The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1917-04-20
CIVIL Eh0lhEER

flowed with sufficient volume to fill it,
a long lake going back through the val
ley, or canyon, and twisting among the
hills for some miles would result. In
other words, the dam would make a
beautiful artificial sheet of water bor-
dered on one side by high range Of
hills, on the other by the dam, and on
the third by the hills and the low hog
back above Spanish mesa, which sepa-
rated the Picket Wire valley from the
Kicking Horse gorge up which the rail-
road ran.
Buried in his own thoughts, COM
,muning with himself, considering cease
iessly his position, dreaming Of the
woman he loved, planning a new ca
yreer, Meade yet explored every foot Of
the valley and ravine. He climbed to
the top Of Spanish mesa, and from its
height the whole country clear up the
valley to the main range was visible
to him. He could look down into the
deep ravine of the Kicking Horse, and
note the marvellous beauty and airiness
of the arch bridge for all it so solidly
carried the heavy freight trains of the
railway.
He could see far up and around the
crooked course of the Picket Wire. The
big grass-covered, but otherwise bare
and treeess hogback, that ran from
the upper end of the stone island of
the mesa was equally visible to him.
As it was the low tide of the new res
ervoir he descended to it and studied
1t carefully. On another occasion, hav-
ing said nothing to anyone about his
excursion, he took advantage of a half
holiday to go out and inspect the hog
back and ascertain its elevation with
relation to the dam. OF course the en-
gineers who planned the great irriga-
ton works had done that, but he want
ed to do 1t for himself. AT one place,
where the distance between what
might be called the edge of the valley
and the head of the ravine was narrow
est-indeed, he estimated after pacing
it that it measured not over twenty
feet acrOss-he discovered that the
rounded earth crest was slightly lower
than the intended level of the top of
the dam.
When he returned to the Office, he
found on examining the construction
drawings that an earth dixie was
planned to run along the hogback so
that the top level should b0 higher
than that Of the dam. This dixie would
be only a hundred and fifty feet long
and few feet high, and could be built
in a few days time. Work on the main
dam being more important, nothing
had as yet been done on the dixie.
Meade had been promoted toward
the end of the fall and in a rather
unusual way. One of the transit men,
a young engineer, got better job
and left his instrument. Vandeventer
called Meade before him.
Roberts," he said, there's a. va
cancy for q transit man. You've Aone
such good work so far and shown such
familiarity with fieldwork, that I'd
give it to you if had any idea that
you knew anything about handling in
struments."
II think may be trusted with one,
sir answered Meade, his eyes bright
ening.
Eyes, perhaps; but I have watched
you in odd hours. The young men
around here are constantly practicing
with the transits. I've never seen you
put a hand to one. How about it?"
I'm not exactly youngster Mr.
Vandeventer," returned Meade, "and
l really didn't think it necessary to
practice, but if you trust me with one
/ believe can manage it."
Old Vandeventer leaned back in his
chair in the office and looked care
lessly away from Meade to all appear
ances. He clasped his hands back of
his head and seemed lost in thought.
Suddenly he began humming a little
scrap of verse about another college
which Cambridge men sing with zest:
I'm a physical wreck,
From the grand old Tech,
But h Of an engineer!
He stopped abruptly, whirled about
in his swingchair, and shot a quick
glance at Meade. 1t was a trap. And
as he sprang it Vandeventer surprised
the ghost Of smile, repressed quickly
but there on Meade's lips. The chief
engineer was satisfied. Before this,
little things had betrayed a fellow
alumnus, or at least a fellow student
Of the old Lawrence Scientific school.
Vandeventer was pleased at his adroit-
ness. He did not, however, refer to
It.
"Theres new transit in that box
on the floor there" he said, resuming
his Indifferent manner. "Ive had the
case opened, but haven't taken it out.
Get it, and we'll go outside and see
what you can do with It,"
Now a transit, for all it is used in
rough iieldwork, is one of the most
expensive and delicate of instruments.
It is capable Of the most accurate adj
justment, and If it is to be of any
real use, the refinement of these adj
iustments must noI be impaired in any
degree by unskiled and reckless pack
ING. The boxes in which the inStru-
ments are shipped are very carelulb |