BIG POWER DAM

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 May 1943, Page 4

BIG POWER DAM

VAST CANADIAN PROJECT. AIRCRAFT CARRY RECORD CARGO. MONTREAL, Quebec. Moving 800,000 pounds of freight by air to supply survey and advance crews on the Shipshaw dam in northern Quebec when that project could be reached in no other way, planes and personnel now part of Canadian Pacific Air Lines are believed to have set up a new Canadian air-freighting record for a single contract. In addition, important work was done by aerial surveys in photographing contours of the land and possible river diversion routes, with the pictures also aiding engineers in locating the roads by which heavier materials were brought to the job, which will give added power to the giant aluminum plant at Arvida.

For the 1,000,000-horsepower Shipshaw project, now nearing completion, some of the air’s oddest cargoes went in to advance parties. Strangest shipment of all consisted of eight horses and four oxen, the latter for stump removal. All the animals were received alive and kicking, and they were delivered at their destination in the same condition, to write anothei’ page in the safe history of freighting by air. Flying in a complete steam shovel to the waiting crews was all in the day’s work for the eight planes which were on the go on this contract, equipped with skis in winter and with floats in summer. A 1,600-pound motor boat, 20 feet long, was also an awkward shipment, while engines, compressors, electric generating plants and other equipment needed at this stage of the work were routine carrying jobs.