18 tons, and used spur gears and side rods to deliver power to the wheels. The new steamer was to burn coal and cost $8000. The expected load was to be 40 tons. It was shipped 160 miles up-river to McIntosh’s Landing and started hauling wheat 16 miles from Riceville by July 12th. Captain Roberts had contracted to haul 30,000 sacks of grain to the river at $1 per ton. Here is a photograph of this machine or one built to the same design.
http://archives.csuchico.edu/digital/collection/coll11/id/19555/ .
In March 1878 the Doan Brothers had contracted to do the hauling for the San Francisco Sulphur Co. at Rabbit Hole, NV. The six-month contract called for the steam wagon to haul 20 tons of Sulphur 60 miles at $5 per ton. The round trip would take two days and consume two cords of wood. The first trip to the mine was made March 25th. By the end of May it was reported that the contract at Rabbit Hole had been abandoned and the steamer was to haul oar at Rye Patch, NV. Both of these operations failed because the steamer was not up to navigating the primitive roads. The machine was returned to Sacramento.
Here the story takes a turn, Captain John H. Roberts of the Sacramento Wood Company and the San Joaquin Company was looking for a way to make his riverboats, San Joaquin and Naruna, competitive with the railroad in the upper Sacramento Valley. If he could get grain to the river cheaply enough he could undercut the railroad. In September 1878 Captain Roberts took the Doan steam wagon up the river to Princeton and ran the machine 16 miles to Willows. Here they picked up a load of 20 tons of wheat and returned to Princeton. Despite the boiler foaming and the braking of a drive shaft the trip was considered a success. Wheat could be delivered from Willows to shipside in San Francisco for $3 a ton beating the railroad’s price.
The steamer was returned to the Union Iron Works for repairs and was back at Princeton by August 2nd. Trains of wheat were arriving at the river daily. Captain Roberts stated that he was going to invest $60,000 in having two or three Doan road steamers built and drawings were being done up for the project. Steam wagons were to be used at Ca\olusa, Princeton and Jacinto. The Doan Brothers had found what they needed, someone with deep pockets and the vision to make their wagon a success. Things were looking up.
A new steam wagon was under construction at the Union Iron Works by early November. The weight was 23,000 pounds fully loaded, it had two 8x10 cylinders, three wheels with bevel gear drive. This article includes an illustration:
Pacific Rural Press 11 January 1879 — California Digital Newspaper Collection (cdnc.ucr.edu), p. 25.
The new steamer was shipped up the river with nine wagons in July 1879 and was first used to haul from Chico.
On January 25, 1881 it was announced that the Union Iron Works had contracted to build yet another Doan steam wagon. The machine rolled out of the shop in late June. Unlike the last wagon this one was bigger, 17 or 18 tons, and used spur gears and side rods to deliver power to the wheels. The new steamer was to burn coal and cost $8000. The expected load was to be 40 tons. It was shipped 160 miles up-river to McIntosh’s Landing and started hauling wheat 16 miles from Riceville by July 12th. Captain Roberts had contracted to haul 30,000 sacks of grain to the river at $1 per ton. Here is a photograph of this machine or one built to the same design.
http://archives.csuchico.edu/digital/collection/coll11/id/19555/ .
In 1888 or 89 Captain Roberts became a partner in the Lewis Mills near Loyalton, CA. It was over sixteen miles from the Central Pacific RR at Verdi NV to the mill and hauling with horses was expensive. One or more steam wagons were used to haul lumber to Loyalton. In 1889 hauling for the Towe Brothers stopped and the newest steam wagon was shipped to Verdi. In May a new steamer, Doan’s seventh, of the same design as the last was under construction. Both steamers were hauling to Verdi by August 1st. The road was 16½ miles long with a maximum grade of 500 feet to the mile. The tractors could deliver 20 tons of lumber and make the round trip in twelve hours. The steam wagons moved the lumber at one third the cost of teams. This continued until the completion of the Boca & Loyalton RR to Lewis Mills on January 12, 1901. The remains of one steam wagon was reported near Loyalton in the 1920s. The boiler was removed and used in a sawmill.
The next summer one of the steamers was used to haul gravel for the Citizen’s Street Improvement Co. to pave Sacramento’s streets. For reasons unknown for the 1890 session lumber was hauled from Lewis Mills to Truckee, CA which was over twice the distance than to Verdi. Roberts was granted a franchise to use six miles of county road out of Truckee and posted a $2500 bond. The steam wagon running between Loyalton and Truckee hauled 80,000 feet of lumber at a speed of five miles per hour making one round trip a day.
By 1891 the lumber was being hauled to Verdi again. In 1894 two steamers were in use hauling trains of eight wagons each carrying 40,000 feet of lumber. Things continued pretty much the same until September 7, 1897. On that day when one of the steamers was about a mile east of Sardine Valley a stick of fire wood knocked a fitting off of its boiler killing the fireman Gilbert Litzeberg or Litzenberger. At that time three steam wagons were in use, one hauling logs 1½ miles to the mill and two hauling lumber ten miles to Folk’s Summit. Horses were used from there down to Verdi. This continued until Captain Roberts completed the Boca & Loyalton RR to Lewis Mills on January 12, 1901. Thus ended the era of the Roberts & Doan steam wagons. The remains of one steamer was reported near Loyalton in the 1920s. The boiler was removed and used in a sawmill.
The next summer one of the steamers was used to haul gravel for the Citizen’s Street Improvement Co. to pave Sacramento’s streets. For reasons unknown for the 1890 session lumber was hauled from Lewis Mills to Truckee, CA which was over twice the distance than to Verdi. Roberts was granted a franchise to use six miles of county road out of Truckee and posted a $2500 bond. The steam wagon running between Loyalton and Truckee hauled 80,000 feet of lumber at a speed of five miles per hour making one round trip a day.
By 1891 the lumber was being hauled to Verdi again. In 1894 two steamers were in use hauling trains of eight wagons each carrying 40,000 feet of lumber. Things continued pretty much the same until September 7, 1897. On that day when one of the steamers was about a mile east of Sardine Valley a stick of fire wood knocked a fitting off of its boiler killing the fireman Gilbert Litzeberg or Litzenberger. At that time three steam wagons were in use, one hauling logs 1½ miles to the mill and two hauling lumber ten miles to Folk’s Summit. Horses were used from there down to Verdi. This continued until Captain Roberts completed the Boca & Loyalton RR to Lewis Mills on January 12, 1901. Thus ended the era of the Roberts & Doan steam wagons. The remains of one steamer was reported near Loyalton in the 1920s. The boiler was removed and used in a sawmill.
Editor's Note: Amazingly, TDHS has a photo of this very Doan Steam Wagon in its collection which was taken by noted Truckee photographer, H.K. Gage. Take a look at Image # HKG0050.
TOTAL KNOWN PRODUCTION
1 5-wheel chain drive
2 3-wheel bevel gear drive
2 3-wheel spur gear and side rod drive
2 3-wheel direct connected side rods
PHOTOGRAPHS
https://unr.dgicloud.com/islandora/object/spphotoscollection%3A7013
https://unr.dgicloud.com/islandora/object/spotoscollection%3A7016
https://utah-primoprod.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=digcoll_unr_15spphotoscollection_7012&context=L&vid=MWDL
https://www.omnia.ie/index.php?navigation_function=2&navigation_item=f320f537dbef6d3f2b09582fc9ad08ad&repid=2
https://calisphere.org/item/2425239aad9fb5f9b26bb4c638b239ef/
https://calisphere.org/item/ark:/13030/tf5t1nb6dp/
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Logging_in_Plumas_County/VGaA1ddhR5EC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=doan+steam+tractor&pg=PA60&printsec=frontcover
https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8n87h1g/?query=doan
1 5-wheel chain drive
2 3-wheel bevel gear drive
2 3-wheel spur gear and side rod drive
2 3-wheel direct connected side rods
PHOTOGRAPHS
https://unr.dgicloud.com/islandora/object/spphotoscollection%3A7013
https://unr.dgicloud.com/islandora/object/spotoscollection%3A7016
https://utah-primoprod.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=digcoll_unr_15spphotoscollection_7012&context=L&vid=MWDL
https://www.omnia.ie/index.php?navigation_function=2&navigation_item=f320f537dbef6d3f2b09582fc9ad08ad&repid=2
https://calisphere.org/item/2425239aad9fb5f9b26bb4c638b239ef/
https://calisphere.org/item/ark:/13030/tf5t1nb6dp/
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Logging_in_Plumas_County/VGaA1ddhR5EC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=doan+steam+tractor&pg=PA60&printsec=frontcover
https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8n87h1g/?query=doan
HISTORICAL CHRONOLOGY OF STEAM WAGON
(adapted from entries in the online California Digital Newspaper Collection, cdnc.ucr.edu)
(adapted from entries in the online California Digital Newspaper Collection, cdnc.ucr.edu)
February 7, 1873 R. R. Doan of El Dorado county shows working model of steam wagon same as patent drawing. Proposed dimensions: 30’ long, 7’ wide, 4 drivers 7’x12”, steering wheel 7’, horizontal boiler 12’ long, 2 cylinders 9x18, weight about 7 tons
January 1875 patent https://patents.google.com/patent/US158923
March 16, 1875 A working model of the California Farm and Road Locomotive is on display at the rooms of the Sierra Nevada Lumber Assn. (Truckee). 4 wheels, all driving, ball and socket joint, chain drive. A locomotive is being built and will be in running order in about six weeks. It will weigh about six tons.
April 1, 1875 A road locomotive is being built at the Union Iron Works. 2 8 inch cylinders, four six foot wheels, vertical boiler, should be completed in five weeks.
April 15, 1875 A steam wagon is being built at Boca by Mr. Doan, for the hauling of lumber. Its constructor is confident that he can haul 20,000 feet of lumber up the Geiger Grade. Reno to Virginia City, NV
July 1, 1875 steam wagon engines tested
July 15, 1875 Doan steam wagon was out for trials again yesterday after alterations were made to the machinery. It did well except for the boiler foaming.
July 21, 1875 The gearing is being changed to reduce the speed and increase the power.
August 21, 1875 Doan steam wagon was yesterday completed to the satisfaction of its owner. It was moved to the upper portion of the city.
September 22, 1875 Doan steam wagon being demonstrated at the Sacramento fair grounds
April 27, 1876 Steam wagon has found suitable employment moving houses around the city.
January 13, 1877 boiler for new steam wagon to be built by J. J. Cunningham
March 30, 1877 new steam wagon nearing completion at W. B. Ready & Co.’s machine shop
April 6, 1877 Nearing completion at Sacramento Plow Mfg. Co. test run yesterday horizontal return flue boiler, 3 wheels, bevel gearing
May 26, 1877 to be tested Wednesday hauling 10,000 feet of lumber
June 2, 1877 tested yesterday until something broke
June 9, 1877 tested with 10,000 feet of lumber. Rod to back wheel broke on hard pull, driven back to shop by front wheel
June 10, 1877 declared a great success, soon see a line of these wagons hauling from Reno to Virginia City. Will haul lumber at $3 per thousand.
September 25, 1877 Doan displaying a “Fireman’s Road Locomotive” at the fair.
March 25, 1878 The owners of the San Francisco Sulphur mine at Rabbit Hole, NV have hired the Doan Brothers steam wagon. It has three driving wheels 6 feet high, 10 inches wide. Weight 7 tons without fuel or water. It is expected to haul 20 tons of Sulphur from the mine to Mill City, about 60 miles, in two days on two cords of wood. Today it left for the mine with two wagon loads of machinery. $5 per ton for six months
May 28, 1878 A.(sic) R. Doan has given up his contract hauling for the San Francisco Sulphur Company. He will take his steam wagon to Rye Patch were he has subcontracted hauling oar from the mine.
September 17, 1878 Last week new steam wagon belonging to San Joaquin Co. hauled 20 tons of wheat from Willows to Princeton. Captain Roberts rode the whole way, will invest $60,000 more in the steamers. Wheat from Willows to San Francisco at $3 per ton
September 28, 1878 Sacramento Wood Co., owners of steamers San Joaquin and Naruna, sent Doan steam wagon to the upper Sacramento to haul grain. It is now at the Union Iron Works having a steam drum placed over the boiler. It was not able to keep up steam pressure due to foaming.
October 2, 1878 Steam wagon hauling trains of grain from Willows to Princeton for the San Joaquin Company. Very successful. The San Joaquin Co. are having drafts made of its machinery in order to have one or more additional machines made.
October 3, 1878 Three steam wagons to be put into use this fall, one each at Calusa, Princeton and Jacinto
November 5, 1878 A new steam wagon for the San Joaquin Company is being built at the Union Iron Works
January 11, 1879 Weight 23,000 pounds, 2 8x10 cylinders, 3 wheels, bevel gear drive Used for a considerable time in Nevada for hauling ore. After the mine closed it was moved to Sacramento where it was used for moving houses and other heavy work. Recently taken to Calusa to haul grain to the boats owned by the Sacramento Wood Company (Captain John Roberts).
https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=PRP18790111.2.26.3&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN--------1
June 3, 1879 steam wagon tested yesterday, 5 mph
June 14, 1879 Doan steam wagon to haul children on July 4
July 5, 1879 Steam wagon to be tested today pulling 40 tons. If successful it will be shipped up the river
July 7, 1879 successfully tested Saturday
July 18, 1879 taken up the river on a barge with six wagons by steamer San Joaquin No. 3
July 25, 1879 Saturday Captain Roberts brought a steam wagon and nine wagons up to haul freight from Chico
August 9, 1879 first trip a few days ago of steam wagon running to Chico hauling 40 tons on nine wagons
January 25, 1881 Union Iron Works contracted to build another steam wagon
July 2, 1881 The Doane (sic) steam wagon which has been undergoing many changes and improvements at the Union Iron Works, on Front Street, has been completed and upon trial works entirely satisfactory to its owners. The leading improvement in the new wagon is that of doing away with the beveled gearing, as also the chain and wire rope for transmitting power, and in their place is substituted square spur gearing. The weight of the present steam wagon is about 17 or 18 tons, and is expected to readily haul 50 tons of grain. It will leave in a day or two for the upper Sacramento Valley. It will probably be used hauling grain from Riceville to McIntosh’s Landing, 16 miles. (160 miles above Sacramento) The former wagon consumed about one ton of coal and one cord of wood a day. The new wagon will burn coal only. It cost about $8000.
http://archives.csuchico.edu/digital/collection/coll11/id/19555/ (HCS filled out form requesting to use the digital image)
July 12, 1881 Robert’s steam wagon has arrived at Riceville
July 23, 1881 steam wagon greatly improved, hauling 40 tons from Riceville to McIntosh Landing.
August 5, 1881 contracted to haul 30,000 sacks of wheat at $1 per ton
March 4, 1882 new steam wagon ready by Fall
April 21, 1882 The Union Iron Works are building one of the Doan Road Traction engines, which is to be used in Calusa County. This firm has made several of these engines.
May 2, 1882 steam wagon packing road for summer use
July 28, 1882 hauling grain
October 6, 1882 2 steam wagons in use. The new one will haul 800 sacks with ease.
August 15, 1883 Doan’s steam wagon is being overhauled at the foundry of Root, Nielson & Co., on Front street. It is said that it will be used in the mountains to haul lumber from the sawmills to the railroad.
August 16, 1883 will haul lumber from the Texas (Friend, Terry & Co.) and Tunnel (Towle Brothers) sawmills to the railroad at snowshed 27, 1¼ miles from Emigrant Gap, about 6 miles. Doan is superintendent, road about half finished, about 120 Chinese working, $2 per thousand
October 11, 1883 Two of the famous Doan steam wagons were yesterday shipped by rail to a station near Emigrant Gap. The largest one weighs 28 tons. Seventeen large freight wagons were also shipped to the same place where the will be used by the firm of Towle Brothers & Co. to haul lumber.
October 31, 1883 The steam wagon was to make its first trip to the mills last week. Delayed due to weather Captain J. H. Roberts, proprietor, has two locomotive wagons and 32 trail or lumber wagons on the ground. The cost of the engines was $15,000 and the wagons $250 each. The road from the mills is six miles long and cost on average $1000 per mile. (The late L. E. Doan is credited as inventor)
November 24, 1883 Roberts planning a steam wagon service to Chico
June 14, 1884 roads too wet for steam wagons
July 29, 1884 The steam wagon has about failed due to bad roads. Both machines are broken down and the parts have been sent to the city for repair. The Steam Transportation Co. says they will make a success of it.
August 23, 1884 Steam wagon done very well last few days. Doan is driving the small steamer
September 5, 1884 The steam wagon has proven beyond a doubt to be a success.
June 4, 1887 R. Doan made the steam wagons that were used by the San Joaquin Co. to haul grain to the river in Calusa County. An improved wagon was finished at the Union Iron Works Thursday. Unlike earlier machines this one has the cylinders directly connected like a locomotive.
June 6, 1887 Doan’s steam wagon was tested Saturday and loaded on a flat car to be taken to “the hill” near Blue Canyon to haul lumber. It weighs 28 tons.
June 23, 1887 Doan’s new steam wagon is doing good work and promise to be a success.
September 13, 1887 The wheels of Doan’s steam wagon which has been operation near Towles have been brought to the city for repairs.
February 19, 1889 patent https://patents.google.com/patent/US397976?oq=397%2c976 ;
Applied 10-11-88
February 23, 1889 https://www.google.com/books/edition/Pacific_Rural_Press/dd87UwJyAh8C?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=doan+%22road+engine%22&pg=PA177&printsec=frontcover
May 19, 1889 steamer being built to run from Sierra Valley to Verdi
August 1, 1889 two steam wagons hauling lumber from Sierra Valley to Verdi, CA. 20 tons each, 16½ miles, 500 feet to the mile, 12 hours round trip
June 28, 1890 Doan steam wagon used by the Citizen’s Street Improvement Co. to haul gravel for Sacramento streets. Captain Roberts and Mr. Doan say they are pleased with the trial trip.
July 12, 1890 County gives Roberts franchise to use county road out of Truckee, $2500 bond
July 26, 1890 The steam wagon running between Loyalton and Truckee hauls 80,000 feet of lumber at a speed of five miles per hour. 40 mile round trip each day.
August 4, 1891 Doan & Roberts steam wagon hauling from the Peck & Lewis mill to Verdi. 45,000 feet biggest load
June 21, 1894 2 steam wagons hauling 40,000 feet of lumber each from Lewis Mills to Verdi, CA.
September 7, 1897 A steam wagon had a fitting knocked off the boiler mile east of Sardine Valley killing the fireman Gilbert Litzeberg. Litzenberger?
September 23, 1897 Two steam wagons are running ten miles from Lewis Mill to Folk’s Summit hauling lumber. Horses take the loads from there. A third steam wagon hauls ten to twelve thousand feet of logs 1 ½ miles from the woods to the mill.
PHOTOGRAPHS at LEWIS MILLS
http://archives.csuchico.edu/digital/collection/coll11/id/19555/
https://unr.dgicloud.com/islandora/object/spphotoscollection%3A7013
https://utah-primoprod.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=digcoll_unr_15spphotoscollection_7012&context=L&vid=MWDL
https://www.omnia.ie/index.php?navigation_function=2&navigation_item=f320f537dbef6d3f2b09582fc9ad08ad&repid=2
https://calisphere.org/item/2425239aad9fb5f9b26bb4c638b239ef/
https://calisphere.org/item/ark:/13030/tf5t1nb6dp/
https://unr.dgicloud.com/islandora/object/spphotoscollection%3A8013
https://unr.dgicloud.com/islandora/object/spotoscollection%3A7016
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Logging_in_Plumas_County/VGaA1ddhR5EC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=doan+steam+tractor&pg=PA60&printsec=frontcover
John Taubeneck is 72 and lives in north Seattle, WA. He has always been interested in steam equipment epochal machines built in the West and used in the lumber industry. Researching obscure machines and sharing the information is a hobby of mine.
HCS checked all links stable as of Oct. 2021.
January 1875 patent https://patents.google.com/patent/US158923
March 16, 1875 A working model of the California Farm and Road Locomotive is on display at the rooms of the Sierra Nevada Lumber Assn. (Truckee). 4 wheels, all driving, ball and socket joint, chain drive. A locomotive is being built and will be in running order in about six weeks. It will weigh about six tons.
April 1, 1875 A road locomotive is being built at the Union Iron Works. 2 8 inch cylinders, four six foot wheels, vertical boiler, should be completed in five weeks.
April 15, 1875 A steam wagon is being built at Boca by Mr. Doan, for the hauling of lumber. Its constructor is confident that he can haul 20,000 feet of lumber up the Geiger Grade. Reno to Virginia City, NV
July 1, 1875 steam wagon engines tested
July 15, 1875 Doan steam wagon was out for trials again yesterday after alterations were made to the machinery. It did well except for the boiler foaming.
July 21, 1875 The gearing is being changed to reduce the speed and increase the power.
August 21, 1875 Doan steam wagon was yesterday completed to the satisfaction of its owner. It was moved to the upper portion of the city.
September 22, 1875 Doan steam wagon being demonstrated at the Sacramento fair grounds
April 27, 1876 Steam wagon has found suitable employment moving houses around the city.
January 13, 1877 boiler for new steam wagon to be built by J. J. Cunningham
March 30, 1877 new steam wagon nearing completion at W. B. Ready & Co.’s machine shop
April 6, 1877 Nearing completion at Sacramento Plow Mfg. Co. test run yesterday horizontal return flue boiler, 3 wheels, bevel gearing
May 26, 1877 to be tested Wednesday hauling 10,000 feet of lumber
June 2, 1877 tested yesterday until something broke
June 9, 1877 tested with 10,000 feet of lumber. Rod to back wheel broke on hard pull, driven back to shop by front wheel
June 10, 1877 declared a great success, soon see a line of these wagons hauling from Reno to Virginia City. Will haul lumber at $3 per thousand.
September 25, 1877 Doan displaying a “Fireman’s Road Locomotive” at the fair.
March 25, 1878 The owners of the San Francisco Sulphur mine at Rabbit Hole, NV have hired the Doan Brothers steam wagon. It has three driving wheels 6 feet high, 10 inches wide. Weight 7 tons without fuel or water. It is expected to haul 20 tons of Sulphur from the mine to Mill City, about 60 miles, in two days on two cords of wood. Today it left for the mine with two wagon loads of machinery. $5 per ton for six months
May 28, 1878 A.(sic) R. Doan has given up his contract hauling for the San Francisco Sulphur Company. He will take his steam wagon to Rye Patch were he has subcontracted hauling oar from the mine.
September 17, 1878 Last week new steam wagon belonging to San Joaquin Co. hauled 20 tons of wheat from Willows to Princeton. Captain Roberts rode the whole way, will invest $60,000 more in the steamers. Wheat from Willows to San Francisco at $3 per ton
September 28, 1878 Sacramento Wood Co., owners of steamers San Joaquin and Naruna, sent Doan steam wagon to the upper Sacramento to haul grain. It is now at the Union Iron Works having a steam drum placed over the boiler. It was not able to keep up steam pressure due to foaming.
October 2, 1878 Steam wagon hauling trains of grain from Willows to Princeton for the San Joaquin Company. Very successful. The San Joaquin Co. are having drafts made of its machinery in order to have one or more additional machines made.
October 3, 1878 Three steam wagons to be put into use this fall, one each at Calusa, Princeton and Jacinto
November 5, 1878 A new steam wagon for the San Joaquin Company is being built at the Union Iron Works
January 11, 1879 Weight 23,000 pounds, 2 8x10 cylinders, 3 wheels, bevel gear drive Used for a considerable time in Nevada for hauling ore. After the mine closed it was moved to Sacramento where it was used for moving houses and other heavy work. Recently taken to Calusa to haul grain to the boats owned by the Sacramento Wood Company (Captain John Roberts).
https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=PRP18790111.2.26.3&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN--------1
June 3, 1879 steam wagon tested yesterday, 5 mph
June 14, 1879 Doan steam wagon to haul children on July 4
July 5, 1879 Steam wagon to be tested today pulling 40 tons. If successful it will be shipped up the river
July 7, 1879 successfully tested Saturday
July 18, 1879 taken up the river on a barge with six wagons by steamer San Joaquin No. 3
July 25, 1879 Saturday Captain Roberts brought a steam wagon and nine wagons up to haul freight from Chico
August 9, 1879 first trip a few days ago of steam wagon running to Chico hauling 40 tons on nine wagons
January 25, 1881 Union Iron Works contracted to build another steam wagon
July 2, 1881 The Doane (sic) steam wagon which has been undergoing many changes and improvements at the Union Iron Works, on Front Street, has been completed and upon trial works entirely satisfactory to its owners. The leading improvement in the new wagon is that of doing away with the beveled gearing, as also the chain and wire rope for transmitting power, and in their place is substituted square spur gearing. The weight of the present steam wagon is about 17 or 18 tons, and is expected to readily haul 50 tons of grain. It will leave in a day or two for the upper Sacramento Valley. It will probably be used hauling grain from Riceville to McIntosh’s Landing, 16 miles. (160 miles above Sacramento) The former wagon consumed about one ton of coal and one cord of wood a day. The new wagon will burn coal only. It cost about $8000.
http://archives.csuchico.edu/digital/collection/coll11/id/19555/ (HCS filled out form requesting to use the digital image)
July 12, 1881 Robert’s steam wagon has arrived at Riceville
July 23, 1881 steam wagon greatly improved, hauling 40 tons from Riceville to McIntosh Landing.
August 5, 1881 contracted to haul 30,000 sacks of wheat at $1 per ton
March 4, 1882 new steam wagon ready by Fall
April 21, 1882 The Union Iron Works are building one of the Doan Road Traction engines, which is to be used in Calusa County. This firm has made several of these engines.
May 2, 1882 steam wagon packing road for summer use
July 28, 1882 hauling grain
October 6, 1882 2 steam wagons in use. The new one will haul 800 sacks with ease.
August 15, 1883 Doan’s steam wagon is being overhauled at the foundry of Root, Nielson & Co., on Front street. It is said that it will be used in the mountains to haul lumber from the sawmills to the railroad.
August 16, 1883 will haul lumber from the Texas (Friend, Terry & Co.) and Tunnel (Towle Brothers) sawmills to the railroad at snowshed 27, 1¼ miles from Emigrant Gap, about 6 miles. Doan is superintendent, road about half finished, about 120 Chinese working, $2 per thousand
October 11, 1883 Two of the famous Doan steam wagons were yesterday shipped by rail to a station near Emigrant Gap. The largest one weighs 28 tons. Seventeen large freight wagons were also shipped to the same place where the will be used by the firm of Towle Brothers & Co. to haul lumber.
October 31, 1883 The steam wagon was to make its first trip to the mills last week. Delayed due to weather Captain J. H. Roberts, proprietor, has two locomotive wagons and 32 trail or lumber wagons on the ground. The cost of the engines was $15,000 and the wagons $250 each. The road from the mills is six miles long and cost on average $1000 per mile. (The late L. E. Doan is credited as inventor)
November 24, 1883 Roberts planning a steam wagon service to Chico
June 14, 1884 roads too wet for steam wagons
July 29, 1884 The steam wagon has about failed due to bad roads. Both machines are broken down and the parts have been sent to the city for repair. The Steam Transportation Co. says they will make a success of it.
August 23, 1884 Steam wagon done very well last few days. Doan is driving the small steamer
September 5, 1884 The steam wagon has proven beyond a doubt to be a success.
June 4, 1887 R. Doan made the steam wagons that were used by the San Joaquin Co. to haul grain to the river in Calusa County. An improved wagon was finished at the Union Iron Works Thursday. Unlike earlier machines this one has the cylinders directly connected like a locomotive.
June 6, 1887 Doan’s steam wagon was tested Saturday and loaded on a flat car to be taken to “the hill” near Blue Canyon to haul lumber. It weighs 28 tons.
June 23, 1887 Doan’s new steam wagon is doing good work and promise to be a success.
September 13, 1887 The wheels of Doan’s steam wagon which has been operation near Towles have been brought to the city for repairs.
February 19, 1889 patent https://patents.google.com/patent/US397976?oq=397%2c976 ;
Applied 10-11-88
February 23, 1889 https://www.google.com/books/edition/Pacific_Rural_Press/dd87UwJyAh8C?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=doan+%22road+engine%22&pg=PA177&printsec=frontcover
May 19, 1889 steamer being built to run from Sierra Valley to Verdi
August 1, 1889 two steam wagons hauling lumber from Sierra Valley to Verdi, CA. 20 tons each, 16½ miles, 500 feet to the mile, 12 hours round trip
June 28, 1890 Doan steam wagon used by the Citizen’s Street Improvement Co. to haul gravel for Sacramento streets. Captain Roberts and Mr. Doan say they are pleased with the trial trip.
July 12, 1890 County gives Roberts franchise to use county road out of Truckee, $2500 bond
July 26, 1890 The steam wagon running between Loyalton and Truckee hauls 80,000 feet of lumber at a speed of five miles per hour. 40 mile round trip each day.
August 4, 1891 Doan & Roberts steam wagon hauling from the Peck & Lewis mill to Verdi. 45,000 feet biggest load
June 21, 1894 2 steam wagons hauling 40,000 feet of lumber each from Lewis Mills to Verdi, CA.
September 7, 1897 A steam wagon had a fitting knocked off the boiler mile east of Sardine Valley killing the fireman Gilbert Litzeberg. Litzenberger?
September 23, 1897 Two steam wagons are running ten miles from Lewis Mill to Folk’s Summit hauling lumber. Horses take the loads from there. A third steam wagon hauls ten to twelve thousand feet of logs 1 ½ miles from the woods to the mill.
PHOTOGRAPHS at LEWIS MILLS
http://archives.csuchico.edu/digital/collection/coll11/id/19555/
https://unr.dgicloud.com/islandora/object/spphotoscollection%3A7013
https://utah-primoprod.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=digcoll_unr_15spphotoscollection_7012&context=L&vid=MWDL
https://www.omnia.ie/index.php?navigation_function=2&navigation_item=f320f537dbef6d3f2b09582fc9ad08ad&repid=2
https://calisphere.org/item/2425239aad9fb5f9b26bb4c638b239ef/
https://calisphere.org/item/ark:/13030/tf5t1nb6dp/
https://unr.dgicloud.com/islandora/object/spphotoscollection%3A8013
https://unr.dgicloud.com/islandora/object/spotoscollection%3A7016
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Logging_in_Plumas_County/VGaA1ddhR5EC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=doan+steam+tractor&pg=PA60&printsec=frontcover
John Taubeneck is 72 and lives in north Seattle, WA. He has always been interested in steam equipment epochal machines built in the West and used in the lumber industry. Researching obscure machines and sharing the information is a hobby of mine.
HCS checked all links stable as of Oct. 2021.
Editor's Note: A little further researching and the Searls Library in Nevada City had these impressive images of the Roberts & Doan Steam Wagon. One of the images in their online photo collection, an article from the Reno Evening Gazette cannot be located online so it is an advantage for us to be able to share this with you.