History of Tesla

By Dan L. Mosier

Subjects: Tesla coal mines, clay, coal, Western Pacific Railway, railroads, California, History, bricks

Description: California is not known for its coal mines. Yet, a few coal mines in California played a significant role in the state's early industrial developments. One of the important coal mines was the Tesla coal mines, which was the second largest in California and led the state's coal production for nearly a decade. John Treadwell, of Alaska gold mining fame, developed the Tesla coal mines in eastern Alameda County, California, in 1890. He designed and built the company town of Tesla that supported 1,200 residents. He also built a railroad from Tesla to Stockton, which in 1903 evolved into the Western Pacific Railway when the coal road was extended to the Oakland waterfront. Tesla coal was used in the country's first successful coal briquette plant built in Stockton. This book describes the mines, the industrial plants, the railroads, and the people of Tesla. Over 100 photographs depict rare scenes of Tesla and its people. Read this book to find out what happened at Tesla and how a town of 1,200 suddenly disappeared off the maps and was nearly forgotten.