QUESTIONS ON THE SECOND CHAPTER. Page 9. Of what use are preliminary estimates? What are the essential elements of all estimates? Page 13. What is a standard unit? What are ambiguities and why should they be avoided? Page 14. How do the U. S. and British measures compare? What is the difference between the standard yards? Give the rule for reducing one to the other. Repeat the table for U. S. linear measure; also the miscellaneous measures. Page 15. What is the difference between a statute and nautical mile? What is the value of a degree of latitude at the equator and the pole? How is the length of a degree of longitude determined for any latitude? What units are used in measuring land and for line surveys? Page 16. Give the divisions of the metric system for linear measures and their equivalent values. Which are the road measures? What are the units for surfaces both in the U. S. and France? Page 17. What are their subdivisions and multiples ? Page 18. What are the units for volumes; how divided? ernment engineers measure stone, sand, earth, timber, &c. ? How do Gov Page 19. What is the difference between the mason's and quarryman's perch? How are walls less than 16" thick to be measured? What are the best units? What are the units of capacity? Give the dimensions of a bushel. What is a heaped bushel; a struck bushel? State the relations in dry measure; in liquid measure. Pages 20 and 21. What are the dimensions of a gallon? What are the divisions of the gallon used by apothecaries? Name the French measures of capacity. What are the Spanish units? What is the unit of weight? Give the table. Pages 22 and 23, How many cubic inches are there in a pound of water? Give the table for Troy weight. Apothecaries' weight. What is the French system of weights? Page 24. How is time divided? What is the distinction to be made in the several years in use? What is a month? Page 25. What is a working day? How is the law to be construed? Page 26. How is lumber sold? Define board measure. How are contents calculated? How is round timber measured? What are inch and piece spars? What allowances are made for bark on round timber? How are straight pieces, keels, wharf and crib timber, &c., measured? Page 27. Sawed timber is how sold? What is the unit in carpenters' work? Give the rules for measuring the several parts of building as stated in the context. Page 28. Excavators' work is how measured? What is meant by the lead? How are prices adjusted for long hauls? Bed of foundation is how measured? dredging? rock work, clearing and grubbing? What is the unit generally used in mason's work? How are walls measured for material and workmanship? other forms? What are the most definite units? Page 31. How is bricklayers' work estimated? What is the standard? Give the average dimensions of a brick. When measured by the rod what is the thickness? How is the number of bricks in any wall determined. Page 32. In plastering how is flat work measured? cornices, mouldings, &c.? What deductions and extras are allowed? How is coloring measured? painting? What allowances are made for piece work, balusters, &c. ? Page 33. How is glazing computed? Roofing is how measured? What extras are allowed? What is the unit? Plumbing? Paving? Page 34. What is specific gravity? give the formula and general rule. How is the specific gravity of a body lighter than water found? that of a fluid? Page 42. How many spikes, ties and joints are required per mile on the C. S. R, R.? What are the estimates for one mile of iron and of steel track, laid? Page 44. What were the six "important considerations" to be provided for in the plans for the Art Building, U. S. Centennial Exhibition? Pages 45 et seq. How were the original designs modified? Describe the design for Memorial Hall with its appointments and approaches; also the temporary portions. Pages 47 et seq. What is the standard height for freight platforms? What provision was made for storage? What objection existed? How were the floors to be arranged, and why? What were the arrangements for lighting? Define transept, nave, finial, clerestory, purlins, sheathing, &c. What advantages were claimed by the proposed tower over a dome? What was the estimated cost of the building? CHAPTER III. SPECIFICATIONS. Specification de The Specification is that part of the contract which shows specifically all those features that cannot be fined. clearly represented in the drawings; such as quality and quantity of materials; nature of workmanship and manner of executiug the work, with any general stipulations or instructions that may be found necessary or desirable. The greatest care should be given to its preparation as it forms the basis of the Should be very contractor's offer and is his guide all through the carefully prepared. work. Every detail should be clearly and accurately defineď and nothing should be omitted, nor left to the imagination. A memorandum tablet should be constantly used dur- Memorandum ing the preparation of the drawings, and every should be kept. thought or suggestion carefully noted. These points will be sufficiently exemplified by an examination of the accompanying forms furnished by reliable anthorities. [From the U. S. Corps of Engineers.] FOR HARBOR AND RIVER IMPROVEMENTS. SPECIFICATIONS IMPROVEMENT OF THE HARBOR OF CEDAR KEYS, FLORIDA. See pages 209, 219, 251. Specifications. UNITED STATES ENGINEERS' Office, No. 40 Church Street, MOBILE, ALABAMA, April 7, 1877. Character, extent and locality of the work. The work to be done consists in either widening the channel across the bar at the mouth of the Harbor of Cedar Keys, Florida, about 5 miles south of Cedar Keys; or widening and deepening the channel from the bar to Cedar Keys. The uniform depth of water to be attained through this channel is 12 feet at mean low water, and the work will be continued until the appropriation, Ten Thousand (10,000) Dollars, is exhausted. The ordinary rise of the tide is about 2 feet. The material to be excavated is sand and mud, intermixed with shell, (easily removed by an ordinary dredging machine,) and will have to be deposited in not less than 6 feet depth of water, at an average distance not exceeding 3 miles. Tides. Character of material and distance of dumping ground. The amount of material excavated shall be determined by Measurement. measurement in the scows or barges in which the material is deposited, whose capacity shall be ascertained by the engineer in charge, or his agents, before the work commences. Inspectors of Dredges will be appointed by the Engineer in charge, and acting under his instructions, shall determine when the scows or barges contain "full loads." The decision of said Inspectors as to the amount of material excavated and removed, as well as to its location and deposit shall be final, and without appeal on the part of the contractors. The precise location of work to be done shall be fixed by Method of working. the Engineer in charge, or his assistants, plainly marked by stakes or buoys furnished by the contractors, who will also provide a suitable boat and men to set them, and necessary help for sounding, at their own expense, under the direction of the United States Agent in charge. Contractors will be held responsible for any Government property destroyed by the negligence or carelessness of their employees or agents. All excavations below the required depth, or beyond the lines of the channel shall be deducted from the amount returned by the Inspectors; such excess to be determined by examinations made by the Engineer or agent in charge at suitable intervals. In the event of a deficiency in depth being found and reported to the contractor, payments shall be suspended until the excavation is carried to the required depth by them. A. N. DAMRELL, Capt: Engrs: U. S. A The above specifications are accompanied by the advertisement (see page 209) and "instructions to bidders" (page219.) They do not exhibit the amount of material to be removed, but this will be found in the advertisement to be 20,000 cubic yards, so that it must form a necessary part of the papers composing the contract. In the last three paragraphs will be found mentioned some of the precautions nccessary to be taken that the work may be effectively done and all fraud prevented. See pages 209, 219, 251. For a Stone Breakwater. SPECIFICATIONS FOR RIP RAP GRANITE FOR THE BREAKWATER AT BLOCK ISLAND, R. I. Rip-rap granite is required to complete the main break- Material. water, and build a detached piece about 300 feet long to the northward. It is now carried out to fourteen (14) feet of water at mean low water. Amount to be expended for granite, about $45,000. Appropriation. The work will be built with a width on top of twenty-five Dimensions. (25) feet, and side slopes of about forty-five (45) degrees. It is to be carried up to about six (6) feet above mean high water. The stone may be thrown in from the deck of a vessel with an ordinary spar derrick. No stone shall be put in more than fifty feet in advance of the finished portion, and all must be completed to the required height before the work will be accepted. The granite must be of the best quality as to durability, Nature of Material. in blocks averaging not less than one and a half (1) tons each. No block of less than one-half (%) of a ton will be received. The blocks must be as nearly cubical as practicable, the smalllest dimension must in no case be less than one-third (%) of the largest. The stone found on Block Island will not answer for this part of the work. The breakwater is now so far completed as to give shelter in all storms except those from the northeast, to vessels drawing twelve (12) feet. The inner harbor gives shelter from storms in any direction, and has a depth of seven (7) at mean low water. The mean rise of the tide is three and one fourth (3) feet. Information. The proper season for doing this work advantageously is between the Ist of April and the 1st of October, the season of long days and pleasant weather. The frequent calms at this period prevent sailing vessels from improving it because of their inability to move. For this reason parties bidding must be prepared to use a steam tug for towing their vessels to and from the work, and this will be required in the contract. The time of beginning this work is on or before May 1st, The time. 1877, and it must be completed on or before November 30th, 1877. The monthly rate of progress must from the beginning The monthly rate at least, equal the average rate for the whole period in which of progress. it is proposed to do the work. The price asked for doing this work must be stated by the The price. ton of 2,240 pounds of stone placed in the work. The vessels to be used by the contractor will be loaded by Measurement. weighing stone into them at the quarry and putting draught marks on them for every five (5) tons, from the smallest to the largest load that they will carry. These draught marks will be taken as indicating the load of the vessel, if she is in the same condition as to water in the hold, tackle, &c., as when gauged. The gauging of the vessel will be done by the contractor, |