The Red River Lumber Company archives in Minnesota provides a wealth information on so many topics. Of note, the kept interesting records and observations about logging/sawmill operations throughout Northern California and Oregon.
One area where company officials “Whitewash” is that of industrial accidents. After all, it should be duly noted especially in that era, logging and sawmill operations were very dangerous occupations. Of course, in company records, invaribly the employee was at fault.
A perfect example is that case of Clarence Falegar. On September 7, 1916, Fletcher wrote: “Day before yesterday while one of our electricians was at work on a high voltage line, 2300 volts, he got a hold of a live wire in each hand causing a dead short through his body, killing him instantly. He was a young fellow by the name of Clarence Falegar who was raised on the Falegar Ranch in Falegar Gulch of Mountain Meadows, had had been at work for us a couple of years. He was 23 years old, single, has a brother working here and his Father lives in the Sacramento Valley, I believe. This make, as I recall, the 13thman to be killed on the construction and operation of this plant in three years, which is a pretty heavy price for the lumber and development of the plant, but I do not know how any one of the accidents could have been avoided as long as we have the element of heedlessness, carelessness and disregard for ordinary precaution along with the element of accident.”