The Ordway new era., 1911-06-23
CONCRETE FOR WEIRS
Can Be Constructed at Moder.
ate Cost and Will Last.
Wooden Affairs Must Be Replaced in
From Three to Six Years and An.
nual Maintenance 10 Moro
or Less Expensive.


O3y r. L. PARsHALL Colorado Agricul-
tural College)
Permanency in construction is al
ways one OF the basic principles Of
economy. We ind that weirs con
structed Of wood last from three to
six years. with an annual maintenance
of more or less expense. A weir that
will last indefinitely can be construct
ed Of concrete. at moderate first cost.
and no maintenance charge.
First. determine the position OF
your weir and the maximum amount
OF water you expect to discharge
through It. This having been done.
excavate the ditch to level surface.
to q depth Of four or Ave inches be.
low the original bottom. The length
Of the base will be. in our case, say.
eight feet. At each end Of the foun-
dalton pit make q small trench,
reaching across the bottom from side
to side. The width Of the foundation
will depend upon the size Of the weir
needed. Assuming a two-foot weir.
We would mako the base flve and one
half feet. Now mix your concrete.
one part Portland cement. three parts
sand. and six parts gravel or broken
stone. and place this In the pit as
provided. The small trenches at the
ends will serve as a curtain wall and
prevent the water from flowing be.
meath the base. While the concrete
Is being placed there should be set
scantling two inches square and full
length Of base. directly underneath
the center Of the side walls OF the
weir. Now place four one-half-inch
Iron rods In the base. to extend verti-
cally on the outside OF the scantling,
and to extend some six or eight inches
above the finished surface Of the base.
1t Is advisable to bend the ends of
these rods at right angles, the lower
end extending out into the base at
right angles to the axis OF the ditch.
These rods should be equally spaced.
with first and last one a foot from
each end OF the wall. The two
scantlings will be parallel with each
other. and after the concrete has all
been placed and tamped into position.
and foated with a straight edge. these
strips should be flush with the sur
face. There should be a margin OF
concrete on the outside OF them at
least four inches wide. The finished
surface should be- approximately
level. No forms will be necessary for
the construction OF the base OF the
weir.
The forms for the sides OF the weir
are Of a collapsible nature and can
be used for different widths and for
an indefinite number OF structures.
Twelve piece Of 2xs. nine feet long.
constitute the four side pieces. two
side pieces being required to form
each side wall. At the ends OF the out
side pieces are two long eye bolts
reaching to the opposite side. These
bolts are threaded for some distance.
permitting Of varying widths. To form
the ends Of the wall is placed verti-
cally a board. Ave inches wide. two
feet long. held In place by cleats. Two
pieces Of 2x4 at each end. cut the
proper length, serve as struts or
spreaders. After the end boards
forming the ends of the walls. and the
struts are in place. the turn nuts on
the eye bolts are tightened. thus caus.
Ing the whole form to be rigidly con.
nected and properly spaced. The eye
bolts are hinged at the diagonal cor
ners and the end pieces are slotted to
permit Of easy assembling. At about
three feet from the lower end of wall
must be placed the weir board To
provide recess for 1t In the concrete
side wall 2hx2-inch cleat is nailed
vertically on the inside OF the inside
forms. A slight draft should be given
to the cleat SO that there will be less
danger of crumbling the corners when
the side pieces are taken off. To in
sure an even surface for the weir
board to rest against when in place,
and to prevent excessive leakage, a
small angle iron. placed on the lower
side Of the cleat.. and imbedded in the
concrete, will give excellent results
when the weir board is wedged into
place.