Imperial Valley press., 1936-06-14
) & r EA 7
FIRMS ON
DAM JOB
M.U.W. Contract On
Diversion
Plant !
Continued from Page -

Continued from Page 81
half of the desiting works IS
being built. The soil was used
to fill up a draw near the end OF
the dam, where huge warehouses
and shops now stand.
Here, today, is a complete
mechanical shop. equipped to
build or repair anything from a
pin to a steam engine. Here also
is an electrical shop, a moderh
and complete lumber yard, and just
beyond is the big steel yard. Chief
of the structures at the railroad
terminus however, is the big con-
crete mixing plant from which will
pour the countless tons OF mix
ture which will compose the major
dam.
From Laguna Dam, the company
pany built a five mile railroad at
an approximate cost of $4,000, and
today gaSoline-engineS drag long
lines of cars carrying equipment,
machinery and supplies. The ter
minus of the railroad is in the
midst Of this group of big build
ings sitting where, only few
months ago. rattleSnakcs, cotton
tails and other wild life comprised
the population.
Network of Roads
Meanwhile, the entire area be-
came a network of roads. Many
of these are maintained in per-
fectly smooth condition compar-
IL. 10 Tlc ~
the engineers explain, tires ana
equipment are protected against
expensive wear and fast travel
stimulates speed and efficient op-
Grafton. These roads connect all
important parts of the wide work
area covering about a square mile
on the California side.
Down by the river, sub-contract-
or offices Sprang up overnight.
Steel workers went into operation
weaving the heavy metal frames
for the huge concrete pilingS,
which, near at hand, were being
poured by means of mixers, rub
ber-tired carriages and countless
wooden forms.
On a flat hill grew complete
town of some forty-five large
and small white houses. This wa
the M.U.W. camp, containing
houses for families, dormitories
for single workers, commiSSary
building, hospital. and head exec
utive offices.
Water Supply Put In
A complete water supply system
was established from we'll sunk
100 feet deep. The water is pump
ed to a reservoir tank located or
high hill and piped, not only
to the MU.W. camp proper, bu'
to all parts of the working area.
From a central delivery station
to which the Bureau of Reclama-
ton brought power lines carrying
5000 volts, the MU.W. company
had to build its own lines carry
ing electricity, (stepped down tc
2300 voltS) to the camp, the ware -
houses. the machine shops, the
steel and lumber yards and OIL
over the working area as well as
across the river.
For months the MU.W, com
pany and its Sub-Contrdctors have
employed an average o. aeout 6OC
men, work going on day and night
although some of the oubcontrac5-
ors performing duties made dill
ficult by daytime heat are limit
ing their working Time u tWt
shifts, one starting IN the iaiC
afternoon, and the other coming
on duty around midnight. Mex
autumn, according to RW. Con
ner, MU.W. superintendent o.
construction, the work Will be sc
advanced as to require about COZ
men.
Superintendent Conner woulC
not hazard a statement a. to whel
he expects to finish the job That
he explained depends on many
things, especially on the various
jobs by sub-contractors. All mus
be dove tailed SO that no one tirn
will hold up progress Of othe
firms.
Certain it is, howeve,, that m
time is being lost in getting tn,
headWorkS of the canal construct
cd at the earliest time possible
under the modern day perfected
system Of men and machines.