of the head, As a result of our testing and calibration we feel that we
have an accurate measuring device which we are confident will give
good performance,

One feature of the weir box is that a quiet pool for reading the
gage height has been provided above the baffle so that accurate gage
readings may be easily obtained,

Since the discharges did not agree exactly with the conventional
Cippoletti weir rating, the weir box has been rated and a rating curve
or table will be included on the design drawings of the device, It is
planned to prepare standard drawings of the weir box in three sizes, the
largest size being for 6 cfs capacity and the other twobeingsmaller. The
rating of the smaller sizes will soon be completed and it is hoped tohave
the design drawings completed for inclusion in the next release of this
bulletin which we plan to have out early in March,

OK Ok Ok Ok

HOW IS YOUR SALT BALANCE?

We are thinking of your irrigated lands now and not about your
individual physiques, On some projects where the irrigation water is
extremely low in dissolved salts, the problem of salt concentrations
building up is not too serious, Unfortunately, however, many of our
projects are not blessed with that kind of a water supply. Those proj-
ects whose water supply contains an appreciable amount of dissolved
salts, and who are thereby applying more salts to their lands than their
drainage water is carrying away, are heading towards trouble, Just how
serious this problem is may be determined by any project by recording
the amount of salts leaving its lands by way of drains and comparing that
with what is entering the lands in the irrigationwater. To make this de-
termination it is necessary to know the total acre feet of water applied
to the lands and the total acre feet of water leaving via the drains to-
gether with the salinity content of each, If the salt leaving your project
is more than that coming in through the canals and laterals, you are
probably OK, If more salt is coming in via the irrigation water than is
leaving through the drains, look out!

xk KOR OK

13


floor finishes, pneumatically applied mortars, grouting mortars, and
expansive mortar of concrete to secure water-tight patches, Many of
the repair or construction procedures are illustrated and charts and ta-
bles are provided to simplify the design of concrete mixes and explain
the effect and advantage of additives such as calcium chloride and air-
entrainment agents, The importance of selecting the proper water-
cement ratio and other factors for a given exposure condition to obtain
maximum durability are also covered,

The Concrete Manual is available upon request and without cost

to Bureau personnel. To others it can be made available at a cost of
$1.75,

Ok Ok Ok Ok

SOMETHING NEW IN A POWER SAW

The Wright Power Saw and Tool Corporation, 292 Longbrook
Avenue, Stratford, Connecticut, has placed on the market the saw shown
in the photograph below after having had it in service for 3 years of on-
the-job testing,

Marketed as a truly portable precision power saw, the product is
described as 10-20 times faster than handsaws, provides accurate line-of-
sight sawing with a smooth cut 3/16-inch narrow kerf, Its versatility in-
cludes crosscutting, ripping, notching and framing of hard or soft woods,
and being light in weight, 15 pounds, can be handled in any position and in
many normally unaccessible locations,

The saw is simple inconstruction and blades can be sharpened like
ordinary handsaws, Safety inoperation is claimed because there is no kick-
back or grabbing due to the opposed stroke of the twin reciprocating blades,


The compressor is obtainable without running gear but shipped
on skids for truck or stationary mounting. Mounted in this manner the
length is 7 feet by 1 inch, width without hose reels, 2 feet by 8 inches,
and height, 4 feet by 2-3/8 inches.

Two-hundred and ten and 315 cfm Rotary, Mobile-Air compres-
sors similar to the 105 cfm unit and mounted on a 4-wheel running gear
are also available. Information on any of the compressors can be ob-
tained from Ingersoll-Rand Company distributors located in all large
cities, or from 11 Broadway, New York 4, New York. Cost of the 105

is $3,500, fob Denver, where it is stocked by the Colorado Builders
Supply Company.

OK OK OK Ok

THE
HYDROHOE--HYDROCRANE

A highly mobile, hydraulic controlled and operated, and easily
convertible backhoe-crane rig is being produced by the Bucyrus-Erie
Company under the trade name ''H-3, Hydrohoe--Hydrocrane. "

@ completely hydraulic
dragshovel

In either the Hydrohoe--shown above and called a drag-shovel--
or the Hydrocrane, precise and simplified hydraulic control make opera-
tion much easier and inexperienced operators soon become adept at han-
dling these machines. Without bails, sheave blocks or drag ropes and
powered by the same engine that drives the truck upon. which the rig is
mounted, many wearing parts have been eliminated.


PAINT AND PROTECTIVE COATINGS

Unless you are a paint specialist in your own right or an auth-
ority on protective coatings, you, or any other maintenance man, will
welcome the Paint Manual, issued as a Specialist Supplement of the Rec-
lamation Manual. Published in 1951 by the Bureau of Reclamation, the
first edition provides information, advice, and instructions relating to
paints and practices, as applied to Bureau Work.

The present pocket-size edition, replaces a tentative edition is-
sued in 1941, and contains the comments and suggestions of field people
like yourselves who have been called upon to provide information on the
field application, performance and general value of the many products
utilized over a period of many years for protecting surfaces from dete-
rioration and corrosion. Also contained in the Manual, in the form of
recommendations, specifications, etc. covering the composition and
application of various paints, are the results of thousands of tests and
investigations made by the Bureau Paint Laboratory. As pointed out in
the Manual, there is considerably greater subject coverage that would be
indicated by the title, which was selected for brevity. The term "paint"
commonly applies to only a few of the coating materials used, but other
materials which cannot technically be designated as paint are discussed.
These include varnishes, lacquers, plastics, hot-applied bituminous prod-
ucts, cement-mortars, and others.

One chapter of the Manual is devoted to a general description of
the types of coatings, rust preventative compounds and accessory mate-
rials, together with their composition and properties. The accessory
materials include thinners, colors, stains, driers, puttys, and glazing
compounds, caulking compounds, fillers, cements, and paints and varnish
removers, etc. Another chapter discusses the painting of woodwork, with
general comments, and applicable specifications references, Special em-
phasis is given the preparation of the surfaces before being painted, the
preparation of the paint or covering material, its mixing, tinting, warm-
ing if necessary for best results, and its application,

The painting or application of protective coverings to metal work
is covered in much the same manner. However, since a large portion of
the protective coatings employed by the Bureau are for the protection of
metal surfaces, the causes of deterioration and corrosion of metals are
treated. This subject is discussed in considerable detail stressing the
selection of the type of coating, which depends so much upon exposure;
whether it be underwater, air and water, outside atmosphere, or special
conditions such as exposure to excessive condensation, grease and oil,
acid or alkali, and others. Many methods for the preparation of unpainted
metals or their repainting are suggested and equipment and procedures
are illustrated. Such paints as Coal-Tar Pitch, CA-50 Coal-Tar Paint, and
CTP-3 Coal Tar Paint are discussed, giving the suggested use of each and
their limitations or disadvantages,

Of especial interest to O&M personnel are the methods and pointers
given for detection of early evidence of deteriorationor corrosion, Advance

6


Model No, A-256 shown, has an over-all length of 46 inches,
can make a cut 21 inches long with unlimited depth. The saw is pneu-
matically powered, consuming less than 60 cubic feet of air per minute
at a pressure of 70 to 100 psi, The semicircular pistons are compactly
fitted into the 3-1/4 inch diameter motor housing and operation is con-
trolled by a safety throttle, which automatically stops the saw upon re-
lease,

The price of this implement is quoted as $365, fob Denver, Colo-
rado, which includes one extra set of blades and a wooden carryingcase, The
saw is carried by the Colorado Builders Supply Company, Denver, Colorado,

KOK Kk

CLEANING BOGGY DRAINS

Do you have a continual problem of keeping drains open, drains
where the banks keep sloughing in about as fast as you can clean out the
bottom with a dragline? Some of our operators have met such a prob-
lem by permitting the bottom of the drain to grow up in cattails and other
vegetation so that the root mat serves to stabilize the material, Anarrow
trench is excavated out of the middle of the stabilized bottom of the drain
with a clam shell bucket, care being taken not to disturb the vegatationon
each side of the trench, Keeping the trench narrow is quite important
since that leaves a maximum amount of root-bound material on each side,
maintains an adequate velocity, and also, as the cattails grow up they
shade the channel and prevent growth of moss and water weeds, Particular
care should be taken to excavate the trenchas straight as possible and along
the true centerline of the drain in order to obtain best flow conditions,

xk OK OK OK

5


INGERSOLL-RAND 105 CFM ROTARY COMPRESSOR

The Ingersoll-Rand Company Gyro-Flo, Rotary, Mobil-Air Unit,
described by them as the most revolutionary design change made during
their 50 years of portable compressor history, is a 2-wheel, trailer type
mounted unit. Weighing only 2,630 pounds, ready-to-go, the new unit
weighs 20 percent less than their similar capacity reciprocating compressor.

The use of a rotary sliding-vane compressor eliminates 80 percent
of the wearing parts, such as valves, pistons, rings, rods, and clutch found
in the reciprocating type compressors. Two stage compression, low operat-
ing temperature due to oil injection cooling, which also provides for copious
lubrication, results in high efficiency. However, it is claimed that oil con-
sumption is low, with 99.999 percent of the oil which mixes with the air
during compression being removed by baffles and filter before entering hose
lines. Air actually carries less oil than in many reciprocating-type com-
pressors,

The Gyro-Flo 105 is available with either a General Motors Model
2-51, valveless, 2-cycle, 2-cylinder, diesel engine (parts replaceable with
any GM series 51 engine), or a Continental Red Seal Model F-162, 4-cylinder,
4-cycle, L-head engine with individual porting for maximum power with
standard grades of gasoline. Both motors are provided with push-button
starting. The Diesel equipped unit weighs 3, 080 pounds, or 350 pounds
more than the gasoline powered unit.

The ready-to-go unit has a length of 10 feet by 8-1/2 inches, a
width of 4 feet by 9-3/4 inches, and a height with pneumatic tires of 5 feet
by 3-1/4 inches. The unit also is obtainable with steel wheels and in either
case has a track width of 45 inches.


Department of the Interior

Bureau of Reclamation

OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE

: EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURES
. RELEASE NO. 2

> January Febraary = 1953

wiot wuPl ~ BU NUT REI

Gls
L Correct angle without offsets
important for best vacuum - 45° Square ends reamed
a to remove burs
ee = “4 and obstructions~.
y %e Pipe accurately H ohstructio \
Uy centered--, Kf \ )
= / sss YS }
es K- Nozzle I"
J 0.270"
"Air hose Gn. D
*% Quick acting valve fe a5°y
. “This distance should be
Ps : ad justed to give best
%* Suction hose drawing AW S
> applied material results under operating
4 from container, conditions.
“~~ =] &
_ \
| “Suction hose
fom
E—
Goma) CONTENTS
[——} An Air. tion Gun and the Concrete Manual
‘ 8 Something Different in a Portable Power Saw
° Cleaning Boggy Drains
fe Paint and Protective Coverings-The Bureau Paint Manual
P SSX Bureau Water Measurement Manual Goes to Press
E> The Ingersoll-Rand Rotary Type Compressor
The Truck Mounted Bueyrus- Erie Hydrohoe-Hydrocrane
Excavator Operation and Maintenance Hints
ome Measuring Irrigation Deliveries with the Yakima Weir Box

How is Your Salt Balance?
A Trenching Shield for Laying Drain Tile
Compacted Earth as a Lining Maierial



EXCAVATOR OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE HINTS

On the left, there is reproduced

the cover page of an excellent 32-
page bulletin issued by the Bucyrus-
Erie Company, South Milwaukee,
Wisconsin, pointing out that in exca-
vator operation there are:

WAYS TO MAKE

YOUR EXCAVATOR FOUR BASIC ELEMENTS

TO REMEMBER

1. To get the most out of your exca-
vator or crane, you must have
proper operating procedure. Con-
sult operator's manual and keep
sucha manual available,

i<)

Complete knowledge of the "whys"
and 'wherefores" of lubrication
will be one of the greatest contri-
butions to the long life of your
machine,

3. Basic maintenance rules will keep
an excavator inshape. Refertothe
operator's manual for your machine,

Bucyrus-Erie Company + tours miiwauxtt, wisconsin 4, The amount of work you can get out
of your machine and the ease with
which you can operate it depends
greatly on proper adjustments.
These are easy to make--make
them as soon and as oftenas neces-
sary.

Included in the pamphlet are operating hints; tips, hows, and
whys, to obtain maximum output, efficiency, and top performance; sugges-
tions on preventative maintenance, including cleanliness, adjustments,
lubrication, and repairs; and care of the power unit, the heart of the
excavator,

Some worthwhile Safety Hints that should be called to the atten-
tion of operators and oilers are well put, as we start a New Year.

This bulletin is available without cost from the Bucyrus-Erie
Company and their distributors.

OK OK OK OK

11


A telescoping, gooseneck-designed boom makes for less frequent
truck movements and provides for greater digging depths with a shorter
more easily handled boom and affords lower overhead clearance during
travel or operation, Four outriggers which extend, retract and set hy-
draulically reduce the setting up and moving time, as well as increase the
lift capacity, The handling of the outriggers from the operator's seat
makes their use during all lifting operations practical and this in turn
permits the mounting of the equipment on a relatively light truck chassis,

In addition to being easily convertible in the field from shovel to

crane or the reverse, accessories for use with the crane include an 8-
tine forked grab, a 3-tine grapple, a hook, 3/8-cubic yard clam bucket,
a 1-cubic yard snow and trash bucket, a catch basin cleaning bucket, a
1/2-cubic yard materials handling bucket, all of which operate hydrau-
lically, and a magnet, Both the 12-inch and 18-inch wide dipper buck-
ets for use with the shovel are equipped with hydraulic ejectors which
facilitate quick and clean dumping without hoisting the dipper,

Information and inquiry concerning the H-3, Hydrohoe--Hydro-
crane can be obtained from the Bucyrus-Erie Company main office in
South Milwaukee or from any of the many distributor and service offices
located in most larger cities in the United States, and in many foreign
countries, The Hydrohoe, mounted on a GMC Model FC -352 truck chas-
sis, equipped with an 18-inch wide dipper, and with interchangeable 18-
foot crane boom which extends hydraulically to 26 feet will cost $13, 180,
fob Denver, Colorado, One of the accessories, an 8-tine forked grab
suitable for weed or trash removal willcost about $1,220, The cost of the
Hydrohoe without crane boom is $11,390 plus $155 excise tax, fob Denver,

HYDROCRANE

H-3

HYDROHOE


or early detection of coating failure can reduce maintenance considerably,
if the failing coating is repaired without delay. This and such items as
compatability of various types of covering materials play an important
part in reducing the cost of preventative maintenance.

The preparation of concrete, plaster, and miscellaneous surfaces
for painting, the suggested paints, their application and repair are treated.
This includes such coverings as interior water paints, vinyl-resins, con-
crete floor paints; waxes for concrete, terrazzo, ceramic tile, linoleum,
wood, etc.; and waterproofing and damp-proofing materials.

The proper methods of inspecting and sampling paints and coat-
ings are presented and several pages are devoted to safety in painting
operations. An appendix lists many specifications covering the paints,
waxes, pigments, vehicles, removers, and other associated or accessory
materials.

The Paint Manual has added to our general fund of information on
the subject of protective coatings and as now issued represents the latest
compilation of the best information available on the subject. Like the
Concrete Manual, the Paint Manual is made available upon request and
without cost to Bureau personnel. To others, the cost is $1.25.

KK ok Ok Ke

BUREAU WATER MEASUREMENT MANUAL GOES TO PRESS

No doubt many of you operators will be glad to know that the
Bureau's Water Measurement Manual has been transmitted to Washing-
ton for printing by the Printing Office. If our friends in the Commissioner's
Office of the Bureau exert the influence with the Printing Office which we
hope they do, these handbooks should be available for your use during the
coming irrigation season.

The last edition of this handbook was published in April 1947 under
the title ''Manual for Measurement of Irrigation Water." There was some
dissatisfaction with this book on the part of operators in that they thought
that it was too large for a ditchrider to carry in his pocket and it contained
a lot of material that was of no use to ditchriders. In publishing the new
handbook, therefore, a different plan is being followed. The new Water
Measurement Manual will be a revision of the April 1947 edition with some
material added and will be about that size. To take care of the ditchriders
needs, the various rating tables and diagrams and other tables in the Water
Measurement Manual, are being bound separately in a smaller volume, to-
gether with descriptions of the various measuring devices. This volume
will be entitled 'Irrigation Water Measurement Tables and Diagrams."
This should provide the ditchriders with a handbook that is easy to carry
but which contains all of the information they will need in making water
measurements.

OOK KOK


SUCTION AND NOZZLE SIZES FOR VARIOUS USES OF SUCTION GUN

USE TO BE MADE Ue INCH 45° Y NOTES
OF GUN SUCTION] NOZZLE _| Sizes are standard pipe sizes
Air water jet x x 24" | Standard hose sizes for suction fit nipples of these pipe sizes
Ory sand blast "to 2"| 34x24" fairly tightly. :
Wet sand blast ¥%% or |" | %x 24" | Suction hose should be of convenient length (6 to 10 ft.) For vacuum
; cleaning and dry material, 2-inch vacuum hose is preferable
Plastic mortar gun % | % x10" | Nozzle lengths shown have worked well. Other lengths may be
(Mix!:2 plastic) better suited for other conditions.
Ory mortar gun "to 2"| 3x10" The nozzle may be fitted with elbow for buttering perimeter of
(Mix 1:4 damp) "poured patch" with plastic mortar.
Vacuum cleaner or | ,. | !¥or!% | Agood nozzle for dry mortar is the rubber lined tip of a standard
low lift pump 1% to 2 1010824, | Small gunite nozzle with an orifice of about % diameter.

TTT
ul
7

iw

SI" Air hose

Suction hose drawing
applied material
from container,

Detail of end

y Quick acting valve

Correct angle without offsets
important for best vacuum -45°_ Square ends reamed
a to remove burs
3 tions~.
% Pipe accurately \DY7 ond obstcuchiones.
centered--, K\ \ )
/ we eS )

ki Nozzle f"

0.270°°

Ib 45°

“~this distance should be
ad justed to give best
results under operating
conditions.

“Suction hose

NOTE

Air pressure should be
60 to 80 psi. measured
about 8 inches back of
Y with valve open

% For air-water jet, suction may also be connected to water line
For wet sandblast, small streams of water can also be admitted
through a proper attachment in nozzle.

AIR-SUCTION GUN FOR DRY SANDBLASTING,
WASHING, MORTAR APPLICATION AND VACUUM CLEANING

3


TRENCH SHIELD FOR LAYING DRAIN TILE

On a drainage system recently installed in the Big Horn District
of Region 6, an attempt was made to develop a trenching shieldto protect
workmen placing drain tile and to place the gravel envelop for the tile at
the same time. The equipment is shown in the accompanying photograph
and it performed quite creditably; however, several difficulties were en-
countered which it was not practicable for those concerned to solve. An
effort was made, therefore, to enlist the aid of the manufacturers of trench-
ing equipment in perfecting this type of equipment.

One of the manufac-
turers! first concerns is
of course, the matter of
a market for the machine.
Region 6 officials were
able to convince the
Barber-Greene people
that the Missouri River
Basin area will be a po-
tential market of consid-
erable magnitude as irri-
gation development pro-
ceeds; and that, of course,
is correct, Consequently,
the Barber-iGreene Com-
pany have expressed
themselves as being
deeply interested and
have turned the problem
over to their factory en-
gineers. We will hear
more of this as they
get into the problem.

A machine of this
type, that is, a trench
shield, was developed
and used by the United
Concrete Pipe Corporation and Vinnell Company, Incorporated, on a deep,
closed drain job they had on the Bureau's Delta- Mendota Canal in California.
This drain was placed 15 feet deep in saturated soil, The conditions there
were much more severe than would ordinarily be encountered. The shield
finally developed by the contractor was extremely heavy but it did a very
creditable job. It: was moved by power from a winch mounted on the trench-
er, and applied to a thirteen-part line anchored to two D-8 tractors, with
their dozer blades set in the ground. It is our thinking that a lighter shield
operating at lesser depths would have more general applications. What
are your needs for this type of equipment? Let us have your ideas.

ee ae

14


~~
RELATIVE VALUES OF [RELATIVE SUITABILITY
naponTan? PaYsicat PROPERTIES | "POR CANAL SECTIONS
MAJOR DIVISIONS TYPICAL NAMES crour
F Sons OF S01 GROUPS sTMBOLs
perMEA-| suzanine|coupacten| erosion | C°MRACTED
DuLiry | STRENGTE| DENSITY” | RESISTANCE
4
4 Be Wt eraded gravels, prave-nand mister ow “ 1 1 2
: Hoa} 8:
| 2
2h ili Poorly graded gravel, gravel-tand misures, or “ : 3
: Bags
8 B32 EE Silty gravels, poorly graded gravel-
a #23 /€ st sik Shsrurcs ou a ‘0 5 8
a4 aE 2 | 32 Ge
2 a 2 | BE fe Clayey gravel arly graded gravel-sand-
a P)E H iegey grave, pooiy graded ec ° * u 4 2
gag
f. 5
bid Be Me raed sands, gravelly sands, te oF ow s s s ’
83 a8
_ CEE: z 2
Boe a5 2
Be a3 Poorly graded sands, gravely sands, tte or - s n +
2 alg é coarse
22 _ 10 7
: 3 z Sitty sands, poorly graded sand-silt mixtures ou u . 10
i? E coarse | Erosion
25 ey ental
i BE Clayey sands, poorly graded sand-clay mixtures sc 5 A ° 1 ‘
g ial ‘Sand with clay binder ‘Sw-SC 7 rr’ “ 6 2
2
3 Inorganic silts and very fine sands, rock flour, silty 8
i : "or Clayey fine sande oat sgh plastic” ue 10 s s _— rowioe
; H Bos Eritcal
ef o EF
2 ae
g 3 Inorganic clays of low to medium plasticity, gravelly
a 23 neben sandy clays: silty clays, ean clays c 3 5 . 1 s
and ea
22.2 a
gu Organic silts and organic silt-lays of low 2,
Boys _ Erosion
a 4 2 hastcity ov ‘ 2 : Emtiog
z z
5 Inorganic sits, micaceous or ditemaceous fle
8 e "sandy or silty soils, elastic silts ua . s 2
é :
8 0
-_ g Inorganic clays of high plasticity, fat clays cH eT 4 ‘ 2 Volume Change
Critical
g
a
Organic clays of medium to high plasticity on 2 1 1 _ _
HIGHLY ORGAMIC sors Peat and other highly organic soils »
Numbers above indicate te order ‘Wumbers above
‘increasing valves for the Taeate relative
Shysica property nam Sutabiity (Tobe)
Important Physical Properties and Uses of Soils for Canal Linings



A MANY PURPOSE AIR-SUCTION GUN

The air-suction gun shown on the facing page is a very useful
addition to any project's tool kit, Developed by the Bureau of Reclama-
tion laboratory shops at the Denver Federal Center, the ''gun"has been
a pattern for construction of similar devices used on many construction
and operation and maintenance jobs for air-water jetting, wet and dry
sandblasting, the application of plastic or dry mortar, and as a vacuum

cleaner or low lift pump.

The photo, left, shows
the ''gun"’ being used to place
cement mortar, It can be as-
sembled, as shown on the fac-
ing page, from pipe and fit-
ings to be found in most project
warehouses or supply yards, A
minimum amount of machine
work is required,

The ''gun"' is one of many
useful tools and suggested
methods of concrete repair to
be found in the latest (5th) Edi-
tion of the Bureau of Reclama-
tion Concrete Manual, One
chapter of the manual is de-
voted especially to the repair
and maintenance of old andnew
concrete by dry packing, mor-
tar replacement, prepacked
concrete, and other methods,
The materials required, the re-
pair procedure, and suggested
inexpensive equipment that is
obtainable or can be fabricated
by project personnel are dis-
cussed,

The Why's and Wherefore's of good concrete construction are
stated in a brief concise form, explaining that, although the steps are
given for the accomplishment of good concrete work, it is equally essen-
tial that suitable materials, proper design, proper mixing and handling,
and care in placement, protection and curing must be employed to secure
durable, good appearing, and functional structures, Too much emphasis
cannot be placed on the importance of these factors during original con-
struction or repair, The Manual covers these factors in stressing the
need for selecting suitable materials, the design of concrete mixes, the
manufacture of fresh concrete, and its handling, placing, and curing.

Of additional interest is the portion of the Manual devoted to the
application of special types of concrete and mortars, including: light-
weight concrete, nailing concrete, prepacked concrete, various types of

2


INTRODUCTION

Here is Release No, 2 of the Operation and Maintenance Equip-
ment and Procedures Bulletin which is being issued as a joint effort of
the Divisions of Operation and Maintenance, and Design and Construction,
of the Bureau, Since the issuance of Release No, 1, two months ago,
except for some excellent material from Region 2, we have not had much
response from you folks in the way of submitting material to be included
in future releases, This bulletin will be only as good as you folks make
it and we know that you field people have lots of good ideas that should be
passed around, so please don't be stingy with them.

The November 1952 Reclamation Era carried an announcement
of this series of bulletins and requested that suggestions relative to weed
control equipment, as well as suggestions for other O&M improvements,
be sent to the Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation, Washington 25,D.C.,
attention Code 420, That address is correct for all suggestions related to
weed control equipment but suggestions concerning other O&M equipment
and procedures should be sent to Chief Engineer, Bureau of Reclamation,
Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado, attention Code 206,

We hope to have the material for the weed control equipment issue
of this bulletin in shape for release early in March, The material is being
prepared by Mr. R, B, Balcom, Weed Specialist of the Washington Office,
with the assistance of Mr, Curt Bowser of Region 3, If any of you have
any good ideas on weed control equipment which you have not submitted,
please get them to the Washington address given above,

eR KOK K


MEASURING IRRIGATION DELIVERIES

The Yakima Weir Box is a farm delivery measuring device in
general use on the Yakima Project and, to a limited extent, in other areas
of Region 1. Somewhat over a year ago, on the occasion of the Region 1
annual O&M tour, a number of these devices were observed in operation
and their points of superiority over some other types of farm delivery
measuring devices were noted. The operators who were using the weir
boxes were very enthusiastic in recommending them to other projects.
We felt, however, that there was some question as to the accuracy of the
devices and that testing was in order since attempts to adapt this device
to larger flows were not entirely successful, Accordingly, a full scale
model was set up in the Denver Hydraulic Laboratory to determine the
minimum dimensions permissable for the structure and, further, to
check the accuracy of its measurement, The model is shown in the photo
carrying5 cfsof water discharging under 6 feet of head over the gate.

The weir box
consists primarily
of a relatively
small baffled still-
ing box attached
to the downstream
end of the turnout
pipe. The weiris
located at the lower
end of the box and
the baffle is near
the upstream end.
Water leaving the
turnout pipe is
stilled in the box
and measured
over the weir.

The advan-
tages of this meas-
uring device over
some of the others
in use are that the
stilling box does
not readily fill with silt and so requires a minimum amount of cleaning,
it is cheaper to build and flow through the structure Stabilizes in a very
short time so that measurement readings may be made rapidly.

The model was built with a 15 inch diameter pipe, controlled
by a flat leaf gate, leading from the standpipe to the stilling box. Heads
of from 6 feet to as little as a fraction of a foot, over the pipe, were used
in the standpipe for various discharges and the baffling inthe stilling box
was varied to give the most desirable flow characteristics, With this
arrangement flows up to 6 cfs, under 6 feet of head, were measured, the depth
of water over the weir blade staying constant for a given discharge regardless

12


COMPACTED EARTH AS A CANAL LINING MATERIAL

More interest in the use of compacted earth as a canal lining
material for the reduction of seepage losses from canals or laterals has
led to the development of a rating table'' of suitability by the Chief Engi-
neer's Earth Laboratory, A copy of the table will be found on the follow-

ing page.

A variety of soils have been used in the successful installation of
compacted earth linings in canals or laterals with the ideal being a gravel
with sand-clay binder, The combination of reasonably well graded gravel
and sand with plastic, cohesive clay provides for low permeability, high
compacted density, good shearing strength, and erosion resistance.

Recently installed compacted earth linings have been competitive
price-wise, with other lower-cost linings, and appear to be more success-
ful in conforming to subgrade expansion or settlement, frost action, or hy-
drostatic pressures, than linings constructed of more rigid materials.
Placed on 1-1/2:1 side slopes or flatter, depending primarily upon the con-
ditions involved--ground-water table, hydraulics of the waterway or charac-
teristics of the soils employed--compacted earth linings have a definite
place in the canal lining program.

The column headed "Erosion Resistance" in the table is not only
useful in selecting compacted earth lining materials, but also in selecting
the most suitable soil for use as cover material for membrane linings. The
"rating table" is also useful in the evaluation of stability and other qualities
of existing soils in earth canal sections.

A paper "Construction of Compacted Soil Linings for Canals," is a
recent contribution on the subject prepared for publication in the Proceedings,
Third International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering
in Zurich, Switzerland in August 1953. Advance preprints of the paper are
available and can be obtained by writing to the Chief Engineer's Office,
Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado.

HR RK OK

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