Building the Dam Story

At the end, if there is success, one wonders how. Through this wonder one discovers the story. This blog is dedicated to that discovery.

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

sign of the times



High scalers at the Hoover Dam were a sign of the times. Hanging 700 feet above the ground, in tiny bosun chairs, knocking away loose rock, these men dared to demonstrate what it took to not only take a challenge but to become one. For who could top a feat such as this?

When the designers of the dam set to planning such feats did they realize they were molding men to forever be remembered for such a dangerous job? And though the pay for being a high scaler was about equal to the other dangerous job at the dam, those who walked into a tunnel to be sure the blasting had finished, it was nothing compared to a company man.

And how did one become a company man? The sign of the times offered only this: who would want to be when you could possess so much glory at a job that meant risking your life?