1934-11-10 — Page 2

Page

HONGS

KONG DAILY

SINGAPORE'S NEW CIVIL

AERODROME

Details Of A

Of A $6,250,000 Enterprise

AN AMBITIOUS UNDERTAKING

The site selected for the Singa- pore Civil Aerodrome les in the Estuarial Easir formed by the confluence of the Geylang Kall- ang and Rochore Rivers, writes Mr. R. St. George Caufield, Resi- dent Engineer, in the July issue" of Malayan Architect,

During high tides the max!- mum depth of water is approxi- mately 10 ft. but low tides lay bare extensive mud flats inter- sected by the several channels through which these rivers dis- charge into the harbour.'"

The total are to be reclaimed under the scheme is 339 acres which the canalsation of the Geylang River will separate into two parts, namely the aerodrome proper containing 259 acres and the Fort Road Area of 80 acres which is to be reserved for poss- ible future extensions to, the Aerodrome.

11

Before the final decision" could site in be taken to utilise this preference to any of the other which were put forward as being suitable, it was first necessary should be assurance that an

this estuarial forthcoming that swamp could be satisfactorily re- claimed.

With that object a number of deep bores were sunk to ascertain the nature of the sub-strata, fol- lowing upon the completion of which various proposals were drawn up and closely examined.

The Final Scheme

The scheme as finally evolved provides for the systematic bun- ding off from the sea, large areas which once enclosed are drained, the surface of the basin thus exposed then being allowed dry out, a process which is ac- celerated by surface drainage and pumping.

to

an

The result is that from erst-while condition so fuld as to render its attempted passage on of the the floor foot difficult, basin develops a hard dry crust capable of supporting the dry filing without facture or lateral displacement.

4-

An indication of the degree of

lateral dis- compression and placement. which in all probabi- lity would be encountered under uncontrolled conditions

Was

afforded during the construction embankment of the railway across an area which once form- ed part of the basin and where for a given section of embank- ment the yardage actually tipped exceed four times the computed quantity necessary under rondi- tions.

The Banding Scheme

As the result of these prelimi- nary Investigations, it was decid-

ed to divide the entire area into

blocks varying from 10 to

acres in extent, by means of

25

a

grid of bunds, each compartment

so formed being" then dewatered by means of pumps,

B.S

although separated from each other by a bund descending 37 " feet below ground level

Site Of Excavation Calculations based upon the placing of two mililon cubic yards of filling put the additional Alling required to compensate for compression settlement at 28 per cent. of the total quantity.

а

The fling is obtained from an

acres area of hilly country 120

four In extent, situated some miles from the Reclamation," the material consisting of a layer of impervious clay overlaying white clay heavily impregnated with sand and coarse quartz gra- vel" and so compacted as to ne- cessitate the use of explosives; a mechanical analysis of the mate- rial giving 43 per cent. clay and 57 per per cent sand and gravel

mer

Excavation is being carried out by manual labour assisted by the for- mechanical excavators,

400 to 500 comprise some coolies chiefly Chinese, whilst the latter number seven units, five of which are electrically operated Ruston-Bucyrus type 32B, 1 cuble yard capacity, and two steam driven "Wilson" shovels of simi- lar rating.

The combined output from all sources is between 6.500 and 7,500 cubic yards per day of nine hours depending chiefly upon weather' conditions.

Benching Operations

To obtain the filing required. the whole of the quarry site is being worked in a series of ben- ches or levels which; commencing from the highest poins of 130 feet above MSL are worked downwards in successive stages of 20 feet at a' time until the de- sired floor level is finally geached, the dimension of 20 feet being fixed by the striking. height of the excavator bucket.

Steam haulage is used in trans- porting the filing over a double three feet gauge track, four miles in length. the number of three cubic yard, double side-tip wagons in service being 240 re- quiring nine main line focos to €€ maintain the schedule of

10 trains per haulage day of

the main hours; in addition to line locos there are six light shunting locos and two steam ral tractors for servicing the navvies. making a total-of-71-all told:

were

The highest output so far re- corded was in April of this year when 192,840 cubic yards despatched, equal to 1,028,768 ton miles of useful haulage, that is excluding the return of empty trains.

31

The Landing Ground"

It has been stated above that the "area available upon the com- pletion of the portion of the re- clamation set aside for the pur- poses of the Aerodrome will be 259 acres.

▾

This will provide space for a domed circular landing ground 1,000 yards in diameter equiva- lent to 162 acres and still leave. adequate space in the north-west corner for the hangars, terminal building, slipway and other. per- manent works including a public enclosure and car park.

The water frontage of the aerodrome, measuring 7,800 linear feet, will be protected throughout by a coral wall Anished off with a precast concrete coping.

In actual practice this method has proved entirely successful, the surface of the basin once bunded off from tidal waters rapidly hardens, the process already stated being accelerated by cutting main surface drains with lateral subsidiaries dischar- ging into a dow level sump, the contents of which are pumped over the bund by means of a low

capacity of.. Hit pump having a 2,000 gallons per minutes. * ··· ·

Once stable conditions have been created, a process usually requiring from four to six weeks depending upon the weather, All-be laid ing operations are commenced in two or more layers, care being taken in tipp'ng the first jft to adjust the depth of fll according to the ubility of the surface crust BO to withstand the pressure caused

Estimated Total Filing, Should the surface fracture and the depth of filling be not reduced, then spewing in advance of the tip bank occurs.causing irregular settlement of pressure. exerted during filling was forme- tion of surface depression result ing in ponding after rains.

An instance of the magnitude of the pressure exerted during filling was afforded when opera-, tions in one area caused an up- heaval in a neighbouring area

Landing Circle,

of

The danding circle which is to down in concrete" will have an outside diameter of 100 feet, the width of the band being six feet and in the centre which there will be provided an accommodation pit for a nudge" pot electrically heated with re- mote control if necessary,

A fog-strip following the major unobstructed dimension of the aerodrome will be laid in pre-cast concrete slabs as shown, the Begments measuring 20 feet in feet in width, length by aix spaced at intervals of 20 feet throughout its run,

A circular apron head measur- ing 400 feet in diameter will pro- Ject into the landing ground as shown on the layout plans and will be laid with cross falls to Recelerate surface drainage,

Four Runways Provided

four are Runways, of which shown connecting the apron head with the apron, will permit of taxying machines to different parts of the apron thereby giving ready access to such hangars as

be once or may are ereced at

the erected in completion of scheme as envisaged.

The precautions usually taken to provide adequate paved areas where traffic is most concentrat- ed will in the case of Singapore be rendered still more recessary by the adverse though temporary effects following a succession of heavy rainstorms upon the fat of reclaimed ground expanse forming this area

therefore

Storm Water Precautions The considerations have largely influenced the nan- ber of runways, the extent to which the apron head should pro- Ject into the doming and the length of runways consequently necessary to achieve such projec- tion,

The aprons are shown as be- Ing inter-connected between han- gars thus providing a continuous pavement measuring 1,800 feet in length by 200 feet in width run- ning the entire front of all four hangars.

Siting Of The Hangars "In addition to the runways al- ready mentioned, there are to be laid perimeter runways on either side of the apron head with later- als which incoming planes will be. required to use in taxying to the hangars.

This will result in only outward planes being allowed to use the circular apron head, thus reducing by one half the amount of traf- "Ac converging on this local point corres- and thereby effecting a ponding reduction in the damage done to the grassed surface of the landing ground in his locality, the repairs and maintenance of which assume an even greater degree of importance in countries where rainfall is excessive.

The siting of the hangars and in fact the position of the area gen- erally in relation to the force and direction of the prevalling winds was decided from the wind Ioses supplied by the Superin- tendent. Meteorological Depart ment, which clearly indicate the northwest corner of the Aero- drome as being the most suitable site for all permanent buildings.

Two Hangara Sufficient As indicated on the general lay- out plans the provision of two hungara numbered 1 and 2 is re- garded as being sufficient for im-. mediate requirements; isites for two additional hangars are shown on the plans and numbered 3 and

4.

In considering the most suitable hangar dimensions, the question of the developments which "are likely to occur in the size of the machines employed upon the Far..... Eastern and Australian routes was carefully examined as also data regarding the latest practice both in England and the Continent as well as on the South African route.

Finally it was decided that hen- gars measuring 300 feet in length by 125 feet in depth having side, doors 30 feet in height would be capable of meeting future de- mands in relation to overall di- mensions of machines and at the same time provide an economic size for the housing and ready. handling of a maximum number

PRESS, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1934.

ENGINEERING & BUILDING

ARCHITECTS IN FUEL OIL FROM

SINGAPORE

Series Of Meetings Arranged

The Institute of Architects of Malaya held the first of a series of meetings at the Victoria Hall on Monday evening at which a paper was read by the president, Mr. H. P. Arbens, E.P.Z.. on "Local experience in pile driving." says the Singapore Free Press. The object of, these meetings is to promote social intercourse between members of the archi- sectural profession and to assist the younger members education- ally.

The chair was taken by Mr. J. M. Fraser, ARIBA, and a very interesting

instructional and evening was spent, as was shown by the numerous questions asked at the conclusion of the paper by many of the 70 people present.

A vote of thanks to Mr. Arbenz was proposed by the Chalfman, who pointed out that the Connell of the Institute had arranged a programme of instruction for its younger members and urged those present who were not members to benefit from it by becoming members.

Mr. Arbenz introduced to his audience a chart prepared by himself for the accurate and easy calculation of the resistance of piles of various kinds which he' claims can safely be adopted to supersede the somewhat conflict- ing data at present available and he stated he had given permission for this chart to be reproduced in a future issue of the Malayan Architect, the official journal of the Institute.

Seaplane Shed And Apron The seaplane shed has been sit- ed on the western perimeter in proximity to the slipway and wharf and so oriented that, with the hauling gear housed within be The shed, sealanes may drawn into the hangar by the shortest, and simplest route,

The position of the slipway and its alignment in relation to the perimeter of the landing ground were

decided upon only after numerous alternatives had been examined and their effect upon the general layout scheme care- fully considered.

The dimensions proposed for the slipway are 350 feet in length by 150. feet in width inclined at an angle of one in 20 and termin- ating at a point 4 feet below low water LW.OST.

The structure is to be carried out in reinforced concrete and will be designed to carry a load of 40 tons.

Seaplane Anchorage The dimensions indicated upon the plans and surveys for the sea- plane anchorage are 1,100 feet in length by 700 feet in width, with a minimum depth of water of seven feet at low tide LW.O.S.T.

"Access to the outer harbour where it is intended that sea planes shali ordinarily alight, "is a dredged and buoyed channel

1,000 yards approximately length following the line shown on the scale model "

in

BROWN COAL

To Be Manufactured

In Germany

MAS

The movement towards econo- mic independence, which been one of the reactions to the serious Anancial condition in which many countries have found themselves in recent years, bas in many cases taken the form of an attempt to control the import, among other things, of fuel oll The work now in hand at Billing- ham for the manufacture of oll from coal by the Berylus process is an instance of this type of has activity. A decree which just been passed in Germany having referenre to the brown "coal industry is interpreted by the Bertin Correspondent of The Times as an example of the same kind of thing. The decree re- quires all persons or arms engag→ ed in the mining of brown coal to attach themselves to a com- mon organisation, It is suggest- ed that this regulation is con- nected with extensive proposals for increasing the production of fuel of from brown coal. The enterprise is statel to require the creation of an organisation with a capital of at least 100 million marks. say 8,000,000. As is gene- rally known, some fuel oil is al- ready produced in Germany by the Bergius process from tar olis " and brown coal, the total how- ever, forms but a small propar- tion of the consumption of oil in the country. There are also some oil wells in North Germany, at one of which a serious fire occur- red last week-end. The total o

in the country production of 1933, according to The Oil and Petroleum Year Book, amounted - only to 226,884 metric tons.- Engineering.

་ ་་

SWEDISH ALUMINIUM

WORKS

The construction of the дет factory of the recently formed Swedish Aluminium Company, at Mansbo, near Avesta, has now been "completed and the plant installed. The new works will derive its electrical energy from the recently-completed. power plant of the Alby chlorate factory, at the Avesta Falls, and the bauxite will be obtained from the Alu- plant of the Norwegian minium Company at Hoyanger. Norway. The main building of the new works is 118 ft. long and occupies a floor space of 2,640 sq. yards, while the wing containing the foundry is 85 ft, in length.

Air Transport Companies and also to a garage intended for the use of the Aerodrome staff -

Car Park Aud. Public Enclosure

To secure a measure of control over crowds which may be admit- ted free on gala days, provision has been made for a public en- closure and car park, access to ̈ both of which will be by way of the main entrance.

A feature of the enclosure will be a railed off but otherwise un- obstructed view front extending from the south end of hangar, No. 1 to the limit of the future site reserved for hangar No. 3,

The car park situated behind hängar No. 1 covers approximate- ly thre acres and may be extend-

if desired.

Terminal Building Design The design of the terminal or administrative building, is in ac- cord with the largest practice for the expeditious and convenient handling of passengers, baggage.ed mails. and freight, separate en- trances and exista being provided for each to achitate passage through the Customs and com- pliance with regulations concern- ing immigration and health. Main Entrance And Service Roads

For access to the aerodrome the -proposal is to provide separate lines for "in" and "out" traffic

The two roads and the boulé- yard would be 20 feet in width, the former carrying grassed ver-

Designed To Harmonise Externally they have been 'de- signed to harmonise with the ter- minal building as owing to the unique central position of the aerodrome in relation to the city,ges having central flagged strips all buildings are required to dis- play a measure of architectural merit.

of suitable width would unite in

a common carriage way running the full length of the building

Aerodrome Equipment The aerodrome will be fully equipped with all necesary ap paratus for night dying including wireless D/E, boundary lighting whilst the regulation obstruction lights will be fixed to all buildings;: etc. in accordance with accepted practice.

The entire work is being carried

on either side of a central bople-out departmentally to the designs vard shown on the general lag- of the EW.D. at an estimated cost. out plan.

of $8,250,000, the time for comple- tion being the close of 1885.

In conclusion it is desired 10 acknowledge indebtedness to al those who assisted and facilitated the preliminary study of the lat est developments in modern air- port requirements; particular mention being made of the air- port managers of Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, Athens and Bagh- dad who "supplied valuable in- formation and to Imperial Air- ways, Ltd., who very kindly dr= ranged the Continental tour un- dertaken by the oicer deputed to draw up the general scheme for this airport,

Piled foundations will be necesfrontage, a--necessary feature in sary for the hangars as also for all other major buildings...

Hangar floors will be raised slightly above the apron level and lafd to suitable cross falla Monda Office and work-shop annexes are to be provided at either end further reference to which is made elsewhere.

view of the provision of separate entrances the building for passengers, freight and maile

A service road 20 feet in width. will be constructed connecting the seaplane hangar and wharf with the main entrance whilst a small secondary road is shown provid- ing access to the bangar for the

FINE HIGHLAND COTTON-GINNING

MOTOR ROAD

New Factory Opened

The

reconstructed road be- tween Ballachulish and Dochfour in Inverness, which was formally opened by the Minister of "Trans- port (Mr. Lealle, Hore-Belialia) completes a programme of road- making in Scotland, as a result of which it is now possible to make the circle from Edinburg to Glasgow. along the western shore of Loch Lomond to Orlanlarich. thence by way of Tyndrum through the Pass of Glencoe to Ballachulish, along the Great. Glen to Inverness and finally back to Edinburgh through Kin- and gussie, Blar Atholl. Perth

roads Stirling, using first-class all the way. The Ballachulish- route Doch four section of the which is 71 miles long, super- sedes a tortuous road with steep many blind corners and gradients, The width also in places was as little as 8 ft., and poor. the surface ·was" often Along Loch Ness it was buttress- ed-by retaining walls, the condi- tion of which become very bad was. on the whole, quite fade- On the quate for motor trafic, other hand, the new road bas an 18 ft. carriageway of bituminous macadam with ample grass ver- ges, in which parking places have been formed at intervals. In the are more populous areas there also paved footways. In spite of character of mountainous the the district, no curve is less than 300 ft. in radius and the maxi- two except on mum gradient,

very short lengths, is 1 in 20. All curves below a radius of 1,000 ft, have been superelevated, and out. the carriageways widened The foundation is-larely rock. ап- but where peat sub-sol is

concrete countered reinforced rafts

been have

constructed. Masonry walls have also been bufit on both sides of the road between Ballachulish and Fort William to prevent land slips and eroision The road is carried culverts.. of over 71 bridge and spans varying from 111 ft. down- wards. Three of these are of the which swing type. The work

has occupied about five years, with a minimum of disturbance, to the traffle, has involved the removed of 1,1708,000 tons of soll

Tainan. Nov. 1.

A new cotton-ginning factory was formally opened in the city of Chitung, northern Shantung. » yesterday. Among the prominent guests present were Mr. Chang Hung-Heh, Shantung Provincial Commissioner of Reconstruction, · and the branch managers of the Central Bank of China in Tsinan" and Tsingtao. This season the Chitung district yielded a bumper cotton crop totalling 800,000 cat- ties. Special arrangements are also being made by the Provincial Commissioner of Reconstruction with the local cotton co-operative societies and banking circles for further development of the Indus- try in the district--

ROAD.BED PAVING COMPLETED

Nanking, Nov. 1, The work of paving the road- bed for the double-tracking of the Shanghai-Nanhsiang section of the Nanking-Shanghai Railway, has been completed, according to a report to the Ministry of Rail-

ways.

rails will be Laying of the started soon and the new track will be ready for use by the end of this year.-

and gravel and 1,079,000 tons of rock, and has cost 1,012,000, or

It was about 14,000 per mile.

under carried out by contract the supervision of Major Robert Brue, M.Inst.E, of the Ministry of Transport, with whom Messrs. Blythe and Blythe, of Edinburgh... co-operated as consulting en- gineers for the more important bridges. The contractors were the Alston Limestone Company Limited, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Messrs. Jack. Son and Company. Limited, Glasgow, Messrs. Wil- llam Tawse, Limited, Aberdeen, Messra. A, M. Carmichael, Edin- burgh, and Mr. J. M. Broadfoot, The road has Newport. Mon. been named Glenalbyn,

METAL WINDOWS

MANUFACTURER :

MADE IN HONGKONG

FROM IMPORTED

BRITISH MATERIAL"

95%

BRITISH.

THE TAI YING STEEL WINDOW MFG. CO.

TELEPHONE: 97132.

OFFICE 89/85, OHUN YONG STREET, - FACTORY:

BHIP & ENGINE BUILDERS. SHIP & ENGINE REPAIRKES.

MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL

ENGINEERS.

BOJLER MAKERS. IRON FOUNDERS. (Licensed To Manufacture 'Lans Perlit Iron)

·BRASS FOUNDERS. FORGE MASTERS.

OXY-ACETYLÈNE 'AND. ELECTRIC WELDERS.

NORTH-POINT,

HONG KONG,

DRY DOCK---

Length 787 Feat Length on Blocks 760 Feet.

"ak entrance- 83 ft. 4 ins. Depth on Centre of

Breadth

THE TAIKOO DOCKYARD & ENGINEERING COMPANY

OF HONG KONG,

SALVAGE TUG "TAIKOO”

*** Wireless Call

V.F.G.N. 600 Meterr

LIMITED.

BIL (ELW-0-8-T-) 84 ft 8 ins.

THRER SLIPWAYS-

Capable of Handling Ships Up

to 4,000 Tom Displacement

CRANES

300 TON Electric Crane at Bea Wall, Wash & Lifting reach 70 feet.

25 TON High tower gantry Traveli- ing Crane, Lizing radius 77 ft 8 ins serving the Dry Dock and Sea Wall berthy

BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE, Agents,

HONG KONG, CHINA & JAPAN.

TEL. AUER: TAIKOODI, Hong Kong, TELEPHONE: 80211.

UAZL FLAM "NUMERAL OFF" OFIZ" PRIYANT ANS”