Documentary Archive of Photographs Showing the Construction of the Warsak Hydro-Electric Dam, Power Plant and Irrigation Tunnel in Pakistan 1956-1960
Pakistan: [Angus Robertson Ltd.] ? c. 1960. An uncredited documentary archive consisting of 31 professional photographs, capturing in great detail the construction of the Warsak Hydro-Electric Power Plant and Irrigation Tunnel from the initial ground work and blasting in 1956 and '57 through to its completion in 1960. Pakistan and Canada jointly undertook the massive project with H.G. Acres acting as the Consulting Engineer for construction and Angus Robertson Ltd. as the General Contractor. It was the first "mega-project" of its kind in Pakistan since gaining their independence in 1947. The names of both firms, along with other key Warsak Dam facts, are all clearly visible on large signs in the panoramic triptych photo captioned "892 25.11.58 - Panoramic view of Main Dam and Stilling Basin from the south east.". Nineteen white bordered, gelatin silver photographs, all c. 4-1/2 x 6-1/4 wide (or reverse) mounted on original captioned, letter-size paper sheets, inserted into archival heavyweight sheet protectors with loose backers. 12 of 19 have creasing or bending to paper and/or image. Three gelatin silver multi-photo borderless panoramas (1 - 6-1/2 x 11 ; 1 - 4-1/4 x 10-1/4 ; 1 - 4-1/2 x 10-1/4 inches wide) with one panorama having some vertical creasing. Eight loose white bordered, gelatin silver photographs, c. 4-1/2 x 6-1/4 wide (or reverse) most captioned and/or dated in pencil on verso - all with some bending or creasing. One color photo snapshot (3-1/2 x 3-1/2 inches) with printed date "September 1959" showing a large crane and a similar mountain profile to the other photos. All images are still clear and visible, even with the many noted bends and creases. Also included is the *cover only* of an oblong booklet titled "Warsak Hydro-Electric Power Plant and Irrigation Tunnel 1956-60 - Inauguration Souvenir" [with 3 vertical creases] having the Holy Quran quote "We Have Created Water as the Basis of All Life" printed near the bottom edge. Good. Item #2940
Warsak Dam is located on the Kabul River northwest of Peshawar near the Kyber Pass in Pakistan. When completed, it had a Dam width of 750 feet, a Dam height of 250 feet, eight spillway gates, four generating units, had employed a work force of 10,000 people and a total catchment area of 26,000 miles. Interestingly, "Coyote Blasting" (blasting of rock by detonating explosives-filled tunnels) is captioned and shown on some of the images, as is the current irrigation tunneling progress, by what appears to be a Greathead Shield or similar setup. Ref. from the photos themselves and waterinfo dot net. Also available * but not included with this listing * is an additional collection of 25 personal B&W snapshots - all taken from in and around Warsak during the time of construction, showing various road trips, a gun factory in the hills and different official and social events. Please inquire if interested.
Price: $950.00 CAD other currencies