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July 14, 1955
HARTINGTON - Over 32 miles of electric transmission line is being built between Gavins’ Point Dam and the Belden substation to provide more electrical power for the residents of Cedar County.
Construction on the power line got underway April 1 and should be completed about Aug. 1, according to Bureau of Reclamation officials.
Structures have already been built from the dam to the substation and wire stringing crews are now working southwest of Hartington. The line is a bureau of Reclamation standard 115-kilavolt three-phase wood pole, H-frame single circuit transmission line.
The line is constructed with 556,500 circular mil aluminum steel reinforced conductors and two 3/8 galvanized steel strand overhead ground wires.
This line is designed for heavy sleet and wind conditions.
It took 550 poles to construct 254 two-pole structures and 14 three-pole structures to carry the line from the dam to the Belden station.
These structures vary from 55 to 80 feet in height. The contour of the ground and the crossing of other transmission lines causes the variation in height.
There are about eight poles to a mile, which are set about 700 feet apart. In building the line, it was necessary to cross 200 farm fences, 31 power lines and 23 telephone lines.
The first phase of construction was to obtain an aerial map of the county and draw a tentative location for the line.
The power line had to miss farm buildings, cemeteries and shelter belts. Easements were then obtained from farmers to build across their land.
Except for a few deviations for buildings, the line runs straight across the county.
Crews, starting at Gavins’ Point Dam, worked across the county, laying out poles, cross arms and braces.
Another crew framed the poles using 254 cross arms consisting of two wooden timbers, each 2 5/8 inches thick and 9 V4 inches wide and 25 feet long. These timbers were then bolted together with three pieces of steel and two bolts through the holes. Men then placed 6,000 porcelain insulator units on the cross arms.
