Lf
CHAPTER II, SECTION 4
additional population. A Water Tower, Power
and Distillation Building, and Pump Shed were
the only other items of construction. Work
started on 28 December 1957 and was completed
on 9 January 1958. The camp was activated on
16 March 1958.
The work party, equipment, and materials
for the rehabilitation of the Kapingamarangi
and Kusaie Weather Stations departed Elmer
on 29 November 1957. The Kapingamarangi Sta-
tion was completed on 10 December 1957, and
the work party moved on to Kusaie. Upon com-
pletion of the work at Kusaie, the work party
returned to Elmer, arriving there on 24 Decem-
ber 1957. The Kapingamarangi Weather Station
was activated during the week ending 16 March
1958, preceded by the activation of the Kusaie
Station during the week ending 23 February
1
.
Eighteen construction workers and support-
ing service personnel with building materials
departed Elmer on 28 January 1958 to accomplish the rehabilitation of the Weather Station
at Tarawa. Materials included 2000 pounds of
cement, 5600 pounds of plumbing materials,
10,250 pounds of electrical supplies, and five
reels of electrical cable. Some native labor was
used, with the hiring being done through the
office of the British Residency. Harmonious relationships were maintained with the British
residents and the natives. The job was completed
on 10 February 1958, and the work party returned to Eniwetok. Activation of the Tarawa
Weather Station took place on 18-19 March
1958.
Following an agreement between the AEC
and the Australian Government, land was leased
from the British Phosphate Commission and
plans were formalized for the construction of a
Weather Station at Nauru, an island lying 770
nautical miles southeast of Eniwetok. Thirtysix construction personnel, augmented by collateral workers, arrived at Nauru on 4 March
1958. Sea conditions were adverse and on one
occasion the ship, with the construction crew
aboard, was forced to put to sea for the entire
day. When equipment and materials were finally
ashore, work was started simultaneously on a
temporary camp, the permanent camp, and the
rehabilitation of the Nauru Airstrip. The airstrip had not been used for two years.
The following facilities made up the per-
manent camp: two barracks, a Day Room, Mess
Hall, Reefer Shed, Power and Distillation Build-
ing, Pump House, Operations Building, septic
tanks, two antenna poles, and a concrete pad for
the
the
and
and
Rawinsonde instrument. Rehabilitation of
airfield entailed filling, grading, watering,
compacting. Theairfield was 4228 feet long
150 feet wide, with a 300 foot turn-around
at both ends.
Some additional equipment was rented from
the British Phosphate Commission, which also
furnished operators and laborers and provided
197 cubic yards of ready-mix concrete. Through-
J
Bi
we
:
my
3
(Neg. No. W-851-6)
Figure No. 2-126.
Typical Power and Distillation Plant — Off-Atoll.
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