Construction Work on a Federal Reclamation Project

This paper deals specifically with the Kittitas Division of the Yakima Project, in the State of Washington, constructed by the United States Bureau of Reclamation. All irrigation projects undertaken by the Bureau are similar in character, although new ideas of design and new methods of construction are introduced in each new structure. Most of the structures on any one project are small in size, but generally the topography of the ground and the type of structure are such that the method of constructing each unit must be different from any other. There is a great variety in size and type of structures. The choice of a method of construction is placed in the hands of the contractors, subject to the approval of the engineers. In the case of small units, it is uneconomical to install elaborate and expensive set-ups of machinery.