Six Companies
| Company type | Partnership |
|---|---|
| Industry | Construction |
| Founded | February 1930 |
| Founder | Utah Construction Company, Morrison-Knudsen, Henry J. Kaiser Co., Bechtel Corporation, MacDonald and Kahn, Pacific Bridge Company, J.F. Shea Co |
| Headquarters | United States |
Key people | W.H. Wattis (President), W.A. Bechtel (First Vice President), E.O. Wattis (Second Vice President), Charles A. Shea (Secretary), Felix Kahn (Treasurer), K.K. Bechtel (Assistant Secretary-Treasurer) |
| Products | Construction of Hoover Dam, Parker Dam, Grand Coulee Dam components, Colorado River Aqueduct, military airfields and facilities during WWII |
Six Companies, Inc. was a collaborative enterprise established to construct the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River, spanning Nevada and Arizona. This partnership subsequently undertook significant projects such as the Parker Dam, components of the Grand Coulee Dam, and the Colorado River Aqueduct, which serves the urban areas of Southern California.
Hoover Dam
On January 10, 1932, the Bureau of Reclamation issued bidding documents for the Hoover Dam construction. While the government provided the necessary materials, contractors were tasked with site preparation and building. The contract stipulated a $2 million bid bond and a $5 million performance bond, with a completion timeframe set at seven years.
Since no single contractor could handle the entire scope independently, the Utah Construction Company joined forces with Morrison-Knudsen and four additional firms to create Six Companies, Inc. in February 1930. They involved Morrison-Knudsen’s Frank T. Crowe to assist in developing their bid proposal.
On March 4, 1931, Six Companies secured the contract by submitting a bid of US$48,890,955—approximately $5 million lower than their closest rival. Crowe was named General Construction Superintendent, managing daily operations while residing onsite with his family.
Work commenced in June 1931 and concluded in 1935, finishing two years ahead of schedule. Crowe earned a bonus for completing most stages early. Although officially dedicated in September 1935, minor repairs addressing leakage issues continued quietly until 1947.
Six Companies Railroad
To support construction efforts, Six Companies built a 19.1-mile railroad along Hemenway Wash (currently Las Vegas Bay), connecting to the US Government Hoover Dam Railroad at Lawler, Nevada ("US Government Junction"). From Lawler, the track extended northward seven miles to Saddle Island and eastward to the Three-Way Junction gravel plant, now submerged beneath Lake Mead. The railroad then bifurcated: one branch ran south for 4.8 miles toward the dam via Cape Horn, Lomix (Low Level Concrete Mixing Plant), Himix (High Level Concrete Mixing Plant), and along the dam face; the other branch proceeded north for 7.3 miles crossing Las Vegas Wash and the Colorado River into Arizona, reaching the Arizona gravel pit near Callville.
The line was constructed by railroad contractor John Phillips from San Francisco. After dam completion and Lake Mead’s formation, portions of this railroad were submerged underwater. The Western Pacific Railroad acquired several surplus dump cars from Six Companies; one of these is preserved at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum located in Portola, California.
Additionally, the US Government Railroad featured a 10-mile branch line that supplied materials through a connection to Union Pacific Railroad's Boulder City Branch at Boulder City, Nevada.
WWII
Throughout World War II, Six Companies broadened its operations by constructing airfields and military facilities across Pacific islands. The firm also held controlling interest in Joshua Hendy Iron Works based in Sunnyvale, California—famed for producing an unparalleled total of 754 Liberty Ship EC-2 Reciprocating Steam Engines at a remarkable pace of one engine every 40.8 hours—to support Richmond Shipyards’ wartime production. This expansion significantly increased Six Companies’ industrial capabilities and played a vital role in wartime manufacturing efforts.
Company structure
Six Companies Inc. was composed of the following entities:
- The partnership of Henry J. Kaiser Co. (Oakland, California) and Bechtel Corporation (San Francisco), operating as Bechtel-Kaiser, holding a 30% stake
- MacDonald and Kahn based in Los Angeles, California, with a 20% share
- Utah Construction Company located in Ogden, Utah, also owning 20%
- Morrison-Knudsen from Boise, Idaho, controlling 10%
- Pacific Bridge Company situated in Portland, Oregon, with a 10% interest
- J.F. Shea Co of Portland, Oregon, possessing 10%
The leadership positions were allocated among these firms as follows:
- President: W.H. Wattis (Utah Construction Company)
- First Vice President: W.A. Bechtel (Bechtel-Kaiser)
- Second Vice President: E.O. Wattis (Utah Construction Company)
- Secretary: Charles A. Shea (J.F. Shea Co)
- Treasurer: Felix Kahn (MacDonald and Kahn)
- Assistant Secretary-Treasurer: K.K. Bechtel (Bechtel-Kaiser)
The board of directors featured prominent executives including W.H. Wattis, E.O. Wattis, Charles A. Shea, Felix Kahn, Stephen D. Bechtel, Henry J. Kaiser, Alan MacDonald, and Philip Hart.