Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1914-09-05
AUGUST 4 GOOD
MONTH FOR WORK
on BIG PROJECT
More Masonry Placed on EIe-
plant Butte Dam Than in
Any Previous Month;
Weather Conditions Good.

fsrrc,AL coWssseoNpENos 70 MORNING JOURNAL
Elephant Butte, N. NJ. Sept. A.
From construction standpoint the
month OF August was In many ways
the most satisfactory since the work
started. Not only was more masonr,
placed than during any previous
month. but the excavation, the quar-.
ries, the working space ON the dam
and the general condition Of the worl.
Is perhaps In better shape than ever
before.
Based on expenditures the dam, in
GLIDING all auxiliary features. is now
70 per cent completed. The weather
was excellent for construction pur-
poses and labor conditions quite sat
isfactory. There are now nearly leo
men employed. which is the most we
have yet had. The force will be in
creased with the idea Of diverting a
portion TO the construction of the EN-
bankment.
During the month $4,000 cubic
yards of masonry was laid, of which
amount II per cent was plum rock,
the balance concrete. This means
total to date of 100000 cubic yards
or about SIS per cent of the estimated
amount In the completed dam. For
the twenty-six days worked this gives
an average of 1895 cubic yards per
day. The best days run was on Au-
gust 81, when 1881 cubic yards Of
masonry was placed; the best previ-
Gus days run was on March "a. when
1888 cubic yards was placed. While
the amount placed Is not a record 1t
shows consistent running. and it is
expected that an average monthly
output OF $4,000 cubic yards will be
maintained for the balance of the
year.
Big Masonry Operations.
Six different blocks of masonry are
being worked on each about 100 feet
in length. The highest block is now
at elevation 1890, which is 217 feet
above bottom of foundation. 116 feet
above bottom OF old river bed and
only 81 feet from the top. Prepare
tons are now being made to suspend
operations on this block and move
derricks and crews to the lowest
block
The gates and outlet pipes are to be
built in the two easterly blocks now
being worked on. Some of these out
let's are now being constructed. The
two lower service pipes. five feet in
diameter. are completed for about
half their length, while the two upper
service pipes have been started. The
foundation is in place for the three
lower .penstoek pipes. also for about
half the length of the sluice tunnels.
Concreting for these pipes is slow
work. as they require considerable
difficult form work and different
mix Of concrete. Some delay has been
occasioned by failure of gate manu-
facturers to deliver material on time
but a change of program enabled
work to continue advantageously.
Excavation at abutments has been
in progress through the month and
the developments at the westerly
abutment are exceedingly gratifying.
AT this end of the dam 1t was expect
ed that the excavation would be ex
cesslye but satisfactory rock was
found within reasonable depth and ly
Ing IN such position as to make an
excellent footing for the dam. AT the
easterly end similar conditions were
found and in few days the masonry
at these points will be well above old
river bed, The exeavating gangs are
wholly separate from the mssenryI
gangs and they prepare one end while |
the other is being concreted. in this
way there is NO conflict of work and a
place always ready for masonry. The /
total excavation to date is 367. 900 eu-'i
bic yards. 4s..
Quariics Working Continuously.
In general. The qnarries have been
Working continuously with con
s'antly increasing force. the total out /
put for the month being 10000 cubic |
yards The sand cement plant ,oper-
a'ed three shifts daily and manufac-
'ured $500 barrels OF sand-eement I
practically all Of which was used dur
ing the month. The total manufac
'ured to date Is 2s5,0OO barrels. The |
wen drill worked all the month drill
ing drainage holes in the dam, while
Inc calyx core drill operated during
'"e latter part Of the month. The
sand derrick furnished $500 cubic /
sarus Of sand to mixing plant. making
'otal to date Of $4,000 cubic yards.
rest pits have been put down at
s"oankment site to locate suitable
oorrow pits. Studies of sections have
'een made in office and preparations
are being made to start work on this
'ea'ure not later than October |, on
: suitable scale to insure its compile
ION early next season; in the mean
u'ne some preliminary work, prepar-
be done.