El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-08-04
ELEPHANT BUTTE
DAM SIXTY-SEVEN
PERCENT FINISHED
Despite Very Wet Month
During July, Construc-
ton Made Progress.

Elephant Butte. n. N, Aug 4.-Ac-
coruing to a description Of progress
being made at the Elephant Butte dam,
by T. H Baldwin, construction engi-
neer, the dam, including all auxiliary
features, is now 81 percent completed
Progress during July was about the
same as for several months previous,
Notwithstanding an unusually wet
month II rafned on Il days, with a
total precipitation Of ass inches While
the rains were of short duration, caus-
ing small loss Of time, they were sum
cient TO impede progress, rendering
quarry work unsafe. and wetting the
sand TO such an extent as TO make
During the month $1,000 cubic yards
OF masonry was placed. OF Wnlcn
amount 1900 cubic yards was laid
during the last 10 days The total
amount placed TO date is 265. 500 cubic
yards 1t is expected that the present
rate OF progress, from $4,000 to 5000
cubic yards per month will be continued
until the end Of the year
Three Cables In Use.
Three cables are now being used on
masonry work There is a percepuble
difference in the time required to make
a round trip, as compared with the
time when landing on the deeper pOr-
lions OF the foundation Only two con-
crete mixers were in use, as the third
had 10 be replaced A new mixer has
been installed which should give in
creased output for the current month.
Masonry work is now in progress
on four distinct blocks, each los feet
long called summer blocks, to distin-
gulsh them from the narrower blocks
between that will be built In late win
ter, when the masonry is In its densest
highest block is at elevation 1890,
while the adjacent block, between the
nigh block and the flume. IS at eleFa-
tlon 1855; the other two sumner"
p IN lie - aaM-- -
and will contain the gates and out
let conduitsi these blocks are at eleva-
ton 1912 and 1925, respectively. The
bottom Of the foundation was at eleva-
ton 4l13. and the old river bed at eleva-
ton 4214. consequently the highest
block is III feet above bed rock and
IS feet above the river bed.
Excavation Is Continued.
Excavation at the east abutmeut was
continued through the month with
three shifts. The muck is loaded into
sklps BY hand, then handled by der
ricks and dump car. Great care mas TO
be used not to shatter the abutment
with explosives consequently the
volume removed per shift is small but
II is keeping ahead Of the masonry,
ana is now so far advanced that the
Ilrst gate castings will be Installed
about the middle OF the month The
excavation for the month amounted TO
$500 cubic yards making a total to
date Of 375,400 cubic yards
Inc SAND cement plant produced
$500 barrels Of sand cement, making
a total to date Of 247 900 barrels. The
output was not quite equal TO the de-
mand on account OF inferior pebbles,
the wearing out Of lining plates and
wet rock. but these conditions have, 70
q great extent, been remedied. and q
much larger output is expected this
Portland cement Is now being
received al the rate Of 500 barrels per
DAN which ahnHt meets the require
WIN rprAss ogghS54iiHt,s . tsse a1ss-rieu.
per has been built at the sand storage,
which has somewhat increased the !
output OF the sand derrick During /
he month $500 cubic yards Of sand was
delivered at the mixing plant making !
! total TO date OF $4,000 cubic yards. I
.abor conditions are better than a
month ago. but there is still room for
several hundred additional laborers-
At the end Of the month there were /
lIIz men employed. The health Of the
camp remains excellent, due mainly /
10 the untiring efforts Of the sanitary
department. At the present time there I
81 only one case Of continued sickness, I
which IS an excellent showing for
camp Of $500 people