Dam Construction
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A concrete plant was built 3/4 of a mile upriver from the dam site. The first concrete was poured into the dam on June 6th, 1933. Electric trains brought cars with large buckets of concrete, and then the buckets were lifted from the cars and lowered in place by an overhead cable system. Nine of the cable ways were used to place the concrete, with some attached to movable towers that allowed them to work on different parts of the dam. An automatic concrete plant was constructed on the canyon rim as the dam got taller.
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The Hoover Dam was built with interlocking concrete blocks that connected to each other like Lego pieces. An estimated 215 blocks were used to complete the construction. Steel pipe was placed inside the blocks, and river water was circulated through it to cool off the concrete as it set. The block joints and steel pipes were then sealed with grout to prevent cracks and leaks.
A total of 21,000 men worked on the dam with an average of 3,500 and a maximum of 5,218 daily, which occurred in June 1934. The average monthly payroll was $500,000. It is estimated that 96 workers died building the dam, but non were buried in the concrete.
Hoover Dam was completed two years ahead of schedule on May 29th, 1935.
A total of 21,000 men worked on the dam with an average of 3,500 and a maximum of 5,218 daily, which occurred in June 1934. The average monthly payroll was $500,000. It is estimated that 96 workers died building the dam, but non were buried in the concrete.
Hoover Dam was completed two years ahead of schedule on May 29th, 1935.