Laying Cast Iron Mains: Organization and Methods

Abstract

The installation of water and gas mains in the Metropolitan Utilities District of Omaha, Nebraska, is done almost entirely by District forces, the only exception during the past few years being -certain lines of 36-inch and 48-inch diameter which were handled by contract. Following the purchase of the water plant by the City of Omaha in 1912, it was found that there was a considerable amount of extension to the distribution system of the water plant necessary, and inasmuch as men trained in laying water pipe were a part of the organization, the installation of water mains by District forces was a natural course of procedure. With the growth of the City, and to meet the increased «demands for extension following the war, more gangs were organized by selecting foremen from among the men in the older gangs, and by training caulkers and pipe men under the older foremen. With the acquisition of the gas plant in 1920, still further demands were made upon the Construction Division and the needs were met by the same method of expansion. Foremen, caulkers, pipemen and a few laborers are considered regular employees of the District, and during the winter or at times of decreased activity, the total number of men employed is decreased by laying off common labor which have been employed on the various gangs. At such times regular employees are employed on inspection, main flushing, repairs and incidental work. Installation of water and gas mains is a specialized class of work, requiring foremen and skilled labor not generally available in the labor market, and where it is possible to hold together the nucleus of a trained organization from year to year, it seems evident that cheaper and better work can be done than under the contract system where organizations are built up and torn down, not only from year