El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-12-04
MASONRY WORK
IS HANDICAP ped
Other Work at Elephant
Butte Is Pushed; Quarry
Force Is Increased.
BY e. H. BALDWIN.

elephant Butte, N. NJ, Dec. 4-On ac-
count Of several reasons some unex-
pected and all unavoidable, masonry
progress at the dam during the month
IDS not oeen as good as during previ-
GUS months. The main trouble was due
70 70 GeIay IN receiving gate castings, the
lack OF which prevented work on GER
tain blocks, restricting the area on
Wnien work could be done. and thereby
umltlng the quantity Of masonry that
eould pc placed. This condition was en-
RANGED by the cool weather. which con-
siderably retards the setting of the con-
crete and limits the height TO which
FORMS
Crews Are Kept Busy.
ME the quantity placed was not
aS mucH as usual, advantage was taken
ol the adverse conditions to pour cUli-
cTete IN some of the out Of the. way
places, small structures with reinforce
mont that required placing Of concrete
ny hand and cCliSE Quently took mare
men to handle
In this way the apron below the serv-
ice and sluice tunnels was built, also
some griIIage work at the entrance to
the gates. This is all Of reinforced con-
crete, the fabrication of the steel re-
curing considerable labor and time;
while the placing on account of the
shoveling and careful spading. as COM
pared with the ordinary procedure Of
dumping the concrete from the ships
utilized the full time of all the mason
~ crews. Even with the delay 2S,5OO
cubic yards Of concrete was placed dur
Ing the month, making a total to date
Of $4,000 cubic yards.
Masonry work is now in progress
from Sta. 800 at the west abutment to
sta lO-O9 at the east abutment The
block at west abutment has been
brought UP to elevation 1928, or 81
feet above the old river bed. With the
exception of the flume and winter block
hna Trrn
The high blocks adjacent to the flume
VIII be left at their present height I'M
til the flume has been closed and that
block raised to nearly the height of the
adjoining blocks.
Excavation Continues.
Excavation has continued on both
abutments and at the apron below out
let pipes At the west abutment a der
rick has been placed within $50 feet Of
the galloway towers, and considerable
excavation done in its vicinity. At the
easterly abutment excavation is IN
progress well up the slope towards the
railroad. The fine material is being
carried in wheelbarroWs and dumped in
the gully just below dam while the rock
is being removed by derrick with ships
and cars and dumped below apron to
protect it from being undermined when
water is passing through the outlets.
The excavation crews have been in
creased by several crews from the quar-
ry. Excavation for the month was 1900
$4,000 cubic yards.
Larger Force in Quarries.
A larger force than usual in the
quarries has resulted IN the accumu-
lation OF considerable rock, both 1of
crusher and plums, that will be of
great benefit later when the mixing
plant is running at full capacity. The
total output from the quarries for the
month was 22,500 cubic yards, divided
between sand cement plant, crusher,
pIums and waste. From sand storage
$500 cubic yards was used, making a
total to date of 10000 cubic yards. The
sand cement plant operated without
incident most of the time with three
shifts During the month 31,600 barrels (
or sand cement were produced, a total /
to date of 385,300 barrels. The cement |
gun and core drill were in operation |
a part Of the time.
Good Progress on EngIe Road.
Excellent progress was made on the !
of the portion of Engle /
road that is to replace the part that |
VIII be flooded. About 40 men are |
on this feature and while 1
some OF the work is difficult mainly In |
solid rock, it is expected that II will /
be completed by the end of the wear.
AT The embankment a force of so |
men and IA teams are making excel !
ent progress, though at present that /
Work IS still in the preliminary stage
Camp Established.
A camp has been established: water
md electric lines for light and power /
ave been put in. The excavation Of
completed, and the toe trenches par
Tally filled with rock. The site of the
mbankment has been gruhbed and |
loWed. borrow pits have been grubbed !
nd rock quarry opened The princi- |
al equipment consisting of a IS ton
evolving steam shovel, 10 ton roller,
Jump wagons, scrappers, etc, has been |
ecelved, and is being erected and over
auled preparatory to use
In addition to the % head of stock
oW in use, about 80 additional head
ave been arranged for and will be ON
ana by the time the shovel is ready
or operation