At this site the southbound lane of the proposed highway will be located approximately 75 feet to the left (south) of the base line. This will place it close to the base of a mound of granite quarry waste with very steep slopes. As a cut of considerable depth will be required for the road, the mound of waste with its unstable slope constitutes a very hazardous condition, especially with respect to the possibility of rock-falls and slides. Seismic work was performed at the site with the two aims in view; firstly, to obtain information on depths to bedrock that would aid in estimating the quantities of materials to be removed from the proposed cut, secondly, to obtain data that might aid in estimating the quantity of material in the mound of quarry waste with the object of obtaining estimates for its removal. Transverses A-13 and C-D were made for this latter purpose. Additional transverses would have been of value, but they were not made because of the possibility of starting rock-falls or slides, a situation that would have exposed personnel to unwarranted danger, and equipment to avoidable risk.
Mr. M. E. Chandler and Me. W. L. Carney, Massachusetts Department of Public Works' Engineers, performed pertinent survey work required for this project, and prepared the essential plans and profiles. Mr. Chandler also operated the seismic equipment and assisted in the preparation of the seismic velocity data.
The work was performed in June 1953 as part of a cooperative program of the Massachusetts Department of Public Works and the United States Geological Survey.
