Search Results

This photograph has three images. The first one (0272_0043) has a handwritten inscription that reads, "Government hi-line setting 30' pipe on tracks in working tunnel. Note size of men." The second one (0272_0044) reads, "Placing pipe in penstock tunnels. Spider stays in place until next pipe is connected - still on the rails." The third image (0272_0045 and 0040) gives a good view of workmen getting these two locations ready to pour. It reads, "The carpenters leveling the panels and installing the vertical keys - plumbers installing cooling pipe - clean-up crew with their air and water hose sandblasting top of cement for better bonding. Must be a rush job for grave-yard tonite." "Form raisers, with 'A' frames in place. Prying the specially made panel, to replace it with regular one you see lying in pour below." "Gov. inspectors. They check every form of work that is done on the dam. Then sign the OK to pour. My job, once, was to see that all works were OK." "I liked the carefree and daring of the form raisers. Also had a friend in the crew. I got a lot of ribbing from them about my easy job. After two weeks of trying I at last got a transfer. Later felt Tommy sorry. But could walk the 2x12 with both shoulders slung with chain jacks and block & tackle. Or drop down on a up-stream panel, hook my safety belt and twist out as many 'she-bolts' as the best." "It was fearful hanging on your safety belt, on the upstream face of the dam. Out of sight, all you could see was a lot of down - hang on for dear life - when the crew starts prying the panel loose and you & panel are swinging on the jacks - loved it."

This photograph has three images. The first one (0272_0084) reads, "Top of dam about one form wide - everyone getting in each other's way" (duplicate of Image 0272_0016). The second image (0272_0085) reads, "Getting higher and more enormous. Can you see what's swinging on end of No.7 line?" Refers to the arrow at the top right of photo. "(3) tunnels drilled for penstocks that divert water to turbines. So much to tell about, that's shown in this pic. You can see where the turbines will set. The (slot) in middle of dam indicates how much of the dam has been cooled. Notice how dam curves into canyon walls - to brace against weight that will build up behind it." The third image (0272_0086) shows an early view of the enormous amount of excavating being done and tailings to be moved. An inscription reads "Pouring cement on any part of the dam has not begun, only the diversion tunnels and tracks for head tower and tail tower that hi-lines across the channel are connected to" (referring to the arrow at top of photo). The inscription continues "(x) Reeve fell down this tunnel but was cemented at that time. On the dam I never heard anyone being hurt with falling rock. But - most injuries and fatalities occurred building roads to the dam and at the location of dam. No men have been covered up and left in the cement. Nothing but the purest cement went into the construction of dam, maybe a piece of metal if it wasn't oily. About men being buried in the dam is a misconception (sic). Some have been covered up with cement when the bucked dumped out of control, but the men were rushed to first aid and washed off, and treated, but very few injuries."