This Dam actually has some sentimental meaning in my life, at least as much as one can have for a dam. When I was a kid my dad had a VHS documentary of the Hoover Dam and I probably watched it twenty times, this is actually what introduced me to civil engineering and the power that they possess with designing these large structures. The Hoover dam is a concrete gravity arch that impounds the Colorado river with the purpose to create hydro-electric, prevent floods, and store water. If the meaning of the previous sentence was unclear the following should clear that up.
Plans for the Hoover began in 1922 when the reclamation service published a report for the construction of the dam on the Colorado river, that prevent floods and provide hydro-electric power for nearby towns. This paper was written by Davis and was called the Fall-Davis report. Initially the paper called for the construction site to be located at the boulder canyon but after much consideration it was determined that the location was to narrow and dangerous. They then settled for the Black canyon, however it was still called the "Boulder Canyon Project"
Construction of the dam began in march of 1931 but the story of employment predates this. after the depression hit in 1929 millions of people were left unemployed and desperate for a job, this resulted in "Ragtowns" around the future construction site in southern Nevada. These towns were composed of thousands of unemployed people became squatters hoping for a job on the construction crew. Work on the dam was originally planned for October of 1931 but was moved up after President Hoover told the contracted company, Six Companies, INC., to hire the squatters and begin construction. So in march of 1931 3,000 workers were hired and construction began.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoover_Dam#/media/File:HooverDamJumboRig.jpg
While this was a great achievement for mankind it also shows the flaws in american society at the time. The Six Companies only employed 30 African-Americans at a time and with over 5,00 employed this is a terrible ratio. I am just thankful that this has changed and civil engineering/construction companies have changed their policies. Despite these blemishes the Hoover Dam was completed march 1, 1936 and provides renewable engery to thousands of people to this day.
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| http://www.history.com/s3static/video-thumbnails/AETN-History_VMS/21/154/History_Kaiser_Builds_Hoover_Dam_and_Warships_45407_SF_HD_1104x622-16x9.jpg |
- Reclamation, Bureau Of. "HOOVER DAM." Hoover Dam | Bureau of Reclamation. Bureau of Reclamation, 17 Feb. 2017. Web. 12 Feb. 2017.
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