Getting Steamed

THE NEW CHEMISTRY building is the straw that broke the camel's back," said John Gratiot, assistant director of Buildings & Grounds. "The entire steam system is at risk." In 1955, engineers built the old subterranean steam system to warm Dartmouth from the inside out for 30 to 40 years. Thirtyseven years later, the old system is inadequate and falling apart.

"We're building a Cadillac of steam tunnels," Gratiot said, proudly patting a 20-inch pipe section about to be placed six feet beneath the Green. By die end of 1993, the new $11 million system will reinforce the old one with a guaranteed 75 years of security.

The first section runs from the heating plant under Wheelock Street to a manhole next to Bartlett Hall. A second section, which bisects the first one, gouged through the Green this summer from the juncture of College and Wheelock Streets en route to a tunnel linkup at Elm Street.

The slowly progressing trench was still on the Green at the beginning of fall term, but Gratiot hoped to be past the Homecoming bonfire site by the time this magazine reached alumni. Steve Mischissin, Dartmouth's utilities engineer, said the project is a good eight months ahead of schedule. The current deadline for reaching the north side of Baker is 1993 Commencement.

Workers are building theCadillac of steam tunnels.