Hoover Dam is a modern marvel and a testament to American ingenuity. With over six million, six hundred thousand tons and a drop of seven hundred and sixty feet from the canyon floor, six hundred and sixty feet at the bottom, and one thousand two hundred and forty-four feet at the top, the structure is awe-inspiring even to a modern audience. Three-quarters of a century after its completion it is still the symbol of one of the largest construction projects of the time. The need for a dam to block the Colorado River was not a new idea when construction began in 1931, but it had been discussed since the dawn of the century. Flooding from Rocky Mountain runoff had devastated crops, and the need for hydroelectric power had increased the need for a dam. In 1922, Black Valley was chosen as the location for the dam. No construction company was large enough to tackle the project alone, so a group of companies formed a joint venture to win the job. Six Companies Inc. consisting of Morrison-Knudson, J.F. Shea Company of Portland, MacDonald & Kahn Ltd, Pacific Bridge Company of Portland, Henry J. Kaiser, Bechtel Company of San Francisco was awarded the winning bid for the forty dam eight million eight hundred ninety thousand nine hundred fifty-five dollars. The construction management team had a herculean task in building this behemoth and had to face many problems during its construction. Some of the main problems posed to the team involved the diversion of the Colorado River, the procurement of men and materials to complete the job, and the actual construction of Hoover Dam. The heights involved in the project led to many safety obstacles that had to be overcome. Diverting the mighty Colorado River was supposed to be… half way… an attempt to divert the Colorado River, supplying the men and materials to get the job done, and building the dam are great examples of how an effective management team of construction can get things done, regardless of the scope or complexity of the job. The tar-soaked coarse cloth hats worn by some workers led the construction management team to equip all people working on the project with hard hats. This decision led to a sharp decrease in deaths due to falling objects. When the dam was dedicated by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt on September 30, 1935, he quoted Julius Caesar stating, "I have come, I have seen, I have conquered," which was very fitting for this great achievement of American know-how and resourcefulness. Many dams have since surpassed Hoover Dam in size and power, but Hoover Dam will forever have a place in history.