Workmen move supplies prior to placing fill in the retaining wall below the Robert Street bridge. The retaining wall was part of general improvements to the St. Paul harbor and Upper Mississippi River in and around the city of St. Paul, Minnesota. Work on the project was completed in 1936.
The complete upstream apron, part of the construction of the Onalaska dam. The Onalaska dam project was undertaken as part of improvements to the Upper Mississippi River.
This photograph illustrates a typical section of rip rap, part of the St. Paul harbor project of the mid-1930s. Improvements to the harbor and Upper Mississippi River included dredging and work on the Phalen Creek sewer. The project was completed in 1936.
A train steams downstream past Dayton's Bluff after the conclusion of river improvements in St. Paul in the mid-1930s. The improvements included dredging operations, new retaining walls, and sewer improvements in and around the city of St. Paul and the harbor.
The tailwater area at the completion of the Onalaska dam. The Onalaska dam project was undertaken as a part of improvements to the Upper Mississippi River.
The tailwater area at the completion of the Onalaska dam. The Onalaska dam project was undertaken as a part of improvements to the Upper Mississippi River.
Stones added by the corps are visible along the tailwater area of the Onalaska dam project at completion. The Onalaska dam project was undertaken as a part of improvements to the Upper Mississippi River.
The tailwater area of the Onalaska dam project is visible beyond the railroad spur run to supply the construction. The Onalaska dam project was undertaken as a part of improvements to the Upper Mississippi River.
The tailwater area pool associated with the Onalaska dam project at normal elevation. This photograph was taken from a point on line with the north side of the Burlington Railroad depot and at a point located on the embankment shoulder about 13 feet from the westerly rail, with a headwater elevation of 638.90 and a tailwater elevation of 631.35. The Onalaska dam project was undertaken as a part of improvements to the Upper Mississippi River.
The tailwater area pool associated with the Onalaska dam project at normal elevation. This photograph was taken from a point on line with the north side of the Burlington railroad depot and at a point located on the embankment shoulder about 13 feet from the westerly rail, with a headwater elevation of 638.90 and a tailwater elevation of 631.55. The Onalaska dam project was undertaken as a part of improvements to the Upper Mississippi River.
The tailwater area pool associated with the Onalaska dam project at normal elevation. The Onalaska dam project was undertaken as a part of improvements to the Upper Mississippi River.
The tailwater area pool at normal elevation, part of the Onalaska dam project. The Onalaska dam project was undertaken as a part of improvements to the Upper Mississippi River.
The tailwater area pool at normal elevation, part of the Onalaska dam project. The Onalaska dam project was undertaken as a part of improvements to the Upper Mississippi River.
The tailwater area pool at normal elevation, part of the Onalaska dam project. The Onalaska dam project was undertaken as a part of improvements to the Upper Mississippi River.
The tailwater area at the completion of the Onalaska dam. The Onalaska dam project was undertaken as a part of improvements to the Upper Mississippi River.
Piles are visible at the tailwater area at the completion of the Onalaska dam. The Onalaska dam project was undertaken as a part of improvements to the Upper Mississippi River.
Trees and buildings at the tailwater area following the completion of the Onalaska dam contract. The Onalaska dam project was undertaken as a part of improvements to the Upper Mississippi River.
Buildings are hidden behind the trees overlooking the tailwater area following the completion of the Onalaska dam contract. The Onalaska dam project was undertaken as a part of improvements to the Upper Mississippi River.
A small amount of snow covers the stones at the tailwater area following the completion of the Onalaska dam contract. The Onalaska dam project was undertaken as a part of improvements to the Upper Mississippi River.
A chain link fence runs in front of the tailwater area at normal elevation, part of the Onalaska dam project. The Onalaska dam project was undertaken as a part of improvements to the Upper Mississippi River.
A chain link fence runs along the dike at the tailwater pool at normal elevation, part of the Onalaska dam project. The Onalaska dam project was undertaken as a part of improvements to the Upper Mississippi River.
On February 9, 1936, dredging operations on the Upper Mississippi River and St. Paul harbor were discontinued due to extreme cold. This photograph shows significant ice along the river. The overall project to dredge and otherwise improve the river and harbor was completed in 1936.
Permanent piling for submergible dike to be used for cofferdam construction at the Onalaska dam, under construction on the Upper Mississippi as part of Upper Mississippi River improvements. To drive piling for this cofferdam it was necessary that a crane be moved over the ice, or that the ice be cut and moved through the water on a barge. An unusual procedure was adopted. The snow was cleared back from the surface of the ice and piled up to form a cofferdam. This cofferdam was flooded artificially and the water permitted to freeze. By successively flooding and permitting the water to freeze, the ice was built up to a thickness sufficient to permit running the crane across the ice.
Permanent piling and preparations for construction at the Onalaska dam, under construction on the Upper Mississippi as part of Upper Mississippi River improvements. To drive piling for this cofferdam it was necessary that a crane be moved over the ice, or that the ice be cut and moved through the water on a barge. An unusual procedure was adopted. The snow was cleared back from the surface of the ice and piled up to form a cofferdam. This cofferdam was flooded artificially and the water permitted to freeze. By successively flooding and permitting the water to freeze, the ice was built up to a thickness sufficient to permit running the crane across the ice.
Driving steel sheet piles for the cofferdam at the Onalaska dam, under construction on the Upper Mississippi as part of Upper Mississippi River improvements. In order to move the crane across the ice, a cofferdam was built by piling snow and artificially flooding the cofferdam, then freezing the flood until the ice was thick enough for the crane to move across it.