A MAN NAMED ZENÓN

In 1972, I was employed as a civil engineer with a leading geotechnical consulting firm in Peru. Over a period of several years, I was in charge of many soil investigation studies. One such study took me to the site of the Sheraton Hotel - Lima, a 20-story high-rise which was being planned at that time near the center of the capital city.

The geology of the region is well known, consisting of well compacted alluvial material, mostly sand, gravel, and boulders, an ideal material for foundations. However, the owner's engineer was not sure. To reduce the risk, he requested three exploratory drillings, each to a depth of 30 m, to make sure that the soil was competent to carry the design loads.

We argued that open pits would be cheaper and safer to properly ascertain the characteristics of the soil profile, and, on this basis, were awarded the contract to perform the study. We hired a team of tough, seasoned Peruvian miners from Huancavelica, led by a man named Zenón, who completed the three soil pits, each 1.5 m in diameter and 30 m in depth, in about three weeks. We confirmed the existence of well compacted granular material throughout the soil profile at all three sites.

Once the work was completed, the owner's engineer could hardly believe it! He was particularly impressed that we had accomplished the work without any bracing or fancy equipment, using just a pick and shovel and an old-fashioned tripod, pulley, and bucket assembly. He ordered the holes filled with concrete and the contract paid in full. Thus, the moral of the story: You don't have to be fancy to be effective.

 

Physical model of Poechos spillway, National Hydraulics Laboratory, Lima, Peru.