A NOVEL WAY TO MAKE EMBANKMENTS.

Northland Age, Volume VIII, Issue 25, 9 February 1912, Page 8

A NOVEL WAY TO MAKE EMBANKMENTS.

—> A unique method of. concrete embankment construction, in .vhich the ■ concrete blocks are strung on wires, r has been successfully used on the * River Yonne, in France. The ide a was originated by an Italian ens ; gineer. The bank of the river is first smoothed to a convenient slope, then 0 the wires are strung the proper dis- * | tance apart, fastened to a cable at 1 the bottom, and to specially constructed frames at the top. Each frame, 10ft. long, and accomodating 25 wires, is in reality a bench on " l which the coherete blocks are placed and from which , they are slipped on l > to the wires.

Q The sections of these benches are , alternately painted red and white to k eliminate error in stringing the blocks, which are made in two shapes and interlock. One shape is fed on j to the wires fastened to the red sections of the frame, and the other to the sections painted white. The form of the concrete blocks j and the method of operation are 3 shown in the illustrations. When the embankment is completed the frames are removed, and the wires twisted together and wound around piles which serve as anchors. The bottom is held down by its o wn weight. The ' concrete protecting curtain thus made for the slope of the River Yonne exr tended about five feet below the water line, e