"head tower" from which all operations are controlled; a traveling block

on an endless 1/8-inch cable; and a "tail tower," containing a sheave.

The equipment at the head and tail towers are mounted on 10-foot long
railroad rails set 6 feet in the ground. More detail of the head tower

and traveling block are shown on Drawings No. 50-303-7895 and -7896 attached
at the end of this article; however, some special details should be noted.
They are:

Head Tower

The head tower equipment, Photographs No. P50-303-2210-1 and -3,
is attached to the railroad rail by two 1/2-inch stud bolts through a plate
welded to the top of the rail. The back hole in this plate is drilled to
receive a stud and the front hole should be slotted on a circular arc in
order to correct any irregularities in alinement of the plate while setting
the rail.

Counters

The counters on both the head tower and reel, as shown in Photo-
graph No. P50-303-2210-3, and in outline on Drawing No. 50-303-7895

17


PxX-D-26506

Figure 2

rusted and pitted surfaces of sheet steel and the sleeve of a 9-inch
diameter coupling were cleaned. Note was taken of the capability of
the rotary tool to produce a desirable surface for repainting. The
rate at which the cleaning could be accomplished was not determined
and is indicated only qualitatively in the laboratory report.

Figures 1, 2, and 3 show the tool, and its cutter blades.
Note the large center holes in the discs in Figures 2 and 3 which
allow them to rotate and move outward from the center of the shaft.
Figure 3 was taken of the tool in operation by means of a high-speed
flash which stopped the action to show how the discs are thrown out-
ward by centrifugal force.

In Figure 4, a thin, brittle, poorly bonded coating at the
left of the photograph was rapidly removed by the tool. Red rust under
the paint was not removed in the area cleaned at right. Removal of cold-
applied eoal-tar paint, CA-50, is illustrated in Figure 5. The tool was
quite effective in removing this fairly soft, thick coating as shown in
the upper half of the photograph.

As a result of the laboratory tests it was concluded that the
tool should provide faster and better quality metal surface preparation
than wire brushing under almost any circumstances. The surface produced
is not equal for painting purposes to that obtained from sandblasting,
but is free of loose and poorly bonded material and is roughened somewhat.
Geometrical considerations limit the tool's use primarily to flat or large
radius curved surfaces.

11


usually employed. A description of the device appeared in the article
"Methods Used in Carrying Out the Study of the Medjerdah Floods in Tuni-
sia," published in French in the June-July, 1953, issue of the bi-monthly
French magazine La Houille Blanche. The "Station Teleferique" (Cableway

Station) used in the Tunisian work was developed by the Neyrpic firm of
Grenoble, France.

HEH HE

21



to his system. All this knowledge is gained only through experience
and the seasonal use of new people or subquality people would definitely
hurt the District's operations.

The report stated that the off-season workload for the Minden
and Holdrege field crews and patrolmen is becoming smaller as bridge
replacement and other maintenance and repair jobs are approaching a
"caught-up" stage. It also pointed out that the successful operation
of an irrigation system with seasonal employment can be carried on only
in communities where winter season work is available to the irrigation
season employees, such as sugar beet processing plants, cattle feeding
operations, etc., and that such winter season employment is generally
not obtainable in the Tri-County Area.

In summary the report emphasized that, "The primary and most
important job of the irrigation division of The District is not building
structures or bridges, but rather is that of operating the system during
the irrigation season, beginning with the computation and compiling of
water schedules in the late winter and ending with the last water deliv-
eries in October,” and
Boyd submitted his recom-
mendations to the Board
of Directors with this
comment, "It is therefore
my opinion that it would
be of considerable value
to The District's entire
operation to work a pre-
cast structure program
around the present employee
organization, rather than
to set up any kind of extra
labor program, in order to
help in keeping the year
around employment policy
that The District has been
able to follow thus far.”

The District's struc-
ture replacement program
calls for the replacement
of 3,161 wooden structures
consisting of 1,844 private
turnouts, 185 lateral turn-
outs, 30 checks, and 38 drop
structures. A typical wooden
turnout structure, built in
1958, which is to be replaced
with precast concrete struc-
ture is shown in photograph
at upper left.

PX-D-26495


18


Operation

In operation the counter on the reel is reset to zero when
the weight touches the water, and thus the depth of water is taken at
any point. The upper counter can be reset to zero at the water's edge.
However, as used on the Yuma Project, the distance from the initial point
is measured by a tape attached to the carrier so that the small error
caused by the sag in the cable is eliminated.

Some Advantages

Some of the advantages are:

The device would be particularly useful in canal and stream-
flow measurement where velocities are low or moderate.

The installation in 1953 cost about $500 as compared with the
estimated cost of $5,000 or $7,000 for a conventional cable car gaging
station.

The installations made, replaced boat measurements that resulted
in the saving of one man's time.

The installations move the operator to the bank and thus elim-
inate the hazard of operating over water.

The installations can be easily and inexpensively moved in
the event the selected site should prove unsatisfactory due to opera-
tion procedures, weeds, moss growth, etc.

Attached to two mobile vehicles, the device can be used for
sounding a section of canal in making special studies. Such a use was
made of the device in sounding the All-American Canal to determine the
extent of erosion in the bottom of the canal. Since the canal could not
conveniently be taken out of service, repairs were made under water and
the results were checked with the mobile units.

The device has also been used because of its portability and
the fact that measurements can be obtained on wide canals at locations
required to determine seepage losses or to establish rating curves for
canal gates. It is believed the device will find applicability on other
Bureau projects where current meter measurements must be made on wide
canals and streams. With larger cables, pulleys, etc., and a suitable
power drive, the equipment could be adapted for most any metering station.

It has been suggested that the device might also be satisfac-
torily used in sediment sampling on wide canals and streams. Equipment
similar to that described was used in carrying out flood studies in Tuni-
sia, where the magnitude of the velocities in the streams and the water
depth made it impossible to manipulate current meter from fixed mountings

20



inches long, made of 3/8-inch reinfore-
ing rod or similar material, are welded
to the rim. A loop of reinforcing rod
is welded to the bottom to hold an anchor
line.

Using a fluid mixture of portland
cement and sand, the lower part of each
barrel is filled through the bunghole,
using enough cement mix to make the bar-
rel float slightly less than half out of
the water. The barrel must be kept level
until the cement sets.

Anchors are made of concrete, 24 inches
square and 3 inches thick, with a metal loop
to hold the line. Clint uses 3/16-inch rust-
* proof coil chain for the anchor line, allow-
ing enough slack so that the barrel buoy can
ride the waves easily.

PX-D-26502

Flags are triangular plastic, 12 by 18 inches, such as those
used for advertising by gas stations. Each buoy is painted a bright
color: Clint used bright orange equipment enamel.

HHH HE

LIFTING HEAVY TRAILER DRAWBARS

(Reprinted from the January-February 1961 issue of Grist, a
publication by the National Conference
on State Parks, Washington, D. C.)

That desperate, hernia-producing
heave by which a lone man sometimes tries
to hitch up the drawbar of heavily loaded
trailers to the pulling truck is not needed
when you have the handy portable lever out-
fit designed by Jack Weddle of Indiana Uni-
versity.

Truck

The sketch below shows how the simple
put effective device, which can be stashed
Hook onto truck floor away in either the trailer or the truck
without taking up too much room, works to
ease that aching back.

e-

6" lever bar

* * *
ayo” “ee

K Used chain with hook

to raise trailer bor

15


SAFE CIRCULAR SAW STORAGE

(Reprinted from the January-February 1961 issue of Grist, @
publication by the National Conference on State Parks, Wash-
ington, D. C.)

Two keen-eyed reporters have spotted a safe storage cabinet
for circular saw blades in use at Harpers Ferry National Monument and
sent information about it to GRIST at different times. The cabinet,
designed by Willie P. Moore, Building Restoration Specialist, is shown
in the photograph below.

The two reporters, James F. Davenport, Supervisory Park
Ranger at Harpers Ferry, and Paul Perricone, Personnel Officer of the
Eastern Office of Design and Construction, National Park Service, were
poth impressed with the good design of the cabinet. As they pointed
out, when this cabinet is used, sharp edges of blades are preserved
by storing them one to a compartment. Blades cannot roll out and injure
anyone, because of the backward slope in the blade compartment section.
The drop lid also insures safety.





The photograph at lower left on the preceding page shows pre-
cast parts of a turnout hauled to the site of the installation on a flat-
bed truck. The winch truck is used to lower the parts into place.

Experimentation with precast structures during the past year
in the Holdrege Area indicated huge savings over casting-in-place or
replacement with timber structures. A study showed that the precast
program over a 40-year period would be $920,600 cheaper than replacing
with timber and $431,000 cheaper than cast-in-place structures.

The Minden Plant will have a capacity of 130 units to be built
during the off-irrigation season. The plan is to east the units during
the day to be steam-cured during the night so that the next morning they
can be taken from the curing room, the forms stripped and the units stock-
piled. The forms then will be reassembled and a pour made in the after-
noon. This way one complete unit, consisting of the bottom, two sidee and
two ends can be completed each 24 hours. The 130 units to be constructed
each year at Minden will be part of the 300 units per year program to be
carried on during the next 10 years. Forty units will be cast at Holdrege
during the wintertime and
the balance of the 300 units
will be split up between
the two plants during the
rest of the year.

The photographs at
left and on the following
page show the various stages
in assembling one unit of
@ precast concrete structure.
The units went together
exactly as planned and in
place checked out to be
within 1/16 of an inch of
their designed dimensions.

The placing of precast
farm and lateral turnouts
has proved to be efficient
and economical. The major
advantage and saving in the
precast program in addition
to the utilization of regu-
lar employees during the
winter slack-time is the
elimination of the need
for building forms for
each structure, and extremely



STREAM GAGING FROM THE BANK

Modified cableway devices similar to that shown on the cover
of this issue of the bulletin are in use in the southwest to gage water
flowing in irrigation canals. Two installations made by the Bureau of
Reclamation forces on the Gila Project are installed on the "A" and Gila
Gravity Main Canals. One installation made by the United States Geologi-
cal Service is being used on the Main Canal of the Yuma Project. As the
title to this article implies, the canals can be accurately measured and
sounded by an operator standing on the bank.

The modified cableway installations described were developed
in 1953 by Engineer Roy E. Goss, formerly of the Bureau of Reclamation,
but now on home leave after an assignment with International Cooperation
Administration and soon to be sent to Korea. Mr. Goss developed the de-
vice while employed on the Bureau's Gila Project.

The gaging installation developed by Mr. Goss is inexpensive
to install, compared with the usual cable-ear type installation, and can
be used either as a permanent station or by attachment to vehicles on
either bank as a mobile station. The device shown below consists of a

P50-303-2210-6

16


1.41 times the initial cost of the latter. In effect this means that
the “extended-service" type lamps operate et a cost of 65 percent of
that of the initielly less expensive general-service lamps. This does
not take into consideration the cost of lamp replacement which could
be a sizeable additional saving.

The savings to be realized from the use of the "extended-ser-
vice" lamps can become considerable in time where they are used in num-
bers such as at the Folsom Powerplant. The "extended-service" lamps
are obtainable from dealers throughout the country or through the Govern-
ment's Treasury Procurement Schedule. If additional information is
desired, write the Office of the Assistant Commissioner and Chief Engin-
eer, Bureau of Reclamation, Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado,
or the Regional Director, Bureau of Reclamation, Sacramento, California.

KHER K
LADDER SAFETY STRAP

(Reprinted from the January-February 1961 issue
of Grist, a publication of the National Confer-
ence on State Parks, Washington, D.C.)

A ladder safety idea comes to Grist from the sea duty memory

of William E. Brown, Regional Publica-
tions Office, National Park Service,
Region V. Bill once served with the
Military Sea Transport Service, and
recalls that a shipmate suggested the
safety idea to allow men working on
“ladders to use both hands in strenuous
high work without losing balance.

An adjustable strap with large
snap hooks at each end is hooked to a
ladder rung just below the work height.
The strap is placed just under the arms
around a man's back. By keeping feet
and back braced to keep the strap taut,
he can keep his hands free for work
without danger of falling.

Commercially available straps
used for tree and pole climbing could
be adapted for this purpose; or special
straps may be made up from heavy web-
ping, leather, or even chain or rope,
provided the latter can be covered with
rubber hose to provide for comfort.

KKH KE



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Department of the Interior
Bureau of Reclamation

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OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE

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RELEASE NO. 36

April, May and June 1961

)

DO NOT REMOVE sci

CONTENTS

» Full-time Program Beneficial to Everybody
Ss— Extended Life for Electric Lamps
Gh= Ladder Safety Strap
€_> Safe Circular Saw Storage
je Improvement in Hydrologic Recorder Operation
€/2 Microswitches for Striptograph Recorders
a Preparing Metal Surfaces for Painting with Rotary Cleaning Tool
Oiling the Troubled Soil
Barrel Buoys Protect Swimmers
Lifting Heavy Trailer Drawbars
Stream Gaging From the Bank

EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURES



and corrosion of the rotor. Also, atmospheric temperatures of 90° plus
induces the oil-light bearings in the switch housings to oversecrete,
causing additional shorting of the switches. Frequent cleaning and ad-
dusting is necessitated by these conditions.

To eliminate these conditions, microswitches following 180°
lobed cams as shown in the photograph below, were substituted for the
rotor switches. The conversion has operated satisfactorily on one of
the instruments for three irrigation seasons. Recent inspection of the
conversion components shows them to be in excellent condition and operat-
ing trouble free.

The microswitch adaptation to striptograph recorders developed
by William R. Turmon, Delano Unit, Fresno Operations Field Branch, Cen-
tral Valley Project, has proven to be more than satisfactory. It elimi-
nated the labor required in cleaning and adjusting the rotor-type switches
and also is more economical. Rotor switches cost $7.50 each and micro-
switches $1.50 plus or minus each. By periodic cleaning and adjusting
of the rotor switches (the fingers can be repositioned slightly by bend-
ing), it was found that one year's service can be obtained from a switch,
whereas microswitches last much longer. Based on the excellent results
obtained from the one unit converted 3 years ago, the project has con-
verted 27 more units to microswitches and have experienced no operating
trouble in spite of extreme high temperatures.



IMPROVEMENT IN HYDROLOGIC RECORDER OPERATION
(Suggestion R2-57-16)

John D. Harris, Salinity Unit, Tracy Operations Field Branch,
Central Valley Project, has suggested that the clock weight cable on
weight driven recorders be marked to prevent the weight from being re-
trieved beyond a safe operating position. The suggestion is widely ap-
plicable throughout the realm of weight driven regulator devices--water
stage recorders, recording rain gages, etc.,--where the suspended weight
and cable may be obscured by instrument cases or supporting structures.
Marking the cable above the weight hanger as illustrated in the photo-
graph at lower left with bright colored paint makes it possible for the
person rewinding the recorder clock to watch for the painted cable and
minimizes the loss of important hydrologic records caused by the weight
being raised beyond a safe operating position during the servicing of
these instruments.

The suggestion was
especially applicable in
the water stage recorder
that was adapted for use
on a salinity recorder on
the project. The construc-
tion of the adaptive element
that was secured to the re-
corder obscured the weight
as it was raised in servic-
ing the instrument. Fre-
quently the connecting device
between the weight and the
recorder became immobilized
by wedging into the slot in
the instrument support or
otherwise rendering it in-
operative. With a little
care and observation while
winding the clock this can
now be avoided.

KEK KKH

MICROSWITCHES FOR STRIPTOGRAPH RECORDERS
(Suggestion R2-60-155)

The rotor switch is an electromechanical component of the
Striptograph Instrument. It consists of three fingers in contact with
a 180° rotor. The switch function is to alternate the incoming impulses
which actuate the basic control motors of the instrument. Proper func-
tioning of the switches is imperative for the instrument to operate in
calibration. Observations have shown when the switches are slightly worn,
sparking occurs at the finger and rotor break points. This creates pitting

8


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important, the ability to install them in record time during the rush
period between the coming of favorable weather in the spring and the
start of the irrigation season.

The picture above shows a completed turnout. It was erected
in 45 minutes. It required five pieces, 8,740 pounds of precast con-
crete, 16 galvanized lag screws, 10 pounds mastic. When the turnout
is in place, the earthfill is temped in and a permanent structure has
replaced the old wooden one similar to that shown on page 2.

RHR KH KKH

EXTENDED LIFE FOR ELECTRIC LAMPS

One phase of laboratory tests being conducted by the regional
and project Power Operation and Maintenance forces at the Folsom Power
Plant on the Central Valley Project, California, is a comparison of the
service life and efficiency of incandescent lamps. Tests made thus far
have included the larger sizes of lamps used in the "high-bay" fixtures
of the generator room of the power plant. The testing of other types
and smaller sizes of lamps is planned for the future.

Results of the tests made to date in comparing "extended-ser-
vice" type lamps with the less costly "general-service" type lamps,
show that the former have a service life 2.21 times longer and at



are the same as those used on a Stevens Type "A" reel and can be pur-
chased as a unit.

Tail Sheave

Any ball-bearing sheave approximately 6 inches in diameter,
grooved to take a 1/8-inch cable, is satisfactory.

Reel

The reel, Photograph No. P50-303-2210-2 shown at the bottom
of the preceding page, is a standard Type "A" reel modified with a level
winding device to handle 300 feet of cable. The reel is mounted on a
bracket immediately below the head tower plate so that the head tower
and reel can be operated simultaneously by the operator as shown in Photo-
graph No. P50-303-2210-4 below.

Cables
Airplane strand cable is used on the head tower line, but the

meter line is standard steel wire with copper wire coil as is used by the
U. S. Geological Survey and others.

P50-303-2210-4



FULL-TIME PROGRAM BENEFICIAL TO EVERYBODY

(The following article is taken from THE CENTRAL NEBRASKA
IRRIGATOR with the permission of Jack W. Boyd, General Man-
ager of the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation Dis-
trict, Holdrege, Nebraska)

The Central Nebraska District's established policy of employ-
ing men for irrigation division work on a full-time, year-around basis
was reviewed in connection with the comprehensive and detailed study made
relative to the feasibility of building a new precast concrete structure
plant at Minden, Nebraska. The District has had a precasting plant in
operation in the Holdrege area. The study conducted by General Manager
and Chief Engineer Jack W. Boyd and the District's engineering staff con-
cluded that the policy is of benefit to the employees, to the District,
to the water users and to the cities and communities in the irrigation
areas.

The conclusions contained in Boyd's report to the Board of
Directors emphasized that if patrolmen were employed only for the irri-
gation season it would not be possible to employ men of family-raising
age since these men could not afford to sit idle all winter. This would
result in employing "floating labor" instead of permanent residents who
own their homes and are part of the community. Patrolmen employed on a
one-season-at-a-time basis would not be as capable as full-time employees
and would have to be trained each year prior to the beginning of the irri-
gation season.

The report stressed the need for patrolmen who know every detail
of their patrol, who know and get along well with the water users and whose
loyalty to The District and its philosophy of service is reflected in the
manner in which they go about their job. It stated that it is the patrol-
man, and only the patrolman, who almost daily comes in contact with the
1,500 irrigation customers of The District. The actions of this patrol-
man, his ability, his cooperation, his willingness, all have more effect
upon the attitude of the water user than any amount of other public rela-
tions work done by The District.

In addition it was pointed out that the patrolman must success-
fully cope with the problems of operating an irrigation system without
wasteways, always having enough water everywhere, but never too much any-
where, even at times when the system is picking up a good deal of surplus
water during and after rainstorms. He must know how to determine the
requirements of his patrol in relationship to the system, its losses, com-
puting and ordering his water daily and sufficiently in advance so that it
will be at his headgate when he needs it and at the farmer's headgate at
the time ordered. He must know the weak points of his system and where to
go and what to do when a storm occurs or other trouble pops up. It is
necessary that he be able to handle and get along with people and be suf-
ficiently industrious and physically capable of making emergency repairs



Figure 3

Figure 4

12


Lemuel A. Garrison, Superintendent of Yellowstone National Park, reports
success in using a half-and-half mixture of used crankcase oil and No. 2
diesel fuel, poured into the soil.

From the time of construction of one park building, Superin-
tendent Garrison reports, the floor slabs had moved up and down in re-
sponse to seasonal moisture changes in the underlying soil. After this
first happened, extensive drainage was installed, but this did not help--
the floor slabs went up in April and May and back to normal in the fall.
The rise was as much as 2 inches, preventing several doors from opening.

Following the advice of Supervising Structural Engineer Lada
Kucera of the National Park Service Western Office of Design and Con-
struction, the Superintendent had half-inch holes made in one large slab
and had the oil mixture poured in until a saturated condition was achieved.
The work was done in October. In the spring, he found that the treated
floor slab had not risen at all, whereas all others had moved as usual.

Now he has treated all other slabs in the building the same way.

HH KKK

BARREL BUOYS PROTECT SWIMMERS

(Reprinted from the January-February 1961 issue of Grist,
@ publication by the National Conference on State Parks,
Washington, D. C.)

Manager Clinton Besonen of Sibley
State Park, Minnesota, needed to keep
boats out and swimmers inside the swim-
ming area off his park beach, so he got
busy and made up 12 barrel buoys from
salvaged materials, using his own design.
The buoys have worked out very well and
the same design will be useful in other
parks, see photograph at left.

Either 30-gallon or 15-gallon steel
barrels (drums) can be used for the buoys.
Clint tried both, but found the 15-gallon
size is just as good as the larger, and
much easier to handle.

The main flag shaft, 30 inches long,
is welded to the center of the head of
the barrel. Three supporting braces, 1)

14


OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE
EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURES
Release No. 36

April, May, and June - 1961

INTRODUCTION

We are indebted to the Central Nebraska Irrigator, a publica-
tion of the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District, for
the article "Full-Time Program Beneficial to Everybody." The article
beginning on page 1 recognizes the need for keeping competent help in
the operation and maintenance of irrigation projects and has found one
way to make work available and accomplish needed maintenance during the
"off" season.

Several useful hints have been borrowed from Grist, a publica-
tion of the National Conference on State Parks, for this issue of the
pulletin. Several suggestions of our own project people also are included
and "Preparing Metal Surfaces for Painting with Rotary Cleaning Tool,"
page 10, is a followup on the field performance of the tool. "Stream
Gaging from the Bank," page 16, is an evaluation of a device that has
been in use for several years and offers some advantages in this type
of work. The device is the development of a former Bureau of Reclama-
tion engineer.

This bulletin, published quarterly, is circulated for the bene-
fit of irrigation project operation and maintenance people. Its principal
purpose is to serve as a medium of exchanging operation and maintenance
information. It is hoped that the laborsaving devices or less costly equip-
ment developed by the resourceful water users will be a step toward commer-
cial development of equipment for use on irrigation projects in a continued
effort to reduce costs and increase operating efficiency.

To assure proper recognition of those individuals whose sugges-
tions are published in this and subsequent bulletins, the suggestion num-
ber as well as the person's name is given. All Bureau offices are reminded
to notify their Suggestions Awards Committee when a suggestion is adopted.

KEKE HH

Division of Irrigation Operations
Office of Assistant Commissioner and Chief Engineer
Denver, Colorado



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Front Cover: A cableway device being used on the "A" Canal,
Gila Project, Arizona, permits accurate measurements of flows
in the canal by an operator standing on the bank. The easily
portable installation is less expense to install than the con-
ventional cable car. Photo No. P50-303-2210-5


PREPARING METAL SURFACES FOR PAINTING
WITH ROTARY CLEANING TOOL

The preparation of a metal surface for repainting often pro-
ceeds under adverse circumstances in Bureau maintenance work. The loca-
tion and access conditions for metal cleaning frequently eliminates sand-
blasting as a means of surface preparation, and power wire brushing is
a relatively ineffective substitute which can lead to poor coating per-
formance.

In Release No. 21 of the Operation and Maintenance Equipment
and Procedures bulletin (July, August and September 1957) field experi-
ence with a rotary cleaning tool was reported. The reported good per-
formance in the field led the Bureau's Engineering Laboratories in Den-
ver to investigate the cleaning device further in the hope of providing
a@ superior method by which maintenance personnel could conveniently per-
form effective touch-up painting, and if necessary, do a larger job with
the expectation of durable results.

The device is obtainable either in pneumatically or electri-
cally powered models. A 110-volt, electric-powered model weighing about
20 pounds, was tested by the laboratory, and was used to clean a variety
of coatings from 12- by 12-inch steel panels. The coatings had aged and
deteriorated for various periods of time in laboratory coating evaluation
tests and were selected to represent the different types of surfaces which
might be encountered in maintenance painting. In addition, the severely

PX-D-26505

Figure 1
10


Brittle and poorly bonded coatings and other foreign mate-
rials, such as rust, are removed rapidly and effectively. Tough and
tightly bonded materials can be removed, but at a much slower rate.
(These coatings would be virtually unaffected by wire brushing).

Ordinarily, following the removal of foreign materials with
the tool, further cleaning by light wire brushing or wiping with sol-
went or other treatment solution will be necessary to insure removal
of loose dust and rust from the metal surface before painting commences.

Additional information concerning the tool can be supplied by
the Office of Assistant Commissioner and Chief Engineer, U. S. Bureau

of Reclamation, Denver Federal Center, Denver 25, Colorado, Attention:
Code 400.

KHER E

OILING THE TROUBLED SOIL

(Reprinted from the January-February 1961 issue of Grist, a publica-
tion by the National Conference on State Parks, Washington, Ds C)

You've heard of pouring oil on troubled waters, but did you

know that oil can hold down the troublesome expansive soils that some-
times cause concrete slabs to be pushed up and let down at various seasons?

13