Lime for the Refinery

Contra Costa County - List of Stone Quarries, Etc.: "The Mount Diablo quarries near Pacheco were the site of the first lime-making in California after the American occupation. This began in the spring of 1851 (Logan 1947) although no records of production previous to 1903 are available. The Henry Cowell Lime Company reported lime production from 1903 until 1915, excepting 1906 and 1908.

"The Spreckels Sugar Company quarried travertine from pits located south of the Cowell quarries for many years previous to 1915. This stone was shipped to the sugar refinery at Crockett and to the Selby smelter. At the latter plant it was used as a flux for smelting gold, silver and lead ores. This property was purchased by the Henry Cowell Lime and Cement Company in 1916.