Construction was initiated 21 January. 1948 when excavation for
the winch base was completed and concrete forms were set in place.
Concrete for this structure was poured the following Saturday, 24
January, one week later, 31 January, base slab forms were set in
place for the timing station.
Since the base slabs for all structures
were to be of a concrete, using local beach run coral aggregate, it
was decided thatwll-baseglabs would be finished before any wall
and roof forms were placed.
Accordingly the base slabs for all
structures were completed Saturday 7 February.
Meanwhile wall and
roof forms and reinforcing steel were being set in place at the
timing station.
All forms were completed by Friday 13 February and
a monolithie pour of 83 cubic yards concrete was made using local
beach run coral aggregate graded at approximately 65% passing a 4
inch sieve and 35% passing from 24 to 4 inch sieve.
1:2.5 by volume.
The mix was
The above specifications were followed as closely
as possible for all other coral concrete.
Gamma Station C was next on the schedule of concrete pouring
and was ready Saturday, 14 February.
Particular attention was given
to this structure as the concrete was of heavy scrap steel and limonite.
No previous experience with this type of concrete had been encountered,
and the problem of handling such heavy aggregate was plainly a job for
heavy equipment.
The aggregate consisting of nuts, bolts, and other
scrap steel was proportioned out by weights and batched into 55 galion
steel drums modified so as to be readily picked up by crews and dumped
into the mixer skip.
lLimonite and cement were added in the skip.
67
Section VIb