John Beaton began his service with the Division of Highways in 1929 as an Engineering Aid. He later worked for the Bridge Department until after World War II when he transferred to the State Personnel Board. He returned to the Division of Highways Design Department. He was named State Equipment Engineer in 1963 and then in 1964 was appointed Chief of the Materials and Research Department. Topics covered include Kings River Canyon job and working with Camp 39 convict labor, participated in survey of county built bridges when a large number of county roads taken over by State in 1933. Worked with J. W. Vickrey to devise reorganization/expansion plan for Division of Highways to meet requirements of Collier Burns Act of 1947. Recruited junior civil engineers from out of state in 1950s. Worked at Materials and Research Lab under Francis Hveem, laboratory fire of 1956. Welded construction of bridges, use of T1 Steel for Carquinez Bridge, utilization of prestressed concrete on bridge building, initiation of dynamic testing of guardrails/crash tests using radio-controlled automobiles and Governor Hiram Johnson's legacy of noninterference by politicians in the operations of State Government.
Copyrighted. Rights are owned by Caltrans Library & History Center. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owner. In addition, the reproduction of some materials may be restricted by terms of gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and publicity rights, licensing and trademarks. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.