Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1914-10-04
ELEPHANT BUTTE
F.. WORK COMING ON
IN GOOD SHAPE
Quantity of Masonry Placed
Not Large but Consistent
Progress Is Made and En-
gineerS Are Satisfied,


Elephant Butte, y. NJ, oct a.
Consistent progress was maintained
during the month While the quantity
of masonry placed was not as large as
during preceding months. it was as
much as could be expected with ex-
isting conditions. Lack of room, due
TO the erection OF gates, conduits and
complicated form work. considerably
retarded the masonry work, bat not
as much as was anticipated
During the month 81, 500 cubic
Yards of masonry was placed, making
total to date Of 3S1 500 cubic Yards
This was placed on six different
blocks 1t being necessary to- skip
around a good deal to find room to
work. with gates and conduits being
erected in the two easterly blocks It
was only possible TO pour concrete in
termittently as conditions permitted
The higher blocks have been brought
up 10 elevation 4.335, which is 222
feet above the foundation, l21 feet
above old river bed, and only ~ feet
from the top. A large quantity of
masonry llUN nttu Dih''N ~ NN7N
abutment, between the flume and the
bank: this has been brought up TO
about 20 feet higher than athe top Of
the fume walls.
Excavation during the month was
carried on at the east abutment, the
west abutment, and at the down
stream toe of the dam, where a heavy
Ia g. lao. to with
stand the discharge from service and
slulce conduits. The excavation Is car
ried along with the masonry work,
while one crew is placing masonry.
an entirely separate crew is excavat-
ing and preparing foundation at the
other abutment. In this way there isl
no conflict at either men or plant;
the different crews lare trained to
their particular kind of work and
consequently become much more eff
ficient than If frequently changed tol
other work.
Developments Arc Gratifying.
At the west abutment developments
have been very gratifying. 1t was eX-
pected that considerable excavation
would be necessary. While prelimi-
nary pits and borings indicated rock
within reasonable distance. early eN-
cavation operations suggested exces-
sive excavation, but ii is now seen
that satisfactory rock is much closer
to the surface than was anticipated.
Masonry work ut this point has been
suspended for few days untll an
.f al "a foot 81 N
be prepared Excavation for the
month amounted to 800 cubic yards,
making total to date of $4,000 GU
bic yards
The quarries have been furnishing
excellent rock, particularly the main
quarry The output for the month
was $500 cubic yards of erusher
rock and 1850 cubic Yards of plum
rock With one exception the seven
quarry derricks are now each being
operated by three shifts. With a larg- |
or force than ever before it Is now
possible TO furnish enough material
to keep the plant going to full ca
pacty. and it is hoped that when
there is more working space on the
dam that large masonry output can
be obtained
In general. arrangements are com
pleted to commence work on the road
to Engle within a few days. Prelim- ,
mary work has commenced on the
line of water pipe is !
being laid from the river at dam ana
the road from dam to embankment
site is being put in shape Labor con-
dftions are excellent, 1,250 men now
bcing employed The weather has
been exceptionally good for construc- /
tlon purposes Satisfactory progress Is +
being made in the building Of con-
duits and erection Of such gate ma
teria as is on hand, but the non-ar
rival of certain castings has some
what delayed masonry work and SER
iously interfered with the construc-
ton program. The sand cement plant
continues to do good work, and fur
nishes all cement used. During the !
month it produced 1850 barrels, a .
total to date Of 800, 600 barrels.