Research Article
Jan 1953
How Dams Serve Man's Vital Needs
Publication: Transactions of the American Society of Civil Engineers
Volume 118, Issue 2
Abstract
Dams have always been valuable adjuncts to civilization. Like fire, water devastates mankind, or it can serve—through dams working against water ravages or for storage. Dams have been used for about 5,000 years, being found in the very cradles of civilization—India, Babylonia, Egypt, and the Roman Empire. In the United States, first they provided for sawmills and thus shelter and then for gristmills and sustenance. More modern needs, each briefly discussed, concern water supply, irrigation, power, navigation, and flood control. Looking ahead, it is certain that engineering for dams still has great potentialities-in technology, materials, and construction techniques. Engineers, through their dams, will continue to serve man's highest purposes.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
© 1953 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Published in print: Jan 1953
Published online: Feb 10, 2021
Permissions
Request permissions for this article.
Authors
Affiliations
Gail A. Hathaway, ASCE
PAST-PRESIDENT
Special Asst. to the Chf. of Engrs., Dept. of the Army, Washington, D. C
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.
View Options
Get Access
Access content
Please select your options to get access
Log in/Register
Log in via your institution (Shibboleth)
ASCE Members:
Please log in to see member pricing
Purchase
Save for later Item saved, go to cart Information on ASCE Library Cards
ASCE Library Cards let you download journal articles, proceedings papers, and available book chapters across the entire ASCE Library platform. ASCE Library Cards remain active for 24 months or until all downloads are used. Note: This content will be debited as one download at time of checkout.
Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
Get Access
Access content
Please select your options to get access
Log in/Register
Log in via your institution (Shibboleth)
ASCE Members:
Please log in to see member pricing
Purchase
Save for later Item saved, go to cart Information on ASCE Library Cards
ASCE Library Cards let you download journal articles, proceedings papers, and available book chapters across the entire ASCE Library platform. ASCE Library Cards remain active for 24 months or until all downloads are used. Note: This content will be debited as one download at time of checkout.
Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.