Earth Dams

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Excerpt from Earth Dams: A Study The earth dam is probably the oldest type of dam in existence, antedating the Christian Era many hundreds of years. The litera ture upon this subject is voluminous, but much of it is inaccessible and far from satisfactory. No attempt will here be made to collate this literature or to give a history of the construction of earth dams, however interesting such an account might be. The object will rather be to present such a study as will make clear the application of the principles underlying the proper design and erection of this class of structures. In no way, therefore, will it assume the character or dignity of a technical treatise. Dams forming storage reservoirs, which are intended to impound large volumes of water, must necessarily be built of considerable height, except in a very few instances where favorable sites may exist. Recent discussions would indicate that a new interest has been awakened in the construction of high earth dams. As related to the general subject of storage, it is 'with the high structure rather than the low that this study has to do. To the extent that the greater includes the less, the principles here presented are ap plicable to works of minor importance. Many persons who should know better place little importance upon the skill required for the construction of earthwork embank ments, considering the work to involve no scientific problems. It is far too common belief that any ordinary laborer, who may be able to use skillfully a scraper on a country road, is fitted to superintend the construction of an earth dam. It has been said that the art of constructing earth dams is purely empirical, that exact science fur nishes no approved method of determining their internal stresses, and that in regard to their design experience 15 much more valua ble than theory. When the question of stability is fully taken into consideration, it certainly requires a large amount of skill success fully to carry out works of this character. Extreme care in the selection of the site, sound judgment in the choice of materials and assiduity in superintending the work while in progress, are all vitally essential. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully, any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.