4 ms·

Then you might also be interested in the history of chicagos sewer system. The tldr is they raised the city so they could build a drainage system that flowed in

Then you might also be interested in the history of chicagos sewer system. The tldr is they raised the city so they could build a drainage system that flowed in the right direction. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raising_of_Chicago https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raising_of_Chicago

temp0826 6y ago
Seattle went about this a different way, and essentially built on top of the old cruft ala New New York in Futurama. If you’re ever in Seattle, I highly recommend doing the underground tour!
- eschulz 6y ago
  That just makes sense, but I like how Chicago undertook the monumental engineering task of raising the street level.
ethbr0 6y ago
After reading about this on HN previously, I bought some used screw jacks [0] and lifted half of my house. They're amazing and effectively last forever. You can generally free one up with rust blaster + lube + muscle. If you have a rod long and strong enough, you can lift anything. The only caveats I'd make are: (0) understand structural load, and what and where you're lifting, (1) be very careful with the placement of jack and getting a good vertical plumb on the post (lots of checks with levels, continuously!), (2) think about where you want permanent supports, as there's no "swap it in" when the jack is now holding up your house... exactly where you want a post, (3) buy multiples, as you'll always want one more, (4) lift to max < fully unscrewed, as they're weaker and less stable-tolerant at full extension, (5) put something squishy (e.g. pressure treated 2x) between metal and crackable surfaces to widen contact patch, (6) make sure to get a solid, centered placement on your lifting post. Other than that, go have fun lifting the world with simple machines. :-) [0] https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1c/House_Jack_2.5_tons.jpg https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1c/House_Ja...

temp0826 6y ago

Seattle went about this a different way, and essentially built on top of the old cruft ala New New York in Futurama. If you’re ever in Seattle, I highly recommend doing the underground tour!

eschulz 6y ago
That just makes sense, but I like how Chicago undertook the monumental engineering task of raising the street level.

ethbr0 6y ago

After reading about this on HN previously, I bought some used screw jacks [0] and lifted half of my house. They're amazing and effectively last forever. You can generally free one up with rust blaster + lube + muscle. If you have a rod long and strong enough, you can lift anything. The only caveats I'd make are: (0) understand structural load, and what and where you're lifting, (1) be very careful with the placement of jack and getting a good vertical plumb on the post (lots of checks with levels, continuously!), (2) think about where you want permanent supports, as there's no "swap it in" when the jack is now holding up your house... exactly where you want a post, (3) buy multiples, as you'll always want one more, (4) lift to max < fully unscrewed, as they're weaker and less stable-tolerant at full extension, (5) put something squishy (e.g. pressure treated 2x) between metal and crackable surfaces to widen contact patch, (6) make sure to get a solid, centered placement on your lifting post. Other than that, go have fun lifting the world with simple machines. :-) [0] https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1c/House_Jack_2.5_tons.jpg https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1c/House_Ja...