,,scamping ,,tricks ,,and ,,odd         
,,knowledge  ,,occasionally ,,practised 
,,upon ,,public ,,works4   ,,chronicled 
,,from ,,the ,,confessions ,,of ,,some  
,,old ,,practitioners4    ,,by  ,,john  
,,newman1 ,,assoc4 ,m4 ,,inst4 ,c4,e41  
,,author ,,of  ',,earthwork ,,slips     
,,and ,,subsidences ,,upon ,,public     
,,works'2 ',,notes ,,on ,,concrete ,,and
 ,,works ,,in ,,concrete'2 ',,iron      
,,cylinder ,,bridge ,,piers'2 ',,queer  
,,scenes ,,of ,,railway ,,life4'    ,e4 
,f4 ,n4 ,,spon1 #abe1 ,,strand1         
,,london4 ,,new ,,york3 #ab1 ,,cortlandt
 ,,street4 #ahia4     ,,preface4   ,the 
following pages have been written with  
the view to record a few scamping tricks
 occasionally practised upon public     
works1 and to name some methods founded 
on practical experience adopted by      
sub-contractors and others to cheaply   
and quickly execute work4  ,all who have
 had the direction or charge of an      
extensive or even comparatively         
insignificant public enterprise will    

agree that it is impossible for a       
resident or contractor's engineer to    
know the manner in which everything is  
proceeding on his division1 and in some 
measure he is compelled to rely upon    
others2 nevertheless1 it is quite as    
important to ascertain that the work is 
carried out according to the            
specification and drawings as to        
elaborate a perfect specification and   
then have to partly leave the execution 
to the care of the beneficent fairies4  
,if a finger-post has been correctly    
pointed in the direction in which a     
favourable field for scamping tricks may
 exist1 the author's object in writing  
this book will have been attained4  ,to 
the less experienced1 the incidents and 
scrap-knowledge described may be more   
particularly useful1 and on             
consideration it was thought that the   
conversational tone adopted would best  
expose the subject and indicate the     
ethics of somewhat conscience-proof     
sub-contractors and workmen1 and also   

the way in which their earnest          
endeavours to practise the science of   
scamping may be exercised upon materials
 and under circumstances not especially 
referred to herein4  ,j4 ,n4  ,,london1 
#ahia4     ,,contents4                  
,,page  ,,chapter ,i4  ,,introduction   
#a  ,,chapter ,,ii4  ,,screw            
,,piles--,,general                      
,,consideration--,,manipulation ,,for   
,,extra ,,profit                        
#c  ,,chapter ,,iii4  ,,screw           
,,piles--,,details                      
#ac  ,,chapter ,,iv4  ,,iron            
,,piles--,,arrangement--,,driving--,,sin
king ,,by ,,water-,,jet             #be 
,,chapter ,v4  ,,timber                 
,,piles--,,pile-,,driving--,,general    
,,consideration                  #cb    
,,chapter ,,vi4  ,,timber               
,,piles--,,manipulation ,,for ,,extra   
,,profit                      #db       
,,chapter ,,vii4  ,,masonry ,,bridges   
#ec  ,,chapter ,,viii4  ,,tunnels       
#fa  ,,chapter ,,ix4  ,,cylinder        

,,bridge ,,piers                        
#fi  ,,chapter ,x4  ,,drain             
,,pipes--,,blasting1 ,,and              
,,powder-,,carriage                     
#gf  ,,chapter ,,xi4                    
,,concrete--,,puddle                    
#he  ,,chapter ,,xii4                   
,,brickwork--,,tidal ,,warnings--,,pipe 
,,joints--,,dredging                    
#ic  ,,chapter ,,xiii4  ,,permanent     
,,way                                   
#ajc  ,,chapter ,,xiv4  ,,extra         
,,measurements--,,toad-,,stool          
,,contractors--,,testimonials           
#aad  ,,chapter ,,xv4  ,,men ,,and      
,,wages--,,sub ,,from ,,the ,,wood--,a  
,,sub-,,contractor',s ,,scout ,,and     
,,free ,,traveller                      
#aba     ,,scamping ,,tricks ,,and ,,odd
 ,,knowledge  ,,occasionally ,,practised
 ,,upon ,,public ,,works4     ,,chapter 
,i4  ,,introduction4   ,take this letter
 to my old partner as quickly as you    
can4 ,wait for an answer1 and come back 
straight4  ,all right1 sir4  ,now1 my   

wife1 when my old partner arrives1 leave
 the room4 ,i want the coast clear as ,i
 am going to talk and have a sort of    
mutual confession of some tricks and    
dodges we have played and learned during
 the last forty years or so to get a bit
 'extra' on the quiet2 and forty years  
knocking about with your eyes bound to  
be on full glare ought to teach one a   
thing or two1 and they have4 ,they have6
 ,yes2 and ,i have been in the swim4    
,stir up the fire1 if only to keep      
things all alike and as hot as possible2
 and put a couple of glasses handy1 and 
some water and4444  ,so you've got back4
 ,where is the letter8  ,have got no    
letter1 sir2 but it is all right2 your  
old partner will be round about #g      
o'clock and will stay till he is turned 
out1 so he said4  ,oh6 ,i am glad4      
,why1 sir1 he is knocking now4  ,so he  
is4  ,here ,i am1 old chap1 what's the  
matter8  ,i feel pasty1 but am better   
now you have come4 ,bring your chair    
near the fire4 ,well1 ,i want to talk to

 you on the quiet very badly4 ,it will  
do me good1 and ,i am sure it will not  
be long before the white muslin is      
spread over me and ,i'm still in death4 
,you've come to stop8  ,yes1 as long as 
you like4  ,that is good1 and ,i am glad
 and feel better now you have said it4  
,before ,i begin1 taste our home-brewed 
elder4 ,it's all right1 for my wife was 
a cook1 but it's a long time ago2 and   
between you and me1 my profits don't run
 to providing her with as large an      
assortment of materials as she says is  
necessary to keep her fairly up to art  
in the cookery department4  ,that is    
very good--the best ,i have tasted4     
,well1 what is it1 old partner8 ,shake  
fins4  ,it's to talk over old times1 and
 the tricks and dodges we have played1  
and known others do1 to get 'extra'     
profit on the different works we have   
been4  ,a kind of confession8  ,that's  
it4 ,don't laugh4 ,i can't help it now4 
,i understand you4 ,start the fun1 and  
,i will follow4  ,we can talk pretty to 

each other1 and lucky the young master  
is not here1 for he would think that we 
are as bad as old ,nick himself2 still1 
we have not done many tricks for some   
time1 and could1 perhaps1 put him up to 
a thing or two concerning the execution 
of work4  ,very likely2 but we are all  
tarred with the same brush2 it's only a 
question of quantity and thickness and  
what colour the paint is4  ,i suppose we
 are bound to work up an excuse somehow 
or other2 and if ,i moralize a bit      
tender at first1 by way of a diversion1 
you won't mind1 for it is part of the   
stock in trade of such rare old sharks  
as us1 and ,i will cut it as short and  
tasty as ,i can4  ,i was brought up     
right1 like you2 and many a time have   
had my shoulder patted by the good folks
 and been told not to think of myself   
too much1 and to remember the feelings  
of others4 ,in my salad days1 you know1 
,i used to think whether or not it was  
coming it rough on chaps1 innocent      
unborn babes that will have to work in  

the next century1 should the world hold 
out till then1 putting in too strong    
work1 and said to myself1 ,is it acting 
kindly towards them8 ,no1 ,i said1 it is
 not treating them right to give them so
 much trouble to make alterations4 ,i   
won't call them repairs and additions1  
nor improvements4 ,i soon humbugged     
myself into thinking it was not being   
really benevolent to those who will have
 to work when we are all lying flat1 and
 ,i hope quiet--but there1 of course1   
such thoughts hardly make one act       
honestly2 however1 ,i have done         
moralizing now1 and perhaps it ill      
becomes me1 and ,i will have no more of 
it or it may stop my tongue4 ,now to    
business1 and ,i am going to speak      
pretty freely4     ,,chapter ,,ii4      
,,screw ,,piles4  ,general              
,consideration--,manipulation for extra 
profit4   ,you want to know my          
experiences with screw piles first4     
,yes4  ,they do very well when the water
 is not deep and the ground loose sand1 

silty sand1 or sandy fine gravel1 and   
nothing else2 and ,i prefer disc piles  
for sand1 provided the water power can  
be easily obtained4  ,the whole area of 
a screw blade is often taken as bearing 
support2 but ,i doubt if it should be1  
for it is not a bared foundation--that  
is1 one you can see and know the        
character of1 as in a cylinder pier1 for
 instance2 but some appear to assume it 
is1 and then claim that a lot of metal  
is saved and the same or more bearing   
obtained4 ,the screw blade may always be
 right and it may not be1 and no one    
positively knows2 because no one can see
 whether it is down straight1 turned1 or
 broken1 but the difference between the 
actual and the breaking strain comes to 
the rescue4  ,still1 it is no certainty 
that the screw blade is resting upon the
 same soil1 and even if it does it may  
not receive the load in a vertical line1
 and may be strained more upon one side 
than another4 ,and how about the rusting
 of the blade1 for it is thin1 and      

seldom more than half an inch at the    
ends and two and a half at the pile     
shaft1 and nearly all surface8 ,in a    
cylinder pier the hearting is placed on 
the bared ground1 and you know it is    
there1 and it cannot rust1 that's       
certain4 ,i don't see the good of iron  
rings above a few feet higher than      
highest flood level1 for after the      
hearting is set1 if it be of ,portland  
cement concrete1 you can give it a      
coating of nearly neat ,portland cement4
 ,however1 we are talking about screw   
piles4  ,i have seen screw piles screwed
 into soft ground for fully fifteen     
feet1 and they seemed quite right1 and  
yet when they were loaded they vanished4
 ,i have also known them to be twisted  
about something like a corkscrew1 and to
 be impossible to get down at all when  
they have reached a hard layer of       
gravel1 and nearly so when they met with
 a streak of hard stiff clay4 ,sometimes
 they are overscrewed1 and made to      
penetrate somehow or other2 and ,i      

remember once1 when they were loaded for
 testing and were thought to be right1 a
 washout occurred at one place1 owing to
 a mistake in dredging1 and the piles1  
although they screwed1 were found to be 
twisted about into all sorts of shapes1 
and at the bottom were turned up a      
trifle and never went down more than a  
few feet1 and while it was thought we   
were screwing them down we were screwing
 part of them aside4 ,they were small   
solid wrought-iron piles4 ,it is well   
not to forget that sand varies very     
much2 for it is found nearly everywhere1
 and may be anything from large hard    
angular deposit that will bind1 to      
little round mites easily blown away1   
and it is mixed with pretty well        
everything2 and therefore sand is a     
thing you must be careful with before   
you take it to be just the thing for    
watersunk disc piles or screw piles1 and
 you ought to know all about it4 ,well1 
assuming that it is right1 and the soil 
will not become jammed in the screw     

blade1 it is always advisable to try    
whether the sand grains will roll well  
together and do not wedge2 for you want 
sand1 if it is to be nice for pile      
sinking1 just the reverse of sand for   
mortar or concrete1 for that with round 
grains is the kind to screw in and not  
that with sharp angular grains1 and if  
it is slimy1 so much the better--just   
the opposite of that for mortar or      
concrete4  ,the soil must be loose1 and 
if it is silty so much the better4      
,don't undertake to screw piles into    
hard and compact sand1 gravel1 stiff    
clay1 or where there are boulders in the
 ground or streaks or layers of soil of 
which you hardly know the character4 ,if
 you do1 good-bye to profit from any    
screwing1 and may be to the screw       
blades1 and your fishes must be got out 
of 'extras' by omitting a length1       
smashing a screw blade1 or short        
screwing4 ,be careful to be paid for all
 piles you have screwed down directly   
you have done them1 and take no         

maintenance2 for ,i have known a ship   
drift1 or a gale arise1 and sweep away  
the unbraced piles like sticks1 and if  
you are only paid when you have finished
 screwing a cluster of them1 where are  
you then1 and who's which8 ,suppose you 
have nearly fixed a cluster of piles1   
they will say you ought to have braced  
them at once1 and you will be charged   
for breakages1 and not be paid for      
having screwed them4 ,you may talk as   
long as you like1 and say1 ,how could ,i
 get them all braced when the piles must
 be screwed separately8 ,you will only  
be told that is your look-out1 and that 
you knew the terms of the contract and  
must have considered any risk in the    
prices4 ,so ,i bar injury from waves or 
wind1 earthquakes and shakes1 collisions
 from vessels or other floating or      
moving substances2 and believe the last 
to cover all fishes1 from sea-serpents1 
whales1 porpoises1 and sprats1 to       
balloons1 stray air-balls1 wreckage1 and
 mermaids2 and it gives you a chance of 

wriggling out of squalls with an        
,i'm-so-sorry-at-your-loss sort of      
countenance4  ,you have to think over   
the staging4 ,fixed staging may be out  
of the question because of the expense2 
then you must either screw from the     
finished end of the pier as you proceed 
with the work1 or from a floating stage1
 but you may not be able to get         
sufficient power to screw the piles from
 any moored floating stage4 ,the shore  
piles of a pier may screw easily1 but   
when you get out in the sea fixed       
staging may soon be smashed1 and in that
 case you are compelled to do it from   
the end of the finished portion of the  
pier4 ,there is a good deal of          
uncertainty1 as you can judge1 and you  
want to well consider whether and how   
you can get the power cheaply to screw  
the piles4  ,the idea of the screw pile 
was that it should easily enter the     
ground and push aside any obstruction in
 its descent without much disturbance of
 the soil1 with the ultimate object of  

obtaining1 by reason of the screw blade1
 a strong resistance to upward and      
downward strain4 ,well1 it is all right 
if the whole of the blade bears equally 
upon the soil and the earth is of the   
same character2 but if it is not1 the   
strain upon the screw blade is unequal1 
and it will sooner or later crack or    
break2 and except in any earth like fine
 sand or silt and all of one kind1 ,i   
should be sorry to say that the whole   
area of the blade does the work as ,i   
said before4 ,and here comes in the     
value of an allowance of extra strength1
 for you cannot tell how much it has    
been weakened by corrosion1 nor can you 
inspect1 paint1 or do anything to the   
screws when they are down4 ,if ,i was   
engineer of an iron pile structure1 ,i  
should have a few piles screwed at      
convenient places independently of the  
pier1 but near to it1 and have1 say1 one
 or two taken up every few years--say   
every seven or ten--just to have a look 
to see how matters seemed to be1 and    

have a piece of the iron analysed1 and  
compare it with the original analysis2  
and ,i should take care the piles were  
all the same quality of metal1 so that  
the makers should not get up to fun at  
the foundry4  ,the piles have to bear a 
heavy twisting strain during screwing2  
and take my advice1 always see that the 
joint flanges are not light1 for when   
piles break in screwing1 they usually   
fail at the flanges4 ,what ,i have      
learned shows me it is a great mistake  
to have the screws of very large        
diameter1 so as to have few of them2 let
 the blades be small rather than large1 
and they are best for screwing when of  
moderate size1 and are also likely to be
 sounder metal4 ,there is not the same  
risk of breaking them in screwing1 and  
you may be able to screw a small blade  
when a big one would be smashed1 and    
besides it is as well to have the load  
distributed as much as possible4 ,a     
screw pile shaft should not be a thin   
casting because of the strain upon it in

 screwing1 and it should be thicker on  
this account than a disc pile1 but the  
latter will not do for any soils except 
those named before4 ,i have known screw 
piles to penetrate hard and dense sand1 
gravel1 soft sandy ground1 limy gravel1 
loose silt1 limy clay ground something  
like marl1 stiff mud1 chalk1 clay1 marl1
 and all kinds of water-deposited soil1 
and in almost every earth except firm   
rock1 but it is not advisable to use    
them for anything much harder than fine 
sandy gravel1 for the blades must then  
be strained very much and the pile and  
screw may be injured4 ,it is not using  
them rightly1 or for the purpose for    
which they were designed1 and another   
system of foundations should be used    
except under special circumstances4     
,don't attempt to screw piles into      
ground having boulders in it4 ,it is    
always difficult to penetrate1 as also  
is spongy mud and stiff tenacious clay4 
,in any ground harder than loose sand1  
silty and alluvial soil screwing is not 

easy1 and you cannot say what it will   
cost to obtain the necessary power to   
screw4 ,as regards that kind of screwing
 ,i always feel so benevolent that ,i   
like some one else to do it4 ,do you    
understand8  ,yes2 when you know a loss 
looks more likely than profit4  ,if you 
like to put it that way it is not in me 
to object4 ,i'm too polite4 ,saying     
'yes' and agreeing with every one1 gets 
you a nice character as an agreeable    
man1 whereas you are a big fraud and a  
high old liar4  ,parliamentary language1
 please2 no matter what you think4  ,all
 right1 then4 ,you know what pure sand  
is8  ,you mean quite clean angular      
grains1 and hard1 too1 like broken-up   
quartz rock8  ,yes4 ,well1 avoid it for 
screw piles1 for then it is very        
difficult to screw them to any          
considerable depth4 ,you can't displace 
the sand enough4 ,it wedges and binds   
almost like rock4  ,you mean it wedges  
up1 and will not move8  ,that's near    
enough4 ,well1 avoid clean1 sharp1      

angular sand and shingle gravel as much 
as you can1 and take screwing in dirty  
sand instead4 ,i mean round-grained     
dirty sand with some clay upon it1 or   
sandy gravel4 ,what is wanted is        
something to separate the particles of  
the soil and act like grease so as to   
make them roll and not compress and     
become bound4 ,you can't be too careful 
about this4  ,i will put that down in my
 note-book so as not to forget it4  ,to 
save bother1 be sure to ascertain       
whether the work is in rough ground2 and
 if you are abroad see that about five  
per cent4 is allowed for breakages of   
all kinds1 or the piles may run short4  
,i have seen piles screwed into a kind  
of clay rock seam1 the end of the pile  
was made like a saw1 toothed1 in fact1  
and stiffened from the bottom to the    
underside of the screw blade with ribs  
shaped to cut the ground as the pile was
 turned1 and ,i doubt if they could have
 been screwed without4 ,they seemed to  
steady the pile2 but care must be taken 

when there is a projecting end and it is
 tapered to a less diameter than the    
pile shaft1 as generally is the case1   
that the axis is true1 or the pile will 
not screw vertically4  ,once ,i had to  
screw a few wrought-iron unpointed piles
 with a small screw blade made of angle 
iron fixed inside as well as the large  
screw blade outside4 ,the outside blade 
was about #d feet in diameter1 and of   
half-inch plate1 the inside blade       
projected about #c-a_/b inches1 and both
 blades had the same pitch2 but the     
engineer1 after having tried a few1     
discontinued having an inside screw1 and
 said he thought it even arrested       
progress1 because it interfered with the
 internal excavation4 ,the experience we
 had with them was against their use1   
and they seemed to make the screwing    
harder1 and no one was able to discover 
any advantage in them1 although they did
 all they knew to flatter the novelty4  
,now a word as to cast or wrought-iron  
for screw piles4 ,the question of       

relative corrosion can be decided at    
some scientific institution1 and there  
will be hot fighting over that between  
the cast-iron and the wrought-iron      
partisans4 ,i merely refer to screwing  
cast or wrought-iron screw piles into   
the ground4 ,as regards the blade of the
 screw1 it should be as stiff as        
possible1 and therefore cast-iron is    
better than wrought-iron1 also cheaper2 
and although a cast-iron screw will     
break easily1 a wrought-iron blade will 
buckle and bend and give4 ,to me1       
cast-iron blades seem somewhat easier to
 screw1 if they are good clean castings4
 ,i have screwed wrought-iron piles or  
columns when they have been fixed to    
cast-iron screws1 but in any case when  
the piles must be long1 to have them of 
cast-iron is my wish4 ,solid            
wrought-iron piles can be obtained of a 
long length1 but the price increases1   
and when they are long and of small     
diameter1 as they must be1 they are     
difficult to screw in a desired         

direction4  ,what do you think of solid 
piles as against hollow ones8  ,well1 ,i
 heard a discussion between two         
engineers about it1 and they agreed that
 solid piles only do for little or      
medium heights1 and ,i asked one to     
write a line or two for my guidance1 and
 this is what he dashed off4 ,read it4  
,no4 ,read it to me4  ,well1 it         
runs3--',in designing solid piles it    
should be remembered that the strength  
of solid round columns to resist        
torsion1 torsional strength 7he means   
strength against twisting strain7 is as 
the cubes of their diameters1 therefore 
a solid round bar #d inches in diameter 
will bear eight times the torsional     
strain of a bar #b inches1 the lengths  
being the same4'  ,how's that8  ,why1 #b
 x #b x #b  #h1 #d x #d x #d  #fd1 and  
#fd_/h  #h4  ,i understand4  ,in the    
case of hollow columns1 the exterior    
diameter must be cubed1 and the cube of 
the interior diameter deducted from it  
when the relative values of             

different-sized columns can be compared4
 ,for transmitting motion1 and here     
torsional stiffness is referred to1 the 
resistance of shafts of equal stiffness 
is proportional to the fourth power of  
their diameters4 ,a #b-;inch shaft will 
transmit #af times the force which would
 be transmitted by a #a-;inch shaft     
without being twisted through a greater 
angle4 ,when the height of the pile is  
considerable the diameter should be     
relatively larger1 in order that the    
metal may not be subject to severe      
torsional strain4 ,so don't forget the  
piles should be of large and not small  
diameter1 or you may have trouble in    
screwing them4  ,you remember old ,bill 
,marr8  ,rather1 who did the iron       
pilework on the ,shore ,railway4 ,i     
should think ,i did1 for old ,spoil'em1 
we called him1 and ,i were in ',co4'    
together more than once4  ,oh6 you were1
 were you8  ,yes4 ,well1 there is not   
much to be got that way unless it is    
soft ground for a good depth and the    

piles are long and the range of tide    
considerable1 then you may pick an odd  
plum now and again by a bit of useful   
forgetfulness4 ,i mean this way3--,by   
using an odd making-up length or two    
instead of the right length1 and getting
 it fixed on the quiet just as the tide 
is rising1 then you have a nice peaceful
 few hours in which to get the joint    
well covered and down before next low   
water2 but it wants some management to  
keep the coast clear1 and you can't do  
very much at it--still little fish are  
sweet4 ,one day ,i was nearly caught at 
the game of 'extra' profit1 and as we   
had only just begun1 of course at the   
shore end1 it would have been awkward   
for me if ,i had been found out1 and ,i 
might have been ordered change of air   
and scene by the engineer4 ,it happened 
like this1 the piles had been going down
 very easily1 and acting up to the      
principle of making hay while the sun   
shines1 ,i had a couple of short lengths
 put on six of them4 ,we were screwing  

them in triangles1 so one ,i got to     
right length1 and two did not find the  
same home1 because they could not1 not  
being long enough4 ,i dodged the lengths
 so that the joints were all right for  
the bracing above low water4 ,now the   
road was clear1 so ,i ordered a new     
length to be put on all of them before  
the tide turned1 and that each of them  
was to be down #c feet or so before the 
tide began falling to allow them to set1
 and told them that then they were to   
proceed as before4 ,now1 ,i consider the
 chap that first went in for making up  
lengths was born right and with an eye  
to business and nicked profits4 ,we were
 working two triangles of screw piles ,i
 thought lovely1 and said1              
innocent-like1 to my ganger1 ',get the  
joint of each one down say #c feet below
 low-water mark so as to protect it1 for
 no joint is so strong as the solid     
pile1 and then you can screw them down  
till all the tops are level and right   
for the bracing4' ,of course they said  

nothing1 and ,i am sure never thought   
anything or wanted to do1 too much      
trouble4 ,it is not my place to teach   
them1 either4  ,no1 certainly not2 there
 you are right4  ,well1 somehow or      
other1 the ground turned hard1 or we got
 into a streak of compact gravel4 ,i did
 not trouble further about the piles    
after ,i had given orders1 as the tide  
had started rising and the joints were  
well covered4 ,it was rather an up and  
down shore4 ,i felt certain in a few    
hours none of them could be seen except 
by divers1 so ,i had a bit of business  
on shore which took me nearly two hours 
before ,i got back on the work4 ,my     
ganger said1 ',i am glad you have come  
back1 because they stick2 ,i have tried 
to get the lot down1 but not one has    
screwed in more than a foot4' ,that was 
not exactly what ,i wanted1 and said1   
',why1 the long ones went down easily8' 
',yes1' said my ganger1 'but they were  
at the point of the triangle1 and these 
others are all on one line or nearly so1

 and have struck hard ground4' ,i will  
cut it short1 although it got exciting1 
for it was a race between screwing and1 
,i might say1 banging them in1 and the  
tide that was going down2 and ,i was    
clocking and measuring1 and hot and     
cold1 according as the race went1 as ,i 
thought they would find me out2 but ,i  
was left pretty well alone1 as they     
cared much more about inspecting the    
piles than knowing how they were screwed
 down1 besides the engineer was very    
busy with a lot of groynes and ticklish 
work improving the harbour channel4     
,however1 we just managed2 but it made  
me feverish1 and ,i expect the blades1  
if they could be seen1 are not exactly  
as when they left the foundry2 but      
there1 there is a good deal in pilework 
that has to be taken on trust1 it is not
 like a foundation you can see and walk 
upon if so minded4 ,still1 screw piles  
are all right for some soils1 but ,i    
like disc piles better for sand1 those  
that sink by water-pressure ,i mean4 ,i 

don't think there is the same fear of   
the disc being broken as there is in the
 case of the screw1 and the sinking is  
so easy and soft that no parts get      
strained as in screwing1 but the ground 
must be soft1 or there may be a bother4 
,after this shave from being bowled out1
 ,i always took care to dodge in a short
 one1 now and then1 when ,i knew the    
ground must be right1 and ,i never got  
scared again4 ,it was lucky1 too1 that a
 good many of the lengths varied1 as on 
most jobs they are all the same1 except 
the making-up lengths1 and then down    
they all have to go unless a whole      
length can be left out when a seam of   
hard soil is reached1 and that is not   
often the case1 and there is not much   
chance of a bit of 'extras' that way on 
the quiet4 ,i have known the game of    
'extra' profit carried to breaking off a
 screw blade purposely1 but ,i draw the 
line before ,i come to that4  ,do you8  
,i should not have thought it1 as you   
don't mind cutting off the heads of     

timber piles1 so you have promised to   
tell me4  ,that is a different material 
and consequently requires different     
treatment4 ,you understand8 ,let me also
 tell you1 ,i once heard a big          
,westminster engineer say1 ',timber we  
understand1 iron we know a good deal    
about1 and steel also2 but we have      
plenty to find out yet both in the      
manufacture and use of nearly all       
metals1' or something like that1 he     
said4  ,i acted up to that2 and always  
say to myself1 ,we understand timber1   
and know how to treat it--and so ,i     
don't mind cutting it1 as ,i know what  
,i am about with it1 although ,i        
represent unskilled more than skilled   
labour4 ,metals are different goods1 and
 it wants skilled labour to tackle them 
nicely4  ,there you are right4  ,yes1   
different goods4 ,so1 following the lead
 of the engineer1 ,i leave the iron     
piles as delivered1 as we have yet      
something to learn about the metal2 and 
things that ,i don't know much about ,i 

avoid as much as possible1 and          
consequently there are good grounds for 
getting in some short lengths as        
occasion offers1 just to have as little 
to do with the material that you don't  
know much about and that is a bit       
mysterious in its behaviour4 ,so ,i     
lessen the handling of it1 and shorten  
the lengths1 and so increase the odds   
against the chance of it not turning out
 as one thought it would2 and ,i ought  
to be thanked for it1 ,i consider4 ,you 
look a bit puzzled4 ,i tell you1 you are
 getting thick1 and want fresh pointing 
up to sharpen you4 ,listen to me4 ,now1 
suppose you buy a dozen eggs1 and you   
think and know1 on the average1 at the  
price two are bad2 you take one away and
 find it's bad1 then you have #aa to #a 
odds as against #ab to #b or #f to #a1  
and there can't be so much chance of    
another bad one turning up so quickly4  
,if you don't understand my meaning ,i  
can't make you4 ,there may or may not be
 a different application of explaining  

the egg business1 but mine is what ,i   
mean you to take1 and ,i don't intend to
 bother about any one else4 ,you are    
younger than ,i thought you were1 or    
your brain is all of a tangle4  ,wait a 
minute4 ,all right4 ,i understand now2  
you lessen the chances of failure and   
the extent of it when it occurs by      
having a little less to do with goods   
that are made of material no one seems  
to knows everything about4  ,now you    
have it4 ,shake fins4 ,glad we have     
worked on to the right road again1 as it
 looked like a collision just now4      
,,chapter ,,iii4  ,,screw ,,piles4      
,details4   ,now for some details4      
,solid piles are usually from #d to #h  
inches in diameter1 and hollow cast-iron
 from #aj to #cj inches1 and generally  
#aj to #bj inches4 ,avoid any cast-iron 
screw piles that are less than half an  
inch in thickness4 ,when they are from  
#a_/abth to #a_/ahth of the diameter is 
perhaps the best1 according as their    
length is little or great2 but of course

 they have to be of a thickness that    
will stand the load1 and what is the    
best foundry practice should not be     
forgotten4  ,now as to the blade of the 
screw4 ,if of wrought-iron1 which seems 
to me the wrong material for that       
purpose1 it should not be less than half
 an inch in thickness2 if of cast-iron1 
as usually is the case1 the thickness of
 the blade of the screw at the pile     
shaft should be about #a4be to #a4ej    
that of the column1 and at the edge not 
less than half an inch1 and it should   
taper equally on both sides1 and care be
 taken that the metal is the very best  
and so cast as to ensure uniformity and 
strength4  ,all sizes of screws from    
twice to six times the diameter of the  
pile when hollow ,i have screwed1 but   
the best are from #b to #a to #c to #a1 
and when they are more than #d to #a it 
is to be feared they will break before  
they can be made to penetrate far enough
 to say nothing about4 ,solid piles with
 screws four to seven times the diameter

 of pile ,i have also fixed1 and #e to  
#a to #f to #a is quite large enough2   
but the kind of ground and the depth to 
which they must be got down should      
govern the size and the pitch4 ,the     
greatest depth1 apart from imagination  
for measurement1 to which ,i have ever  
screwed a pile is about #be feet4       
,without special tackle ,i have made a  
#b feet in diameter screw penetrate hard
 clay1 dense sand1 and other hard soil  
from #h to as much as #ag feet2 but then
 #aj to #ae feet is deep enough1 for    
there is such a thing as overscrewing4  
,a #c to #d feet in diameter screw ,i   
have fixed all depths from #aj to #bj   
feet in ordinary sand1 clay1 and sandy  
gravel4 ,a #d feet to as large as a #e  
feet screw1 which great size should only
 be used for soft soils1 from #ae to #be
 feet1 and the most usual depth is about
 #ae feet1 and hardly ever above #bj    
feet4  ,a #i feet #f inches screw blade 
has been used on a #g feet in diameter  
cylinder1 but that is the largest ,i    

have heard of1 but then it only         
projected #b feet #f inches beyond the  
column4 ,five feet is usually about the 
largest1 and is only used for very soft 
soils4 ,when more than that size they   
are unwieldy and very liable to be      
broken1 and if the screws are fixed to a
 shaft and have to be shipped they are  
awkward things1 and the freight becomes 
expensive4 ,for hard soil1 and that     
which will not compress nicely1 about #b
 to #c feet is large enough for the     
diameter of the screw1 and #c to #e feet
 for soft soils4 ,the pitch of the screw
 is generally from one-third to         
one-seventh of the outside diameter of  
the blade4 ,it varies according to the  
hardness and softness of the ground and 
is steeper as it becomes harder4 ,when  
the pitch is increased the effect of the
 power applied to screw it is reduced1  
therefore the steeper or greater the    
pitch the harder the screwing4  ,piles  
can be screwed with a small pitch when  
sufficient power cannot be obtained to  

make a steep-pitched screw penetrate4   
,piles with a single turn of the screw1 
it seems to me1 are the best1 although  
the double-threaded screw may be right  
in soft marshy ground2 but the          
usefulness of a double thread is        
doubtful1 for ,i believe it breaks up   
the ground for no good1 although some   
state that the screw threads work in    
parallel lines1 and that a              
double-threaded screw is steadier2 for  
they say a single-threaded pile is      
always likely to turn on the outside    
edge of the blade1 and that the         
double-threaded is not1 as it has a lip 
on both sides4  ,generally the screw has
 rather more than one entire turn round 
the pile1 and when it is below the      
ground each side of the blade steadies  
the other1 for the turns range from one 
to about two4 ,sometimes the edge of the
 blade is notched like a saw2 but it is 
a question whether the saw-edge blade   
will screw into ground that an ordinary 
blade will not1 and until it is proved  

by experiment it can only be a matter of
 opinion2 but there is one thing to     
consider1 a saw-cut edge blade may to   
some extent wedge the soil between the  
teeth2 still1 ,i have used them1 and    
they penetrated thin limestone1 chalk1  
and compact gravel seams4 ,instead of   
double threads1 double points are the   
thing1 and all screw piles should have a
 point of some kind4 ,for soft ground1 a
 single gimlet1 and a double for hard   
soils1 and ,i have noticed what ,i call 
a double gimlet point is best for       
keeping a pile in the required position1
 as each point prevents the other       
departing from a correct line4 ,by      
points ,i mean the ends are spread out  
about #c to #d inches on each side of   
the axis of pile like spiral cutters4   
,unless it is certain the ground is easy
 and uniform1 a pile with a screw having
 one turn to two turns for bearing      
purposes1 and two1 three1 or four solid 
inclined screw-threads projecting about 
three-quarters of an inch with two end  

spiral cutters as just named1 is my     
desire1 or in addition to the bearing   
blade a single-turn thread of about #c  
to #d inches projection and the same    
kind of point2 then unless it will      
screw1 none will4 ,they are less trouble
 when cast in one piece with the pile2  
but not for transport or shipping1 or   
foreign work generally1 because to be   
able to detach the screws is an         
advantage in many ways1 such as packing1
 defects1 breakages1 carriage1 and ,i   
think the castings are better when the  
blade is not cast on the pile4 ,it may  
also happen that a rocky bed is         
unexpectedly encountered1 then the pile 
is useless with the screw1 but might be 
fixed firmly in ,portland cement without
 the blade in a hole made in the rock4  
,at the top of the screw blade seat in  
which a pile has to be fixed there      
should be a wrought-iron ring about half
 to three-quarters of an inch in        
thickness1 and not less than #b inches  
in width1 to relieve any strain on the  

casting4 ,it may be put on hot1 so as to
 cool sufficiently tight but not strain 
the casting4 ,a firm and even bearing   
for the pile on the socket seat is      
important1 and it should fit accurately4
  ,i have heard of screw piles in which 
the blade was made of two or more       
separate segments so as to obtain1 it   
was supposed1 equal pressure all round1 
and to ease screwing1 but rather fancy  
they might be inclined to jam the       
ground1 as they would be not unlike a   
lot of very large round saw teeth4 ,they
 may be right1 but it has to be proved  
they will screw where a plain blade will
 not1 provided the latter pile has      
double cutter-points to steady it4      
,give me a screw blade not more than    
about #b feet from the points1 and not  
one with a blade #aj feet or so above   
the points and say from #e to #f feet in
 the ground1 for then1 should the screw 
work at all crooked and the pile be not 
exactly upright at the commencement of  
screwing1 it is no easy task to get it  

to stand vertically upon applying the   
power1 because such piles are generally 
long and slender1 and shift about until 
the blade is screwed4 ,they want careful
 and constant guidance4 ,of course1 the 
idea of placing the screw a little way  
down is that when the ground bears as   
well at that place as at the point1 and 
there is no scour1 it is no use putting 
the bearing blade lower4 ,that is right2
 but then it always occurs to me to ask 
what is the use of anything below the   
bearing level if the foundation be      
protected from scour1 for a thin pile by
 itself has little lateral strength4    
,of course1 you are bound to make out a 
pile requires a lot of screwing or you  
will be considered as making too much   
profit1 but always take care to watch   
how the first pile screws1 and measure  
the distance every few minutes4 ,what   
the ground is can then be judged1 and   
you will be able to think out things for
 'extra' profit4 ,it causes me a lot of 
consideration sometimes1 but after a    

struggle ,i generally manage to think   
rightly for my pocket1 and work it all  
serene4 ,what a beautiful sharpener of  
one's brain 'extras' are6  ,it is not   
always an experimental pile is screwed  
so as to judge of the distance the      
permanent piles should penetrate1 and   
therefore a guess has to be made from   
the experience of screw piles under the 
same conditions of screwing and in the  
same soil4 ,there is a good deal of     
chance about it1 for although the soil  
may be of the same general character it 
often varies in hardness2 and that is   
where the bother is1 for it makes the   
'extras' to be wrong way about for some 
time4 ,what ,i do then is to work the   
oracle1 and try to make out the screw   
blades will be broken or injured for    
certain if ,i am compelled to screw them
 as ordered1 and ,i work on the proverb 
that equal support is not to be obtained
 at a uniform depth when the ground     
varies1 which is true2 and ,i state that
 the resistance is different and offer  

to screw on1 but say am afraid the blade
 may be broken1 and in that             
how-kind-,i-am-to-consider-your-interest
s sort of way generally manage to obtain
 a bit 'extra1' or save something that  
would have been loss1 and get the pile  
measured at once for a making-up length1
 and really without damaging any one1   
for if the ground is harder at one place
 than at another there is no occasion to
 go so deep1 always provided scour is   
not to be feared4 ,so ,i am pleased1 and
 it does not hurt them4  ,now for a hint
 or two on screwing piles4 ,i shall not 
refer to the columns above the ground1  
but to the bearing piles below1 i4e41   
the part that has to be screwed into the
 ground4 ,however1 ,i will just say that
 upon the top of some of the columns the
 usual hinged shoes of bearing-blocks   
should be placed to receive the ends of 
the girders1 and by that means the      
pressure on the columns will be on the  
centre of the pile1 and allowance be    
made for expansion and contraction1 and 

that is important4  ,fixed staging is   
far the best from which to screw piles1 
but the chances must be considered of   
its being swept away by floods in a     
river1 or smashed by the sea1 and on any
 exposed coast there may not be time to 
construct it during the working season1 
so as to give a sufficient number of    
days for screwing operations4 ,when a   
fixed stage cannot be erected1 or the   
work be done from the end of a finished 
pier1 pontoons or rafts are then a      
makeshift1 but care must be taken that  
they do not break from the moorings4 ,a 
couple of pontoons well braced together 
will do with a space between them to    
screw the pile1 but in a steady or      
shallow river1 perhaps making a timber  
stage upon the shore and floating it out
 can be done if a centre pile is fixed  
on the bed of the river to be certain it
 is in the right position when grounded4
 ,the staging must be equally weighted  
to make it sink1 and arrangements made  
so that it can be floated away at any   

time if necessary4  ,piles can also be  
fixed in a medium depth of water by     
ordinary gantries1 but if they are in   
the sea the road on the staging should  
be kept from #ab to #ae feet above high 
water on an open sea coast or the       
inclined struts and ties and rail tops  
as well are very likely to be destroyed1
 and it is also advisable to construct  
the flooring of the stage so that it can
 be easily taken away in case of storms4
 ,the stage piles also require to be    
well stiffened by struts1 transoms1     
diagonals1 and capping sills4 ,i have   
screwed piles from a floor that has been
 suspended from staging by chains and   
ropes to the height wanted1 and when    
lowered it was fixed temporarily and as 
many guides as possible were made for   
the piles4 ,perhaps as good a way as any
 is to fix1 say four guide piles having 
a space between them a shade larger than
 the outside dimensions of the screw    
blade and braced to the rest of the     
stage1 and after the screw is in        

position and ready for screwing in the  
ground1 place1 say a couple of frames1  
one at top and one as low as possible   
between the guide piles1 about an eighth
 of an inch more than the outside       
dimension of the pile shaft1 for then   
the pile is kept in its right position  
as it is screwed4 ,the guide frames     
should be at about every #aj or #ae feet
 of the height above the ground1 and at 
some point between the capstan level and
 the ground4 ,should it be a tidal      
river1 fix guide booms if a properly    
made iron frame cannot be placed1 and   
remember the more a pile is guided the  
easier it is to screw1 and especially so
 at the start4  ,the size and strength  
of the staging must be regulated        
according to the power available for    
screwing the piles1 but the length of   
the lever arms and the capstan bars     
require a space in which to revolve1    
from1 say1 #ce to #fj feet square4 ,no  
timber stage is immovable1 for the wood 
yields4 ,it is well to have two floors  

in a stage if it does not cost too much1
 and there is plenty of tackle and a lot
 of screwing to do2 say1 one fixed above
 high-water level and the other about   
half tide in order to obtain double     
power1 and sufficient power to screw the
 piles cannot sometimes be otherwise    
secured4 ,a word about floating stages4 
,with them it is not easy to make a pile
 screw vertically unless the ground is  
uniform1 and should a pile meet a       
boulder it will most probably be forced 
out of position4 ,according to the power
 required--which really means the nature
 of the ground1 as the harder the soil  
the harder the screwing--the form of the
 pile and the depth to which it has to  
be screwed1 so must be the size and     
strength of the raft1 pontoon1 or       
lighter1 and the moorings must hold it  
tightly4 ,in some places a screw cannot 
be fixed from a floating stage1 for the 
water may nearly always be too          
disturbed1 and the pontoons may sway too
 much1 for in all cases men1 horses1 or 

bullocks must have a steady footing1 and
 screwing machinery also requires a firm
 base4 ,unless the moorings are very    
secure the platform will be unsteady4   
,its level should be as little above the
 water as practicable for work1 so as to
 keep the point of resistance and that  
at which the screwing power is applied  
as near together as possible1 and the   
lower the pontoon the less it rolls4 ,it
 does not matter much what craft is used
 so long as it is broad and steady and  
not high1 as a platform or deck must be 
made upon it in any case4 ,to do any    
good with floating stages the power     
required should be little1 and the      
ground soft and uniform1 for sufficient 
force to screw may not be obtainable    
from a floating body1 and in hard soil  
it may only be possible to screw piles a
 little way down and not to a sufficient
 depth for the load they will have to   
bear4  ,of course1 vertical pile        
screwing is the easiest1 and to try to  
screw them at a greater angle than #fc  

deg41 or about #a_/b to #a1 is          
unadvisable1 and may not succeed1 and   
even if they do it is too steep to be   
nice4 #a in #aj to #a in #bj for raking 
piles is enough2 for if they have to    
carry girder ends1 the more the batter  
the greater the strain on the pile1 and 
the same during screwing4  ,sometimes in
 loose soil it is difficult to start    
screwing1 and then a good plan is to    
cast some clay or solid earth round the 
pitch2 it steadies the pile and will    
probably make it bite properly1 or a    
heavy weight placed on the pile may make
 it catch hold of the ground2 if not1 a 
few blows from a ram may do it4 ,as a   
hollow pile penetrates1 the core        
requires to be removed1 so as to help it
 to descend4 ,if it is not large enough 
for boys to get inside1 scoops and      
tackle can be used4 ,water forced down  
makes sand boil round the screw blade1  
and when the pile is empty the          
unbalanced head of water outside        
relieves the pile and the screw blade   

from some of the surface friction4 ,if  
water pressure cannot be used1 the water
 inside the pile should be removed      
either by pumps or buckets so as to help
 to loosen the ground4  ,piles do not   
generally screw to the full pitch1 but  
when a pile descends more than the pitch
 at the last turn1 it can be considered 
the weight of the pile is too great for 
the ground4 ,the slip usually increases 
according to the yielding or plastic    
nature of the soil1 and the depth to    
which the pile is screwed4 ,when water  
reaches such soils the slip is          
increased1 but not perceptibly in sand  
and loose grained soils4 ,suppose the   
full pitch is #i inches4 ,the slip may  
be anything from about #a inch to as    
much as #d inches4 ,by watching the way 
in which the screw penetrates1 and      
whether it descends about the same      
distance each turn1 or regularly        
decreases1 it can be judged whether the 
bite of the screw is right4 ,some slip  
will generally take place1 therefore    

note at first how much it is1 and       
consider whether it will not churn up   
the ground1 for if the screw blade turns
 on nearly the same lines1 the bite will
 be gradually destroyed1 and then it may
 be very difficult to obtain a fresh    
hold of the ground1 and the pile will   
most probably not screw vertically1 and 
the screw blade is liable to be injured 
and may become worn away considerably4  
,piles can be screwed by means of men1  
horses1 oxen1 and machines4 ,man-power  
can be used anywhere1 machines in most  
places1 but horses and oxen only on land
 when the piles are screwed on a        
foreshore or between tides2 of course   
all live power works at the end of the  
capstan bars4 ,once ,i had the option of
 screwing by horses or oxen1 and chose  
oxen4 ,another man had horses4 ,i made  
more profit than he did1 and the piles  
screwed easier than his4 ,i did not let 
him come near me when screwing2 but if  
you have the choice1 use oxen in        
preference to horses4 ,of course1 ,i am 

speaking of those countries where they  
are used to the yoke4  ,why8  ,because  
they do not stop at any time or back    
like horses1 not even when the          
resistance of the pile becomes too great
 without more power1 but continue to    
pull1 and therefore backward motion of  
the pile is prevented4 ,the oxen were   
yoked to two cross-arms attached to the 
end of the lever4  ,there are several   
machines for screwing piles worked by   
steam or other power1 and when the      
ground is not easy to penetrate1 and a  
large number of piles have to be        
screwed1 their cost will be saved in the
 regularity1 quickness1 and ease in     
screwing1 and in stiff soil by machine  
power ,i have known them screwed at the 
rate of #d to #f inches per minute4 ,of 
course1 it is a special machine1 and not
 easily sold when not further wanted    
except at a much less price than has    
been paid for it1 and that has to be    
considered4 ,there are several different
 methods of screwing piles from a fixed 

stage2 for instance1 suppose a pile of  
sufficient length and with the screw    
attached is brought to the site by barge
 or otherwise1 the capstan head is then 
fixed1 and the pile swung vertically    
over the pitch by sling-chains fastened 
to temporary eye-bolts passing through  
the bolt-holes in the flanges or        
otherwise1 and is moved either by a jib 
crane1 a derrick upon a raft1 or some   
such hoisting apparatus2 it is lowered  
into its place between the guide-piles  
or steadied by sling-chains or other    
means1 then the capstan bars are put    
into the sockets of the capstan head1   
which should be at equal distances      
apart1 and the pile is ready for        
screwing after it is known that it is   
vertical4  ,where circumstances did not 
allow of room for capstan bars of       
sufficient length for men to walk round1
 ,i have screwed piles by ropes1 but it 
will only do when the soil is easy to   
penetrate4 ,the way we worked was       
something like this1 we had two endless 

ropes passing round the ends of short   
capstan bars and round two double       
purchase crabs placed upon opposite     
sides of the pile1 about six or eight   
men worked at each crab1 four or five   
winding1 and two or three hauling in the
 slack1 one rope being passed through a 
sufficiently deep upper slot in the     
capstan bar end so that it did not slip1
 also one in the lower slot same end4   
,both the taut and the slack ends of the
 lower and upper ropes were attached    
each to its own crab4 ,a man must be    
stationed at the end of the capstan bars
 to put the slack ends of the taut and  
slack ropes into the slots4 ,one rope   
gives the capstan half a turn when it is
 taut1 and then it falls out of its slot
 and is slack1 and so with the other    
rope1 but it is not easy to keep the two
 ends of the rope equally tight1 and the
 power obtained is not great and may not
 be sufficient4 ,it is a kind of        
makeshift4  ,how do you fix the capstan 
head to the pile shaft8  ,in many       

different ways4 ,sometimes it is keyed  
on or clamped tightly to the top of the 
pile length by steel wedges1 also placed
 upon the pile length and fixed by      
temporary bolts passing through the top 
flanges of the pile length1 and also by 
fixing a temporary ribbed pile into the 
capstan head1 and by connecting it with 
the permanent pile by bolts or slots1   
and so wedging is not wanted and it can 
be raised and lowered4 ,another way is1 
two of the internal sides of the pile at
 top are cast flat for a foot or so down
 into which the capstan head fits1 and  
the inside diameter is lessened for an  
inch or two to prevent the capstan head 
slipping down1 but it generally can't do
 that1 even without the narrowing of the
 pile for that object4  ,as the capstan 
is subject to great wear and tear and   
sudden strain1 it should be strong1 for 
if it breaks the work is stopped4       
,wrought-iron capstan heads are used1   
but cast-iron are perhaps better4       
,sometimes the capstan sockets are made 

to fit the ends of rails1 if rails      
instead of timber are used for the      
capstan bars1 but rail bars are rather  
heavy and are not nice to handle4 ,the  
capstan socket is generally made to     
receive from eight to ten or more radial
 lever arms1 and the lengths of the bars
 are anything from #e to #dj feet1 but  
the latter is rather too long as it is  
very difficult to control the strain and
 the bar usually bends and springs4 ,the
 best working lengths are from about #h 
to #bj feet1 if the staging is so large4
 ,the best height for the capstan bars  
above the floor stage is from #c feet #f
 inches to #d feet #f inches4 ,the      
capstan bars have to be lifted and again
 fixed as the pile penetrates1 or a     
temporary pile of different length has  
to be fixed in it1 unless the capstan   
head can be slipped up and down on a    
ribbed pile1 hence you may want a       
platform you can raise or lower easily  
when required4 ,if you use double-headed
 rails of the same section top and      

bottom for the bars1 you can have them  
bent up a little near the capstan head1 
and when you start1 the bent end is     
lowest1 and then the bars can be        
reversed and so the work proceeds4  ,put
 the men1 horses1 or oxen in the most   
natural position for exerting their full
 strength or a loss of power will       
result1 and therefore it will cost more 
to screw the piles4  ,should there be   
gantry staging on the site1 the piles   
can be pitched from a traverser1 or by  
means of an ordinary crab winch4 ,they  
can also be screwed from the permanent  
structure by means of a projecting stage
 temporarily fixed to it1 and of a      
length sufficient to reach the next     
span4 ,the pile is run forward upon     
rollers and placed in the right         
position4 ,then it is screwed on the    
endless rope system previously          
described1 or by passing the rope round 
a deep groove in the capstan bar ends1  
and the rope is held tightly by being   
placed round a smaller grooved pulley   

fixed about a hundred feet or so back   
towards the shore4 ,the men haul the    
endless rope and so the screwing is     
done4 ,the worst of screwing by endless 
ropes this way is that the pile very    
probably may be pulled over towards the 
source of power as it comes from one    
direction1 therefore1 support is        
required on the side of the pile to     
prevent this tendency4 ,the             
circumference of the ropes used varied  
from #d-a_/b to #f inches1 but ,i have  
used a #aj inch rope4 ,small ropes are  
generally relatively stronger than large
 ones4 ,stretch a rope well before      
using1 as it yields1 especially hemp    
ropes4 ,the distance between the point  
at which the power is applied1 and the  
ground should be as little as possible4 
,in firm sand1 when the power has been  
more than about #bj to #be feet above   
the ground1 it is often very difficult  
to screw piles by ordinary means to more
 than a small depth1 as two places in   
the pile are wanted from which to apply 

the screwing force1 and both as low down
 as convenient2 but in screwing from a  
second stage care should be taken that  
the pile shaft is not bent1 for it may  
then be strained like a girder and not  
merely as a column1 also when much power
 to screw is required it is not easy to 
avoid pulling them out of the vertical4 
,always screw them steadily and prevent 
jerking4 ,any obstruction1 such as a    
boulder1 tends to displace a pile1 and  
loosens the ground around it4 ,in soft  
soils it may be possible to pull piles  
upright by pushing aside an obstruction 
if the pile is given a turn or two after
 meeting it and before pulling2 but it  
must be carefully done1 or the pile may 
be smashed1 and it is only safe to pull 
it over in easy soils and when much     
force is not required4  ,how much power 
is generally wanted for screwing8  ,that
 is not so easily answered as asked4 ,it
 varies very much1 and1 of course1      
depends upon the kind of soil and the   
size and pitch of the screw4 ,ten men   

may be sufficient and a single stage1   
but two stages may be necessary should  
the pile be #ej or #fj feet in length1  
and then not far from one hundred men4  
,an engineer told me the force generally
 required for piles of usual sizes under
 ordinary screwing circumstances varies 
from about #h to #aj tons to as much as 
#ej tons1 and usually from about #aj to 
#be tons1 and1 of course1 the number of 
men to screw in proportion4  ,ordinary  
piles and screws have gone down #ba feet
 in sand in eight hours1 and by steam   
machinery in clay at the rate of #f     
inches per minute1 and also1 to my loss 
only about #a foot in a day--and then it
 is time to stop altogether1 should many
 piles hold like that4 ,to compare what 
has been done with what has to be done  
is misleading unless the conditions are 
alike1 for if they are otherwise the    
power required1 cost1 and rate of       
screwing will all be different4 ,i have 
screwed a #f-;inch pile with a #b-;feet 
one-turn screw into #bj feet of ordinary

 sand with an applied power of #cj tons 
as calculated by an engineer from       
measurements and the force of men       
applied at the capstan bars4 ,there is  
the surface friction on the screw blade 
and the pile shaft in the ground1 the   
cutting of the earth by the edge of the 
blade and the points1 and the loss of   
power from torsion and that applied     
compared with the effective force1 slip1
 friction1 c41 to consider2 and the     
relative surface of the blades1 width1  
and thickness of the cutting edge and   
the pitch--for a steep pitch means      
harder screwing4 ,by using capstan bars 
and men at them1 instead of ropes at the
 ends of the arms worked by crabs1 you  
will find about one-fifth more power is 
gained1 or rather is not lost4 ,of      
course1 place the men as near to the end
 of the capstan bar as convenient for   
work4 ,my lecture is finished1 and ,i am
 parched4     ,,chapter ,,iv4  ,,iron   
,,piles4                                
,arrangement--,driving--,sinking by     

,water-jet4   ,tell me what you have    
learned about iron pile fixing1 same as 
you have promised me you will about     
timber piles4  ,very well4 ,here goes1  
then2 first a word as to iron piles     
generally4  ,although a group of piles  
when properly strutted1 tied1 and braced
 have plenty of stiffness1 if you have  
to deal with them singly they are never 
stiff1 but they can be made steadier    
when getting them down by having two    
large pieces of wood with a half hole in
 them1 something like the shape of the  
old village stocks1 and by putting or   
lowering it at low water until it is    
bedded in the ground4 ,it must be       
weighted though1 so as to prevent it    
floating4 ,it acts like a waling1 and is
 useful when the ground is treacherous1 
and provided it is level4  ,from        
watching the behaviour of piles when    
doing repairs and at other times1 ,i    
think it wants a lot of careful         
arrangement to be sure the load is      
acting equally on the whole group1 or1  

as may be intended1 on say a few piles1 
and straight down the centre of each    
pile1 for it makes a lot of difference  
to the strain on them1 and it is not    
easy to make them all take the load at  
once as wished4 ,it wants a good deal of
 attention1 and the piles are not unlike
 a pair of horses that are not matched  
and don't work together properly--kind  
of now me1 now you business4 ,before    
finishing reference to driving and      
screwing1 let me say all the parts      
should be properly fitted together at   
the works and numbered so that the      
putting up on the ground is easier and  
in order to be certain all the          
bolt-holes agree2 and it is well to have
 the lengths interchangeable and all the
 same1 except the making-up pieces1 and 
all bolt-holes as well as the flanges   
should fit in every respect4  ,when     
columns rest on a masonry1 brickwork1 or
 concrete base the piles ought to have a
 ring or base-plate right round them to 
hold them tightly together4 ,it lessens 

the pier being shaken1 and saves the    
side pushing of the holding-down bolts4 
,i heard an engineer say the weight of  
the pier above their ends should be not 
less than about four times any force    
that might tend to lift them4 ,the      
anchor-plates should be well bedded upon
 a solid mass or the strain upon the    
pier may go in one direction1 and that  
the one not wanted4 ,don't be afraid of 
bracing and strutting piles1 the more of
 it the better4 ,i don't think much of a
 single turn of a screw blade a few feet
 below the ground for taking a load1    
although some good for steadying        
purposes generally1 because the bed may 
become scoured out below the blade and  
then the screw is no use4 ,therefore the
 depth of possible scour ought to be    
positively known before relying upon the
 blade for permanent support4 ,a lot can
 be said as to the grouping of piles1   
whether in triangles or in rows4 ,in a  
triangle1 although the load upon the    
foundations is spread over a larger     

area1 it does not give as much lateral  
strength as when the piles are placed in
 one row1 and taking everything into    
consideration ,i think if ,i had six    
piles to put down ,i should not place   
one at the top of a triangle1 two lower 
down1 and three at the base1 but have   
two parallel rows of three piles2       
besides it lessens the length of the    
struts and the bracing1 and that is     
something1 but1 of course1 each case    
requires to be treated in a special way1
 and ,i have noticed when doing repairs 
that if there are six piles fixed thus1 
,illustration in a triangle1 the wind   
and other force acts principally upon   
the bracing between the parallel rows1  
and the pile at the point does not do   
much towards keeping the others in the  
right place2 anyhow the bracing there   
does not seem to hold as tightly as it  
does between the parallel rows1 and ,i  
have had to watch groups of them in     
storms1 and when the sea has been high1 
and that is my opinion4  ,now1 as to    

fixing iron piles4  ,when the ends have 
to be placed in rock1 which has         
sometimes to be done in shore pieces1   
'jumping' the holes in more than about  
#b feet of water is to be avoided1 for  
if the water is not still the holes     
become filled with sand and drift1 and  
you must not take the jumper out but    
keep on continuously making the hole4   
,it is ticklish business1 because       
sometimes the rock grinds the jumper1   
and then the wings and point wear away4 
,occasionally they have to be worked    
inside a cylinder by ropes1 rods1 and   
gearing fixed in it1 the cylinder being 
movable and held from the end of the    
part of the pier that is finished1 but  
where the water is deep the ends must be
 put in the rock in ,portland cement by 
divers4  ,i have driven a good many iron
 piles with a ram1 but you have to be   
careful1 no matter whether the soil is  
sand1 gravel1 clay1 or silt4 ,i like a  
copper ring on the head of the iron pile
 and a good long timber 'dolly1' not    

less than #d or #e feet in length1 and  
then the ram does not burst the top4    
,when the ground is hard the best way is
 to make a hole by jumpers of about #c  
inches less diameter than the pile to be
 fixed1 and in chalk soil it is doubtful
 whether they will go down right unless 
that is done2 perhaps they won't drive  
at all1 or a lot of them will be broken4
 ,i have used a ram weighing from #a to 
#a-a_/b ton for an #h to a #aj inch pile
 and about a #c-;feet fall1 and never   
more than #d feet1 unless you want to   
deal with some old metal merchant that  
will give a good price for the scrap1   
and it does not matter how many get     
broken1 or it is a positive advantage to
 break a certain quantity out of every  
lot1 so as to have a big price for such 
difficult driving1 and get 'extras' that
 way4  ,i understand1 no breakages      
deducted4  ,that's it4 ,i have driven   
them at the rate of fully #f inches a   
minute for a few feet4 ,they often      
rebound1 so ,i had a boy with a lever1  

the end of it being clinched to the     
pile4 ,directly the ram fell1 he gave   
the pile from quarter to half a turn for
 the first #d or #e feet of driving1 and
 they scarcely rebounded at all2 and he 
earned his wages1 for ,i considered     
fully one pile extra was got down out of
 about every ten by the turning         
movement4 ,the points require to be     
regulated according to the ground4 ,from
 #a-a_/b to twice the diameter or width 
for the length of the point is about    
right1 but if it is made too sharp it   
may break4 ,iron piles that have to be  
driven are seldom more than #ab inches  
in width1 and the thickness of the metal
 is generally from one-ninth to         
one-twelfth of the diameter4 ,i heard an
 engineer say1 ,i think it was ,mr4     
,cubitt1 experiments showed that a      
,t-shaped cast-iron pile about #cj feet 
in length1 should have the top of the ,t
 two and a quarter times the length of  
the upright part1 and the thickness a   
twelfth of the top4 ,of course1 the     

length of the pile must be considered4  
,i doubt if you can get equally sound   
metal throughout when the thickness is  
much more than #b-a_/b inches4 ,from    
#c_/d to #a-a_/b inch is best1 and piles
 ,i have broken up always seemed more   
even throughout about those thicknesses2
 but there1 ,i suppose it is all a      
question of care in casting and proper  
machinery4  ,one thing1 don't drive any 
piles from a floating stage on the sea  
if you can help it1 it will make you pay
 for the privilege2 besides ,i have     
known some places where the sea was     
always so disturbed it could not be     
done1 even if the moorings were as tight
 as you dare make them4 ,driven iron    
piles are not much seen now1 and        
,portland cement concrete seems the     
fashion1 and no doubt it is better4     
,still1 iron piles can be driven in deep
 water without much trouble from it1 and
 one might combine the two nicely--the  
iron to act as a shield to the concrete 
while depositing it1 and give it time to

 set without disturbance and preserve   
the face4  ,have you sunk any disc      
piles8  ,yes1 they are all right for    
fine sand and silt1 but you must be     
careful the discs are the same in form  
and dimensions upon all sides1 or a pile
 will almost certainly tilt and sink    
crookedly4 ,i was busy on the           
,lancashire coast once1 and heard that  
,mr41 now ,sir ,james ,brunlees1 tried a
 lot of different kinds of hollow disc  
piles1 and that the best was one with a 
plain flange base three times the       
diameter of the pile1 and circular1 with
 the bottom nearly closed1 it only      
having a hole in it in the centre of the
 base #c inches in diameter4 ,some ribs 
and cutters were cast on the bottom of  
the disc to break the ground up if it   
was hard4 ,this is what ,i know about   
disc piles and have been put up to4     
,when piles have to be sunk by water    
pressure1 rotate the pile1 and don't let
 it be still long1 so as to lessen or   
prevent surface friction on the pile    

shaft and the sand settling round it4   
,always have circular discs and not too 
large1 not above #c feet in diameter1   
for they do not sink nearly so easily as
 the size of the disc is increased4     
,about #b feet discs are my choice as   
they go down much quicker than #b feet  
#f inches or #c feet4  ,don't try to    
sink them in sand to a greater depth    
than #ah to #bj feet1 and remember that 
although they may sink easily for about 
#ab or #ae feet1 afterwards they will   
want some labour4 ,when you have        
finished sinking piles with the         
water-jet1 it is best to drive them down
 an inch or two further by a heavy ram  
and a very small fall1 or heavily weight
 them as soon as possible after having  
done with the jet2 then the disc has a  
bearing on firm and undisturbed ground1 
and if you are afraid of a blow on the  
pile you can have a heavy weight placed 
on it to help it into position and the  
sand to become solid4 ,obtain           
considerable pressure of water1 and     

always cause the pile to rotate when    
sinking4 ,don't let the pressure get    
much below #dj lbs4 per square inch1 and
 use about #fj lbs4 if you can get it4  
,i have worked up to #ajj lbs4 per      
square inch but not beyond1 and fancy   
there is then too much pressure1 and    
that more sand is disturbed than is     
necessary4 ,all that is wanted is to    
make the sand boil and remove itself    
from the underside of the pile and disc1
 but always have a few ribs or cutters  
on the underside of the disc as they    
loosen the sand as the pile is          
rotated--besides1 should there be a     
strip of harder soil1 it may be         
impossible to sink the pile without     
them4 ,a rather large tube and a        
moderate pressure are best1 and a tube  
not less than about #b to #d inches in  
diameter according to the size of the   
pile1 and it is better from #c to #f    
inches1 of course1 if the pressure is   
high a larger size jet can be used1 but 
if it is less than #b inches it will    

only make a small hole1 and too much    
below the disc1 and not enough water    
passes through it4 ,try to ascertain    
what pressure of water makes the piles  
sink the easiest4 ,sometimes they will  
go down at the start as much as #c feet 
in a minute1 and often #b feet1 and from
 that to #a foot they should do for     
about the first #f or #h feet in sand1  
but then the rate quickly decreases4    
,the nozzle should be properly shaped so
 that the jet is whole4 ,i mean the     
shape of the pipe at the place where it 
touches the sand4 ,what is wanted is to 
get just enough force to cause the sand 
to separate and boil and to push it away
 from the disc and no further1 or some  
of the water power is wasted1 therefore 
a good volume of water is as necessary  
as a high pressure4 ,you understand8    
,yes4  ,the tube should project about #f
 inches below the bottom of the disc4 ,a
 toothed tube can be fixed round it so  
as to help to disturb the ground and    
strengthen the pipe4 ,the water supply  

may perhaps be obtained at a sufficient 
pressure from the local water-works     
company1 then1 probably1 a force pump   
will not be required1 but the pressure  
that can always be relied upon should be
 known4  ,in sand1 and when the water   
power can be easily obtained1 ,i prefer 
disc piles to screw piles1 because there
 is hardly any chance of breaking or    
injuring the disc2 you always know where
 the disc is1 but cannot positively say 
where the screw is--it may be sound and 
may not be2 in addition1 the disc is    
stronger than a screw blade1 as it can  
be strengthened by ribs almost as much  
as one likes1 and the disc in sinking is
 hardly strained at all compared with a 
screw pile4 ,they can be sunk quicker1  
and do not require nearly as much plant 
to do it1 for when you have a force     
pump1 a guide frame--something like an  
ordinary pile-driving machine #be or #cj
 feet in height1 with a grooved pulley  
at top in which the chain or rope runs  
so that one end can be attached to the  

pile flange either by jaws or temporary 
bolts1 and the other to a crab winch1   
which1 with the guide frame1 is used for
 lowering and keeping the pile in       
position1 and stay the top of the guide 
frame by ropes to short piles driven    
into the ground--and a hose and two     
levers1 with a collar to grasp the pile 
so as to rotate it1 you have about all  
the special plant that is wanted4  ,of  
course1 piles can be sunk by water      
pressure from a floating stage such as a
 barge1 pontoon1 or raft1 so long as the
 pile is kept vertical1 but there are   
the same objections to that method as   
with other piles4 ,piles are1 however1  
got down much quicker and easier by the 
water jet than by screwing or driving1  
but the ground must be loose granular   
soil1 such as ordinary sand4  ,there is 
not much 'extra' to be got out of iron  
piles4 ,you can only dodge a bit with a 
length short now and then when you have 
the right parties to work with1 and the 
inspector is cross-eyed or a star-gazer1

 but you may get something 'extra' out  
of the filling them in4 ,as usual ,i    
draw the line somewhere4 ,everything on 
earth has a boundary line4 ,this is     
where ,i draw it4 ,listen6  ,after as   
much water as possible--possible is a   
nice elastic word--is got out of the    
pile1 and it is as clear of deposit as  
convenient--another nice easy word--and 
before commencing the filling1 ,i put   
inside the pile everything ,i can get   
hold of that is dry1 for just then ,i   
have but one way of looking at anything1
 and that is to consider it ,portland   
cement concrete1 unless it costs me more
 to use it2 but when the filling is     
concrete1 ,i make that as dry as mixing 
will allow1 and sometimes hardly that4  
,the inside of the pile is sure to be   
wet1 and that will help the mixing4 ,i  
never ram the concrete1 but gently cast 
it in4 ,it is only a sort of anti-rust  
covering1 and is put in for that and to 
keep water out1 and no weight comes upon
 it--it is not like the hearting of     

cylinder bridge piers4 ,ramming the     
concrete is not far from being a        
mistake1 because the pile should have a 
chance of contracting without straining1
 and may be it will crack2 and it is    
just as well to remember that although  
by ramming tightly you may get more     
solid filling and better protect the    
inside from rust1 the pile may be       
strained1 and it is a choice of evils1  
possible rust1 or strain4     ,,chapter 
,v4  ,,timber ,,piles4 ,,pile-,,driving4
  ,general ,consideration4   ,now1 as   
promised1 ,i will tell you of a little  
bit of free trade with some timber      
pilework4  ,that's it4 ,i am waiting for
 it4  ,well1 they let me have #djj feet 
run of pile-driving4 ,double row of #af 
to #ab inch piles1 and there were some  
fine sticks nearly #ee feet long1 and   
that is a long length for a sound pile1 
and you have to pay for them4  ,before  
you begin to tell me how you scamped it1
 give me a hint or two about piling1 and
 say what you have learned from         

experience4  ,all right4 ,first1 when a 
pile is some distance below the bottom  
waling1 which should be fixed as low as 
possible1 a lot must be taken for       
granted1 and it cannot be controlled    
much4 ,i know this from drawing many    
piles2 hundreds1 ,i may say4 ,after they
 are down about #e or #f feet they begin
 to do as they like1 and take to        
irregular habits1 and you cannot be     
certain the points are straight unless  
the ground is the same throughout1 and  
it hardly ever is4 ,in fact1 the        
resistance they meet with varies1 and   
then they accommodate themselves to     
circumstances2 and even when the ground 
is very soft they turn to the line of   
least resistance1 and if they have to be
 driven through several feet of soft    
earth to reach the solid1 they may play 
tricks and bend about in the soft soil  
in go-as-you-please style1 yet seem to  
be driving nicely2 or they may stick    
between boulders and can't be driven    
further and appear to be firm as a rock1

 and so they may be as long as the      
boulders do not move1 but they often do 
after a time1 should the ground become  
wet1 and sometimes when the next pile is
 being driven4  ,always be careful to   
see that the shoe has as large a bearing
 as possible for the end of the pile1   
and is long in the point1 and more      
pointed as the soil is harder4 ,take a  
#ab-;inch pile with a #d-;inch or so    
seat in the shoe for the stick4 ,well1  
#ab by #ab is #add1 and #d by #d is #af1
 and therefore the pile end has a       
bearing area upon the pile shoe of      
one-ninth of the area of the pile4 ,no  
wonder the bottom often becomes ragged  
and the pile shifts4 ,the shoe should   
have a good hold of the timber1 and be  
put on true to a hair1 so that the point
 is in the exact centre line of the     
pile1 or look out for squalls4 ,now high
 falls and light monkeys are out of     
fashion1 and short falls and heavy      
monkeys are the thing1 not so many piles
 are injured4 ,pushing them down is     

better than breaking them to bits4 ,you 
should have the monkey so that its      
centre falls upon the centre line of the
 pile4 ,the average centre of the pile  
should be marked on as exact as         
possible1 and the end of the pile be cut
 to a template1 so as to make it fit    
tightly to the shoe1 or it may not drive
 straightly4 ,i always take a lot of    
trouble that way and seldom have to draw
 a ragged one1 and believe they used to 
drive straight4 ,i mean from start to   
finish about the same number of blows   
and to the same depth and vertically4   
,when hand-driving in soft earth--it's  
slow business at the best--weight the   
pile when the monkey is being lifted so 
as to stop the quivering and press it   
down and keep it from springing4        
,provided the work was of importance1   
and ,i was the ,caesar of it1 before any
 pile was pitched ready for driving it  
should be inspected1 its dimensions     
taken1 it should be numbered1 numbers be
 burnt in1 and every foot from top to   

bottom should be marked on by a brand2  
and perhaps the numbers should begin at 
the bottom and work up1 as there is not 
so much chance to tamper with two       
figures as with one1 c4  ,pile-driving  
is fickle work1 for sometimes the piles 
stick because the points can't pierce   
the earth1 and at others because they   
are held by friction on the surface of  
the piles4 ,i have known the shoe to be 
cast1 and the pile end look like a bass 
broom1 and to be all in shreds4 ,when   
piles split a great deal and they must  
be driven1 the best thing to do is to   
get harder wood1 lessen the fall and    
increase the weight of the monkey2 same 
as in tunnel lining1 when stock bricks  
are crushed1 blue bricks have to be put 
in4 ,the nature of the ground should    
govern the hardness of the wood for     
piles4 ,i always pick out darkish       
even-coloured wood1 and sniff for the   
resin1 and the more in it the better for
 me4 ,you don't catch me driving many   
white wood piles1 for they become dry   

and break off short1 and are not the    
timber for piles4 ,once a bother arose  
about some piles4 ,there was a layer of 
hard gravel1 and by the way the piles   
were driving ,i knew they would split1  
so ,i gave the word that ,memel piles   
were not hard enough for such gravel2   
and ,i worked it humble like1 and said  
to the engineer1 ',i think you will     
agree1 sir1 you can't expect me to be   
answerable for smashing them until we   
get into the soft ground again4 ,it     
wants rock elm or as strong timber for  
this soil4' ,after smashing a few to    
shreds1 they supplied us with rock elm  
piles1 and then we managed4 ,it is true 
to say in the same soil the harder the  
pile the better it will drive1 and      
therefore with less trouble and expense4
 ,the monkey should have an even        
widened-out base where it touches the   
pile head1 so as to get the weight as   
near the head of the pile as possible2  
it also falls straighter than the long  
thin rams of nearly the same width      

throughout4 ,grease the ways well1 and  
take care they are as straight as a die1
 and exactly vertical if it is upright  
pile-driving1 and you'll save money4    
,make the blows quickly in fine-grained 
soil1 so that it has not time to settle 
round the pile4 ,in clay there is no    
occasion for such quick-driving1 but    
take care to prevent the piles          
rebounding4 ,remember the same system   
does not do for every soil1 for quick   
driving in hard soil sometimes smashes  
the piles2 perhaps the earth has not had
 time to become displaced nicely and    
settle before being jammed again1 and   
then the pile point turns and quivers   
and soon shreds1 and cannot be driven   
down properly4 ,anyone that says piles  
make the ground itself firmer when they 
are driven into it1 and so cause it to  
support a heavier load1 will have to    
prove it before that can be swallowed4  
,it is the friction on the sides of the 
piles that principally sustains them and
 not the bearing of the points4 ,in hard

 soils drive slowly1 for it is like     
chipping up a stone with a hammer4 ,you 
must do it gently1 or it will break the 
tool2 and as you can't clear out the    
hole in driving piles1 it seems to me   
time is required instead1 so that the   
pressed out soil may settle away and    
take a bearing4 ,i tricked a chap once  
pile-driving from a barge4  ,how did you
 do it8  ,well1 it was bound to be      
driving from a barge or nothing1 and    
there were three pile-drivers for us1   
almost as many as we could work1 as the 
driving had to be done by degrees4 ,some
 of the work was let to a chap ,i did   
not like too much1 and the rest to me4  
,they gave me the choice of plant1 so ,i
 said to the engineer1 ',may ,i have two
 of the pile-drivers upon my barge1 as  
,faggitts'--that was the other chap's   
name--'only wants one4' ,i got the two4 
,now ,faggitts knew about driving piles 
on land1 but had never done any driving 
from a barge1 so ,i had a bit in hand of
 him4 ,if you take any pile-driving and 

it has to be done from a barge1 have    
more than one pile-driver on it if you  
have the chance2 but don't place them   
close together1 make one steady the     
other1 and have as many as you can      
conveniently work at once2 because1 in  
my experience1 the more you have the    
less the swaying1 and the piles drive   
more regularly and the barge is         
steadier1 and you don't have so much    
bother with the moorings4 ,of course1 if
 the monkey does not fall flat upon the 
pile head the pile does not receive the 
full force of the blow in the right     
direction1 the pile may be driven       
slightly crooked and it does not get    
properly treated and won't penetrate so 
easily1 and therefore you lose money4   
,old ,faggitts found that out in the    
soft soil we were driving them into4 ,i 
said nothing to him1 but he did to me4  
,i never told him4  ,i have read        
somewhere that it is wearying work going
 into details1 but when you have to do  
the work yourself1 unless you take care 

of the details you'll find they will    
make it hot for you2 and after all1 any 
one can speak generally1 but when they  
have to explain in detail what they     
think they mean1 and have to do the work
 themselves1 they will soon find out    
that unless you know the details and    
attend to them carefully1 that you won't
 make a profit nor anyone else4 ,anybody
 can talk tallish after about a         
fortnight's training1 but then they have
 to pull up or they will fall at the    
next fence1 which ,i label 'details     
wanted4' ,that's by the way1 and ,i may 
have made it too strong1 but it is as   
well to sound your engineer4 ,no general
 is successful unless he knows the      
strength of his enemy and as much more  
about him as he can1 and acts           
accordingly1 and chooses his own time   
and place for a battle4  ,driving piles 
in groups1 especially if the ground is  
soft1 and not singly1 is good4 ,they go 
down more regularly and fit tighter1 and
 they seem to drive quicker4 ,i have    

driven cheap fir piles between elm piles
 that way1 and a good many of the soft  
ones split when we had to drive them    
singly4 ,have as few key piles as       
possible1 because they are liable to be 
jammed before they are down to the right
 depth1 and then1 if it is a cofferdam1 
it is probable a leak will occur under  
the key pile1 because it is the easiest 
place for the water to soak through1 and
 the other piles being down below it1   
stop the flow1 and it soon finds out the
 short-driven key pile4 ,when ,i notice 
a spot in a cofferdam at which water    
leaks through the bottom1 unless it is  
an old stream bed1 it occurs to me that 
the piles have not gone down properly1  
have got bruised1 bent1 turned up1 or   
broken off1 and ,i have found out that  
was the case on drawing them when the   
cofferdam was of no further use4 ,once  
,i was ordered to drive some            
three-cornered piles at the turns in a  
cofferdam on a river front1 but said1   
',square or circular shall be driven1   

but any other shape ,i will try to get  
down properly1 provided they are        
carefully fitted and bevelled1 but you  
really can't expect me to be            
answerable4' ,they deducted a fixed     
amount if after the piles were pitched  
there were more than a certain number   
visibly damaged or smashed1 so you may  
depend ,i had a good look at the sticks 
before they were driven4  ,i have driven
 piles #fj feet in length1 kind of giant
 sticks1 but #de to #ej feet is long    
enough for good sound piles4 ,socket    
pile driving piecework ,i avoid1 for the
 joints are ticklish business2 and if a 
pile of ordinary length will not do1 ,i 
throw out a mild hint whether the better
 system to use would not be ,indian     
brick or concrete wells1 or to spread   
out the foundations so as to get a      
sufficiently large bearing1 or have a   
fascine platform1 and sink it till it is
 firm1 and test its stability properly  
by a load4  ,there is a great deal in   
starting the driving correctly4 ,i      

always am very careful at the start1 and
 experiment and watch how the piles     
drive1 and vary the fall a little until 
the best is known4 ,few considerable    
stretches of ground are of the same     
kind1 and to fix a certain fall         
throughout is not the thing1 it         
generally wants varying4 ,i have easily 
driven piles in fine sand by having two 
small pipes1 one each back and front1   
reaching a few inches below the point of
 the pile1 and sending water down them  
under pressure1 and by keeping the pipes
 on the move so that they can't be      
gripped4 ,i worked out with the pipes   
the place where the pile had to be      
pitched and made a profit that way1     
because not only did the piles go down  
much quicker1 and a lot of blows were   
therefore saved1 but the piles were     
easier to start right4 ,i used to call  
my two pipes the two bobbies1 because   
they steered straight for their station1
 and these two did the same office for  
the piles4  ,now a word as to systems of

 driving2 the method must suit the      
ground4 ,i knew a man that believed in  
nothing but driving by gunpowder2 he    
must have been going in strong for      
gunpowder tea1 or have been in the      
militia1 for the soil he had to do with 
was not homogeneous1 and had boulders   
and other hard obstructions in it4 ,it  
was not like soft sand and clay1        
consequently many of the piles were     
broken4 ,the noise also was a nuisance  
in the dock1 and cattle that had to be  
unshipped from the steamers were so     
unruly that they had to stop the        
gunpowder pile-drivers2 besides1 to do  
much good with them1 a large charge is  
required1 or it costs too much4 ,the    
power necessary to work the machines is 
better obtained by other means1 and can 
be without so much noise or shock4  ,i  
have used all sorts and sizes of        
monkeys1 from half a hundredweight to   
four tons1 but heavy rams and short     
falls are the best1 and steam for the   
power if the contract is considerable   

and will pay for such plant2 otherwise  
hand1 unless the piles are large and    
have to be driven a long way4 ,a sixteen
 hundredweight monkey is about heavy    
enough to work nicely by hand1 but it is
 not sufficiently heavy for a #ab-;inch 
pile1 except in soft ground4 ,for sheet 
piles a hand machine is good enough1 for
 it can be moved easily1 and six to     
eight tons weight1 being about that of a
 steam pile-driver1 costs something to  
shift1 unless there are rails and tackle
 handy4 ,of course the blows are quicker
 with a steam pile-driver1 and in sand  
that is a great point as the ground has 
no time to settle round a pile2 but     
should the soil vary and be hard and    
soft1 it is well to slow down the       
machine at first to lessen the fear of  
smashing the piles and shaking them till
 they tremble to destruction4 ,i have   
worked a lot of different kinds of      
plant1 and driven many piles at once1   
and the power was obtained from one     
engine giving the motion by driving     

bands1 and in another case with drums   
fixed on the engine shafts1 the chains  
being carried over sheaves to the       
different pile engines4  ,this is my    
idea of pile-driving3--  #a4 ,steam     
driving4 #b4 ,hand driving1 if the piles
 must be driven very slowly1 and there  
are not many to drive4 #c4 ,never use   
gunpowder pile-drivers1 always prefer   
steam1 hydraulic1 atmospheric1 or some  
other motive power4  ,gunpowder is more 
for blowing up than anything else1 in my
 opinion1 and ,i know the pile shoes    
often shed in driving with it2 that is1 
they loose their hold of the piles and  
become detached4  ,a pile should        
penetrate regularly1 and after the first
 few blows drive less and less1 as then 
you have a good idea it is all right and
 uninjured4 ,uneven penetration is a    
proof that piles are not all right1 and 
when they sink suddenly there is almost 
sure to be something wrong1 and they are
 most likely being over-driven1         
shredded1 frayed1 shoe-cast1 or split   

up4 ,the rate of descent should be      
noted4 ,it may be considered they are   
driving properly if they sink about a   
foot at a blow for the first one or     
more1 and then #h or #f inches1 and when
 they get down to one-eighth1           
one-fourth1 or half-an-inch a blow for  
some successive blows it is time to stop
 and consider4 ,i have driven piles with
 as few as ten blows in sand with the   
aid of two water pipes at work fore and 
aft1 as mentioned before1 and have had  
to give a pile as many as #cjj blows1   
and when they want as many as that1 with
 all due deference to everyone1 the     
ground is firm enough to build upon for 
permanent foundations without piles4 ,my
 experience goes to show that piles are 
often driven further than they need be1 
if only for use as a cofferdam1 and that
 back struts and counterforts are better
 than extra depth in the ground1        
provided leakage is prevented4 #h to #aj
 feet down for solid clay1 #aj to #ab   
feet in gravel1 and about #ae feet for  

ordinary soils1 and more care taken to  
ascertain the piles are where they      
should be1 and that they are sound and  
whole1 and not turned aside1 bulged1 and
 injured1 would be my practice4 ,in     
boulder ground1 in my opinion1 piles    
should not be adopted2 for broken1      
crushed1 and twisted fibre bass-broom   
shreds are not piles2 they are out of   
place and should be used for clearing   
leaves from garden walks4 ,the longer   
the piles the softer should be the      
ground they have to be driven into1 or  
they shake so much1 and cost more to    
drive4  ,unless always well buried and  
at such a depth that neither the        
moistness nor condition of the earth    
vary1 ,i scarcely believe in timber pile
 foundations at all1 except in very     
peculiar cases1 and as a kind of aid to 
the main support or to help to prevent  
the toe of a wall from being thrust     
forward1 but for cofferdams1 jetties1   
piers1 and such structures1 of course   
they are useful4 ,in hard and most      

gravelly soil avoid them1 and also in   
sharp sand1 if you cannot use the       
previously-mentioned water-pipe         
arrangement fore and aft2 and although  
in ordinary clays they drive nicely1 and
 you make a bigger profit than in sand1 
it puzzles me to discern what is the use
 of them for permanent foundations1     
except to help to prevent a wall sliding
 forward1 because when a pile is driven 
into most clays the clay becomes        
tempered and softer1 and a layer of     
concrete put in a proper distance down  
is better and much more certain1 and    
distributes the load more equally4      
,elastic soil is bad in which to drive  
piles1 for it yields and then rebounds4 
,a pile will sometimes spring back      
almost as much as it is driven1 and in  
such a case it is well to let the ram or
 monkey rest on the pile immediately    
after the blow is given1 if you are     
hand-driving1 or have an arrangement so 
that it is weighted directly each blow  
is delivered1 and perhaps the best way  

is to hang heavy weights on the pile4   
,in driving in firm sand the ground at  
the surface becomes considerably        
displaced1 in clay about half as much as
 in sand4  ,pile-driving is different to
 masonry1 and ,i always read the        
specification for pile work1 and then   
judge whether and how a bit 'extra' is  
to be obtained1 and guess as to the     
knowledge of those ,i have to deal with1
 and act accordingly4 ,sometimes a      
specification simply says all the piles 
are to be driven to the same depth or as
 shown on the drawings4 ,that may be    
right should the ground have been tested
 by experimental driving1 or the nature 
of it be known2 but if not1 ,i don't    
take much notice of the specification1  
because ,i hate waste1 and can't afford 
the luxury2 and it stands to reason that
 simply because a lot of piles are      
driven to the same depth they are not   
equally firm1 nor will they support the 
same load unless the soil is exactly the
 same1 and they drive well and regularly

 to the same depth and all nearly alike 
inches by inches1 and this seldom       
occurs4 ,often 'extra' profit is to be  
had1 as you will soon hear described1   
for when piles will not drive further   
than half or a quarter of an inch a blow
 they satisfy me they are tight enough  
for the purpose intended if they are at 
a fair depth and not wedged by boulders2
 but between ourselves1 should a        
building of any kind have to be erected 
on piles1 and anyone ,i really cared    
about had to live in it1 ,i should      
always weight the piles for as long a   
time as possible after finishing the    
driving and reasonably more than the    
permanent load1 watch the effects1 and  
act accordingly1 particularly in elastic
 soil4  ,remember a pile sinks less     
after it has rested than if it be driven
 continuously1 therefore always take    
note of the set when the driving is     
proceeding1 and not just at the start1  
or after an interval1 although one does 
that for one's own benefit1 and with a  

view to 'extras'2 and no one wants to   
drive a pile an inch more than can be   
helped--at least ,i don't1 nor have ,i1 
and it is certain never shall4  ,you    
want to know when to stop driving4 ,the 
time has arrived when a pile penetrates 
very little1 and nearly equal for       
several successive blows of the heaviest
 ram by which it has been driven at the 
usual fall4  ,a word as to tie and sheet
 piles before referring to the way ,i   
have worked piles for 'extra' profit4   
,it is difficult to make a main pile and
 a tie act together1 one or the other is
 nearly sure to have to bear more than  
its proper strain1 and the tie rod      
becomes eaten by rust1 bent1 and loose  
in the piles4 ,in taking down old banks 
and quays you will generally find the   
main pile and the tie pile are not held 
tightly by the tie rod1 the tie pile is 
loose or pulled over1 perhaps when first
 strained1 and then becomes disengaged  
when the main pile has set to the       
strain4 ,the tie rods want to be very   

carefully and frequently adjusted1 if   
possible1 and big washers and cleats on 
them are required4 ,they hold best in   
firm sand1 not so well in clay1 and in  
large light loose soil1 such as ashes1  
they are not much good4 ,it is an       
impotent arrangement and it is always   
uncertain whether they will act         
together4 ,don't undertake to tighten up
 the rods4 ,fix the piles1 and let the  
engineer see to the tightening up1 as   
you may injure the piles4  ,when ,i have
 to drive a lot of sheet piles1 of      
course the piles are supplied to me1 and
 ,i only take the driving4 ,you may be  
sure the timber is right1 and that the  
edges are sawn square so as to drive    
tightly together1 and that the point is 
in order4 ,i find it always pays well to
 temporarily place a baulk at the ground
 line like a waling1 but not fixed to   
the sheet piling1 as it guides the      
piles1 lessens the shaking1 and they    
drive easier and better4 ,it appears to 
me piles cannot vibrate without force1  

and that is not where it is wanted1 so  
it is wasted motion4 ,agitation when    
drawing piles is all right1 but when you
 are driving you want it in the ground  
itself1 and not in the piles4 ,once when
 ,i had to drive some thin sheet piles1 
,i made a movable guide frame1 the side 
against the sheet piling being planed   
and greased4 ,it was like one bay of a  
timber-lattice bridge1 and it well paid 
for itself as it steadied the piles4    
,in taking a contract for drawing piles 
always find out how long the piles have 
been driven1 for if they have been down 
many years they will be much harder to  
draw than if they have only been fixed a
 few months4 ,they can be drawn by      
lever1 hydraulic jack1 and chains1 and  
pontoons in a tide way4     ,,chapter   
,,vi4  ,,timber ,,piles4  ,manipulation 
for ,extra ,profit4   ,now1 ,i'll tell  
you about a bit of 'extra' dodging that 
rather scared me4 ,first1 let me say1 no
 one can ever know how much ,i hate     
waste--it can't be measured4  ,you and  

me are alike1 a couple of turtle doves  
on that question4  ,we are4 ,finish up1 
and we will have another4 ,i remember   
,lord ,palmerston said1 dirt was matter 
out of place1 or something like that4   
,now ,i think piles are often good      
timber out of place1 so ,i followed that
 lesson and said to myself ',what a lot 
of good timber is going to be buried2   
and really it is breaking and loosening 
the ground too much to please me1 and   
that's a mistake1 besides placing extra 
weight on it'2 so after dwelling on the 
subject as much as suited me1 ,i decided
 it was waste1 and that it was poison to
 me4 ,i had trouble on my mind about it 
and it made me feel thirsty and does    
now4 ,pour another out4  ,there you are4
  ,i'm better now4 ,well1 ,i wrestled   
over the waste question some time1 and  
finally made up my mind not to be a     
party to it1 it being against my        
principles1 and1 like us all1 no man    
shall make me swerve from them1         
especially when they agree with my      

pocket4  ,certainly2 shake hands4 ,that 
is good6  ,well1 there was only one way 
to do it1 so in order that every one    
might have their way to a certain extent
 ,i decided to drive first one pile to  
the depth as ordered and one to the     
depth that suited me1 and therefore both
 parties were satisfied and believed    
they had got what they wanted2 for while
 ,i left the other man1 that is the     
engineer--excuse the disrespect--to his 
happy thoughts1 ,i descended to simple  
practice in a way very comforting to me4
 ,knowing it is not every pile which is 
driven that drives whole1 or is         
according to drawing1 many often being  
twisted and knocked to shreds--although 
,i have seen them driven through a layer
 of old brickwork1 and whole1 too--and  
that there is a lot of uncertainty about
 them in some ground1 ,i dwelt on the   
matter1 and came to the conclusion that 
according to the drawings every other   
pile would be driven about #c to #d feet
 too far down1 and that all concerned   

hardly agreed upon the depth to which   
all of them should be driven1 and that  
,i was the chief one to be considered2  
so ,i cut off a few feet of the top of  
nearly every other pile1 and varied the 
length according to whether the pile    
happened to drive hardly or went down   
gently4  ,precisely4  ,somehow or other 
the ground seemed really grateful to me1
 for more of the piles were cut off than
 ,i originally intended4 ,they must have
 passed the tip--may be the worms did   
it2 anyhow the ground1 after a few had  
been driven1 seemed to become harder1   
and we had more sawing to do than ever4 
,i like sawing4 ,you see your work1 and 
all is above board and nothing hidden   
and no deception4 ,suits our principles4
 ,now1 you are like me1 you don't wish  
to disturb other people's minds1 we are 
built on the lines of love too much1 and
 tenderness is better than anger any    
day4  ,that's it4 ,i consider you were  
doing a kindness all round1 or as near  
to it as makes no difference6  ,well1 in

 order not to disturb any one1 it took  
some thinking over as to the best time  
to ease off the tops4 ,i mean cut the   
heads off and put the rings on again1   
and give the tops a properly seasoned   
appearance4 ,i used to call it put their
 hair right4 ,now1 you know docks are   
not like railway works1 for the men are 
nearly all at one place2 here we were in
 the middle of a large town1 but you'll 
excuse my naming the place1 ,i am too   
polite to do such a thing without       
permission4 ,no one was about at dinner 
time1 for all the chaps passed the      
gates4 ,the place where my work was was 
shut in nicely1 and as there was always 
a row going on from the traffic close by
 on road and river1 and loading and     
unloading1 it was a really nice little  
home in which to do a bit of            
engineering-up-to-date4  ,i understand2 
a convenient spot for scientific        
experiments in saving labour and the    
waste of good material4  ,that's the    
lesson4 ,i found dinner time was the    

best after a week's scouting1 and that  
the road was clear as daylight1 for all 
the spies were away1 and there was only 
one that ever hung about1 and he was a  
young engineer just come to the docks   
straight from ,westminster4 ,he was a   
nice sort of chap1 and a smart one1 and 
had the kind of face a girl looks fond  
upon from what ,i have noticed of their 
tricks4 ,of course1 he did not know much
 of actual work1 being a new pupil1 ,i  
heard4 ,by the way1 what a lot of pupils
 to be sure some engineers turn out4 ,i 
almost fancy a few of them must make as 
much from the schooling branch of the   
profession as they do from work2 but let
 them1 it is nothing to do with me1 but 
this pupil ,i can say was no fool1      
though1 the same as all new hands1 the  
work was a novelty to him1 like a new   
toy to a child4  ,now1 the only thing to
 interfere with the 'extra' business as 
described was this pupil1 so ,i decided 
to fix his attention1 if ,i could1 in   
another direction1 and sweetly1 so      

thought it out1 and said to myself1     
',you have had more difficult things to 
steer through than this--rather hotter1 
,i fancy4'  ,it so happened1 just then1 
they had pulled down an old tavern1 and 
built on the site a showy crib with     
balcony overlooking the river1 and they 
had a lot of relics on view1 and two    
nicish girls were there4 ,good figures1 
you know1 and fairly on2 so ,i made     
myself particularly gracious to ,mr4    
,pupil and pointed out1 submissive to   
his superior knowledge like1 a few      
things on the work4 ,then the plot was  
let loose this way4 ,i started a kind   
expression on my face1 and said--  ',i'm
 afraid you find it rather rough1 sir1  
here2 there are not the nice feeding    
places they have in town1 in fact1 ,i   
think there is only one near here1 sir1 
at all fit for you4'  ',where is that8' 
',it is the ,anchor and ,hope ,hotel1   
sir4 ,i can hardly direct you to it2 but
 you have plenty of time to go there and
 get back fully a quarter of an hour    

before the men's dinner time is over1 if
 you will allow me to show you the      
place1 and they have almost a museum of 
relics of the river4'  ,the relics      
settled it1 and he took on all right1   
and ,i knew then things were working    
smoothly and the wind was getting round 
to a nice steady breeze from the proper 
quarter4 ,he was a good-natured chap1   
and one could see liked inspecting the  
woman portion of creation better than   
works1 at least1 during dinner-time1 and
 ,i don't blame him2 some men are built 
that way1 and can hardly say 'no' to a  
woman1 for if they do they think they   
have done wrong and been unkind4 ,poor  
things6 ,well1 we got to the place1 and1
 fortunately1 no one was in the private 
bar4  ,you mean lobby4 ,don't insult the
 place4  ,i humbly beg pardon4  ,in we  
went1 and it was lucky1 for the better  
of the two girls was on parade2 they    
were nieces of the landlord1 so had more
 latitude than paid slaves4 ,i went in  
first1 and ,mr4 ,pupil turned to me and 

said1 ',i will be with you in a minute4'
 ,now1 that was just what ,i wanted1 a  
word or two of priming for ,polly4 ,so  
after shaking hands with her1 said3--   
',polly1 in a second or two a young     
swell will be here just new on the      
works1 and will be on the job to the    
finish1 three years1 so make yourself   
pleasant as possible4 ,three years'     
presents and fun1 to say nothing of odd 
trips out1 are not to be snuffed at2 and
 he is rich they tell me1 and should be 
real good business all round1 if you    
work him right4'  ,she laughed2 and     
before ,i could say any more the door   
was on the move1 and in ,mr4 ,pupil     
came4 ,i kept my weather eye on him1 for
 ,i can generally tell1 when they run   
young1 whether a chap is smitten        
sufficient4 ,i saw the place would be a 
pleasant diversion1 just seeing one of  
the tender gender occasionally1 after   
being all day among men2 so to make it  
appear ,i was a wolf on business1 said1 
',please excuse me1 sir1 but ,i have to 

meet a gentleman at half-past twelve4'  
',certainly4 ,do not let me detain you4'
  ,i just turned to ,polly1 and said1   
',show this gentleman your museum of    
relics1 and the private room looking    
across the river1 as ,i think it may    
perhaps suit him for an odd lunch now   
and then4' ,polly twigged4  ,i saw they 
were started on the road of mutual      
admiration1 and travelling pretty1 and  
that he meant calling again4 ,she also  
seemed to like the prospect1 and knew   
how to work the game of fascination     
right1 and she did2 so the only one in  
the way of preventing my doing a bit of 
engineering-up-to-date with the         
pile-driving was now removed in a nice  
harmonious way1 and to the entire       
satisfaction of the company's resident  
engineer--no1 hardly that1 ,i mean mine4
 ,i consider ,i did a kind action to all
 parties1 not excepting myself4 ,what a 
blessing women are1 if you use them     
right4 ,mr4 ,pupil had his lunch at the 
place every day1 and ,polly and he      

understood each other1 and got on ,a #a1
 so ,i was told4 ,it is soothing work   
bringing happiness to two young hearts  
as beat soft4  ,next day we started     
cutting off the pile-heads1 while ,polly
 and ,mr4 ,pupil were occasionally very 
likely pitching their heads together so 
that ,i should not have all the fun4    
,well1 we managed to so drive the piles 
after a day or two as to be able to cut 
off1 generally during dinner time1 from 
#b to #d feet1 and ,i should think must 
have done over #bjj1 when one day1 just 
as we had nearly sawn one through1 up   
turned ,mr4 ,pupil4 ,polly and her      
sister were visiting1 and never told me 
they were going1 so the ,anchor and     
,hope did not weigh-in much from him    
that day4 ,my ganger1 who was doing the 
sawing trick with me1 looked a bit down1
 but he is not so educated as me2 so ,i 
turned to ,mr4 ,pupil and said--as he   
asked me what ,i was doing1 and what was
 the matter--',got the pile down wrong1 
sir1 and shall have to lift it4 ,i think

 it's broken off1 or gone ragged1 may be
 it has struck an old anchor4'  ,he just
 looked very hard at me1 nodded1 and    
went away4 ,it was a close shave1 and   
lucky it was not the chief engineer4    
,however1 we had a quarter of an hour to
 work on that pile before the men came  
back1 and we soon ruined it with bars   
and tackle4 ,anyhow1 we raised it in no 
time1 for we had the best tackle and    
everything you could wish for4 ,we split
 the pile right across4 ,it was only    
down #e feet1 and most of it in mud4 ,we
 quickly cut it up into cleats2 and out 
of misfortunes1 between you and me1 ,i  
always make as much as ,i can4 ,so when 
,mr4 ,pupil returned ,i said to him1    
',it wants a lot of experience to know  
when piles are not driving right1 but   
#be years has not been lost on me1 sir1 
and ,i will have good work or none4'    
,perhaps 'none' would have been the     
correct word2 but anyhow ,i used it     
coupled1 and you can't complain1 for if 
the pile had been cut there would have  

been none in the place where it was     
thought there was4 ,we saved a lot of   
driving1 and ,i said to myself1 ',it is 
lucky this bit of wharf wall is left to 
me pretty well1 because1 as nearly most 
of the piles are a bit short1 the wall  
may settle if they load it much or build
 on it2 still ,i think it will settle   
equally1 and then it won't matter so    
much1 and they are not going to build on
 or near it1 that ,i know1' so ,i saved 
nearly #ajjj feet of driving on the lot2
 but here comes the shake4 ,i forgot to 
say the piles were driven1 and a        
platform fixed on the top for the wall  
in the old style1 but it has gone out   
now1 since ,portland cement concrete    
came into fashion4 ,one day the engineer
 walked over the work with two or three 
directors1 and1 after a lot of talk1    
they decided to build some #c-;floor    
warehouses upon the quay1 after some    
figuring and dwelling on it4 ,that made 
me think4 ,i heard someone say1 ',the   
piles are #ae feet in the solid ground1 

and therefore will safely bear the      
load4' ,so they would if they had been1 
but not many hundreds of them were1 and 
many were in #e feet of little better   
than mud1 and as some had been cut off  
#d feet1 those piles were only #f feet  
in the solid ground4 ,understand1 this  
wharf piling was only the beginning of a
 long two or three years profit for me1 
and ,i knew the warehouses would be sure
 to settle1 and if they did unequally1  
over would go the show4 ,i always       
avoided the quay wall afterwards2 it    
seemed like a sort of spectre to me4    
,one day the engineer sent for me to    
come to the office4 ,of course ,i was   
there sharp4 ,he said3--  ',i want you  
to tell me your idea of the character of
 the ground upon which the western quay 
wall is erected8'  ,don't you think ,i  
was lucky1 old pal8 ,here was my        
deliverance4 ,it was not exactly a path 
of roses--there are not many knocking   
about now--because if ,i said it was    
soft ground he could reply1 ',you had a 

very high price for such driving4' ,if  
,i said it was firm1 ,i felt sure1      
should they build a warehouse on it such
 as ,i heard them talk about1 it would  
sink or topple over1 so ,i had to be    
careful how the ship was sailed4 ,i     
answered the engineer like this3 ',if   
you'll excuse me talking to you freely1 
sir1 ,i will speak my mind2 but ,i most 
feel abashed with such as you1 for you  
know a thousand times better than me4'  
,he then said to me3--  ',be at your    
ease4 ,i wish to hear exactly what you  
would do in the matter if you were in my
 position4 ,i have made up my mind2 in  
fact1 ,i have already committed my views
 to writing4'  ',thank you1 sir4 ,well1 
sir1 ,i think it is a risky place1      
although the piles were many of them    
dreadfully hard to drive1 and wanted a  
lot of care and all had it1 ,i think1   
judging from the variation in the depth 
to which they went down under the same  
number of blows1 that the ground is a   
bit mixed1 and therefore ,i should      

choose another site1 as there is plenty 
of room4'  ',your opinion somewhat      
coincides with mine4 ,your idea1 ,i may 
say1 is one which the configuration of  
the ground leads me to think is the case
 without doubt4 ,it is therefore        
probable that in a few days ,i may have 
a considerable length of the quay loaded
 with rails1 nearly #bjjj tons will     
arrive for the main and branch lines    
before the end of the week1 as ,i intend
 to load part of the quay with about #h 
tons per square foot in order to test   
it4 ,in any case1 much as ,i am urged to
 commence the warehouses at once1 ,i    
shall not do so until the quay has      
withstood the test during at least a    
month4'  ',that is a heavy test1 sir4'  
',you can go now6' ,he bowed1 and smiled
 his thanks1 and ,i withdrew4 ,of       
course1 ,i said nothing to anyone4 ,it  
don't do to annoy the guv'nor4 ,well1 in
 a few days the rails came1 about #bejj 
tons of them4 ,the engineer sent for me 
again and said1 ',i wish you to see the 

rails stacked on part of the quay in    
accordance with instructions you will   
receive4'  ,i could only say1 ',very    
well1 sir1' and withdraw4 ,i felt ,i was
 had again1 and went straight away and  
had a pull of rum4 ,there was no help   
for it now4 ,i was in the fix and had to
 get out of it somehow1 and what made it
 doubly worse was being ordered to      
superintend my own ruin4 ,listen1 for   
you will when ,i tell you ,i might have 
been tried for having killed or injured 
#djj men and one director6 ,it was a    
near squeak for the lot1 and as it      
was--,no6 ,i'll tell you in a few       
minutes what happened4  ,well1 we       
stacked the rails over the place        
according to the engineer's directions1 
after ,mr4 ,pupil had taken the         
levels--he also took them every day1 to 
see how things were going4 ,i made no   
remarks1 for fear ,i might say something
 that would lead to further enquiries1  
and took the cue from a chap ,i once    
knew1 the biggest rogue out he was2 he  

could please them pretty1 and never had 
any fixed opinions about anything1 like 
some of our politicians1 or could twist 
them about to suit the times2 and he set
 his sails according to circumstances1  
so as to be pleasant to everyone1 and   
was liked and respected by a lot that   
knew no better and could not see through
 him1 but he had not a bit of honesty in
 him4 ,fact was1 knowing ,i had got all 
,i could out of short driving and       
cutting off these piles1 ,i played a    
mild game of respectful bluff1 more     
particularly as ,mr4 ,pupil told me the 
ground had only gone down a mere decimal
 of an inch4  ,one day the engineer     
walked over by himself and said to me1  
',come to the quay wall4'  ,we got      
there1 and ,i felt ,i had soft sawder   
enough in me for anything4 ,he led off  
by saying1 ',although this is a severe  
test it is not altogether satisfactory  
to me4 ,the rails shall remain in their 
present position for at least another   
month4 ,i have known1 as in cylinder    

sinking1 subsidence to occur very       
suddenly and unexpectedly4 ,i do not    
like the system of foundations upon     
piles1 but have been overruled here4'   
,now what he said pleased me much1      
because ,i thought to myself if the wall
 does break up it will not be exactly a 
heart-breaking trial to him4 ,well1 all 
went on as usual for a fortnight1 and ,i
 heard nothing further till one ,friday 
about #e o'clock4 ,it was near low      
water1 and ,mr4 ,pupil came to me and   
said the engineer wanted to see me4 ,i  
went towards the office1 but on the way 
met him and the engineer and three or   
four other swells1 two of them that came
 before4 ,i touched my hat1 and walked  
behind4 ,i heard the engineer say1 ',mr4
 ,selectus1 although the position is    
very good1 ,i am not satisfied with     
regard to the foundations1 more         
especially as ,i believe the ground to  
be varied in character2 and on an old   
plan1 dated #agbj1 ,i note a stream     
marked here2 in fact1 ,mr4 ,pupil has   

searched and found a water-course       
existed almost from the earliest known  
times4'  ,if he did not say exactly     
that1 it was just like it1 anyhow he    
spoke up pretty straight4 ,one of the   
directors 7,i heard they were all such  
afterwards7 said1 addressing the        
engineer1 ',i have an idea4 ,the men    
will cease work1 ,i think1 very soon8'  
',they will1' said the engineer4 ',have 
you any objection to their marching and 
marking time1 as it were1 upon the      
rails1 as a final test1 as ,i remember  
we so tested a suspension bridge ,i had 
erected at my place8'  ,the engineer    
assented1 and remarked that although the
 weight of #ejj men was not much        
compared to the weight of the rails1 the
 vibration they would create might cause
 a sudden subsidence4 ,however1 he      
slightly bowed to the director1 and     
said1 ',i leave the experiment entirely 
to you1 although ,i may say it is not   
unattended with risk2 for the test load 
now imposed is a very severe one for    

such unstable soil1 and the effects of  
vibratory motion are usually most       
deleterious4'  ,however1 the director1  
after some talking1 had his way1 so the 
men were fetched4 ,we had about #gjj at 
work then1 the company's own men4 ,i    
will cut it short4 ,well1 the director  
told the foreman1 as the engineer asked 
him to do so1 what he wished to be done1
 and the men marched up and down ,i     
should think six or seven times4 ,it did
 not take long1 and they soon got into  
step1 for we had a lot of militia chaps 
at work2 and then the director1 who     
seemed to be enjoying himself1 said1    
',now we will try three trips1 double   
quick1' so the men went by once all on  
the smile1 and we were as near laughing 
as smiling allows1 when6----  ,it chokes
 me to think of it4 ,fill up the glass1 
so that ,i may keep my pipes open4      
,thank you1 ,i was near being blocked   
up4 ,well1 about half of the men were   
behind the rails1 and we were all1      
except the director-in-command ,i'll    

call him1 looking on and stationed on a 
mound close by4 ,i shouted out--seemed a
 sort of sudden impulse--  ',look out6  
the ground is settling4 ,run for your   
lives4' ,about half of the men heard me1
 and got away1 but the front lot went   
on4 ,i should think #bjj of them4 ,bless
 you1 the ground began to yaw and sink  
with the rails very quickly1 and the    
wall pressed forward and toppled over in
 one place for about a #cj-;feet length 
with men upon the top of it1 and the    
director as well1 and fell very slowly1 
and quite majestically1 right into the  
river1 and there was a splash and crash4
 ,i said before it was nearly low water1
 and ,i should think there was about #e 
feet on the sill and #b feet of mud4    
,after all1 somehow or other1 only about
 thirty men and the director were cast1 
and they were all taken out right1 for  
there was plenty of assistance4 ,still  
one man had his arm broken1 which was a 
good thing for him as it turned out1 for
 the director made him one of his       

lodge-keepers2 but as he was a          
smart-looking chap1 and had been brought
 up right1 and could not work much      
after1 it was an even bargain4  ,how    
about the director8  ,ah6 that's the    
only fun we had2 for ,i tell you1 when  
,i saw the men and the wall go over it  
made me take root1 and my boots were    
nearly pressed into the ground1 and they
 said ,i went awfully white in the face4
 ,it did give me a shock2 but it was    
lucky the break-up was so slow1 for     
those that could not get off had time to
 jump and get clear of the rails1 but ,i
 tell you it was a shave4 ,as it turned 
out1 the director had the worst ducking 
of the lot that fell in4 ,he went       
sprawling into the mud2 but he could    
swim1 and when we saw him ,i nearly     
burst out laughing1 only my feelings had
 been so shaken1 for he was smothered in
 slime from head to foot1 and looked    
like a real savage4 ,all his hair1 face1
 and beard were thick with mud1 to say  
nothing of his tailoring2 and ,i tell   

you he put me in mind of a baboon just  
then1 and ,i don't think he will attempt
 any more testing4  ,of course1 the     
warehouses were not erected upon the    
quay1 and the engineer was not sorry at 
the way things had turned out4 ,anyhow1 
he let me do the clearing away the rails
 and the rebuilding2 and ,i drove in the
 piles just the same length as the      
others1 and nothing was said to me or   
suspected4 ,it worked all right2 but    
suppose a lot of the men had been       
killed1 and the director as well6 ,i    
tell you it was a near shave1 and all   
before my eyes4 ,it would just have     
killed me2 for ,i should have known     
about another #c feet down of those     
piles would have made them stand all    
serene4 ,as it was1 my wife said ,i was 
that disturbed in my sleep1 and kicked  
so1 that she hardly got a wink of rest1 
and had to double herself up in bed for 
fear of having her legs broken2 however1
 it wore off in time1 although once ,i  
sent myself and my old woman clean off  

the bedstead1 and ,i saw by the light of
 the moon we were sitting on the floor1 
and the clothes were all of a heap close
 by4 ,it made a nice picture of domestic
 bliss4 ,my wife gave it me hot1 and she
 said she would stand it no longer4 ,i  
said1 ',don't grumble1 you have not got 
to stand4 ,you are sitting down now1 and
 you ought to know it4' ,she said she   
heard me mumble several times in my     
sleep ',cut #c feet off her1 ,bill6'    
,that was my ganger's name1 and1 of     
course1 my brain was alluding to cutting
 off the piles2 she thought it was      
her--no fear4 ,still1 she always makes  
out ,i was not so good as ,i once was1  
and she felt sure ,old ,nick and me had 
night conversations4 ,i laugh over the  
whole thing now4 ,i hardly did then4    
,,chapter ,,vii4  ,,masonry ,,bridges4  
,now ,i'll tell you how we got on with  
some masonry bridges4 ,being more of a  
scholar than most of them--thanks to the
 parish school--and being able to read1 
write1 and sum a bit1 ,i knew a trifle  

extra to the other chaps1 and was made a
 ganger when very young4 ,somehow or    
other1 ,i drifted into being crafty1 and
 just then made friends with a man that 
was up to every game1 and remembered old
 ,george ,stephenson4 ,he could tell and
 teach you something1 and did me2 but   
even ,i have known the time when we     
hardly ever had a drawing to work to1   
except the section1 and have walked many
 miles behind an engineer1 and heard him
 say to my partner--who was a mason1 and
 a real good one--',joe1 put a bridge   
there1 the same span and width between  
the inside of the parapets as the       
others4' ',all right1 sir6'  ,you know  
that was the time of the rush for       
railways1 and few understood the        
business4 ,too many do now1 ,i think1   
and the old country is too full of      
mouths generally4 ,then there was       
scarcely time to think1 much more for   
many drawings2 they were made after4    
,we used to take a bridge at a time1 at 
so much the cubic yard1 and we did put  

it in thick1 abutments1 counterforts1   
wingwalls1 and parapets1 and all the    
work was as straight as could be made2  
and ,i have known my partner1 ,joe1     
nearly drawn into tears when he was     
forced by circumstances over which he   
had no control to own an arch to a      
bridge was not exactly a straight line4 
,spirals and winders made him that      
waspish as ,i took good care to make    
myself particularly wanted somewhere    
else than at the bridge at which he was 
busy when he had to do them4  ,some of  
the bridges we built have enough masonry
 in them to nearly build a church or a  
small breakwater1 and lucky they have1  
as it gave one the chance of a bit of   
profit2 and the depth of the foundations
 was hardly so deep as shown in the     
drawings made after we had built a      
bridge4 ,somehow or other our           
imagination used to scare away reality1 
and we generally were paid for a foot or
 more extra depth all round4  ,joe said 
that was the way he got his professional

 fees for building a bridge without a   
drawing1 and the only way he could and1 
moreover1 did2 but he always put the    
masonry in solid1 that is to say1 when  
he considered it should be1 although    
hardly1 perhaps1 to the specification   
throughout1 but the face looked lovely2 
and if the inside work was rather rough 
and tumble and really random1 he knew   
what a good bond was1 and would have it1
 and was really clever at selecting the 
right rock in the cuttings for masonry2 
but there1 no one can expect the        
filling-in work to be done the same way 
as the facework4  ,of course1 it was not
 exactly honest to be paid for more work
 than we had done2 but it is only fair  
to say we were generous with our extra  
profits1 and always treated the         
inspector and our men right4 ,we were   
bound to educate them and enlighten     
their minds4 ,i own it was not right1   
and1 after all1 it would want an 'old   
parliamentary hand' to tell the         
difference in dishonesty between        

over-measurement founded on lies and    
stealing4 ,however1 one is supposed to  
be the result of cleverness1 the other1 
crime4  ,i forgot to tell you we took a 
cue from a director who occasionally    
walked over the line1 and who always    
showed about half-an-inch of his        
cheque-book sticking up out of his      
pocket4 ,we were told he wore his       
cheque-book like the mashers do their   
pocket-handkerchiefs2 but that he was   
not worth much1 and was on the war path 
for 'plunder1' and so were we1 and took 
his tip4 ,i said to myself1 as he has   
brought a new fashion into play in these
 parts1 let us take the hint4  ',so we  
will1' said my partner4  ',how long is  
the specification for masonry8  ',i am  
sure ,i don't know4 ,what are you       
talking about8 ,i never read such       
things4 ,all ,i want to know is for what
 purpose the bridge is to be erected1   
and whether it is to be coursed work1   
ashlar1 or the same as the others1 and  
up it goes according to my              

specification4 ,i'm above other people's
 specifications1 thank you4 ,what's the 
use of my education if ,i am not8 ,do   
you think the alphabet must be again    
taught me8'  ',i beg pardon1 partner1   
you are right2 but appearances go a long
 way1 and shamming is fashionable4'     
',oh1 well1 have your way2 we all look  
better when we are properly clothed2 and
 ,i once heard an engineer say he never 
felt right when on any works without a  
plan in his hand1 and we know a         
music-hall singer is generally not at   
home without a hat2 besides1 it will    
please them to see we have the          
specification always on the premises4'  
',that is what ,i think4'  ,well1 ,i    
made two copies of it1 one for ,joe1 my 
partner then1 and one for me1 and wrote 
in large letters on the top1            
',specification--masonry --bridges and  
culverts4' ,then we both showed the top 
out of our pockets1 with that writing on
 it1 in the same way the director did   
his cheque-book4 ,it worked beautifully2

 for a few days after a big engineer    
came down1 and we heard he had said he  
thought we were the smartest masons on  
the work1 and he was pleased to see we  
appeared careful to comply with the     
specification1 for he noticed we each   
had a copy in our pockets4  ,the fun    
was1 my partner had never read it at    
all2 ,i only when copying4  ,the game   
worked really lovely2 we were looked    
upon as downright straight ones1 and the
 inspector--who wanted some dodging1 ,i 
can tell you1 as well as a tip1 now and 
again--was taken away and posted at the 
other end of the work1 and then we made 
hay while the sun shone1 and no mistake4
 ,we used to make the bridges rise out  
of the ground2 we gave some drink to our
 chaps2 and then1 as soon as the wagons 
with the rock arrived from the cutting1 
in it went4 ,the difficulty was to keep 
the face going fast enough for the      
filling-in work4 ,it was a game4 ,first 
a wagon-load of rock1 and then--well1 ,i
 suppose ,i must say--the mortar1 but it

 is squeezing the truth very hard       
indeed4 ,there was ,joe1 my partner1    
superintending in his own style1 the    
raking and mortar business1 and ,i was  
busy at the facework looking after our  
best mason4  ,give my partner his due1  
he was always careful about bond and    
throughs1 and he was fond of mixing up  
the flat stones a bit1 for he said it   
prevented their sliding on the beds1 and
 always maintained that the weight above
 kept all tight enough and more than the
 mortar1 so long as the stones were flat
 and large4 ,i said1 it's lucky it did4 
,one day he frightened me4 ,we were     
short of stone1 owing to a mistake in   
the cutting1 and so the facework was up 
a good height4 ,at last ,joe caught     
sight of the engine and wagons coming   
round the hill1 and said to me--  ',hold
 hard1 here they come1 thirteen wagons2 
they will fill you up both sides4'  ',i 
agree with you2 they will1 and more4'   
,it was then past one o'clock1 and ,joe 
called out to me--  ',before we leave ,i

 mean to be level with you1 but you must
 help4'  ',joe1 it can't be done4'      
',away with your cant's2 it shall be    
done4'  ,well1 it was tempting us too   
much1 such a lot of rock to work on all 
at once2 if we had only had a little    
more than sufficient for one day's work 
at a time1 we could not have done what  
we did4 ,by ,jove1 he did go it4 ,down  
came the rock--,i know you will kindly  
excuse me from calling it building      
stone4  ',easy does it1 ,joe1 or you    
will burst the show4'  ',not ,i1' he    
shouted4  ,now listen to me1 for this is
 truth4 ,never since the foundation of  
this world did bridges grow at this     
rate4 ,it beats mustard-and-cress       
raising and high farming into fits4     
',smash them in1 lads1 bar them down2   
give them a dose of gravel liquor4 ,now 
then1 for some real cream mortar4'      
,these1 and such-like1 were his         
war-cries4  ',bless me1 if the mortar is
 not as thin-placed as the powder on a  
girl's face1 ,joe4'  ',it's pretty4'    

',now1 lads1 five minutes for beer4'    
,all was soon comparatively silent4     
',joe1 you must draw it milder1 for the 
row going on is more like an earthquake 
let loose than anything else ,i can     
think of1 and it may spoil the game1 for
 it is bound to draw a crowd4'  ',all   
right1 partner1 ,i never thought of     
that4 ,talk about ,jack and the         
beanstalk1 this beats it to squash4     
,it's lucky the rock works in flat1 and 
is not hollow4 ,of course1 all the      
stones are on their natural beds1       
according to the                        
specification--understand that4 ,don't  
let us have any mistake as to the       
catechism2 if they are not1 they will   
grow used to their new ones and shake   
down to rest4'  ,i've never built a     
bridge that fell or gave much1 perhaps a
 wingwall has bulged1 but then it is the
 want of proper drainage and backing and
 nothing to do with the masonry4 ,we    
only attend to the masonry according to 
the specification4 ,chorus--,according  

to the specification4 ,but they all do  
it1 as the song says4  ,it's my firm    
conviction that the man that invented   
wall-plates ought to have a marble      
monument in his native town1 for they   
are beautiful distributors of weight1   
and when the stones are small1 they are 
salvation for such masonry as we made   
rise4  ,i agree with you1 they cover a  
multitude of sins1 and are powerful     
agents in the cause of unity and good   
behaviour4  ,that is right4  ,have a    
sip8  ,yes4  ,i nearly got bowled out   
once at the masonry game4 ,this is      
between ourselves4  ,of course1 we      
understand each other2 shake hands4     
,they nearly caught me4  ,how8  ,we were
 walking over the work--when ,i say we1 
,i mean a party of directors1 a couple  
of engineers1 and the resident engineer4
 ,an unlucky thing happened4 ,someone   
said1 ',i should think a good view of   
the surrounding country is to be        
obtained from the top of this bridge4'  
,now1 you know1 in those days1 some     

engineers liked offsets at the back of a
 wall very close together1 say about    
every two feet1 as they thought the     
backing remained on them1 and helped to 
prevent the wall overturning2 but it    
seldom does1 the backing is usually     
drawn away from such off-sets4 ,however1
 unfortunately1 most of these directors 
had only recently returned from         
,switzerland1 and had been up the       
,mortarhorn1 ,i think they said--or     
thought they had1 or read about it in a 
guide book4 ,anyhow1 they started       
climbing up the back of one of the      
abutments4 ,they ought to have known our
 work is not quite so solid as nature1  
nor as the ,romans made in the old slow 
days when they were not fighting2 but it
 is all right for the purpose intended1 
at least1 for what we intend it1 and    
that is enough4 ,the abutment of the    
bridge ,i am referring to was #ej feet  
in length1 and what must they all do but
 start at once at the climbing business1
 like a lot of schoolboys eager to get  

there first1 and ,i had only time to    
think a moment1 and to shout1  ',be     
careful1 gentlemen1 please1 the mortar  
has not had time to set yet1 it's       
green4'  ,lucky1 ,i said 'yet'2 but     
between you and me1 ,i should be an old 
one1 and no mistake1 if ,i had to wait  
till it set right4  ,they got upon the  
first offset all serene2 but when they  
footed it on the third1 down they came1 
and humpty-dumpty was not in it with the
 show4 ,it was a flat procession and a  
general lay-out1 and such a rubbing of  
mid-backs occurred as few have seen     
before4 ,they fell soft1 though1 as we  
had partly finished backing up the      
bridge4 ,i was nearly had2 but ,i had a 
bit in hand with which to squeeze home  
at the finish1 and get in the first     
words4 ,they were3--  ',gentlemen1 ,i   
had no time to warn you1 but the mortar 
has not had time to set all round1 it is
 green2 and where it has set1 it is that
 powerful it often shifts the stones    
first1 and then clenches them tight1 and

 there is no parting them at all2 they  
become gripped together just as by      
nature in the quarry4 ,it is wonderful  
material1 and the best lime known1 or   
that ,i have had to do with during      
thirty years of hard working experience4
  ,of course1 the directors could say   
nothing2 they were bankers and          
solicitors1 or such-like1 nor could the 
engineers4 ,it did not do to make out   
the masonry had not been properly       
executed4 ,i thought ,i had got off     
beautifully1 and the whole party were   
just going to start when out of the     
blessed wall1 there and then1 flew two  
pheasants6  ,well1 ,i never6  ,you wait4
 ,yes2 and before we could speak1 out   
came a fox4 ,i own ,i was nearly beaten1
 but one of the directors1 turning to   
us1 said1 ',you appear to have a        
veritable ,noah's ark here1 and we know 
a pheasant is a gallinaceous bird4'  ,we
 all laughed4 ,he then went on to say1  
',perhaps if we wait long enough the    
procession will continue4 ,this may be  

the ancestral home of the dodo or the   
mastodon4 ,who can say it is not8' ,they
 again laughed4  ,now1 you know1 there  
is no denying1 neither a pheasant nor a 
fox can squeeze themselves through an   
ordinary-sized mortar joint4 ,while     
laughing ,i got my mind right1 and said1
 ',gentlemen1 ,i feel sure the poachers 
have been on the prowl here1 and have   
disturbed the work4'  ',yes1' said the  
director4 ,the others seemed afraid to  
speak4 ,there is always a cock in every 
farmyard1 and he was in this4 ',a       
four-legged poacher--the fox2 and ,i am 
afraid1 if we do not exercise due care1 
the board will be charged with larceny4'
  ,then we all thought we ought to      
laugh1 and did4 ',gentlemen1' ,i said1  
',i'm sure the bridge has been tampered 
with1 and no doubt if we keep watch we  
shall find the rascals4'  ,excuse me now
 saying 'rascals' to you1 but1 old chum1
 of course between ourselves1 that is   
you and me1 we have never done any      
poaching4  ,not we1 certainly3 at least 

we forget doing it if we did4 ,a good   
memory is not always a blessing1 or to  
be owned to1 although it's useful4      
,shake4 ,that's right4 ,as we understand
 each other1 ,i will now tell you how   
things ended4 ,i went on to say to the  
gentlemen1 ',i will root out this       
matter2 and may ,i ask you to say       
nothing to anyone4 ,my partner and      
myself will get to the bottom of it4    
,trust your old servants1 gentlemen4'   
,then ,i raised my hat4 ,that fetched   
them2 for one turned1 and said to me3-- 
',i cannot send my keepers to-night1 but
 to-morrow they shall meet you here at  
six4 ,please watch to-night4'  ,he then 
handed to me a five-pound note4 ,blessed
 if he did not own the land for miles   
round and ,i did not know it4 ,i beamed 
all over1 and said ,i would1 and looked 
as humble as only an old sinner can2 and
 ,i was just going to forget to tell you
 ,i put that 'fiver' carefully away1 to 
keep it from the poachers4  ,i could    
believe that of you2 ,i could1 old chap1

 without your saying it4  ,well1 now    
talk about 'all's well that ends well2' 
this was better than that--simply crumbs
 of comfort1 except the awkwardness of  
the situation before the finish4  ,i    
suppose you want to know all about the  
cause of the tumbling show4  ,yes2 ,i am
 waiting to know4  ,very well1 ,i will  
tell you4 ,i had become greedy1 and as  
there was not much more work for me on  
that railway1 ,i used to make it a rule1
 wherever ,i was1 and before leaving1 to
 have a final haul in by way of a loving
 remembrance of a past country in which 
,i had spent some part of my life in    
opening up to civilization1 and the     
immeasurable benefits of rapid and cheap
 locomotion4 ,is that good enough8      
,rather2 it likes me much4  ,now this   
bridge was a beauty to draw on1 so we   
just left a few voids here and there4   
,tipping the backing must have broken a 
bit of the wall unknown to me1 or       
something must have given way in the    
night2 and ,i suppose the birds walked  

in1 and the fox after them1 and then the
 abutment settled and the backing pushed
 it closer together4 ,now the birds got 
to a place where the fox could not      
reach1 and there very likely they would 
have been1 three caged-up skeletons2 but
 the ,swiss mountain climbing spoilt    
that fun1 and pulled down the wall      
sufficiently to raise the curtain on the
 show4  ,it so happened that all the    
engineers and residents had to go away  
on some land case--,i like other people 
to go to law2 and so we had three clear 
days to put things in order2 and we did1
 you bet1 and began almost before the   
break of day4 ,i had an untarnished     
reputation at stake1 and was on my      
metal4 ,my partner and myself just about
 both smiled over the fun real mutual   
admiration4  ,the engineers did not say 
much for we had been paid1 and they knew
 they would get nothing out of us1 and  
therefore proceeded on the principle    
that it is no use stirring dirty water1 
and ,i say1 and maintain1 that on the   

whole--not in the hole1 mind you--never 
was more solid and firmer masonry put   
together than our work1 although we took
 care to do as we liked1 and relieved   
the foundations of some strain now and  
again1 and improved the specification4  
,i forget whether ,i watched for        
poachers that night1 but ,i might have  
done for a few minutes1 so as to make it
 all right2 but as my memory is not     
clear on the point1 ,i had better say ,i
 fancy ,i did not1 but ,i met the       
keepers next night2 and did a three     
hours watch and told them a lot1 and got
 well rewarded4 ,pay me and ,i'll patter
 pretty2 but no pay1 no patter1 is my   
motto4 ,the only thing that grieved me  
was losing those pheasants and the fox's
 brush and head4 ,that was hard luck1   
but there6 life is full of              
disappointments which are hard to bear4 
,,chapter ,,viii4  ,,tunnels4   ,have ,i
 told you of my scare in a tunnel ,i got
 some 'extra' profit out of by real     
scamping8  ,not that ,i remember4       

,well1 that was a whitener1 for ,i was  
almost trapped1 nearly caught1 and paid 
out4 ,retributed1 ,i think it is called1
 but there1 ,i am not sufficiently      
educated1 although you and me have had a
 good deal more schooling than any      
others on this work1 which perhaps is   
not too much of a recommendation4       
,anyhow1 you agree1 don't you8  ,of     
course ,i do6  ,well1 let us drink4 ,now
 we are oiled1 the machinery will start 
again easy and soft1 and continue going 
for some time1 but don't you consider we
 know enough to suit us4 ,i have watched
 various guv'nors ,i have had1 and they 
seem to be thinking and puzzling their  
brains even when they are eating1 and ,i
 don't think their digestion is improved
 by it4 ,a peaceful mind needs no pills4
 ,it is medicine for the upper works1   
and exercise and good food is the right 
physic for the body unless you are half 
a corpse when born4 ,now1 when we eat1  
we have a look at the goods first1 and  
all we trouble about is to divide the   

vegetables1 meat1 and bread1 and beer1  
so that they last the show out in their 
proper quantity to the finish4  ,that's 
it1 but what has that to do with the    
scare at the tunnel and the scamping8   
,you wait4 ,really you should know      
impatience is not polite2 and to be a   
good listener1 and look as if every word
 that was said to you was virgin        
information and pure wisdom1 is the best
 game to play4  ,that is enough1 get to 
the tunnel scare and scamping4  ,well1  
why ,i named about my food was1 my old  
woman was queer just then1 a lying up on
 the cherub business1 and the party that
 she had to look after things was no    
cook1 few are1 and ,i believe she was   
paid by some of those pill proprietors  
to make people ill and then pill them4  
,anyhow ,i got queer and dreadfully out 
of sorts1 and just at the time ,i was a 
regular nigger1 and had taken a length  
of tunnel lining1 and in such ground1   
horrid dark yellow clay1 and it smelt   
awfully bad4 ,we called the tunnel the  

pest-hole4 ,what with the food being    
wrong1 and the hateful place1 ,i did the
 worst bit of scamping ,i ever was      
guilty of4  ,fortunately1 the engineer  
knew what he was about1 and our profiles
 were nearly round1 that is1 the section
 of the tunnel was nearly circular2 if  
they had not been1 that tunnel would    
have been filled up by this time1 and   
perhaps been the grave of hundreds1 and 
it nearly was4 ,there were eight rings  
in the lining1 and therefore some bulk  
to play with4 ,i got frightfully pesky  
about the job1 and meant getting out of 
it as quickly as possible1 and did4 ,i  
am not the one to play about and squat1 
action is my motto2 and ,i am busy if   
there is anything to be got1 and keen on
 the scent4  ,you are right there4 ,you 
generally find a fox1 and get his brush1
 too4  ,i was roused4 ,the brickwork was
 in ,portland cement1 and believe me1 ,i
 never would have done what ,i did if it
 had been lime mortar4 ,must draw the   
line somewhere1 and the easiest         

conscience has a limit to being trifled 
with4 ,you know1 tunnel work gives one  
chances that are not to be had in the   
open1 and the temptation is strong4 ,i  
dropped word on the quiet1 ',be careful 
to-night with the first two rings and   
then'--well1 they twigged1 and ,i had no
 occasion to say much4 ,afterwards1 the 
material that was given them went in    
anyhow4 ,but bless me1 we had ,portland 
cement1 it was supplied by the company1 
you understand4 ,it held almost anything
 together1 firm as a rock4 ,i said to my
 ganger1 whatever material you are      
given1 so long as it is clean1 will do1 
and it will be just like conglomerate4  
,the inspector was inclined to be my way
 of thinking1 and1 by a manual operation
 on my part1 he fully agreed with me1   
and said he had always been of the same 
opinion1 only other people failed to    
comprehend his meaning4 ,it has been    
said the pen is mightier than the sword1
 and so it may be2 but ten hours        
writing1 and a ten hours speech full of 

argument1 have not the same force with  
some inspectors as a few sovereigns     
judiciously placed to aid them in       
arriving at a proper view of a subject4 
,you are right2 bribes and lies are twin
 brothers4  ,well1 it was just a scamper
 all round4 ,yes1 scamper and scamping4 
,i had some good brickies then--militia 
chaps1 smart1 and they could stay4 ,they
 made the rings grow2 ,i forget how much
 we got in that night1 but a good       
length1 for the bricks ran short at one 
end of the tunnel1 and we were close up 
to the face at the other end4 ,no one   
that ,i did not want to see was about4  
,after measuring1 ,i found we were short
 at least twenty yards of bricks1 and   
only about two thousand or so left1 so  
,i said1 ',lads1 if you finish the ring 
by five o'clock1 you shall have a quid  
amongst you2 but do it1 and keep the    
beautiful clean face on for all you are 
worth4'  ,i looked a bit crafty at them1
 and they twigged the tune to play4 ,i  
took old ,bond--he was my ganger--with  

me1 and said to him1 ',how are we going 
to do the lining8' ,we can't fetch      
bricks from the other end1 and ,i draw  
the line at timber to do duty as bricks4
 ,i waited1 and the 'extra' profit      
string of my brain worked right1 and ,i 
pointed and said1 ',there is a heap of  
broken bricks and no one knows what2    
well1 twenty yards of that won't be     
noticed if you take it equally all      
round2 put that in1 and dose it with    
cement1 and rake it well on the top of  
the rings1 and don't forget to finish   
the top nicely and clean to a hair if   
you have not time to fill in all of it4 
,keep the best stuff for near the       
finish1 and enough bricks to make a     
solid strip or two1 and ,i am otherwise 
engaged or tired-out till four4 ,wake me
 then2 ,i'm off for a peaceful snooze4' 
,well1 they got it all in1 and nothing  
was known till--,i won't name it yet1 it
 must wait4  ,i suppose the bricks you  
took from the brick-yard were tallied1  
and deliveries checked with the work    

done in the lining8  ,yes2 but there is 
tallying of all sorts1 and1 of course1  
the right amount of bricks were taken   
from the yard early next morning1 but   
where they went is best known to the    
yard foreman1 the inspector of          
brickwork1 and the dealer2 but as my    
partnership with them is now at an end1 
of course my memory fails me1 and ,i am 
sorry ,i can't give you any more        
information in that direction4 ,it      
grieves me to keep back anything from   
you1 and is so unlike me4  ,i don't want
 to hurt your feelings4 ,all right1 ,i  
understand4  ,talk about varieties of   
concrete1 why we had sardine and meat   
tins1 all sorts and sizes and weights   
and ages1 tiles1 ashes1 bones1 glass1   
broken crockery1 oyster shells1 and a   
lot of black-beetles and such-like      
shining members of creation4 ,they all  
did their duty to the best of their     
ability4 ,what else there was ,i would  
rather not try to remember1 but it was  
not bricks4  ,don't trouble1 ,i can     

understand4 ,we are all pushed a bit for
 the right goods sometimes1 and have to 
make shift2 but it is hard1 very hard1  
to have to do it4  ,well1 ,i found out  
that the bricks were not quite so many  
as ,i thought1 and for a #e feet length1
 about #ae feet from shaft ,no4 #g1 they
 had to do with one ring of brickwork1  
and the rest1 my patent midnight        
conglomerate4 ,that frightened me1 and  
had ,i known it at the time1 ,i would   
have stopped the show2 of course ,i     
would1 you know me4 ,i always draw the  
line somewhere4  ,right you are2        
although 'somewhere' is an              
easy-stretching sort of place1 and there
 is not much of a fixed abode about it2 
but it can generally be found on a foggy
 night4  ,it's my belief they did not   
put in enough cement mortar1 and carry  
out my orders1 which indeed was very    
wrong of them4  ,what do you mean1 your 
orders were wrong8  ,oh dear no1 of     
course not1 not likely--their orders    
were wrong1 not mine4 ,you don't follow 

me rightly4 ,you understand now8 ,dwell 
on it1 and ,i'll wait4  ,oh yes1 it was 
stupid of me4 ,there1 ,i am not so young
 as ,i was1 nor so quick4  ,now we are  
coming to the scare4 ,pass my glass1 it 
makes me feel weak1 it does4  ,that     
conglomerate length stood all right1    
more by luck than anything else1 till   
one night1 although all the rest was    
sound work and done properly1 for it was
 well looked after1 and there was no    
chance of a slide towards extra profit2 
besides1 the ground would not have stood
 unbared long1 and1 of course1 short    
lengths had to be the order1 and were   
bound to be carried out1 for the clay   
soon got dropsy and swelled4  ,well1 my 
guv'nor took a contract for a line about
 #bj miles away from the tunnel4 ,i had 
some work on it1 and had to go to       
,london1 it was abroad1 for ,i was      
called up by him1 ,it was a slow train1 
and followed an express goods4 ,there   
was a signal box at each end of the     
tunnel1 and a fair traffic1 and fast    

trains passed4 ,something got wrong with
 a wagon of the express goods train--,i 
never knew exactly what it was but      
anyhow1 nothing very serious1 for the   
permanent way was all right and so were 
the wheels and axles4 ,we were stopped  
by hand-signal in the tunnel1 and there 
may have been something wrong with the  
signals1 but that does not matter for   
what ,i am going to tell you4  ,were you
 scared to think the train after you    
would telescope you8  ,no1 for there was
 none for an hour and a half4  ,well1   
the carriage ,i was in pulled up just   
under the place where that patent       
midnight conglomerate length was put in1
 and ,i looked up and saw the old spot  
had bulged1 and was yawning1 and looked 
to me as wide and moving as the ,straits
 of ,dover in a ,s4,w4 gale1 and a lot  
worse1 and it seemed to be getting wider
 every minute1 and ,i saw something     
drop4 ,i was alone in the compartment1  
and it was fortunate ,i was for many    
reasons or ,i know they would have found

 me out4 ,i knew the place4 ,how could  
,i forget it8 ,it was just by the shaft4
 ,the passengers were talking to the    
guards1 or were otherwise engaged4      
,presently ,i heard the down mail coming
 at a rare speed4 ,i said to myself1    
',there is not much the matter1 or they 
would not let her go through4' ,she was 
the last passenger train down that      
night1 and lucky she was1 you will soon 
say4 ,oh6 dear me1 when ,i heard her ,i 
felt cold and hot1 and my heart got to  
my teeth1 and ,i believe if ,i had not  
kept my mouth shut it would have jumped 
out1 that's true4 ,what scared me most  
was not about the mail train1 ,i knew   
she would be right1 and would be past   
the spot before the ground had time to  
tumble in4 ,she was going too quick1 but
 our train1 and me1 right under the     
place1 and bound to be there after the  
mail had shaken it to bits6 ,that's what
 made me feverish4  ,i said to myself1  
',you are paid out in your own coin1 you
 are4' ,before ,i had time to think more

 the mail went by all serene1 and ,i    
hardly dare move1 but slid up on the    
seat just in time to see her tail lights
 vanish4 ,i then looked up1 and if it   
had been my scaffold it could not have  
been worse4 ,oh6 fill my glass up1      
nearly neat1 while ,i wipe my forehead4 
,thank you4 ,yes1 ,i looked up1 and saw 
the crack had widened and was becoming  
wider1 and chips were falling now and   
again as large as hailstones6 ,i knew it
 was bound to come down4 ,i looked to my
 watch1 another full hour had to pass   
before the next train was due behind us4
 ,i was just going to get out1 when ,i  
heard the guard coming along on the     
footboard1 and he said1 ',another five  
minutes and we are off1 gentlemen4' ,he 
did not see the falling pieces1 as the  
carriage hid them1 but ,i did1 and the  
engine blowing off steam prevented him  
hearing them4 ,soon he reached my       
carriage1 and said1 ',you are the only  
gentleman in this carriage4' ,he would  
not say anything more4 ,i heard him     

repeat the same words almost as he moved
 along the train1 ',five minutes and we 
are off1 gentlemen4'  ,i said to myself1
 ',five minutes more and ,i am buried   
and off for ever somewhere1' for ,i was 
certain in five-and-a-half the lining   
would burst and down everything would   
come and crush us to powder4 ,i did not 
care to think what else or how much4 ,i 
cannot describe how ,i felt1 but drink  
squalls are nothing to it4 ,i kept my   
watch out of my pocket1 and gazed at it 
till ,i hated it4 ,one minute           
passed--two--three--and then ,i watched 
the second-hand go round4 ,what ,i      
suffered cannot be told4 ,i looked out  
of the window4 ,i heard a whistle4 ,it  
did not sound like our engine1 it seemed
 too shrill4 ,i had no fear of a train  
being behind us as ,i knew our road was 
blocked4 ,was it a down special         
excursion1 or a down special goods1 ,i  
said1 tremblingly1 to myself1 for ,i    
knew all the down ordinaries had gone   
for the night4 ',if it is1' ,i said to  

myself1 'you are settled and corpsed1   
and have made your own grave1 and it    
will be a rough one4' ,i won't say what 
,i did then1 but know it would suit a   
clergyman4  ,thank goodness ,i was      
wrong1 the whistle was from our engine1 
but it had been low and now was shrill4 
,i was so feverish that ,i forgot the   
steam was blowing off4 ,at last we      
started1 and ,i looked at my watch4 ,it 
was five minutes ten seconds from when  
the guard spoke4 ,i knew ,i was safe1   
but thought ,i would look back4 ,i was  
just able to see in the glimmering1 as  
the fire-box was open1 and by the tail  
lamps the last carriage had well cleared
 the shaft when there was a horrid      
hollow sound like waves breaking in a   
long cavern1 and ,i saw something come  
down like a veil across the metals4 ,the
 tunnel was in1 fallen in with a slow   
smash1 and not a minute after we        
started6  ,i don't know how long it took
 the train to get to the signal-box at  
the entrance1 but we pulled up there1   

and the first thing ,i remembered was   
the guard saying to me1 ',no one is     
hurt1 you need not be frightened1 but we
 have to thank ,god for it4 ,terrible   
shave4 ,the tunnel has fallen in1 and   
just where your carriage stood6'  ,i    
said1 ',oh6' and sank back upon the     
seat4 ,the guard again came to me and   
popped his head in and said ',you are   
the only passenger that knows what is   
up4 ,keep it quiet1 if you please4      
,shouting will do no good1 and ,i shall 
be much obliged to you4 ,it's no fault  
of mine or the ,company's4 ,are you ill1
 sir8'  ',no1 but ,i saw the tunnel fall
 in4'  ',traffic is stopped1 sir1 at    
both ends4 ,the wires are right as we   
had reply from the other end of the     
tunnel4 ,i thought you must have seen it
 fall in1 because you looked very white1
 and were clasping the window frame with
 both hands and shaking so4 ,i was      
afraid you had been almost scared with  
fright4'  ',no1 ,i am not ill1 but ,i   
saw it fall4'  ',well1 sir1 it is no    

fault of mine or the ,company's1        
although ,i am sorry it has frightened  
you a little4' ,he then went away and we
 started again4  ,when he said1 ',it is 
no fault of mine1' bless you1 it near   
cut my vitals out1 it did2 for ,i knew  
it was my fault and no other person's1  
and that it was only by the act of      
,providence the mail was not smashed to 
bits1 and us too4 ,i made a vow there   
and then never to have anything more to 
do with tunnels1 and whenever ,i go     
through one ,i always feel wrong and    
twitchy1 and shut my eyes till the      
rattle tones down and ,i know we are in 
the open4  ,how much fell in8  ,about   
#bj yards altogether in length4 ,traffic
 had to go round for a month1 but the   
rest of the work was all-right1 and so  
it really was1 and ,i ought to know4 ,no
 one found out that nearly the whole of 
the fallen length had been scamped1 for 
everything was broken and mixed up1 and1
 as luck would have it1 a spring burst  
out there and the flow had to be led    

away to one entrance1 and the falling-in
 was always put down to that1 and that  
only2 still ,i know the ground was a bit
 cracked1 and underground waters have   
mighty force1 and are best guided and   
not tried to be stopped1 for they will  
come out somewhere4  ,i met my guv'nor  
next day1 and he quietly said to me1 ',i
 have let the tunnel work on your length
 to an old foreman1' and then he looked 
clean through me4 ,i know he thought a  
lot1 and ,i'm afraid ,i can't play the  
game of bluff as good as some can1 and  
so work 'extra' profit out of ruins4    
,what do you think of that scare8  ,i   
don't want to think about it4 ,glad ,i  
had nothing to do with it4 ,dreadful6   
,no wonder you have a wrinkle or two4   
,what shocking hardships we all have to 
pass through in getting 'extra' profit1 
and so undeserved6     ,,chapter ,,ix4  
,,cylinder ,,bridge ,,piers4   ,deep    
river bridge foundations are not to be  
easily worked for 'extra' profit as they
 are generally too carefully looked     

after2 still1 even there1 you get a     
chance occasionally1 if you know how to 
work things4 ,i was always on the scent 
for 'extras1' and once got a bit out of 
a cylinder bridge1 more by luck than    
anything else4  ,how did you do it8     
,listen1 and then you'll know4  ,the bed
 of the river was soft for a depth of   
nearly #ej feet1 then firm watertight   
ground1 and into that we had to go about
 #ae feet4 ,our cylinders were #ae feet 
in diameter1 of cast-iron1 and in one   
piece #f feet in height ,i will just    
name that there is more chance of a bit 
'extra' profit when the rings are little
 in height than if they are in pieces   
and have vertical joints and are about  
#i feet long as usual4 ,a #ae feet ring1
 #f feet in length in one piece was not 
often seen then1 but they are now cast  
much heavier2 still1 they may be made   
too large to handle nicely without      
special tackle1 and foundry cleverness  
should be considered less than ease in  
fixing on the site4  ,why are short     

lengths best for 'extra' profit8        
,because you may have a chance of       
leaving out a ring if the coast is      
clear1 and nice people around you4  ,i  
see4  ,well1 the ,company's foreman had 
to lay up for three days1 for he had    
ricked himself1 and ,i had an old pal   
with me1 and two of my nephews working  
the crane1 and other relations about4   
,all had been properly schooled1 and    
knew crumbs of comfort were to be got   
out of a bit 'extra1' so ,i embraced the
 opportunity as we were such a charming 
family party1 quite a happy farmyard4   
,the rings went down rather easily as   
the bed of the river was soft2 in fact1 
they sunk into the mud for the first #f 
to #aj feet by their own weight4 ,so ,i 
gave the office1 and we just dropped a  
#f feet ring over the side into the mud1
 for ,i knew it would sink all right1   
and that by the time the ,company's     
foreman returned to work we should have 
pumped out the water from the cylinder  
and got enough concrete in to seal the  

bottom2 of course1 after the resident   
engineer had gone down to see the       
foundation was right1 and ,i felt sure  
it would be1 and that he would only look
 at the foundation1 and not bother about
 the height of the cylinder or the      
number of rings2 and if he did1 we could
 dodge him a bit1 as there would be four
 or five of us1 and stages were fixed on
 the horizontal ring-flanges1 and no    
numbers were cast on the rings1 as they 
all were made to fit together4 ,he went 
down1 just as ,i thought1 to see the    
foundation only1 although he measured   
about a bit1 and enjoyed himself4 ,we   
worked the tape right--it takes two with
 a tape4 ,by-the-bye1 ,i hate           
measuring-rods1 they are not good       
business for 'extras4' ,they are so     
unobliging4 ,a tape you can pull a bit1 
and tuck under1 according as you want a 
thing to appear to be of a different    
length to what it is4 ,one of my gangers
 made a false end for a tape4 ,he used  
to turn the end of the true tape under  

for a few inches and slip on his false  
end1 or he added a false length if he   
wanted4 ,he took good care to hold the  
end1 and he could slip it on and off    
like a flash of lightning1 and good     
enough for a conjurer4 ,he could        
lengthen or shorten a tape a few inches 
at will2 all he wanted was to hold the  
ring at the end4 ,his false end was a   
bit of a real tape with his attachment1 
and ,i have seen him trick them really  
pretty4  ,considering we had about      
sixteen rings altogether1 top to bottom2
 there was a good length on which to    
dodge1 but our game would have been too 
risky ,i fancy with eight or ten rings1 
and in a strong light1 because one could
 count the flanges pretty easily2 but it
 is not many that suspect a ring may be 
omitted4  ,we were some #h feet in the  
hard soil1 and ,i considered that       
enough1 for the ground did not help much
 to keep the cylinders in place for #ej 
feet of the height above it1 but they   
were well braced above high water and at

 top4 ,when ,i consider a thing enough1 
you don't catch me let them have much   
more if ,i can help it4 ,i hate waste4  
,the foundations were declared to be all
 right1 and so they were1 and we at once
 began the hearting1 and sealed up the  
bottom after cleaning up1 and we put in 
good ,portland cement concrete1 for all 
the materials were supplied to us4  ,of 
course1 the ,company's foreman1 when he 
came back1 could not tell1 nor could    
anyone else1 that we had been having a  
happy time2 but give him his due1 he did
 all he knew to find the rings were in4 
,you know the ring we got rid of for    
'extras' we took care should be sunk in 
the middle1 between the two columns1 and
 well away from each one4 ,the bridge   
was wide1--about four lines of rails on 
top--so we slung the ring out very      
quickly1 after the men had gone for the 
day1 just about midway between the      
cylinders1 and down it went pretty      
quickly1 and it was bound to be in the  
mud fully #h feet by the morning1 and   

sure to sink a bit more1 for ,i had it  
dropped sharp1 and ,i thought it would  
be certain to break up where it fell4   
,we worked it so nicely1 and all was as 
lovely and serene and merry as a        
marriage1 and real crumbs of comfort1   
and ,i thought no more about it4  ,we   
sank the ring purposely midway between  
the other two cylinders1 so that if the 
bridge had to be widened it would not be
 found4 ,but we were had for once1 and  
no mistake this time1 and all our own   
fault1 and just where we thought we had 
been clever1 for one day the engineer   
came down and sniffed about4 ,i wish he 
had stopped at home instead of coming   
bothering2 however1 he did not1 but     
came4 ,the result was the resident      
engineer handed to me a tracing with a  
new cylinder marked on in the middle of 
a line drawn through the centre of the  
two cylinders1 and just where ,i had    
sunk the #f feet length ,i thought ,i   
had got a bit 'extra' out of so sweet1  
and ,i might have just as well sunk it  

outside4 ,well1 ,i took two pills that  
night to brace me up and set my         
machinery in perfect trim2 and no one   
can know what ,i suffered1 for ,i meant 
getting out of the fix somehow or other1
 but could not see my road much ahead4  
,you know ,i was certain we were bound  
to find that 'extra' ring4 ,if we could 
have broken it up1 or have been sure it 
was broken1 there might have been no    
harm2 but we did not know exactly where 
it was1 and if we did we could not raise
 it4 ,i felt certain we should come to  
it1 and tried the crane to see if we    
could fix the spot1 but we had to chance
 it4 ,it was no use humbugging ourselves
 into thinking we knew where it was1    
when no one could possibly know4 ,as ,i 
said before1 ,i was positive we should  
meet it in sinking the cylinder1 and as 
the ground was soft for some distance   
that it would tilt the centre rings--and
 then the game ,i had played would be   
found out1 for cast-iron is hardly as   
soft as mud4  ,i felt my reputation was 

at stake--in fact1 all my noble         
past--and all for a #ae feet cast-iron  
cylinder1 #f feet in height1 and #a-a_/d
 inch in thickness6 ,i thought of       
blowing up the surface before the men   
were at work1 and doing a bit of        
subaqueous mining2 but it was too risky 
and desperate1 so ,i saved myself for   
the final round1 that is1 ,i waited with
 my teeth set till ,i met that sunken   
'extra' ring1 and meant getting clear   
and settling it in one round1 you bet1  
for ,i considered the situation very    
degrading1 not to say insulting4  ,we   
quickly erected the staging1 and ,i     
tried all ,i knew to get the foreman    
away and the resident engineer4 ,still  
,i dare not play the same tune too much1
 or they would suspect1 but they were   
too 'fly' to be drawn off4 ,i arranged  
with my nephews at the crane to give me 
the office1 if ,i was not on the spot1  
by sharply twice turning on the blow-off
 cock4  ,i happened to be on the top of 
a column on the next land-pier with the 

resident engineer who had called me1 and
 the foreman was there also1 when ,i    
heard the two puffs4 ,i pretended to    
take no notice1 nor did he or the       
foreman1 and ,i managed to govern myself
 and keep myself quiet1 just like the   
old nobility do1 and think a lot4       
,before ,i left the resident engineer ,i
 found he was going at once to some     
meeting1 and ,i just wished he would    
take the foreman with him1 if only out  
of the love ,i had for him and give him 
a holiday2 however1 ,i got to know on   
the quiet he had to superintend some    
unloading at a wharf half a mile or more
 away1 so the road was pretty clear4    
,directly ,i got to the cylinder ,i knew
 what was up1 for it had tilted4  ,we   
could not pump out the water1 and divers
 could not go down unless the bottom was
 sealed1 because of the almost liquid   
mud at the depth we had reached1 but in 
another #h or #aj feet it could have    
been done4 ,i thought for an instant and
 then gave the word4 ',weight her down1 

lads1 get some more kentledge and then  
we will pull her straight4 ,it's only a 
piece of a wreck1 or a bit of timber or 
stone4'  ,i forget whether ,i told you  
that it was only my family party that   
knew of the 'extra' ring being sunk1 the
 rest of my men did not4 ,my game was to
 wreck the cylinder if ,i could1 and    
tilt it over so that it would fall1 and 
then fetch the foreman when ,i knew it  
would go4 ,if ,i could manage that ,i   
felt ,i was right4 ,anyhow ,i was bound 
to smash up the bottom ring1 at least1  
,i thought so then4 ,cutting out the    
obstruction ,i was thankful could not be
 done1 nor drawing it in1 nor splitting 
it up inside the cylinder4 ,that was    
certain4 ,i did not much care to tackle 
lifting the rings4 ,i wanted to smash   
them4 ,compressed air ,i did not want to
 hear of1 for that would have bowled me 
clean out1 and shown the whole game4 ,i 
wanted to try to thrust the cylinder    
through the obstruction1 although1 of   
course1 ,i was not supposed to know what

 it was1 as that usually fails and ends 
in smash more or less1 and ,i was       
certain it would in this case1 for it   
was cast-iron against cast-iron on an   
earth bed4 ,attempting to thrust a      
cylinder ring through anything and      
everything is always a dangerous        
operation1 and one to be avoided4  ,now 
they knew exactly how many cylinder     
rings had been delivered by the         
manufacturers1 and if they had found the
 one we played 'extras' with1 they could
 soon see it was the same size and make1
 and could easily tell how many were on 
the work and in the piers4 ,i beg       
pardon1 ,i should have said1 supposed to
 have been in1 and it was #ajjj to #a   
all would not be well4  ,it occurred in 
the summer1 and the foreman came and    
sent a telegram to the resident         
engineer1 and before he arrived we had  
weighted the side that was up and       
endeavoured to get it straight by       
hauling1 but it was no good2 at least ,i
 think ,i tried to get it vertical1 but 

,i may also have tried to smash it4 ,i  
expected1 and was afraid1 they would    
lift it by pontoons the next tide4      
,well1 the resident engineer came4 ,he  
tried a few figures over1 and said to   
the foreman1 ',if we do not mind1 it    
will cost more trying to right it than  
it will to lift the lot4'  ,anyhow we   
got more power and more weights4 ,he had
 the soil loosened on the upper side of 
the ring2 but1 of course1 as it was iron
 at the bottom1 it did not do much good2
 and we tried pretty well every dodge in
 turn that is known1 but ,i need hardly 
say with very little effect4  ,the      
resident engineer said1 ',compressed air
 will be too expensive for this one     
cylinder1 but ,i think we can           
sufficiently clear the interior by a    
force pump and dredger for a diver to go
 down4' ,now the chief engineer was     
abroad for a fortnight1 so we left it   
alone that night2 but ,i tried all ,i   
knew1 bar hammering1 for that ,i dare   
not do1 to smash the rings and they     

would not break1 the soil was too soft  
and even4 ,i was certain ,i could pull  
them over1 but then they would most     
likely lift the rings and might find out
 the cause of the bother4  ,however1 ,i 
let everything rest1 and trusted to     
luck4 ,the resident engineer decided to 
have the cylinder raised1 as we had two 
large pontoons handy1 so the top rings  
were removed to as low a depth above    
water as possible1 and chains were fixed
 round the rings and also to bolts in   
the flanges1 and in two tides all the   
rings were pulled up4  ',so you got out 
of the trouble all right8  ,you wait1   
don't be too sure4 ,the resident        
engineer and the foreman were pacing up 
and down just as we were lifting the    
cutting ring1 and we did that by the    
crane4 ,they were at the other end of   
the staging though4 ,the cutting edge   
was within a few inches of the          
water-level when ,i saw that a bit of   
the ring ,i had sunk for 'extras' was   
actually jammed into and hanging to the 

cutting ring4  ,oh6 save my nerves1 that
 was bad4  ,well1 ,i had the crane      
stopped in a second1 for my nephew was  
watching like a vulture1 and ,i and my  
ganger had provided ourselves with a bar
 each1 and were standing on the flanges4
 ,the cutting ring was only #c feet #f  
inches in height1 and after two smashing
 taps it dropped1 neither the foreman   
nor the resident engineer saw the fun   
closely2 but as the resident asked us   
what we had been barring at1 ,i said ',a
 small bit of a wreck got wedged on1    
sir1 and would have stuck between the   
pontoons1 and ,i am very sorry we could 
not land it to show you4  ,that's good  
enough old pal4 ,pass on1 please4  ,i   
thought you would laugh4 ,well1 the     
pontoon had been brought to the side of 
the staging as a precaution in case the 
chains might break or an accident occur1
 so as to be away from the line of the  
bridge1 and so it did not matter where  
we dropped the cylinder ring ,i had     
'extra' out of1 but it was an ugly fish 

to hook ,i can tell you1 and is about   
the only one ,i ever wished to get away1
 or did not want to see4  ,of course the
 cylinder went down all right           
afterwards1 and the cause of the tilting
 was considered to be the remains of a  
wreck2 but it strikes me1 should they   
have to drive piles or sink cylinders   
anywhere near that pier1 they may meet  
with some obstruction1 and perhaps think
 they have struck rock2 anyhow they will
 find out they have not 'struck oil1'   
and may send forth the news that a      
recent discovery has shown the early    
,britons built ironclads1 and it was    
certain they sank1 but there was not    
sufficient evidence to show whether the 
warships floated for many days4         
,,chapter ,x4  ,,drain ,,pipes4         
,,blasting1 ,,and ,,powder-,,carriage4  
,the experience you had with cylinder   
bridge piers reminds me of a near shave 
for a bowl out ,i had4 ,they let me a   
quarter of a mile of work1 and ,i had to
 put in an #ah-;inch pipe at the deepest

 part of an embankment1 just to take any
 surface-water that might accumulate now
 and again4 ,of course1 an #ah-;inch    
pipe will take a lot of water1 and ,i   
think we agree it is hardly right and   
proper to throw away good material or   
provide against events which1 an        
earthquake always excepted1 cannot occur
 in the opinion of the most experienced4
 ,you can't accuse me of being wasteful1
 it's not in me2 for ,i've heard my     
mother say she never knew me upset      
anything ,i could eat or drink1 and that
 ,i always licked my plate and never    
lost a crumb4 ,you know it is a quality 
born in you1 and ,i don't wish to take  
any credit myself1 not me2 ,i'm         
constructed different4 ,nor do ,i wish  
to say you are not so careful as me1 and
 perhaps more2 only1 of course1 you may 
put in a lot of strong work when ,i am  
not looking1 and ,i think you'll have to
 do to get level with me4 ,it never was 
in my heart to see anything wasted4 ,it 
is against my principles4 ,i hate it1 ,i

 do4  ,i said to myself1 ',you shall not
 waste any material4' ,so what ,i did   
was to put five lengths of #ah-;inch    
pipe at each end of the slope1 and      
#i-;inch in the middle4 ,the tip was    
almost on the spot1 so ,i put in the    
#ah-;inch and the other pipes1 and left 
a couple of lengths bare each end4 ,the 
embankment was over #dj feet in height1 
the slopes were one and a-half to one1  
and the drain was about #ej yards in    
length1 so it was not bad business4  ,i 
never forget what the engineers tell me1
 and when ,i hear a discussion among    
them ,i always make a note of it1 and   
wait till ,i have an opportunity of     
making a bit 'extra' profit by it4 ,what
 is the use to the likes of us of a bit 
of education if we can't turn it into   
gold8 ,not much2 almost sheer waste1 and
 ,i hate waste--abominate it4 ,well1 one
 day the resident engineer was talking  
to another swell about how a splayed    
nozzle to a pipe caused an increased    
discharge4  ,so1 ever ready to learn1 as

 you and me always are1 ,i said to      
myself1 fond-like and quiet1 ',try it2  
put it into practice4' ,and ,i did1 as  
,i told you just now1 by the insertion  
in true scientific manner of smaller    
pipes in the middle4 ,i wrestled with   
the subject1 and said to myself1 ',now1 
look here1 if ,i put in all #ah-;inch   
pipes that drain can't have a splayed   
nozzle1 that's sure2 in fact1 it is     
fact4' ,so ,i said1 continuing the      
discussion with myself1 ',don't be      
beaten4 ,let science lead you4' ,and ,i 
did4  ,fill up your glass1 lad4 ,grasp4 
,i'm hearty to you4  ,now1 it was in the
 summer1 and we are coming to my scare4 
,i said to my men1 ',come an hour       
earlier to-morrow morning1 for ,i have  
got a little extra work1 and some of you
 call at my place on your road4'  ,they 
came1 and ,i had the #i-;inch pipes     
handy1 and away we went1 about fifty of 
us1 with a pipe or two each4 ,it did not
 take long laying the pipes1 nor        
covering up the lot4 ,in any case you   

could hardly see through such a length1 
but as a precaution1 ,i had the pipes   
put in a shade zigzag after the first   
six or seven lengths1 so everything     
seemed all serene1 at least1 ,i thought 
so2 but it was not1 for ,i had the      
nearest shave for a bowl out that ,i    
ever had1 and all on account of a       
bow-wow4  ,how did it happen8  ,well1   
the resident engineer came over with his
 pet dog1 and ,i took to patting him1   
and felt really happy at the little bit 
of 'extra' ,i was to get out of these   
pipes1 when the blessed dog began       
sniffing about one end and jumping up4  
,the resident engineer got a bit        
excited4  ',rat1 is it1 ,dasher8' he    
said to his dog4  ,the dog barked his   
reply to his master4 ,the resident then 
said to me1 ',stop here with ,dasher    
until ,i call him at the other end1 as  
,i intend him to go through the drain4' 
,before ,i could say a word1 he was up  
and down the slopes1 and at the other   
end of the pipe4 ,i sat1 or fell down1  

,i don't know which1 ,i did feel bad4 ,i
 heard him call ',dasher1 ,dasher4' ,the
 blessed dog rushed in1 and then came   
back4 ,his size was right for the       
#ah-;inch pipes but he was near too big 
in the barrel for a #i-;inch pipe4  ,to 
think that after working the show so    
smoothly and lovely to the satisfaction 
of all mankind as knew of it1 and then  
to be bowled out by a 'phobia-breeding  
animal as hardly knows how to scratch   
his back1 was too much4 ,so ,i braced   
myself up1 and said to myself1 ',mister 
,dasher you have not done me yet1 not   
you1 hardly4 ,it will take a man to do  
it4'  ,i patted him1 and smiled pretty  
at him1 and gave him a bit of biscuit1  
and grasped him round the middle just to
 see if he could get through the        
#i-;inch lengths4 ,i felt seven years   
younger when ,i found he could just     
manage it1 but he would have to do it   
more like swimming than walking4  ,now  
,i knew the pipes were all sound and    
whole1 for ,i never put in broken goods1

 however small they may be4  ,the       
engineer kept calling ',dasher1         
,dasher1' so ,i said to him1 through the
 pipe1 ',wait a minute1 sir2 ,dasher1 ,i
 fancy is not so used to tunnels as you 
and me4 ,what do you say to try the     
other way in1 sir1 we all have our      
fancies8'  ,i knew it was no use        
attempting to work him off1 as he meant 
what he said1 and would be sure to get  
suspicious--as he was no flat1 ,i can   
tell you4  ,well1 after a lot of urging1
 in went the blessed dog1 and ,stanley's
 journey in ,darkest ,africa was outdone
 then1 ,i'm sure1 and ,dasher's         
rear-guard was in trouble4  ,we waited1 
and called1 and whistled1 but could hear
 nothing4 ,we must have waited half an  
hour ,i should say1 at least it seemed  
to me as long1 and the resident engineer
 shouted to me two or three times1 ',if 
,dasher does not appear in a few        
minutes1 your men must dig him out4'    
,lawks me1 it makes me ill to think of  
the squalls there would have been if ,i 

had had to do that4 ,i wished just then 
that no dogs had ever been made nor     
nothing on four legs except horses1     
cattle1 sheep1 and pigs2 but ,i turned  
sympathetic like and went to the top of 
the embankment1 and said1 ',perhaps     
there may be vermin up there2 and ,i    
know ,dasher is a game one1 and won't   
back4'  ,this pleased the resident      
engineer4 ,believe me1 ,i would have    
given at that moment a sovereign to     
anyone who could have produced that dog4
  ,old pal1 you need not put your hand  
out1 ,i said1 'at that moment4' ,don't  
excite yourself4 ,i know you are always 
thirsty1 but you have got the gold      
hunger bad as well4 ,just keep quiet1   
and put your hand in your pocket4  ,i   
beg your pardon1 ,i was forgetting      
myself4  ,all right4 ,now ,i'll go on   
again4 ,well1 ,i thought the dog had got
 jammed in1 and knew what tight lacing  
was1 and so he did4 ,at last we thought 
we heard him1 and he came out looking   
more like a turnspit than a well-bred   

fox terrier4  ,some blood was on him4   
,he had had a squeeze and no mistake1   
and was about done1 but no bones were   
broken4  ,i said slow and solemn like1  
',sir1 he has tackled them4'  ',what do 
you think it was8'  ,i said1 ',you mean 
they1 sir4 ,he has had more than one    
against him4'  ,i then took up ,dasher  
and carried him to a tub of water and   
washed him4 ,i did feel very sorry for  
the dog4 ,i said1 ',he has had a regular
 battle of ,waterloo1 but it is his     
high-breeding and proper training that  
has pulled him through the fight ,he has
 finished the lot1 sir1 you bet4'  ,the 
resident engineer looked pleased1 and ,i
 am sure ,i was4 ,dasher soon recovered 
and we walked away4 ,don't forget1 what 
the eye does not see the heart does not 
grieve for1 that is to say1 ,i escaped  
all right2 and those pipes were         
considered to be #ah inches in diameter1
 and you know it is not right and proper
 nor becoming to differ with one's      
superiors too much1 it almost amounts to

 foolishness ,i consider in such cases4 
,i always keep my brain in curb till ,i 
get a lean measurement1 and then ,i     
speak1 but it don't do to differ with   
your governor too much4 ,the wheedling  
lay is the best game to play1 and ,i    
have an aversion to a quarrel with      
anyone when you can get more by oil and 
smiles4  ,take my advice1 and before you
 try splayed nozzles1 know whether your 
guv'nors or the engineers have dogs1    
and1 if so1 the size of their barrels   
and whether they have done growing and  
laying on bulk1 because1 to be safe1 you
 must work the pipes to fit the         
bow-wows4 ,remember ,i had a near       
squeak1 and so did the dog4 ,i always   
keep in with them now1 and ,dasher gets 
a biscuit from me whenever ,i see him1  
but he nearly cost me all ,i had4 ,it is
 indeed a real pleasure to have the     
opportunity of rewarding virtue in men  
or dogs4  ,that's right4 ,fill them up4 
,the thought of that day rather makes me
 nervous and dry4  ,that pipe and dog   

business was not exactly a holiday1 but 
,i had a worse nerve-shaker than that1  
for it is a wonder you see me now when  
,i come to think of it4 ,but there1     
,providence shields us all1 good and    
bad1 just to give the bad ones a chance 
to alter1 and to test whether the good  
ones are really good4 ,still1 ,i never  
meant anything wrong1 of course not--no 
one ever does4 ,it is always the        
surrounding circumstances that make     
things bad2 and so we all humbug        
ourselves into thinking we are very     
right and proper and good1 and we have  
our private opinion about other people4 
,stop that4 ,speak for yourself1 and    
never mind about other people4  ,all    
right4 ,don't get testy4  ,well1 they   
let me take a cutting in hard marl down 
at ,throatisfield ,junction4 ,it wanted 
a lot of blasting1 for it was deceptive 
material4 ,the powder used to go very   
quick and not split or move the ground  
much either4 ,i would fifty times rather
 had a real rock cutting than this      

hardened lime and clay soil that won't  
cleave1 and when the blast is fixed it  
only about blows up the tamping and     
makes a noise for nothing1 but blasting 
marl rock is often vexatious work4 ,one 
day1 by a mistake1 the firm ,i had the  
powder from did not send the weekly     
quantity by road as they ought to have  
done4 ,i always paid for it prompt4     
,they knew me1 as ,i was an old         
customer4 ,it was nothing to do with the
 cash1 but a mistake in their office1 so
 the only thing to be done was to fetch 
it2 and as seventy pounds' weight of    
powder is no joke1 and ,i did not want  
to lose a relation just then1 ,i got it 
myself by train1 and it nearly cost me  
my life4 ,i took a large box1 just like 
a cheese box1 planed inside and as      
smooth as glass4 ,we used the           
large-grained glazed powder4 ,i thought 
to myself1 ',i'll take it in the front  
van1 and ride with it1 and then ,i know 
all will be safe4'  ,now1 there never   
was much luggage by this local train1   

although a lot of passengers1 and hardly
 ever above a case or two in the front  
van4 ,i knew the guards1 and all would  
have gone pretty1 but the usual front   
one had got a day off to bury a         
relation1 and that nearly buried me and 
a lot more4 ,after the front guard knew 
from the other who ,i was1 he let me    
ride in his van when ,i showed my       
ticket4 ,we had about #cj miles to      
travel1 and stopped at nearly every     
station1 about six of them altogether4  
,it was nearly a two hours' journey4 ,i 
got a chap to pack the powder safely for
 me1 and all ,i had to do was to keep it
 from flame and heat and being knocked  
about4 ,of course the guard did not know
 what was in my box1 and did not seem to
 care--he had other things to attend to 
that were1 or seemed to be1 more        
important4 ,i sat on the box1 and began 
a yarn about railway travelling1 and was
 making the necessary impression upon   
him1 just to show ,i knew a few swells  
and things4 ,there may have been a      

trifle more imagination than fact about 
my talk1 but not too much1 just enough  
to season it4 ,we were getting on very  
pleasantly1 and nothing ugly occurred   
till we got two stations from home1 then
 there was a crowd on the platform4     
,been a football match4 ,the result was 
that three swells got into the guard's  
van4 ,the old guard always locked the   
door1 this new one did not4 ,no room in 
the first1 or anywhere else4 ,now ,i    
should not have cared a rap1 as these   
three swells were as sober as judges1   
but one turned to the guard and said1   
',you will not object to our smoking1 ,i
 suppose8' ,asking a question that way  
always seems to me more than half a     
command4 ,the guard took it that way1 ,i
 think1 for he said1 ',no1 gentlemen1 as
 the carriages are full2 but if you can 
keep it as quiet as you can at the      
stations ,i shall thank you kindly1 as  
there is a superintendent here as has   
pickled pork and coffee for tea1 that   
considers smoking worse than poison1 and

 it is against the rules4'  ,well1 you  
can imagine ,i was just about fit to    
sink1 as ,i knew there was enough       
pent-up force in that box to elevate me 
higher than ,i wanted to go by that sort
 of machinery4 ,two of the swells were  
free and easy kind1 the other rather a  
lady's man1 sort of feminine man--the   
latter began the game1 and said1        
',charlie1 have you a ,vesuvian8'  ,i   
dared not say a word1 but ,i thought1   
',my noble swell1 ,i have not1 but ,i   
have a ,vesuvius here--in fact1 ,i'm    
sitting on it--and if you are not       
careful the real one will have to take a
 back seat1 and ashes will be large     
goods to what we shall be like4' ,well1 
they all started smoking1 and threw the 
fusees out of the window4 ,after all1 ,i
 thought to myself1 there's nothing much
 to fear now1 although it would be      
considerably more pleasant if you were  
in some other train somewhere4 ,when ,i 
got in ,i put my box just a little way  
from the side1 so that it should not    

jar1 and there they had me4 ,soon we got
 near to the last station we had to stop
 before mine1 and these swells all took 
their cigars out of their mouths1 and as
 there was no place upon which to put   
them except on my box1 they put them    
there6 ,pass me the bottle4 ,oh dear1 oh
 dear1 the thought of it6 and they said 
to me1 so nicely1 ',you won't mind1 ,i  
know4' ,before ,i could think almost    
there were three cigars alight and red1 
been well puffed1 and within #b inches  
of #gj lbs4 of the best glazed blasting 
powder1 and me sitting on it as a sort  
of stoker6  ,i dared not say anything2  
but worse was to come1 for they kept    
taking a whiff and putting the cigars   
down again6  ,after the train started   
the van jerked a bit over the crossing  
or a badly-packed sleeper1 and just as  
one of the swells was going to pick up  
his cigar1 it slipped1 fell upon the top
 of my box of powder and then upon the  
floor1 and the sparks did fly6  ,no     
wonder you felt bad4 ,i feel for you    

now1 ,i do4 ,it makes me dry4  ,stop6   
,worse is to come--worse4 ,pass the     
bottle4 ,wait a minute2 ,i can say no   
more until ,i have loosened my collar4  
,well1 true as ,i am here1 if there was 
not a fizz1 a few grains had got loose4 
,my box had a hole in it2 a knot in the 
wood had shaken out6 ,i knew the fizz   
was not like that of sporting powder1   
but my powder--and to think there might 
have been a train self-laid right up to 
the bottom of the box6 ,providence      
again4  ,shake4  ,i'm hearty to you4 ,it
 must have been an angel that broke the 
train of powder1 for on looking         
carefully about ,i saw a dozen or more  
grains4 ,luckily for me1 the guard had  
his head out of the window all the time1
 as the whistle had been sounding4 ,the 
swells only laughed at the fizzle4 ,i   
did not2 ,i knew what a fearfully narrow
 squeak ,i had had4 ,i expect they      
thought it was a match end4 ,however1 ,i
 have had a life of narrow squeaks1 and 
so ,i got over it pretty soon1 and said1

 ',the next station is mine1 gentlemen6'
 ,i moved my box a trifle1 and noticed  
there was a bit of paper on one side    
sticking out4 ,i saw one of the swells  
also noticed it1 and seemed thoughtful4 
,he soon made me understand that he knew
 the paper4 ,it was specially prepared1 
and a peculiar colour4 ,his father was  
the owner of the powder mills1 and lived
 about five miles from my cutting4 ,if  
,i was not previously blown up1 ,i knew 
it was in his power to have me fined    
fearfully heavy1 if not imprisoned4 ,he 
stared at me1 and as we were going down 
a long #a in #ej gradient and corkscrew 
line the guard looked out for squalls   
and two of the swells on the other side4
 ,he then whispered in my ear1 ',is your
 name ,dark8'  ,i could not speak1 it   
took me back so2 but ,i managed to nod4 
,he said1 ',why did you not telegraph8  
,i would have had it delivered          
specially'2 and he pointed to my box4   
,he gave me a half-dollar1 and put out  
his cigar4 ,i quickly and carefully     

filled up the hole and picked up the    
stray grains1 and no one knew anything1 
except him and me4 ,he then said1 ',take
 my advice1 don't try that game again2  
for if you manage to struggle through   
such a journey without becoming a       
million or two atoms you will probably  
be hanged'2 and he motioned with hand to
 his throat4 ',this time ,i shall say   
nothing4'  ,i thanked him4 ,i never felt
 so small and weak in my life4 ,well1 ,i
 arrived at my station1 and got my box  
out and sat upon it for some time till  
the reaction on my nervous system had   
worked2 but ,i would have given just    
then some one else's gold-mines for a   
strong lap-up of something neat4 ,mind  
you1 about five minutes before we       
stopped the up mail passed us1 and we   
were both going full forty miles an     
hour4 ,suppose the box had fizzled out  
just then1 it would have wrecked both   
trains1 killed a few hundreds1 blown a  
big hole in the line1 spoilt the        
dividends for some time1 shocked the    

world1 made widows and orphans of half  
the country round pretty nigh1 have     
ruined a few speculators who were on the
 'bull' lay in the main line shares1 and
 have smashed into chips more than half 
the 'bucket-shop' outside benevolent 787
 institutions for the distribution of   
wealth as were operating for a rise4    
,it seems to me you lost a grand        
opportunity of being a big pot for once1
 and showing them who's which--but      
there6 you always had a kind heart1 and 
,i remember you have often said a too   
sudden rise in the world never did any  
one much lasting good4  ,you are right2 
but perhaps it is as well for me4 ,i am 
so modest1 and ambition knows me not4   
,note4--,on all public works it is      
advisable to know by what means any     
blasting agents are brought to the      
works4 ,daily use not infrequently      
causes the men to be very reckless1 and 
stringent regulations in conformity with
 the various ,acts and general          
experience should be made1 and every    

care taken to have them faithfully      
observed4     ,,chapter ,,xi4           
,,concrete4 ,,puddle4   ,have you       
managed to squeeze any 'extra' profit on
 the quiet out of concrete8  ,yes1      
twenty or thirty years ago1 but there is
 not much to be got now4 ,since a few   
engineers took to writing upon the      
subject they have reminded or informed  
others pretty well what to look after1  
but there were not many thirty years    
back that knew how it ought to be made2 
and you see1 although one receives the  
materials1 the concrete has to be made  
with them1 manufactured1 as it were1 on 
the work1 and you can spoil the best    
,portland cement that is1 was1 or ever  
will be made in the proportioning1      
mixing1 and blending it with bad sand   
and gravel1 or dirty broken rock4  ,they
 handed me the ,portland cement1 and all
 the specification said was1 ',all      
concrete shall consist of #a of         
,portland cement to #f of clean gravel1 
and shall be mixed and deposited in a   

workmanlike manner which we consider    
means as the workmen like to the entire 
satisfaction of the ,company's          
engineer4'  ,this was drawn up by a     
civil and mechanical engineer1 which is 
a big-drum kind of title1 and ,i should 
think covered corkscrews and            
manufacturing machinery1 and everything 
else under the sun that can be handled  
at any time1 including a #f-;inch drain1
 the ,forth ,bridge1 and the ,channel   
,tunnel thrown in4 ,it's too much1 it   
seems to me1 for one man to completely  
understand2 and ,i once heard a         
celebrated engineer say that1 with a few
 brilliant exceptions1 such a man knew  
thoroughly neither civil nor mechanical 
engineering--life was too short4 ,i     
don't presume to say anything1 but his  
specifications of our kind of work might
 have been more exact2 still they were  
sources of joy and comfort to us4       
,machine mixing was hardly known at the 
time ,i am particularly referring to1   
and the ,portland cement was of all     

qualities1 good1 bad1 and indifferent1  
and some as ,i really can't say had any 
quality in it at all1 and was utterly   
unlike what you get now4 ,it was then   
sometimes bought on the same principle  
as going to the first shop handy1 and   
saying1 ',small bag of cement4 ,how     
much8' ,there was no name on the bag1   
for no one wished to own he had made the
 cement1 and it was indeed of           
illegitimate origin1 and had no parents4
  ,the cement came1 and we did pretty   
well as we liked1 for the inspector knew
 nothing about it2 in fact1 we were all 
in the same boat4 ,but what a lucky     
thing it is that there is such a thing  
as a margin of safety6  ,you mean the   
difference between the strain a thing   
has to bear in ordinary use and what    
will break it8  ,yes1 that is it4 ,one  
day an engineer said to me1 ',there is a
 large factor of safety in this case1   
which is fortunate4' ,i thought he was  
talking about a flour factor near the   
works that also sold fire-escapes and   

fire-extinguishers1 so ,i said1 ',he    
weighs nearly eighteen stone1 and ,i    
should call him big rather than large1  
for he is like the prices at which he   
sells flour1 and charges a penny a      
quartern too much2 but he is greatly    
respected in the neighbourhood by those 
who don't know what fair prices are1 for
 he is so oily and civil1 as just suits 
a lot4' ,between you and me1 he swindled
 them1 and beat us for 'extra' profit4  
,the engineer looked as if he could not 
at first make out what ,i was talking   
about1 and1 as it turned out1 ,i did not
 know what he was4 ,he seemed to enjoy  
himself1 and let me finish my sermon4   
,he then explained to me what we call   
'margins' of safety1 and what they call 
'factors' of safety are the same goods4 
,you have learnt something now4  ,i     
have1 another name2 no doubt their word 
is the right one1 but they ought to     
consider the likes of us are not poets1 
or fed on stewed grammar1 and should    
remember we were boss-gangers once1 and 

have blossomed into sub-contractors4    
,let that pass4 ,you should have seen   
the cement4 ,it was lucky we never had  
to sift it as we do now1 or we should   
never have got any through a            
forty-to-the-inch mesh4 ,it was just    
like fine sand1 and nearly the colour of
 it1 too1 instead of grey4 ,i have had a
 fair experience with ,portland cement  
now1 for we had testing-rooms1 machines 
and troughs1 fresh and sea water1 slabs1
 and a host of other detective apparatus
 at the last dock works ,i was on4      
,however1 the cement we had and ,i was  
just referring to1 was pretty nearly all
 residue1 and of course it did not stick
 the gravel together except in streaks  
that had good luck rather than anything 
else4 ,and the gravel6 ,well1 it is an  
elastic truth to call it gravel1 for it 
was dirty2 and ,i conscientiously feel  
,i am close to thinking ,i am not       
speaking in accordance with the         
principles of strict veracity if ,i call
 it gravel4  ,and the mixing6 ,well1    

there was not much of it1 just a turning
 over or two1 and we deluged the stuff  
with water so as to make it easy to     
handle1 and we hurled it into the       
foundations as we pleased and at all    
sorts of heights1 just as might happen  
to be convenient4 ,i did not trouble    
myself about it then1 but ,i do now1 for
 ,i had a month or two in and about the 
testing places when there was no other  
job for me that suited1 and ,i firmly   
believe almost all the failures of      
,portland cement concrete occur because 
the men that used it do not understand  
it1 or the specification is not carried 
out1 or is wrong somewhere4 ,the best   
goods in the world want proper          
treatment1 and1 after all1 the abuse of 
a thing is no argument against its use4 
,some quarry owners and stone merchants 
don't like cement concrete2 it is poison
 to them1 because it hurts their trade4 
,it is my opinion1 founded on what ,i   
have seen and know1 that ,portland      
cement concrete is grand stuff when     

properly made2 but you can't make the   
'extra' profit on it you could1 unless  
you can forget to rightly proportion the
 material4 ,i mean leave out anything on
 the quiet you find is more profitable  
when it is absent2 and now mixing       
machines are always used on works of    
importance where concrete is made in any
 considerable quantity1 that is the only
 way you get a chance of a bit 'extra1' 
at least so runs my experience4  ,bless 
me6 when ,i come to think of it1 it is  
really wonderful that some of the       
concrete ,i have cast in has set at all1
 and don't believe it can all have set2 
for1 first1 the cement was wrong1 then  
the gravel was not gravel1 the sand was 
like road siftings1 no trouble was taken
 to proportion the materials properly1  
and no mixing was done rightly1 only an 
apology for it4 ,the water was dirty1   
and used anyhow1 and if a lump got a bit
 stiff it was rolled over1 broken up in 
the trench and watered down below4 ,some
 went in like the soup that has balls in

 it1 and we threw the concrete 787 down 
just anyhow4 ,the inspector1 as ,i said 
before1 knew nothing much about it1     
although he was a beautiful kidder and  
could patter sweet and pretty just as if
 he were courting1 and the engineer was 
away1 so the road was clear for a bit   
'extra1' and we took it4  ,now1 how the 
dickens could any concrete be right with
 such treatment8 ,it is cruelty to      
expect it4  ,i left those works1 and the
 engineer got corpsed1 so he is past    
blaming2 but1 fortunately1 the middle   
wall of the dock that got strained the  
most--the one in which was some of the  
concrete 787 ,i have been telling you   
about--had to be removed for            
improvements1 and when they pulled it   
down ,i heard the concrete was in layers
 like thick streaky bacon1 a layer of   
gravel with hardly a bit of cement in   
it1 then a few lumps of solid on the top
 and hard as all would have been if the 
cement1 gravel1 sand1 proportioning1    
mixing1 and the putting into place had  

been done properly2 then another layer  
of open stuff that had stuck together a 
bit1 and then a lot of soft oozy        
rubbish1 like decayed cheese1 bad1      
coarse cement1 you know1 that would not 
or could not hold together and had done 
the 'fly' trick1 you know1 had cracked  
about1 the coarsest part of the cement  
,the streaks were there because we      
watered the cement so much that it was  
not concrete but weak grout1 and bad    
too2 and it could not drain down because
 one of the thin1 hardish streaks1      
already set1 stopped it1 and it was     
bound to make friends with the gravel   
and dirt somehow1 although trying to    
shun such company by running away and so
 get off duty4 ,it was the same all the 
way through1 and there were a lot of    
holes in it caused by the nearly set    
lumps coming together and slightly      
sticking1 and therefore preventing the  
other material from filling the voids4  
,hardly a cubic yard of the whole mass  
was the same4  ,that is what ,i call a  

real bit of scamping2 but1 honestly1 ,i 
did not think ,i was putting it in so   
bad as that1 but ,i then knew hardly    
anything about the material4 ,i shall   
never do it again1 for ,i know ,i shall 
not get the chance1 besides we all must 
draw the line somewhere2 but there1 a   
lot is now known about concrete that was
 only in the brains of a very few then4 
,as the cement is now supplied to you1  
,i often put it in a bit thick1 that is 
when ,i have to find the gravel and     
sand4 ,it would be the other way about  
under different circumstances2 but at   
the present time1 with ,carey's concrete
 mixer--which1 luckily for plunder for  
us1 is the only machine that measures   
and mixes the materials mechanically1   
and turns out from #aj to #gj cubic     
yards of concrete per hour--you do not  
get much chance of 'extras' and none    
with it2 and concrete mixing is now     
nearly done as carefully as mixing      
medicine1 and ,i don't regard concrete  
as fondly as ,i used to1 for no 'extras'

 worth thinking of are to be made out of
 it4 ,my old love1 consequently1 is     
cooling off1 becoming warm and perhaps  
distant respect1 not much else2 but good
 ,portland cement concrete is the best  
material1 bar granite1 ,i know of1 if   
properly used1 as it is then all the    
same strength--that is when the         
,portland cement is right1 the          
proportions1 mixing1 and depositing even
 and proper1 and the gravel and sand    
really clean sharp gravel and sand4 ,you
 see1 in that case1 it is uniform       
throughout1 and1 after all1 what is the 
good of the hardest stone or brick when 
you have a weak mortar to join them     
together which cannot nearly stand the  
same strain in any direction as the     
stone or brick8  ,you are right1 it is  
simply waste4 ,like deluging good       
spirits with pure water1 and spoiling   
them both4 ,lucky you had finally left  
those dock works before they pulled the 
middle wall down1 or you might have had 
a bad quarter of an hour in a very      

sultry atmosphere4  ,after that we will 
have a toothful neat4  ,that's warming  
and is real comfort4  ,i have never had 
much to do with concrete1 but ,i        
remember seeing a lot go in on some dock
 works where ,i had some puddle to make 
for the cofferdam1 and ,i got something 
'extra' out of that4  ,how did you do   
it8  ,well1 you know1 working such stuff
 all day and nothing else makes anyone  
rather sick of it1 it is like breaking  
stones for metalling1 ,i should think1  
and the weariness of it makes the big   
stones have a tendency to hide and cause
 the face to look small and even4 ,i had
 a dozen men besides casuals1 and all   
old hands at the game of 'extras4' ,we  
had to1 or were supposed to1 work up a  
certain right proportion of sand with   
the clay so as to prevent the puddle    
cracking and keep it sufficiently moist4
 ,i own we sometimes let the clay have a
 taste of peace2 in fact1 between you   
and me1 we were going express speed1 and
 'extras' was the name of our engine4   

,one day the resident engineer came1 and
 somehow got up close to us rather      
unawares1 and took us by surprise4 ,of  
course1 the material ought to have been 
worked the same throughout1 and we      
nearly did it1 but nearly is not quite4 
,he seemed to sniff out that all was not
 just as right as it might be1 and      
said3--  ',don't forget to work it up   
thoroughly4 ,you have a good price1 and 
it is important the clay should be      
uniformly mixed with a little sand4'    
',certainly1 sir4'  ,i generally agree  
with my boss1 it pays best4 ,so ,i at   
once called out sharp to my chaps1 as if
 all ,i loved in this world was at      
stake1 ',don't fear mixing it1 lads4    
,get it well mixed4'  ,one of them1 he  
was a new chap to me1 and belonged to   
the militia ,i found out1 turned round1 
and said3--  ',all right1 boss2 ,i      
always make the broad-arrow kitchens in 
the camp1 and the flues and the openings
 for the ,flanders kettles1 so ,i know  
how it ought to be done2 but if you     

think ,i'm a white-faced doughey i4e4 a 
baker's man ,i am not1 and you had      
better fetch a batch of dougheys and    
start them at work feet and hands4 ,it  
will make them sweat4 ,that puddle1 ,i  
tell you1 is as well mixed as the       
dougheys do the different kinds of      
flour1 and call all the bake the best   
and purest bread1 and make it smell     
sweet with hay water4'  ,i suppose you  
silenced him quickly8  ,no1 ,i pretended
 to take no notice1 for ,i knew ,i had  
spoken too sharp1 but the resident      
engineer smiled downwards and passed on4
  ,we had a heap of clay on one side and
 the same of sand on the other1 and the 
inspector saw we had from time to time a
 small mound of clay and one of sand put
 separate and measured ready for mixing4
 ,we had a few piles of clay and sand at
 first measured exactly1 and then we got
 used to it1 and did it by sight only4  
,we were close to the river1 or rather  
estuary1 and used to fill a barrow now  
and again with the sand and shoot it    

over the entrance jetty4 ,a little was  
taken from each heap4 ,the engineer knew
 his book1 and would not have it worked 
from one or two big heaps1 and the sand 
brought to it1 but he would have        
separate mounds of about #bj cubic yards
 at a time4 ,there were nearly #ejjj    
cubic yards of puddle to work up1 and as
 the clay came from the trenches so we  
worked it up4 ,a kind of filling and    
discharging1 and everything on the move4
  ,i made a nice thing 'extra' that way1
 but nearly got bowled out1 for one day 
there was an extraordinary low tide1 a  
low tide was expected1 but a land wind  
was blowing great guns1 and it was the  
lowest tide known for fifty years or so4
 ,now1 when you start the game of       
'extra' profit you will agree with me1  
it is necessary to have someone you can 
rely upon1 or else things may not go    
exactly as you expect4 ,they may work   
wrong1 and then you have to look out for
 squalls when they lay you bare and find
 out all4 ,here1 ,i had been getting a  

rise out of my bosses1 and blessed if   
old ,ginger's snip1 his boy1 whom ,i    
paid a bit extra to do the harrowing    
well out1 did not get a rise out of me4 
,it caused a near shave1 too4  ,well1   
the tide ran down till it laid dry a    
little sandbank1 that is1 some of the   
stuff that should have been at home in  
the puddle1 had travelled by the wrong  
road by the entrance jetty4 ,i did give 
,ginger's snip a talking-to1 ,i tell    
you1 after2 but it was a near shave1 as 
you will soon know4 ,i saw the bank1 so 
,i sent him down the jetty with two     
chaps that knew what was up and got duly
 rewarded by me4 ,they knew me4 ,i never
 forget friends--too good1 ,i am4 ,not  
even to borrow from them1 if occasion   
requires1 so that they should remember  
me in their dreams4 ,i said to them3    
',stir up the sand1 lads1 for ,i think  
,i saw a leg in it1 and a bit of a      
dress2 it may be there has been another 
midnight horror4 ,it's really shocking6'
 ,and that was true1 for ,i thought the 

sand was shocking1 and that murder will 
out1 as the saying goes4 ,it was a      
shave1 for just as the tide began to    
turn1 up came the resident engineer1 and
 there could not have been more than an 
inch or two over the sand1 but it soon  
rises1 as you know1 and almost walks up4
 ,i had not time to call the men1 and   
there they were1 stirring away4 ,it was 
lucky ,i thought of the leg and the     
woman's dress4 ,so ,i shouted1 ',come   
up1 lads1 it's nothing4'  ,then the     
resident engineer started asking me     
questions2 and ,i was afraid he might   
ask the men something1 so ,i kept him as
 long as ,i could1 and spun a yarn1 and 
pointed out the spot where a body was   
found some time ago1 and talked away    
like a paid spouter1 for every minute   
that passed was good business1 for the  
water was rising quickly1 and ,i knew   
the tide would soon just about put it   
right4 ,after a little while the        
resident engineer went away1 and ,i was 
rubbing my waistcoat thinking ,i had    

been in another near squeak1 but won on 
the post by a short head owing to       
jockeyship1 when ,i saw him down below  
with a large black retriever1 and the   
blessed dog was half out of the water4  
,i kept as far away as ,i could1 but ,i 
saw he had taken off his boots and      
turned up his trousers1 and was walking 
about on the heap probing with his      
stick4 ,he did not stop long1 as he knew
 the tide was rising1 and then he came  
to me afterwards and said that a        
sandbank had been deposited at least #cj
 feet in length4  ',very likely1 sir2   
but did you find the leg1 or body1 or   
dress of a woman8' ',no4 ,but ,i found a
 lot of sand that would have been better
 in the puddle4' ,and he looked straight
 at me4  ,well1 ,i had to put on my best
 sweet1 innocent child face1 and ,i     
hazarded the mild remark1 ',it's the    
eddies that have done it4 ,i have known 
them bring stuff for miles1 sir4' ,it   
was no use saying from the other side or
 nearer1 because there was no sand like 

we had to mix with the clay for the     
puddle for many miles1 nor could ,i     
declare that a barge had got upset4 ,he 
did not say anything more1 but called   
his dog and went to the office4 ,let me 
impress upon you that the last #aejj or 
so yards of puddle had more sand in them
 than the first #cejj4 ,tides ,i like1  
and they are healthy and useful2 but it 
is the deuce to pay if you think you can
 go against them1 as ,king ,canute      
showed his courtiers1 when he did the   
chair trick upon the sea-shore4 ,do you 
know ,i go so far as to think that if a 
floating caisson were taken about and   
sunk so as to lay bare the bed of the   
,thames in certain places1 things would 
be found by a little digging that       
neither you nor me dream of1 and perhaps
 might not like to see1 for even        
sandbanks at certain times and places   
are not pleasant to gaze upon4 ,eh8     
,,chapter ,,xii4  ,,brickwork4 ,,tidal  
,,warnings4 ,,pipe ,,joints4 ,,dredging4
   ,you remember my old partner on the  

last dock works we were on8  ,rather4   
,he had been properly educated1 and knew
 the time of day1 and there are few     
things he ever had to do with he did not
 get a bit 'extra' out of4 ,on that you 
can bet the family plate4  ,right you   
are4 ,old partner1 do you know ,i have a
 weakness4 ,i liked the old times when  
there was plenty of work to be had1 and 
few that knew how to do it4 ,then the   
likes of you and me were regarded at    
their proper value1 and estimated as    
worth something extra4 ,now there are   
about a million too many of us1 and not 
half the work to be done4 ,old ,england 
is not like a big place that wants      
opening up1 and it is a rare high old   
breeding country1 and a lot of folks    
seem to wish it to be nothing else4  ,my
 then partner took1 labour only1 a lot  
of brickwork in cement4 ,it was a dock  
wall1 and it averaged not far from #bj  
feet in thickness4 ,it was a wall1 and  
not a mere facing like little bridges4  
,it gave a man a chance of something to 

work on4 ,when a chap takes a contract1 
labour only1 not having to find the     
materials1 it is no use turning your    
attention to saving them2 the only game 
to play is to use the mortar nearly     
liquid1 so that it runs about of itself 
almost1 and put some random work in     
between the face work and the back1 and 
trust to mortar-rakes and grout1 and    
oiling the human wheels as much as      
required4 ,i don't like the word bribe  
the inspectors4 ,for two chaps like us1 
that will have what we consider good    
work1 it is not bribery1 it is downright
 pure philanthropy that prompts us to   
give a sovereign away now and then in   
the proper and most deserving direction1
 which ,i generally find to be the      
inspector4 ,i never give gold away      
without knowing it will come back well  
married1 and may bring a family1 and    
they are welcome to my best spread4     
,that's just where our education enables
 us to grasp things right4 ,what a shame
 it is for people to find fault with the

 ,school ,board rate1 when it is only   
about four times more than its promised 
highest figure1 and the school buildings
 are such models of art and strength2   
and how thankful we ought to be to the  
teachers for their kind attendance1     
given for almost nothing6 ,how pleased  
our old schoolmaster would be when he   
knew we took every advantage to make a  
profit somehow or other from what he    
taught us4  ,i guess he would be1 the   
joy might kill him2 but how did you     
apply your schooling to the brickwork8  
,wait1 patience please6 ,as ,i said     
before1 or nearly did1 there was not    
much face work compared with bulk in the
 wall4 ,i had a lot of militia chaps1   
and well paid and lushed them4 ,they    
were something like brickies4 ,bless me1
 the wall used to rise up2 and ,i was   
half afraid if those at the office      
worked out the check time1 and compared 
it with our cubic measurement1 they     
would think ,i was paying all my chaps  
more than any other member of creation  

ever did1 or making too big a profit to 
suit them1 and don't you mistake4 ,but  
there6 the ,company did the work        
themselves1 or let it in bits1 and of   
course the check-time game was not      
played anything like so strong as if we 
had been working for a boss contractor4 
,well1 we were doing trench work1 and   
had shoots for the materials to travel  
from the surface down to the wall1 and  
the trench was about #ej feet in depth  
from the top to the foundation4 ,we had 
one shoot for bricks and another for    
mortar in between each frame1 and that  
would have been plenty if all the work  
had been laid to a bond1 but when only  
about #d feet in the front and #b feet  
at the back was1 and the rest raked in  
level1 except a course or two now and   
again1 we used to want a couple of      
shoots for each4 ,i had the face of the 
wall made really pretty1 just like a    
doll's house1 and pointed up lovely2 but
 let me give a bit of credit to the     
,company1 for they gave us the best     

materials with which ,i ever had to do4 
,you mean the bricks and mortar were    
such that it would have been a downright
 waste of good muscle to put the bond   
the same throughout1 simply pampering up
 the materials and turning them sickly1 
like some people do children1 so as to  
appear so fond of them before other     
people6  ,precisely2 so after my partner
 got the face in right1 the stuff went  
down and in4 ,all we had to be careful  
about was not to smash the bricks4 ,we  
soon managed that1 and we had few broken
 ones1 for they were good1 hard1 and    
dark4 ,well1 in they went1 and when we  
began to work the show1 some of the     
scenery was hard to get right4 ,of      
course the inspector began to find      
fault1 that was what he was paid for1   
and was about the only way he could work
 round for his 'extras4' ,after oiling  
him a little1 and pleasing him in the   
old-fashioned way1 we managed gradually 
to overcome the natural dulness of his  
mind1 and we became a happy crew--a lot 

of brickies with a single thought1 and  
hearts that beat as one4  ,well1 in the 
stuff went2 and after working out the   
averages according to the rules of the  
exact sciences1 me and my partner       
arrived at the conclusion accordingly   
that about one-half or a trifle more    
bricks were put in by hand1 and the rest
 were like machine-made bread1 unsoiled 
by hand1 and therefore must have been   
good and pure1 as those alone know who  
work on the same lines4 ,my partner1 in 
his younger days1 before he took to     
brickwork1 had been to sea1 and all the 
men used to call him ',captain4' ,when  
he wanted to give the chaps in the      
office the straight griffin1 he used to 
say1 ',nelson's my guide4' ,that meant  
give them 'biff1' in other words1 finish
 off the enemy as quick as you know how4
  ,you mean get the bricks in as fast as
 you can only get them in quick4  ,yes1 
that's it4 ,if good old ,nelson sent his
 shots in as fast as these bricks were  
squatted1 all ,i can say is the guns did

 not get much time to cool4 ,let me give
 my partner all praise1 for although he 
had a nice spot to work on--as of course
 the timber in the trenches hid a lot of
 the work1 and made a nice gloom--as a  
precaution he kept the ladder away from 
the top of the trenches1 so that anyone 
had to walk along the top strut and then
 get down1 consequently there was not   
much chance of being caught2 and after  
the bottom courses were in and the face 
and back right1 it was easy work1       
because there was always time to get the
 road right and all went as peacefully  
as could be wished4 ,but the old        
,captain1 on the same dock1 nearly      
overdid it one day1 and all to save him 
scarcely one hundred pence1 but he got  
so eager that money to him was food1 and
 it is my opinion if he had been born   
rich he would have made a fine miser2   
but apart from that1 he knew how to make
 a contract and what work was1 and the  
training on board ship he had in his    
young days set him right1 and he was    

always on the work looking out for a bit
 'extra1' or on scout4 ,but once he     
nearly overreached himself4  ,how did he
 do that8  ,i will tell you1 if you keep
 quiet4  ,right away4  ,it happened like
 this1 and might have wrecked the whole 
place1 and was the consequence of       
working against orders4 ,at one part of 
the works there was an old slope at the 
end of the dock which was no use without
 a new entrance4 ,where the trenches had
 been dug out for a wall a piece of     
earth was left in at the dock end1 and  
was stepped down like a retaining wall1 
although only earth4 ,well1 the orders  
were to keep it #d feet above a certain 
level1 which made it not so nice for    
unloading from barges as #b feet or so4 
,as that end of the dock was only sloped
 off1 and left to itself1 for no one    
ever seemed to go there1 and it was a   
good height1 and up and down a bit at   
top1 been stuff run to spoil1 my        
partner1 the old ,captain thought he    
might as well take another #b feet off  

for about #aj feet or so1 and ease the  
unloading the bricks1 cement1 and sand1 
and made certain it would not be        
noticed4 ,now of course it did not take 
long to pare a slice from that short    
length sufficient to help the unloading1
 and ,i should have said this was done  
soon after we began the brickwork4 ,i   
remember the day well enough1 for if ,i 
had not have happened to have been      
having my dinner by myself on the       
cofferdam1 ,i believe we might have been
 flooded out and wrecked4  ,the wind was
 blowing strong and had been for several
 days from the same quarter1 and it     
brought the water up till it was heaped4
 ,before the wind began to blow it had  
been very wet1 and it was also the time 
high tides were expected1 so everything 
worked in the direction for a real high 
one4 ,i began my dinner before the usual
 time1 feeling a bit hollow1 and had    
done by a quarter of an hour after the  
whistle had blown4 ,i was just lighting 
my pipe when ,i happened to look upon   

the water4 ,it wanted about an hour or  
more to high water1 ,i watched the tide 
flowing up1 and1 all of a sudden1 it    
struck me it would be a topper2 but as  
the cofferdam was a long way above high 
water1 so as to stop any waves breaking 
over1 for the estuary was nearly one    
mile in width1 and as this dam was a    
really well strutted one1 it did not    
trouble me4 ,i dare say ,i smoked for   
nearly ten minutes1 and was thinking it 
was a nice job1 and that 'extras' would 
have a good look in1 when1 just as      
things that frighten you do occur to you
 very quickly1 it struck me--,how about 
the ,captain and his two feet off1 pared
 off1 up at the trench end bank8 ,well1 
,i did not stop1 but went at once to the
 place1 although a good half mile away1 
and was soon there4 ,i saw it must be a 
near squeak1 and ,i knew there was no   
chance of the entrance gates being shut 
because a lot of craft was waiting to go
 into the dock1 besides it would give   
the office that something was wrong1 and

 ,i knew the chances were a thousand to 
one no one would come near as it was    
right away one end of the works1 and    
nothing doing there except for us when  
we were unloading4 ,most of the chaps   
had never been that end of the works at 
all4 ,now this was all very pretty      
looked at from getting a bit of 'extra1'
 but it was hardly the same when that   
game was played by the tide putting in a
 bit 'extra' and rising nearly #b feet  
more than ever recorded before4 ,i      
looked at my watch and knew the tide had
 about an hour yet to run up4 ,i got out
 my rule and measured1 and then ,i was  
sure it would not be far off two feet   
over the dip the old ,captain had cut to
 save an odd penny or two4 ,i was just  
turning round to go to fetch him--for ,i
 knew where he was1 and of course we    
always let one another know1 although we
 don't name it--when ,i saw him coming  
pretty sharp with his ganger and a few  
trusty chaps4 ,i beckoned to him4 ,he   
was alongside very quickly1 and ,i said1

 ',the tide will be over4'  ,he         
answered3 ',i thought it might1 as the  
bottom of the tenth step down on the    
landing place was just the same level as
 the top of the dip4 ,i knew it by the  
water4'  ,i said1 ',there may be a      
chance about it1 but ,i don't think so1 
for this tide is running up so strongly 
that ,i know1 from experience of the    
estuary1 that it will beat the highest  
tide ever recorded4'  ,while ,i was     
speaking he measured1 and took out his  
watch and timed five minutes4 ,he       
measured again1 and then off went his   
coat like greased lightning1 and we all 
followed suit as if we were a lot of    
figures pulled by strings1 and he       
shouted1 ',we have not a moment to lose4
 ,it will rise #a foot #f inches above  
where we are4'  ,he then clenched his   
teeth4 ',planks1 stakes1 bags1          
tarpaulins1 bring anything you can get1 
and come back at once or we are drowned 
out1 wrecked1 and lost1 all ends up4'   
,we soon got some stakes in1 and some   

planks1 and we set to work1 all six of  
us1 raising the dip in the bank the old 
captain had made4 ,he turned white as a 
sheet1 and said1 ',she is on us1 simply 
romping in4 ,half a dollar each if you  
can stop her4'  ,we all worked like     
black devils flying from torture1 for we
 only had half an inch start of the     
tide4 ,it was a sort of life and death  
race1 and death for choice4  ',she is   
still rising1 ,captain4'  ,he then cried
 out3 ',by thunder6 ,she's over the far 
end at the plank dip4 ,once really over1
 and all will go4'  ,he stood still for 
a moment and then dashed to the place   
and laid down on his side full length1  
and shouted3 ',give me a short plank1   
and my coat4' ,he would not get up      
although we asked him4 ,he had got the  
frights1 so we let him be4 ,he placed   
the plank in front of him1 and his coat 
over it1 and there we were filling in   
stuff at the back of him as fast as we  
could1 and putting in stakes for the    
planks4 ,the tide was still rising1 ,he 

turned his head1 and said3 ',are you    
ready8'  ',yes4'  ,he then rose1 and a  
pretty mess he was in4  ',by thunder6   
that was a close shave4 ,if we had only 
had another tarpaulin or two we should  
have been right sooner4 ,there was some 
sand there1 ,i remember we upset a      
wagon-load4'  ,he looked scared1 but    
soon brightened up and said3 ',we are   
right now though4 ,the tide has stopped1
 but keep at it1 lads1 we must bury     
everything and get a good #b feet       
higher1 for if once the water runs over1
 the tail-race of the largest mill      
stream in creation will be a fool to it1
 and it would only be a question of     
minutes before the whole earth-bank     
would burst and let in ten acres or more
 of dock water1 and the sea1 and perhaps
 break up a lot of craft and wreck the  
whole place4 ,lads1 ,i well remember    
seeing a catch-water earth-bank give    
way1 and it is soon over when the water 
runs down the back slope1 and there is  
not much chance of stopping a breach4'  

,the men went away1 and the captain said
 to me3 ',my word1 ,i shall not forget  
this4' ,he then sat down and wiped his  
forehead and said on the quiet to me3   
',there is one blessing1 no one on the  
work knows about it but us1 and1 if we  
are careful1 no one will4'  ',you had   
better get home at once and have a rub  
down and change and sixpenn'orth or     
more1 hot4 ,i know what to do1 and will 
see all is put right4' ,he took the hint
 and skipped1 but came back in half an  
hour1 and then we had a talk4'  ,i tell 
you what it is1 one can play a lot of   
tricks on land1 and get 'extras' many   
roads1 but water won't stand it4 ,it is 
too honest1 and turns upon you and soon 
finds you out4 ,i never did like water  
much1 you can't beat it1 that's why ,i  
left the sea4 ,it's an unsociable       
element1 and is most always in the way  
except when you're boating1 washing1    
fishing1 or mixing something4 ,you can't
 educate it so as to look at work from  
an 'extras' point of view1 for it cares 

for no one4  ,take my advice and always 
give it a margin and allow in temporary 
structures a good #c feet above the     
highest recorded water line1 unless you 
want the work wrecked1 and then add a   
height necessary to keep out the waves4 
,you are right1 for ,i remember getting 
a bit 'extra' out of some pipe joints4  
,instead of making all the joints       
according to the specification1 we made 
a good many with brown paper and covered
 them up quickly4 ,the pipes were laid  
at a depth of some #bj feet1 and it took
 a considerable time before they began  
to leak4 ,at last there was a burst up1 
but it was so powerful that all the     
jointing was washed out1 so they never  
knew who was to blame4 ,the place where 
that happened is fully a couple of      
hundred miles away1 and will never see  
me in it again as ,i did not like the   
people1 so ,i said to myself1 all right1
 ,i will leave something behind that    
will tickle you up1 and cost the lot of 
you some beans to put right1 and ,i did1

 and so got even with them all4 ,it was 
one of those lovely small towns where   
everyone knew everybody's business much 
better than their own4  ,do you remember
 ,carotty ,jack8  ,yes1 rather4 ,you    
mean him who was up to snuff in         
spoon-bag dredging4 ',old tenpenny      
labor' only was his 'chaff' name4  ,he  
was the sharpest card1 so ,i was told1  
on the river for getting 'extras' out of
 dredging4 ,he was measured by the      
barge1 and paid accordingly4 ,i confess 
,i don't quite know how he worked it1   
but he did for years1 and never got     
found out4 ,you see1 what is ten or     
twenty yards of dredging1 nothing either
 way8 ,it is never noticed1 and you     
can't measure under the water as you can
 on land4 ,it can't be done1 except in  
new cuts1 when new cross-sections have  
been taken over the ground4 ,the beds of
 most rivers being always more or less  
on the move1 water then becomes a nice  
servant to work a bit of 'extras' out   
of1 and that is about the only way ,i am

 aware of where it comes in useful in   
that direction4  ,how ,carotty did it1  
as ,i said before1 ,i don't quite know1 
although ,i saw the thing1 but he used  
to work it somehow or other by movable  
boards fixed on a pivot4 ,he had three  
or four of them1 and could fit them     
together just about as quick as the     
roulette tables are fastened by         
racecourse thieves and stowed away4     
,they had two flaps at the sides covered
 with stiff tarpaulin1 and the ends were
 closed by planks loosely fastened by a 
catch to the pivot4 ,they were well made
 and fitted splendidly1 just like hinged
 box-lids1 and the whole thing was      
similar to a box with the bottom out and
 the sides hinged and ends to slide up  
and down4 ,i believe ,carotty would have
 made furniture ,a #a1 if he had turned 
his attention to it4  ,he had an old    
ship's boat of his own4 ,the apparatus  
was stowed away in it1 and ,i might     
further say it resembled a shallow box  
upside down1 with the lid off1 working  

on a saddle1 and the flaps at the sides 
moved as the box got pushed down on     
either side2 but they kept the stuff    
from getting under it almost always2 for
 when they measured the barge-load for  
depth1 if they put the measuring-rod    
down on one side and touched the board1 
it went up a foot or so on the other1   
and no one suspected anything4 ,the     
barges were all narrow ones1 as usual   
with spoon-bag dredging4 ,the measurer  
used to walk round the barge and be busy
 trying the stuff here and there1 to see
 if there was no gammon4 ,the mud was   
thick1 and went up and down very slowly4
 ,carotty always had two or three of    
these boxes fixed on the saddle1 and    
just the right distance to be out of    
reach1 and he did not fix them on the   
same line4 ,he kept the frames two or   
three feet apart1 so that if by any     
chance two men started probing on the   
same line he would soon shift them a    
little1 and say it was an odd brick1 or 
a tin1 or a bottle1 and then everything 

went down easily upon both sides1 and   
for one place where they were extra     
sharp1 he made the machinery in very    
short lengths1 and zigzag fashion4 ,he  
told me he got pretty nearly from six to
 ten yards extra out of every barge1    
according as the stuff and the size of  
the barge was kind towards 'extras4' ,of
 course1 from the solid dredging he had 
the best haul4 ,carotty was a cool card 
at the game of 'extras1' and had a face 
on him like a nun1 and could look that  
innocent and lamb-like as only humbugs  
can4 ,he used to laugh over it4  ,he    
told me that he had known the time when 
no 'extra' machinery such as his was    
needed1 for plenty of water1 some boxes1
 a false bottom1 and a few planks1 were 
all the things that were wanted4 ,then  
they had to be given up1 and he said he 
was really compelled to make himself a  
present of the first small pump he could
 privately annex1 and soon found the    
chance on one of the works where he had 
a little contract4  ,he got some old    

bags1 mended them1 and soaked them in   
some solution that made them tight1 and 
he used to fill them with water and     
weight them with a stone or two4 ,he had
 a rope with a draw-knot attached to    
short lengths of line so that he could  
let the bags loose or fasten them       
against a hook when he discharged the   
barge out at sea or elsewhere4          
,generally he used to unscrew the       
stopper of each bag at the side of the  
barge1 and when on the return journey   
let out the water and then haul up4     
,although it cost him some labour1 he   
said he used to get one way or other a  
bit of gold 'extra' by that means every 
barge load1 or1 rather1 what was thought
 to be2 and sometimes he did not let the
 water out of the bags at all if the    
people he had to deal with were easy1   
but now times were very hard on him1 as 
he had to work at night to keep the     
machinery right1 and he thought it very 
cruel of them1 as it gave him a very    
short eight hours' recreation1 as was   

the cry now for the third part of a day4
  ,he was clever1 and ,i believe he     
could have made an iron-clad out of old 
fire-irons and coal scuttles if they had
 given him enough goods1 plenty of time1
 and paid him sufficiently1 and you may 
bet the ship would have answered its    
rudder all serene4  ,he told me he      
actually got twopence a yard more on one
 occasion by using the boxes right for a
 week1 on the ground of extra hard      
dredging1 for1 of course1 all the stones
 and heaviest dredgings fall to the     
bottom4 ,he put in his machinery pretty 
close together1 and heaped up the stuff 
in the middle1 and did the injured      
innocence business properly1 and after  
they had done a lot of probing about1   
during which he told me the machinery   
worked lovely1 they gave him another    
twopence a cubic yard4 ,measurement by  
the ton would have spoilt that game1    
though2 but then it was not canal       
dredging he was doing1 but in the open4 
,give ,carotty his due1 ,i was told     

there was not a man on the river who    
could dredge to a section as he could1  
and he did the work quickly and well1   
but he always managed to get paid for   
more than he did1 and he told me he     
never meant to do otherwise4 ,he said he
 considered he was cheap goods at the   
price1 and wholesome2 but he complained 
tremendously of the dredgers and        
excavators introduced lately1 for they  
spoilt him1 and there was but little    
chance of 'extras' now worth the trouble
 or the risk4 ,in consequence1 he had   
given up doing dredging4     ,,chapter  
,,xiii4  ,,permanent ,,way4   ,will you 
listen to me for a few minutes8  ,yes4  
,i notice you have something pent up in 
your head4  ,well1 this was rather an   
amusing bit ,i am going to tell you1 but
 was a near shave for real squalls1 as  
you will agree when you hear about it4  
,i got the guv'nor to let me do a bit of
 linking in at so much per chain4 ,of   
course1 he supplied the rails--they were
 flange rails--sleepers and fastenings1 

and they were all right4 ,i linked in   
the road4 ,we had a mixed up permanent  
way1 nine by four and a half            
half-rounds1 and ten by five rectangular
 sleepers4 ,check pattern1 an odd and   
even road4 ,between you and me1 ,i think
 mixing them up betwixt the joint       
sleepers is a mistake4 ,it makes the    
road stiff one place and loose at       
another1 and a train cannot run         
steadily1 and ,i would rather have all  
rectangulars1 and put them wider apart1 
and give the rail flange a bit of       
bearing1 for half-rounds are mere       
sticks1 although they are lighter to    
handle1 and in that respect nicer4 ,you 
see they have only about three-fifths of
 the bulk of rectangulars1 and when they
 are adzed less than that1 and not more 
than half the bearing for the rail      
flange4 ,if ,i had to do the            
maintenance1 no half-rounds for me1     
still they do for light traffic and for 
cheap agricultural lines4  ,i agree1    
they are temporary goods4  ,well1 it was

 funny1 but here we had too much and too
 little of a good thing1 and were as    
near in hot squalls as could be4 ,i     
expect they made a mistake in loading   
them2 anyhow1 young ,jack1 my ganger1   
found he had no half-rounds1 but a lot  
of rectangulars4 ,he is a bit impetuous1
 and would not wait1 it's not in him1 so
 he put in all rectangulars that day1   
and1 of course1 with the result that    
they had not enough rectangulars left   
for the other road all through1 so about
 six or seven chains were nearly all    
half-rounds1 and he actually placed one 
rectangular one side of a rail joint1   
and a half-round on its back1 flat end  
upwards1 on the other1 and so a lot of  
the half-rounds did duty for            
rectangulars4  ,it was a bit of a       
scurry1 and as soon as the road was in  
the spikers1 ballasters and packers were
 on us1 and no time for thinking4 ,well1
 neither me nor ,jack gained much by the
 fun1 except our men would have been    
stopped1 and they were not1 and things  

would have been put out a bit for the   
day4 ,my guv'nor did not know1 or would 
have made us pull it all up and put it  
in right4 ,now1 they knew the number of 
sleepers1 c41 that had been served out1 
and had sufficient confidence in me to  
be sure ,i never scamped the materials1 
except a bit of ballast here and there1 
and that is soon made up4  ,of course1  
there was no mistake six or seven chains
 of road were weak1 and ,i told ,jack to
 put in a little extra good ballast and 
pack the sleepers well there1 and what  
he did extra at that place was to come  
out of the part where all the           
rectangulars were1 for ,i never throw   
away or lose anything on purpose4       
,quite right1 we agree4 ,shake1 for ,i'm
 hearty to you4  ,he understood how ,i  
wanted the wind to blow1 and it would   
have gone on all serene1 but you know1  
just when you think you are out of a    
scrape1 you sometimes find you are in   
it1 or as near to it as wants 'an old   
parliamentary hand' to explain and fog  

away4 ,i was down at the junction1 when 
,i saw the engineer1 and some swells    
with him4 ,the resident engineer was    
away that day4 ,after a bit of jaw among
 them1 they beckoned to me1 and said    
they wanted to go to the end of the     
line1 the very place where some of the  
sleepers were lying turned on their     
round faces4 ,there was a bit of luck4  
,i felt dead wrong4 ,however1 they had  
to walk about a couple of miles1 and    
then wait till the engine had returned  
with the empties2 so ,i said to the     
engineer1 ',please excuse me1 sir1 but  
,i will arrange that the engine is at   
the ballast hole at four o'clock1 as you
 wish1 and ,i will be back to attend    
upon you as quickly as ,i can4'  ,i     
scampered up the slope of the cutting   
and out with an envelope4 ,i always keep
 one or two about me handy4 ,i tore out 
a leaf of my note-book1 and called young
 ,snipper1 the brake boy1 and said to   
him1 ',jump on old ,leather's nag4 ,take
 this to young ,jack1 and ,i'll make it 

all right for you when ,i see you next  
time2 but go quickly1 and give this     
letter to no one else but young ,jack4  
,if he is away for more than a few      
minutes bring the letter back to me4    
,no--wait till he comes up1 and send    
someone to fetch him to you4 ,you       
understand4' ',yes1 sir1 ,i know what   
you mean4' ',now do a bit of the ,johnny
 ,gilpin business4' ,off he went1 and   
was busy4  ,this is what ,i wrote to    
young ,jack1 my ganger3--',bosses has   
come1 and will be up to you in about an 
hour4 ,x4444 them4 ,cover up the ends of
 the half-rounds1 and sprinkle them     
pretty with fine ballast if you can do  
it in an hour4 ,then shunt the empties  
or the full wagons over where the       
half-rounds are1 and look innocent1 as  
if you had never moved above a foot all 
day1 and be busy1 or ,i'll pull your    
throat out1 much as ,i love you4 ,smooth
 it right1 and leave rest to me4 ,pull  
all your gumption out ready4 ,keep this1
 and hand it back to me4 ,show no one1  

or ,i'll have you hung4 ,if ,i find all 
right1 there are two pints1 and         
something else4' ,that's what ,i call a 
business letter4 ,no double meaning     
about it4  ,young ,snipper got there in 
double quick time1 and young ,jack was  
there as well4 ,i saw he had carried out
 my letter of instructions4 ,still1 ,i  
knew the engineer would be likely to    
twig1 as he was near to being hawk-eyed4
 ,now1 ,i felt sure they would be       
hanging about for an hour1 perhaps two1 
as most of them had never been up there 
before1 and they thought of carrying the
 line on further to somewhere or other1 
but they did not on account of the      
expense1 for several tunnels1 viaducts1 
high retaining walls1 and other heavy   
work would be required4 ,here was the   
very place for a rack railway on some   
system like ,abt's1 it seemed to me4 ,i 
saw one at work in ,germany1 and know   
they are safely used in ,austria1       
,switzerland1 ,italy1 and in ,north and 
,south ,america4 ,as you know1 you      

cannot nicely work a railway by adhesion
 only much above a gradient of one in   
fifty with sharp curves upon it1 or one 
in forty on a straight line1            
consequently the rack is the thing to   
use then1 ,i fancy1 for on the ,abt rack
 railway the pinions on the engine can  
be easily put in and out of gear on the 
rack1 and the journey be continued by   
simple adhesion1 as by an ordinary      
locomotive1 and the rack system works   
all right round moderate curves4  ,i    
should think1 in hilly parts of the     
country there are many places where #d  
feet #h-a_/b inch gauge railways could  
be laid out almost on the surface of the
 ground1 and at such gradients as about 
one in fourteen1 and there should be no 
difficulty in working them safely1      
because similar lines have been worked  
for many years4 ,there must be many     
little feeder lines that end nowhere    
almost now1 that could be so continued  
over the hills to a main line1 and thus 
join two large traffic trunk lines1 and 

raise the feeder from obscurity to some 
importance1 and from the state of a mere
 agricultural #el4 to #ajl4 per mile per
 week line of railway to one earning    
more than double4 ,however1 that's by   
the way4 ,now1 my best game was to draw 
the swells away as quickly as ,i could1 
and yet not show them my hand4 ,i       
started badly1 though1 for ,i said1     
',gentlemen1 ,i think a shower is coming
 up over the hills1 and if you command  
me1 ,i will tell the engine driver to   
run you down quickly by himself1 and    
come back for these empties4 ,it won't  
delay the work in any way1 gentlemen    
all4' ,they said1 ',never mind2 if there
 was a shower they could stand upon the 
sleepers by the wagons and get          
sufficient shelter4'  ,that meant on the
 sleepers ,i was trying to hide4 ,just  
fancy1 the very half-rounds that        
troubled me4 ,i felt ,i could sink      
through the earth1 as ,i saw the        
engineer's eyes were doing full time as 
lighthouse revolving lights4 ,i thought1

 he will have me chucked from this job1 
sure as half-rounds are not             
rectangulars1 for he would not have bad 
work4  ,now the wagons did not quite    
reach all over the half round road1 the 
swells took to walking between the      
roads4 ,why1 ,i never knew1 but they    
did4 ,i felt certain1 if any of them    
took to walking upon the half-rounds1   
they would find it all out4 ,i got to   
young ,jack1 and on the quiet he        
returned to me my letter to him1 which  
,i burnt afterwards4 ,by luck1 one of   
the directors--that's what they         
were--drew the attention of the engineer
 to something on the station road close 
by2 and all except two of them passed   
on1 but two directors kept behind with  
me1 and one started walking on the      
half-rounds1 and on those too that were 
on their tops1 as should have been      
uppermost1 and one nearly got upset     
before he travelled five yards4 ,so ,i  
went for him there and then1 and said1  
',please1 sir1 the road is not packed   

yet1 and has only just been put in to   
take these few empties4 ,it will be as  
firm as a rock in two days1 sir4' ,i    
left the rest to him4 ,he looked at me  
and said1 ',i hope it will be1 or       
passengers will think they are          
travelling over the ,rocky ,mountains4' 
,i smiled1 and looked as pleasant and   
truthful as ,i knew how1 but thought1   
hope with you1 as with me1 is grand     
goods1 but fact is better business4     
,they were a smart lot1 and no one was  
going to move them on till they had seen
 just about all they felt inclined to1  
but ,i had a bit of luck then1 and ever 
after have liked birds4  ,what was it8  
,well1 a cocktail rose almost at our    
feet4 ,the line passed between two      
coppices4 ,from that moment ,i was safe1
 as both the directors talked of nothing
 but shooting4 ,i kept the game alive   
for all ,i knew and more than ,i did1   
that's certain1 and before ,i had done  
had made out it was the finest part of  
the whole country for game1 although    

they ran a bit wild1 and wanted         
stopping4 ,it is convenient to always   
ease down a strong sentence1 then you   
can alter its meaning a bit when what   
you have said don't agree with what you 
are saying2 so ,i warned them the birds 
wanted stopping4 ,they all got talking  
and pointing about till they had no time
 to spare to get back so as to catch the
 train at the junction4 ,i tell you it  
was a near squeak1 and shook my         
constitution more than a trifle1 and no 
fault of mine1 but it ended all serene4 
,your escape reminds me of one ,i had4  
,it was a long while ago1 must be about 
forty years back1 when railways in many 
parts were a sort of novelty1 and the   
natives used to turn out1 swells and    
all1 to see what was going on1 and made 
a line a free show4 ,one day about seven
 or eight swells came bearing down on   
me4 ,one ,i knew had put a lot of money 
in the line1 although he was not a      
director1 and ,i have no doubt got it   
well back in a few years by the good the

 railway did his estate1 for houses     
began to spring up all round soon after 
we had finished4 ,i remember1 and you   
will1 that old ,jack ,slurry used to say
 married folks were nothing to a new    
railway for increasing the population in
 certain parts4 ,it brings people       
together as never could come before1 and
 so up goes the number of mouths1 and no
 sooner do houses rise than shops       
follow1 then churches and chapels and   
clubs and halls and so on like a        
procession1 till the old folks almost   
wonder where they are4 ,i'm talking a   
bit astray of my subject1 and will now  
to it again4  ,these swells came        
straight to me and asked me to show them
 through a few of the cuttings1 and ,i  
did4 ,i met my ganger in one1 and       
managed to get in front of them and ask 
on the quiet who they were4 ,he said1   
',them is nobs4 ,they be hanteaquariums4
 ,they are searching for as old goods as
 can be found6' ,i knew what he meant1  
so ,i broke a small boulder or two and  

showed them the impressions of shells1  
and ,i called to my young ,snipper and  
he got them a specimen each1 and they   
were pleased4 ,one gave me a quid when  
they left4 ,they were real gentlemen1 at
 least one was2 and it is only          
charitable to suppose the others were in
 company1 and this one was banker6  ,i  
agree with you4  ,after looking at a few
 of the cuttings1 and my putting in some
 pleasant words which seemed to be food 
to them1 one of them opened a gate and  
they commenced to walk back along the   
fields and through the wood1 near to    
where a culvert is1 and close to a bit  
of marsh4 ,they did not seem to mind the
 dirt or brushwood1 and they asked me to
 come with them1 and point out and say  
anything ,i thought they would like to  
hear1 and ,i did4 ,perhaps they would   
have liked to have known what the prices
 were ,i was paid1 but ,i had not the   
heart to distract their minds from their
 own true-love study to such a plain    
thing as ,l s4 d4 ,i ought to have told 

you our engineer we used to call ',old  
,fangbolts4' ,they were his hobby1 and  
it is my opinion that if he has as long 
fangs to his teeth as the bolts he would
 have put down1 when they get decayed he
 will know what pain is1 and wish they  
were short spikes4 ,he had his way1 of  
course1 although there was a great waste
 of metal4 ,now fangbolts are good      
things for getting a through grip of the
 sleepers when the fangs are screwed on 
tight1 but still they don't keep the    
rails from spreading much more1 if any1 
and ,i rather think less1 than          
flat-faced spikes of fair length4 ,at   
least1 that is my experience4  ,and so  
it is mine4  ,between you and me the    
chap that first had the stern end of a  
bolt put uppermost in the rail1 so that 
he could be sure the nut was on1 knew   
what he was about1 because fangs are    
nasty goods to screw on1 and1 bless you1
 tricks are sometimes played that way4  
,i have known them just turned round    
once and then wedged by a piece of      

ballast1 and they appeared to be tight2 
and when a bit of the road had to be    
taken up and the fang had got loose it  
was on the premises--perhaps1 it is     
truer to say1 just outside and at the   
door--and then you could always say the 
threads were wrong and blame the maker1 
or wriggle out and wrestle with the     
subject in the direction that looked the
 most serene4  ,you mean work your lay  
according to circumstances4  ,precisely4
 ,besides ,i have had two fang bolts    
with triangular fangs to fix in the     
flange of a rail almost in line1 one    
each side of the web1 and they could not
 be both screwed tightly1 for the points
 of the fangs under the sleeper met when
 you turned them4 ,this time1 of course1
 none of these nobs knew what a fangbolt
 was1 and if ,i had told them ,i dare   
say at first they might have believed it
 was a ,roman tooth1 or a piece of chain
 armour1 or part of an early ,briton's  
war paint4 ,well1 we were walking       
through a wood--it belonged to one of   

them--and clearing our way1 for the     
brushwood was rather thick1 when we came
 to a small mound1 and ,i own ,i did not
 know what it was4 ,one of the swells   
smiled1 and said1 ',how very            
interesting4 ,this is a tumulus4' ,i    
said1 ',excuse me1 gentlemen1 but ,i am 
always glad to learn anything1 and you  
don't mean to say some earth has tumours
 and1 swells a bit1 because if you will 
tell me how to work it it would save me 
and others money and a lot of work      
forming embankments1 if it does not cost
 too much to start the swelling4'  ,they
 smiled1 and one said ',a tu-mu-lus was 
not a tumour1 but an artificial mound   
raised over those who were buried in    
ancient times4' ,i touched my hat and   
said ',i thought there was something    
wrong1 gentlemen2' and told them ,i knew
 there were a good many women round     
these parts that had wens and they swell
 up as big as marrows1 but ,i did not   
know the ground had tumours1 and was    
eager to learn it had1 as ,i thought ,i 

saw a useful application of them1 and   
they might be a new form of wonder      
produced by inoculation4 ,one of them   
then said1 ',no doubt the women have    
their whims and playful humours1 but he 
trusted they were free from wens or     
other tumours4' ,then they all laughed1 
and one of them hazarded a remark and   
said1 ',this is the 444 formation4' ,it 
sounded to me like upper railroadian    
formation4 ,i forgot myself1 and turned 
round sharp to him and said1 ',it is    
nothing of the kind1 gentlemen4 ,there  
is no such thing as a upper railroadian 
formation4' ,they did stare4 ,i went    
straight on1 and said straight out1     
',there is no formation here at all1    
besides upper railroadian formation is  
utterly unknown on railways4 ,the       
formation is at the bottom of the       
cuttings or the tops of the banks and   
nowhere else4  ,they stared just as if  
,i was going to shoot them1 and one of  
them laughed and said1 ',i am afraid    
there is a slight misunderstanding      

somewhere4' ,then the others smiled4 ,i 
thought it was time to stop my tongue4  
,the same one turned to me and said1    
',my friend was alluding to the         
geological character of the locality4   
,it undoubtedly is ,upper ,si-lu-rian4' 
,so ,i touched my hat1 and said1 ',i    
hoped they would excuse me1 and would   
they kindly remember ,i was a bit       
rough4' ,they all said1 ',oh6           
certainly6' and they seemed to like the 
business that had just passed1 and were 
enjoying themselves1 ,i could see that4 
,well1 all this passed when we pulled up
 at the mound1 which was about fifty    
feet away from the line1 and in the     
thick of the brushwood4 ,one of them    
began poking about with a stick1 and    
bless me1 ,i saw about half-a-dozen     
fangs here and there4 ,i thought to     
myself it is lucky ,old ,fangbolts is   
not here4 ,he would have shot me1 and   
killed himself right off1 or gone loose4
 ,i twigged what the mound was made of4 
,it was only a small one1 but the       

gentleman was at first mistaken1 and no 
wonder1 because there are a lot of real 
ancient mounds round and about the wood4
 ,however1 this mound was a mixture of  
fangs that should have been screwed on  
the bolts and were not1 that's certain1 
and earth and turf1 and had been        
artfully covered up1 for it was quite   
green except one little streak4 ,i      
expect some vermin had tried it1 and    
found it no good1 and scratched away a  
bit1 and bared it4 ,anyhow1 it might    
have been awkward for me1 for one of the
 party picked up a rusty old fang1 and  
turned to the other nobs1 and said1 ',i 
don't think that is very ancient2 at    
least1 if it be so1 it is a             
,birmingham-made ancient relic1 and has 
been deposited upon the wrong           
battlefield4'  ,i believe that was only 
a sly hint to me that he meant the      
battlefield to be the permanent way2    
but1 of course1 ,i took no notice4 ,he  
threw down the fang1 and then we all    
walked on4 ,no patter is sometimes the  

best game to play1 and look as if you   
were learning a lot4 ,however1 on being 
asked about the mound1 ,i said1 ',it's  
only an old earth mound that has grown  
over green4 ,it may have been there     
fifty years1 not more1 perhaps less4'   
,really1 it was full of fangs that ought
 to have been screwed on the bolts1 a   
heap of them1 too4 ,so ,i gave the      
office in the right quarter1 and two of 
us went next morning very early1 and    
soon dug a hole1 and buried the mound1  
and carefully cast the excavation as    
close by as possible1 and covered it up 
with a nice green top1 so as to look    
quite natural and pretty1 and when we   
had done we considered we had improved  
the scenery4 ,it was a near squeak      
though1 and it was lucky no engineer was
 with them1 or ,i should have been had4 
,it is my opinion1 from what ,i have    
noticed1 that the engine does a good    
deal to keep down the rails1 and as long
 as the rails and sleepers are right1   
and the ballast good1 and the sleepers  

well packed1 the fastenings have more to
 prevent the rails spreading1 and the   
road bursting than keeping the rails    
down1 although1 of course1 that is      
necessary and should be done as well4   
,i think you are quite right there4     
,old ,fangbolts was all for the through 
grip1 and did not seem to care much     
about preventing spreading4 ,well1      
engineers work in all grooves4 ,some    
have one way of thinking1 some another1 
and all perhaps are partly right1 and if
 they would but balance accounts1       
instead of harping on one string1 it    
would be a smoother world4  ,there we   
agree4  ,did you ever get a bit 'extra' 
out of rock ballast8  ,no2 never had a  
chance4  ,i did this way4 ,of course1   
rock ballast is not equal to shingle and
 clean gravel1 but there is more chance 
of 'extra' profit1 for you can pitch it 
in big1 if you have a nice cover of     
small ballast1 so as to make it look    
pretty at the finish1 and like a garden 
path1 and as occasion offers you can    

pare off the cess between the ballast   
wall and the top of the slope in        
embankments and the foot of the slope in
 cuttings1 a couple of inches or so and 
sometimes get paid the specified depth  
that way1 although the real depth of    
ballast throughout is not within #b or  
#c inches of it on the average4 ,when   
the guv'nors are walking over the line  
keep them on the outside rail on curves 
as much as you can1 as the cant makes   
the ballast wall look big4 ,you have to 
be careful with the packing under the   
rail1 because1 if you don't mind1 it may
 happen the centre of the sleeper is on 
a bit of rock1 and then the sleeper may 
split when doing the see-saw trick as   
the trains pass and sway about4  ,just  
so4 ,you must be careful not to pack    
them upon a middle pivot4  ,i had two   
chaps who would almost have done for    
masons4 ,they used to pack the sleepers 
with a few lumps where the rails rested 
on them1 just to get the rail top nice  
and the rest was filled up anyhow1 like 

nature on the sea shore2 and we can't do
 wrong in taking a hint there1 you know1
 for the cue is right1 particularly when
 it runs towards 'extra' profit4 ,still1
 ,i don't like to chance breaking a     
sleeper's back1 so ,i let them lie easy 
between the rails1 or rather under the  
parts of the sleepers where no rails    
rest4  ,i understand4 ,you pack the     
sleepers only where they are under the  
rail-flange4  ,yes4 ,one day the        
engineer said to the inspector who was a
 kind-hearted man and bred right1 ',mind
 the sleepers are evenly packed and not 
with large pieces of rock4' ,he called  
me up and repeated it extra treble to   
me4 ',very well1 sir2 but some of the   
rock will soon weather1 and don't you   
think it better to keep it a bit large  
rather than small8 ,the quarry runs very
 uneven4 ,some of the rock is as hard as
 nails1 sir1 and some soft1 and it is   
not exactly the best ballast to handle  
or in the world2 and if you will excuse 
me1 don't you think1 sir1 on these soft 

banks another #c inches under the       
sleeper would be advisable8'  ,he did   
not seem to want to agree1 but after a  
week1 an order came from my guv'nor for 
#c inches extra depth upon all banks4   
,that was a good stroke1 as it enabled  
me to do with larger stuff1 and lessened
 the breaking it up4 ,he was right in   
what he did1 and so was ,i4 ,i like rock
 ballast for 'extras1' although the     
walling is a nuisance4 ,there is more   
chance for expansion of profits than in 
gravel ballast1 and that is a great     
recommendation to us1 anyhow1 and is    
good enough apart from what things      
really are4 ,i gave the tip on the quiet
 in the quarry to send half the rock    
down a trifle bigger1 and it did not    
want so much getting or handling in the 
quarry1 so they liked the new order1 and
 it saved some breaking4 ,consequently  
,i prefer rock ballast that weathers    
quickly sometimes1 although1 of course1 
an engineer should avoid it for ballast 
if he can1 and the money allows4        

,,chapter ,,xiv4  ,,extra               
,,measurements4 ,,toad-,,stool          
,,contractors1 ,,testimonials4   ,have  
you managed to get a bit 'extra' out of 
measurements8  ,yes1 occasionally1 but  
that game is about played out4 ,in the  
good old times they used to let us all  
kinds of work1 for we did business in   
company more then than we do now1 and   
what one did not know the other did1 and
 so we could do pretty nearly everything
 except metal work1 so long as they     
supplied us with the materials4  ,i have
 already named about the 'extra' depth  
of foundations in bridges1 and pipes    
that were not so large as thought4 ,i   
have also got a bit 'extra' from side   
ditching when they had taken no cross   
sections of the ground by leaving a few 
buoys or mounds at the highest parts4 ,i
 have also had a trifle out of the      
cuttings by rounding off the slopes a   
few inches when they were long but      
working right to the slope peg at top   
and nicking in an inch or two at the    

foot of the slope2 but the game is      
hardly worth the candle1 as they have   
almost given up soiling the slopes4     
,then there was a chance both ways4 ,you
 got more measurement than the actual   
excavation1 and also a bit 'extra' for  
soiling that was not put in1 but it does
 not run into enough money to make it   
pay safely1 and as the slopes and       
formation are so much on show the fun is
 hardly worth the risk4 ,there is more  
to be had1 so far as earthworks are     
concerned1 in road approaches than      
railway cuttings1 and in docks than     
either4  ,i think you are right there4  
,you see the earthwork is not so much in
 patches in dockwork1 but all together1 
and there is often as much in an acre or
 so of dock as in a whole railway four  
or five miles in length1 and inches in  
dockwork are worth remembering4 ,besides
 they are not noticed so much1 and the  
excavation is soon covered up2 and if it
 is in clay1 and found out1 you can     
always say to the bosses--',i never saw 

such clay to swell in patches4' ,be sure
 to say 'in patches' for then you have  
an excuse handy if the clay 'swells'    
nowhere else except at the place you    
have not excavated to the right depth4  
,you can generally get the surface not  
exactly level throughout1 and you have a
 large space to work on then1 and every 
inch means sovereigns4 ,really ,i think 
it does no one any harm1 and does good  
to me if the bottom is a trifle         
elevated4 ,it comes rather easy to most 
of us to make ourselves think a thing is
 good and nice when it would cost us    
something to think otherwise4  ,yes4    
,money and our wishes usually work on   
the same main line4  ,i once got done   
out of a bit 'extra' measurement by an  
engineer really lovely4  ,did you4 ,how 
was that8  ,i don't mind telling you1   
but there will be squalls if you blab4  
,it happened like this4 ,it was a line  
that had been commenced and most of the 
easy work done4 ,it was in the days when
 every jerry-builder and parish sewer   

contractor1 and big linen-draper too1   
thought he was a railway and dock       
contractor4 ,you know they borrowed a   
bit from a local bank1 and would take   
any contract from a bridge of balloons  
to the moon to a tunnel through the     
earth to ,australia4 ,channel ,tunnels1 
,forth ,bridges1 and ,panama ,canals    
would have been toys to them1 and they  
could have made them on their heads4    
,they sprung up just like               
toad-stools--can't call them mushrooms1 
it would be a libel on the plants--and  
every one of them thought they were     
quite as good as ,brassey1 and could    
have given him points4 ,they had cheek1 
that was all1 just like quack doctors4  
,well1 what with1 so they told me1 big  
local loan-mongers to work the oracle   
and swim with them1 and general         
recommendations--which ,i never take    
much notice of unless ,i know what a man
 has seen or done--saying they were full
 of the sublimest honesty and wisdom as 
ever had been known1 and were that      

clever as few indeed could hope to be1  
the game was worked trumps for a time4  
,tests1 not general testimonials1 is my 
motto4 ,what you have done or seen done1
 not what people are kind enough to say 
they think you can do1 and which they   
don't know you can do4 ,the man that    
asks a chap that he is friendly with to 
write a recommendation has his          
sentimental feelings worked on1 and then
 truth takes a back seat1 and of course 
you are bound to say your friend is the 
best man that could be made for the     
place1 just that and nothing else4 ,it  
costs a chap nothing to write it1 and it
 is only very few that care to refuse1  
because it does not do to tell a man    
whom you wish to be friendly with that  
you don't think much of him1 and that he
 is quite sufficiently a shirker and    
polite humbug to suit a good many1 or   
that your own private opinion is he is  
not far off being twin-brother to a     
mouse-coloured beast of burden that     
brays4 ,it is not good form1 so we all1 

from kindness ,i suppose1 write pretty  
of one another except when we are owed  
money and can't get it1 then adjectives 
are often necessary1 and as strong as   
you can find1 with a few put in as are  
only known to chaps like you and me1 and
 are not taught in schools1 although    
they learn a lot there as they should   
not4 ,do you know when ,i read general  
testimonials ,i always think what a lot 
of saints and ,solomons there are       
wanting situations1 and it must be only 
the sinners and fools as are in harness4
 ,what you want to know from a reliable 
source is1 how did a chap get on upon   
any particular bit of work he had to do1
 and have it specified what it was1 and 
in what position he was1 and whether all
 was and is right4 ,therefore1 if ,i    
asked for a testimonial ,i want one     
specially written for the occasion and  
with reference to the kind of work that 
is in hand1 and not as if ,i was going  
to let a man walk out with my daughter4 
,i name this because1 between you and   

me1 ,i've found when a man is praised up
 as a sort of saint1 and nothing said as
 to what he has done in work that he is 
near to being either a humbug or an ass4
 ,that was just the case here1 for it   
was to one of these toad-stool          
contractors that the directors let the  
first contract1 and engineers who do not
 advise their directors to have nothing 
to do with such public works contractors
 767 ,i think deserve all the trouble   
they get into4 ,surely it is better to  
have a contractor who knows what work is
 and should be1 even if he has but a    
small capital1 than one who knows next  
to nothing about construction1 and is   
financed by some loan-monger1 or is at  
the mercy of some wire-puller8  ,i say1 
you are hot on the question4  ,well1 ,i 
consider it about poisons some works    
that would otherwise have been made all 
right1 and would have paid well too at  
the original capital4 ,besides it ought 
to be known a man must be specially     
educated to properly execute large      

public works1 and should be bred an     
engineer1 for one that can make         
shanties1 dust-bins and privies1 may    
blossom into a jerry runner-up of       
two-story stucco villas that have the   
faces and insides covered with lime and 
mud and half-penny paper1 but it wants a
 contractor that is just about an       
engineer to know how to properly carry  
out railways1 docks1 bridges1 canals1   
harbours1 and all sea works and similar 
undertakings1 and not a bell-pull mender
 and drain maker1 because then he hardly
 knows anything himself of what has to  
be done and he is at the mercy of       
others4 ,he tenders at figures below    
what he ought1 and then the work cannot 
be properly executed1 or the easy       
portion is done somehow or other and    
then the man goes smash4 ,it is just the
 difference between our sterling        
building firms and the                  
jerry-shanty-raisers who ought not to be
 called builders4 ,well1 this one       
started with a rattle and scraped about1

 and then went to splinters4 ,that's why
 ,i have named it1 and because on this  
railway there was a road diversion4     
,about a quarter of it was excavated and
 it was in an awful mess4 ,it was in    
gravelly sand1 and taken out in dabs1   
and in and out1 all widths and depths4  
,i thought ,i saw a chance of a bit     
'extra' and said nothing4 ,one day ,i   
got rather fierce for 'extras1' and ,i  
sniffed out some small heaps at         
intervals up the approach4 ,they were   
about a yard in height and four or five 
yards round4 ,i felt sure they had not  
been put on the cross sections1 which ,i
 got to know had been taken in some     
places as close as #ae feet apart1 so ,i
 thought1 ',before ,i get the wagon     
roads in and move another heap1 ,i will 
see the young guv'nor4'  ,well1 ,i had  
to go to the office1 and he knew of the 
heaps and said ',i will allow you #cj   
yards for those4 ,i had not forgotten   
them4' ,now that was what they were to a
 spadeful1 so ,i thought it was good    

business as ,i knew they were not shown 
on the sections4 ,he said ',in case     
anything should happen to you or me ,i  
will write what ,i mean and have it     
attached to the agreement4' ,i thought  
that was kind of him4 ,now1 we had      
worked for about a week1 and ,i was keen
 on plunder4 ,he then dictated a few    
lines to the timekeeper1 saying that it 
was agreed #cj cubic yards of earth were
 in the heaps and they were to be paid  
for as an allowance in addition to the  
#ibci cubic yards1 the total measurement
 of the excavation ,i had to do under   
the contract4 ,of course it was worded  
right1 but ,i give you the meaning4     
,this ,i signed1 and it was witnessed by
 the time-keeper and the young guv'nor4 
,i made just about the same as he did of
 the total measurement1 but was so eager
 after the #cj cubic yards in the heaps 
that ,i signed the paper off hand1 but  
of course ,i knew then what was written1
 but thought no more about it4 ,i left  
the office and had six of neat right off

 on the strength of those heaps4 ,i will
 cut it short now4  ,well1 ,i finished  
the job quickly1 and one day1 just      
before ,i had done1 ,i thought to       
myself1 ',there have not been any extras
 on this approach road1 for what with   
slope and fence pegs being set out there
 has actually been no chance of a bit   
extra4' ,after thinking ,i said to      
myself1 ',it is an awkward place to     
measure4 ,i will make my measurements so
 that they work out five hundred yards  
more1 add a little all over1 ,i can but 
give way in the end1 have a nice1 warm1 
genteel wrangle that will shake up the  
cockles of my heart1 and ,i may get half
 or something extra if ,i do the oily   
persuasive trick1 and look wronged in my
 countenance4' ,so up ,i went to the    
office and said1 ',i shall about finish 
to-morrow1 sir1 and ,i think you will   
say ,i have done the job well and       
quickly1 and deserve another4 ,it has   
been a tight fit1 and has only just kept
 me going4'  ,usual patter followed that

 is required on such occasions1 and is  
kept in stock for them4 ,i was beginning
 to feel real happy1 and thinking ,i had
 got twenty pounds at least1 and no     
mistake for talking pretty4 ,so ,i said1
 ',as ,i am here1 sir1 do you mind      
telling me what you make the            
measurement8'  ',certainly4 #ibci cubic 
yards1 and #cj yards allowed for heaps4 
,total1 #ibfi cubic yards4'  ,that did  
not suit me1 so ,i started on the       
injured innocence lay1 and said meekly  
and persuasive like1 ',you have left out
 something1 ,i think1 sir4'  ',no2 ,i   
have not4'  ',well1 sir1 ,i make #ejj   
yards more than you2 and if ,i don't get
 it it will be very bad for me1 for ,i  
shall not be able to pay my men4' ,that 
did not seem to flurry him4 ,he opened  
the safe1 and read from the paper ,i had
 signed some months ago4 ,blessed if it 
ever occurred to me to think that ,i had
 signed for the total quantities1 but ,i
 had1 for ,i was then so taken up with  
the #cj yards4 ,like you1 ,i am old     

enough to know that no contract is      
indisputable1 and that many things in   
law have to be tried before they are law
 when a question arises1 and that there 
is not much finality about the show2 but
 here ,i was caught1 and had made my own
 net1 and no mistake2 so1 after putting 
in all ,i knew and saying to him1 ',i   
did not take that bit of paper to mean  
the same as he did1' ,i considered it   
best to shake down easy as ,i saw ,i was
 grassed1 so ,i took his measurement2   
but ,i wished blue ruin to the heaps1   
and may where they were tipped be well  
worried by worms and vermin4 ,look out6 
,i shall break something4  ,don't slap  
the table with your clenched fist like  
that1 or we shall have to pay for       
damages1 and have nothing left for      
drinks4  ,right you are2 but it does    
make me wild to think of it4  ,you were 
had at your own game there6  ,yes2 but  
after all said and done1 except the     
ground is level throughout1 ,i heard two
 engineers say earthwork measurements   

are generally a matter of fair          
averaging2 and if tables are used1 some 
like this table and others that1 so all 
are happy2 but they agreed              
cross-sections are the best1 and unless 
a plaster cast is made of the surface of
 some ground1 no one could say what the 
measurement really was to a few yards1  
and that it does not much matter as the 
price per cubic yard is so little       
compared with most prices of work1 such 
as masonry1 brickwork1 concrete1 c4     
,you have finished1 ,i fancy8  ,yes4    
,now ,i'll tell you how ,i once got a   
bit 'extra' from measurements in rather 
an odd way4 ,the work was done without a
 contractor1 it was principally let in  
pieces to sub-contractors1 and the rest 
day-work2 but ,i heard they did not gain
 much1 if anything1 by it4 ,came to     
nearly the same thing1 and all the      
bother and risk themselves1 and about   
the same good work4  ,well1 the funny   
way ,i made some extra profit1 of       
course1 as usual1 very much against my  

will1 was this4 ,i happened to be in the
 engineer's office1 and heard the       
resident say to his assistant1 ',mr4    
----1 please make a list of timber      
required for the quay sheds1 and take   
out the quantities4' ,now it is only    
fair to say the assistant knew his book 
and was up to snuff1 but we are all     
caught tripping sometimes1 and whether  
it was his anxiety to ascertain the     
exact quantities1 ,i don't know1 but he 
got mixed1 and blessed if the timber was
 not ordered net lengths1 and nothing   
allowed for mortises and making joints4 
,just as we were going to start on the  
sheds they took us away1 and before the 
foundations were excavated for the      
walls4 ,it was fortunate they did1 as it
 happened1 for it afterwards occurred to
 the assistant that he had forgotten to 
allow for mortises and joints4 ,so the  
sheds had to be made about a foot less  
width than they should have been1 and we
 got paid for the foot or so at each end
 that was left out2 and the inspector   

got the tip1 ,i suppose1 for nothing was
 said1 and it was not noticed1 for they 
were wide store sheds1 with a line of   
rails through the centre1 and it really 
did not matter at all4 ,so you see ,i   
was forced to take a bit 'extra1' but   
that is the only time in the whole of my
 life4 ,of course it worried me much4   
,no doubt it caused another wrinkle to  
set on your forehead4  ,very likely2 but
 an old partner of mine told me he once 
was paid for the corners of a lot of    
level-crossing lodges twice over by     
taking the outside wall measurements all
 round instead of two outside and two   
inside1 but only once1 when things had  
to be done at a great rush2 it was a    
case of hurry up all round1 for all the 
final measurements of the whole line had
 to be done in a fortnight4             
,,chapter ,,xv4  ,,men ,,and ,,wages4   
',,sub' ,,from ,,the ,,wood4 ,a         
,,sub-,,contractor',s ,,scout ,,and     
,,free ,,traveller4   ,it is nearly     
midnight4 ,i am game for another hour1  

are you8  ,yes4 ,i like talking on the  
quiet1 it draws you together1 you know2 
you feel for a time as if we all        
belonged to one family1 although we do  
not1 and don't want2 that's a fact4     
,precisely1 old pal4 ,let us grip and   
sip4  ,did any of your men ever play    
rough on you8  ,not often2 but ,i       
remember one4 ,he was a good working    
hand1 and ,i did not mean to lose him4  
,ted ,skip was his name4 ,this is how it
 occurred4 ,one ,saturday night ,i was  
in the village1 and saw at the corner of
 a lane a man standing up in a cart     
spouting away fit to give him heart     
disease1 or break a blood-vessel1 and   
getting hot so quick1 that ,i am sure he
 was going to beat record time4 ,i      
believe he was fed on dictionaries and  
stewed ,socialist pamphlets that did not
 agree with him4 ,he was pouring it out4
 ,he said in effect that pretty nearly  
everybody was a thief except himself and
 his comrades1 and that nearly all      
things were poison as they were1 and    

unless we all did as he said we were    
fools and felons1 and worse4 ,then he   
went on to say1 beer was poison1 tobacco
 was poison1 and the way things were    
now1 and all went on1 was worse than    
poison4 ,then he talked about us1 called
 us railway slave drivers and slaves1   
and ,i am sure there was no one or      
nothing that existed that was not poison
 to him except himself and what he      
possessed1 and the fools that paid him4 
,i got wild after a bit1 hearing him    
lying away as fast as he could speak1   
and ,i shouted1 ',you are all poison1   
you old bit of arsenic1 for what is not 
ass about you is from old ,nick4' ,he   
was then shouting out ',your            
constitution is wrong4 ,all the bills   
are of no use4' ,that was too much for  
me1 so ,i pushed my way in and showed   
him my fist1 and said1 ',i'll soon show 
you whether all the ,bills are of no use
 and whether my constitution is wrong4  
,my name is ,bill ,dark1 and there are  
numbers of people here that know ,i have

 never been sick or sorry since ,i was  
born1 and ,i have taken beer and smoked 
tobacco from the time ,i was fifteen4   
,in moderation1 ,i believe in this      
country it does good to most of us1 and 
pretty well all except those that are   
built up peculiar1 and if you want to   
see if ,i'm of no use1 come on2 only get
 a sack first1 so that the pieces of you
 that remain1 and are large enough to be
 found1 can be taken away and burnt     
to-night instead of later on4 ,you      
understand what ,i mean4'  ,our chaps   
cheered me like mad1 and ,i suppose old 
,arsenic thought his show was being     
wasted1 for he threw up his arms and    
drove off1 and we yelled him out of the 
village4 ,well1 now you'll hear what    
came of it4 ,teddy ,skip was there1 and 
heard me say that beer and tobacco in   
moderation in this country ,i believe   
did good to most of us4 ,a week or so   
passed1 and ,i forgot all about old     
,arsenic when ,teddy ,skip came to me1  
and said1 ',guv'nor1 after hearing you  

down in the village1 and feeling a bit  
cold now and then1 ,i thought ,i would  
try a pipe4 ,i find it suits me1 and is 
quite a friend1 but it costs me nearly  
twopence a day1 at least that is what ,i
 reckon it does4 ,i have been with you a
 long time1 and hope you won't mind     
another twopence a day just to buy the  
tobacco as you recommended to be used in
 moderation4'  ,he had me there1 so ,i  
made no bones about it1 and said1 ',very
 well then1 another twopence from       
,monday2' but ,i gave him a parting shot
 in this way1 ',i know you are courting 
,mary ,plush1 and may be joined soon1   
but don't you come to me for a rise     
after each lot of twins is born1 and say
 you have done a kindness to me and the 
public generally2 because the wife and  
ten children lay is played out for      
increase of wages1 and folks do with    
them that show as much moderation in    
size of families as remember ,i said    
should be used with beer and tobacco4'  
,he began to move1 and said smiling1 as 

he cleared out1 ',all right1 guv'nor1   
thank you1 ,i understand4'  ,that was   
pretty for you2 but did ,i ever tell you
 how ,i got well insulted by one of my  
chaps8  ,no4 ,out with it4  ,it was in  
my early days1 about the first work ,i  
had on the piece4 ,it was clearing and  
forming through a wood1 and there were  
more rabbits there than trees4 ,the     
contract was just started1 and you know 
what the chaps are then1 they want 'sub'
 nearly to their full time4 ,well1 ,i   
was not flush1 in fact they nearly      
drained me out1 so the rabbits were too 
much for me1 besides they were wasted in
 my sight where they were1 simply gold  
running loose2 so ,i bagged a fair lot1 
in fact as many as ,i could catch4 ,now1
 my men finding ,i was subbing them     
nicely seemed to think ,i was the man   
they had been looking to serve since    
they took to work1 so ,i considered ,i  
ought to stop their game with another   
variety of sport4 ,it does not do to let
 wrong ideas rest quiet in any man4 ,it 

is not kind4 ,it was ,thursday1 and on  
,saturday ,i should have a fairish draw 
for myself on account of work done2 but 
as things were1 ,i was nearly run out4  
,about six wanted 'sub1' so ,i threw a  
rabbit to each of them1 and said1 ',that
 is tenpence1 and it ought to be a      
shilling1 for they are as big as hares  
and more feeding1 and they are not half 
the trouble to cook4' ,they grumbled1 so
 ,i growled out1 ',except on ,saturdays1
 it is that this week and next most     
likely1 or nothing1 so choose your      
time4' ,one stayed behind1 and said1    
',boss1 just you look here3 eightpence  
is enough for that1 and too much1       
because ,i know it is poached1 for ,i   
saw you doing a lift among the furrers1 
and when ,i receive stolen goods ,i am  
paid for holding them1 and chancing the 
consequences1 and ,i don't pay for      
taking care of them4 ,do you understand8
 ,it is the last ,i take1 and don't you 
mistake4'  ,this 'riled' me1 so ,i said1
 ',off you go1 or ,i'll flatten you     

out4' ,i was had there4 ,of course1 he  
was at the same game as ,i had been1 and
 rabbits to him were not exactly a      
novelty4 ,well1 ,i carried on the fun   
there to such a tune that at last it    
became too hot4 ,a dealer used to fetch 
them4 ,he had an old cart4 ,it looked   
like a baker's1 and had some name on it1
 and there was a bit of green baize1 and
 a basket or two1 and a few loaves to   
keep up the illusion4 ,we worked it till
 it turned on us1 and the business had  
to be stopped4  ,i never have done much 
at that4 ,not enough money for the risk 
to please me4  ,believe me1 ,i have     
given up the game twenty years or more4 
,i soon found in taking work by the     
piece ,i was bound to have a bit of     
capital1 and1 as a rule1 what ,i want ,i
 get if it is to be had by anyone1 and  
,i generally find it is4 ,i overdid it  
though1 that's the worst of money1 the  
more you get the more you want1 and it's
 the biggest slave-driver out and spares
 no one4 ,well1 complaints about        

poaching went up to head-quarters and ,i
 was called before the guv'nor4 ,he said
 to me very sharp1 ',i shall measure up 
your work unless from this day ,i hear  
no more of your poaching4'  ,of course  
,i bluffed it a bit1 but it was no good4
 ,however1 knowing he always liked fun1 
he listened to me and ,i went off fond  
as a lamb4 ,after promising ,i would    
keep watch on the men1 which he did not 
let me finish saying before he had      
advised me to have assistance1 he meant 
someone to watch me1 ,i went straight   
for some joking1 just to get the venom  
out of the subject4 ,there is nothing   
like flattery to start a talk easy1 so  
,i said1 ',you1 sir1 know a host of     
things more than me1 and no doubt can   
explain how it was my father told me    
when ,i was a boy that all the family   
had a natural power of attracting       
animals4 ,he said it was born in us4    
,one day1 sir1 he drew me close to him  
and whispered1 after feeling my head1   
',you have the family gift very         

powerful4' ,you'll excuse me1 sir1 but  
,i just name this because game always   
follows me about1 and when these rabbits
 come on the work there is no mistake   
they are trespassing1 and so ,i punish  
them by taking them into custody        
according to the law4 ,when ,i walk up  
and down the line they seem to be that  
joyful1 sir1 as is real touching4 ,they 
will come1 and the bigger they are the  
more they seem to like me 7between      
ourselves1 that is you and me1 to-night 
talking quiet1 small 'uns don't suit    
me74 ,i have not got the heart to       
frighten them away1 and so they come to 
me1 and sooner than let them go back to 
their savage life ,i take them up and   
become like a parent to them4 ,you cut  
me so hard in price for the work1 sir1  
,i cannot afford to keep them long1 so  
they have to partly keep me4  ,did your 
guv'nor stand that8  ,yes4 ,he was a    
good listener and always gave a man     
enough rope to hang himself4  ,i should 
have punched your head if ,i had been   

him4  ,very likely you would have tried 
to1 but he did not1 so ,i went on to    
say1 ',well1 sir1 it is my undoubted    
belief the big rabbits down here can    
tell the difference between some letters
 and others1 in the same way1 ,i        
suppose1 as they know the difference    
between some shot through their ears and
 a cabbage leaf in their mouth1 or a    
horse and a fox2 for they always run    
away from every cart but mine4 ,i was   
just thinking ,i had said enough when   
the guv'nor had his turn and said3--    
',after what you have told me1 attach a 
dozen white boards to the fencing1 and  
have these words painted upon them in   
six-inch black letters--,rabbits are    
vermin1 and have your name put          
underneath4 ,as you say some of them can
 read1 that will cause them to cease    
following you4 ,i am determined that    
this poaching shall be stopped once and 
for all4'  ',excuse me1 sir1 but suppose
 they still will come to me after the   
notices are up1 and ,i can't keep them  

away8'  ,he answered1 ',in such an event
 fix notice boards painted thus3 ,any   
rabbit found trespassing upon this      
railway will be prosecuted with the     
utmost rigour of the law1 and any rabbit
 found destroying the fences or hedges1 
or committing any damage of whatsoever  
kind will be shot4' ,have your name put 
on it as before4'  ,after that ,i       
thought it was time to go1 and as ,i    
went out ,i could hear laughter4 ,he had
 me1 you know1 so ,i was compelled to   
take to butcher's meat again throughout1
 and only a spare rabbit now and then   
went home to see his relations by aid of
 my mouth4  ,what a row there is        
outside8  ,it's my dog barking4 ,he must
 have heard you talk of rabbits4 ,he is 
clever4 ,i trained him so that ,i always
 knew when any engineers or inspectors  
were on the prowl4 ,i call him ',spot1' 
because he can 'spot' them so well4 ,i  
made him do the spy business right round
 our end of the docks ,i was then on1   
and also on railway work4  ,what did he 

do8  ,he used to do a tramp up and down 
quite naturally1 about quarter of a mile
 in front of the tip and a quarter of a 
mile back of the gullet1 or anywhere ,i 
had work1 and not even the men knew he  
was on scout4 ,he is the best watchman  
,i have known2 and so long as things    
were right and no bosses about he never 
came close to me unless ,i called him1  
but if anyone was prowling about he soon
 was close to me1 and three pats        
communicated to him that ,i twigged1 and
 he went on the scent again4 ,he seemed 
to sniff out the faces of all my        
guv'nors in an instant1 and looked      
anxious till ,i patted him three times1 
and then he turned up his eyes to meet  
mine1 and a lovely beam of satisfaction 
came over him and he was as happy as he 
could be1 and then he vanished4 ,he was 
a sly dog1 and useful too4 ,he slept at 
the bottom of my bed in a basket4 ,my   
wife did not like him on the bed2 said  
dogs were dogs1 and carried too many    
relations on their persons1 so ,i hung a

 big basket to the tail end of our      
sleeping apparatus1 and there he        
snoozed4 ,now1 wherever ,i was1 he was1 
or near to2 he did not seem happy except
 he knew where ,i was4 ,i always took   
him wherever ,i went1 and on free pass4 
,it's not very often ,i am travelling   
far1 except when the works are finished2
 still1 ,i easily trained him to be a   
good free traveller after a few trials1 
so that ,i never took a ticket for him4 
,not me4 ,i always think it is hard1    
provided you have no luggage for the    
van1 and have your dog well under       
control1 that you cannot take him with  
you free1 like you do a stick1 an       
umbrella1 or your pipe4 ,a dog does not 
occupy a seat nor make a noise the same 
as a baby2 but there1 ,i don't mean to  
argue the question1 and1 personally1    
have no occasion1 because ,i have not   
paid anything for my dog's travelling   
for years4 ,the problem is solved as far
 as ,i am concerned1 and the rest of    
creation will have to look out for      

themselves4  ,how do you do it8  ,you   
mean1 how does my dog1 ,spot1 do it8 ,in
 this way4 ,i take my ticket1 and before
 putting it into my pocket hold it in my
 hand for a moment4 ,i then go on my    
right platform4 ,spot1 that is my dog1  
then knows he is to get on that         
platform4 ,he usually waits till a good 
many people want to pass1 then he slips 
in beautifully quiet1 sometimes by the  
side of a lady1 or under cover of a     
group of passengers1 and ,i have never  
known him noticed at the doors1 as the  
ticket collectors are busy ticket       
snipping4 ,i don't interfere with       
,spot's platform arrangements1 for      
properly educated and well-brought-up   
dogs would object2 but there is no doubt
 at some of the terminal stations the   
game could not be worked unless all the 
platforms are open4 ,suppose he was     
noticed on a platform1 and they tried to
 find him1 he was so good at hiding that
 they always thought he had gone2       
besides1 they had plenty to do1 and more

 serious business to look after4 ,once  
,i saw they were searching for him1 but 
they did not find him4 ,he was not on   
the platform at all1 but under a truck  
in the siding and enjoying the fun4 ,he 
rested there1 or at a convenient place  
till he heard the train coming1 or saw  
,i was about to get in4 ,he timed his   
movements very cleverly1 and has taken  
me by surprise sometimes1 but he was    
sure to be under the seat1 and hiding as
 quietly as a mouse1 and taking no      
notice of me2 not he4  ,when ,i arrived 
at my station1 if it was a big one1     
there was no trouble1 ,i got out and    
,spot sneaked out without taking any    
notice of me1 nor did ,i of him then4   
,he used to make straight for the wall1 
and you bet he got out of the station   
quick1 or was turned out4 ,i have seen  
him driven out1 as the porters took him 
for a stray dog4 ,once they threw a     
stool at him1 it just caught his tail1  
and made him squall a trifle2 but       
although it was a hard trial for me1 ,i 

suppressed my feelings1 as ,i had no    
ticket for him4 ,i have known him sit   
down after following me out of the      
carriage1 close up to the wall one end  
of a platform1 and wait till the        
ticket-collector was busy sorting the   
tickets1 and then ,spot would walk out  
like a nobleman4 ,i waited for him at a 
respectful and safe distance from the   
station1 and then we had an affectionate
 meeting1 and he had a biscuit and ,i   
had a drink1 and we were a happy two4   
,spot is a real good dog1 and as honest 
as the day1 for ,i trained him in the   
right direction from the time he was a  
pup4 ,he is a cool one2 but there1 it is
 a gift of nature like a swell singer's 
voice4  ,precisely4  ,now1 listen2 for  
once ,i was nearly had1 even with ,spot4
 ,there were about ten people in the    
compartment of a long carriage1 and ,i  
sat next to a fly-looking chap1 and only
 got in just in time1 with my dog handy4
 ,off the train went1 and ,i was trying 
to consider what ,i ought to think about

 during the journey1 when we all        
started1 for ,spot barked really fierce2
 and ,i said1 ',quiet4' ,blessed if     
there was not another bark1 and from    
another member of the dog creation4 ,i  
knew it was not ,spot1 so ,i looked     
under the seat1 and saw two bags1 and   
,spot looking very warm and ready on one
 of them1 with his head a little on one 
side4 ,i knew it was live game1 and ,i  
saw the other bag move4 ,i thought the  
railway company had got the office and  
caught me1 and that it was a 'put up    
job1' but ,i was wrong4 ,it was all     
right4 ,the chap next to me whispered in
 my ear that he was a rat-catcher1 and  
had live rats in one bag1 and his dog in
 the other1 and they were travelling as 
passengers' luggage4 ,i winked1 and he  
did4 ,then it occurred to me1 ,i was too
 friendly with him4 ,however1 of course 
his dog was trained to keep quiet1 but  
mine was not in the presence of rats1 so
 ,i had to look under again1 and put out
 my stick1 and say4 ',quiet1 bosses4'   

,spot knew what that meant1 and was     
quiet4  ,now1 the other passengers      
steadied down very quickly1 for of      
course they did not know we had not paid
 for the dogs4 ,it was a fast local     
train and only stopped at the terminus1 
so there was no chance of their getting 
out before me at the station4 ,i took   
care of that4 ,it might have been       
awkward otherwise4 ,the beauty of it    
was1 this rat-catcher1 ,i could see was 
not altogether satisfied when he came to
 dwell on it1 for ,i fancy he thought ,i
 was a spy1 and that he was caught2 and 
,i was not quite convinced he was not a 
detective4 ,still1 a bold game generally
 pays the best2 anyhow1 ,i pretended ,i 
was dozing4 ,it was evening1 and when   
the train had barely stopped1 after     
saying4 ',good-night all1' ,i got out   
first1 and did not wait to see how the  
rat-catcher fared4 ,i had ,spot to look 
after1 and was afraid the guard might   
have heard the barking2 but he did not1 
for if he had we should both have been  

had lovely1 all through a bag of rats4  
,what my dog suffered from having to    
leave the game alone1 it grieves me to  
think4 ,all ,i know is1 he was really   
bad for days after2 but ,i should say   
the rats were tuning up to sing1 ',we   
are all surrounded4'  ,i'm off now4     
,good-bye1 old chap4 ,cheer up4  ,thank 
you for coming to see me1 and having a  
good chat4 ,it's lucky no one has heard 
us though1 still1 we have not confessed 
all4 ,have we8  ,not exactly4 ,good-bye4
  ,mind how you go1 and ,i hope to see  
you to-morrow4  ,all right2 ,i'm safe   
enough1 for ,i have been in too many    
squalls not to be careful4 ,i won't say 
artful4   ,,finis4     ,crown #hvo1     
cloth1 ,price #ds4 #f;d4  ,,notes ,,on  
,,concrete ,,and ,,works ,,in           
,,concrete4  ,by ,,john ,,newman1       
,,assoc4 ,m4 ,,inst4 ,c4,e4   ,,reviews 
,,of ,,the ,,press4  ,,engineering3  ,an
 epitome of the best practice which may 
be relied upon not to mislead4  ,the    
successful construction of works in     

concrete is a difficult matter to       
explain in books4  ,all the points which
 open the way to bad work are carefully 
pointed out by our ,author with a       
pertinacious insistance which           
demonstrates his clear appreciation of  
their value4   ,,iron3  ,as numerous    
examples are cited of the use of        
concrete in public works1 and details   
supplied1 the book will greatly assist  
engineers engaged upon such works4      
,,the ,,builder3  ,a very practical     
little book1 carefully compiled1 and one
 which all writers of specifications for
 concrete work would do well to peruse4 
,the book contains reliable information 
for all engaged upon public works4  ,a  
perusal of ,mr4 ,newman's valuable      
little handbook will point out the      
importance of a more careful            
investigation of the subject than is    
usually supposed to be necessary4       
,,american ,,press4  ,,building3  ,to   
accomplish so much in so limited a      
space1 the subject-matter has been      

confined to chapters4  ,we take pleasure
 in saying that this is the most        
admirable and complete handbook on      
concretes for engineers of which we have
 knowledge4   ,e4  ,f4 ,n4 ,,spon1 #abe1
 ,,strand1 ,,london4     ,crown #hvo1   
cloth1 #gs4 #f;d4   ,,earthwork ,,slips 
,,and ,,subsidences ,,upon ,,public     
,,works4  ,by ,,john ,,newman1 ,,assoc4 
,m4 ,,inst4 ,c4,e4   ,,reviews ,,of     
,,the ,,press4  ,,the ,,builder3  ,we   
gladly welcome ,mr4 ,newman's book on   
slips in earthworks as an important     
contribution to a right comprehension of
 such matters4  ,there is much in this  
book that will at all events guide the  
mind of the student to the points--and  
there are many of them--which have to be
 weighed by designers of engineering    
works1 and which1 if attended to and    
fixed on the memory1 will certainly     
guard them against probable if not      
against possible slips in earthwork4    
,there is much to read1 and read        
carefully1 on all these points4  ,he    

then presents us with sixteen maxims to 
be observed1 where practicable1 in the  
consideration of the location of        
earthworks 7hints as to what should be  
avoided1 which are of considerable      
value74444 ,the capital cost of a work  
and the cost of its maintenance may both
 be very sensibly reduced by attention  
to all the points alluded to by the     
author4  ,we are glad to see that the   
author enters at some length into the   
subject of the due provision of drainage
 at the backs of retaining walls1 a     
matter so often neglected or overlooked1
 and carries this subject to a far      
larger one1 the causes which tend to    
disturb the repose of dock walls4 ,his  
remarks on these matters are well worthy
 of consideration1 and are thoroughly   
practical1 and the items which have to  
be taken into account in the necessary  
statical calculations very well         
introduced4  ,in conclusion we may say  
that there is plenty of good useful     
information to be obtained from this    

work1 which touches a subject possessing
 an exceedingly scanty vocabulary4  ,it 
contains an immense deal of matter which
 must be swallowed sooner or later by   
every one who desires to be a good      
engineer4  c4     c4     c4     c4      
,,building ,,news3  ,mr4 ,john ,newman1 
,assoc4 ,m4 ,inst4 ,c4,e41 has written a
 volume on a subject that has hitherto  
only been treated of cursorily4  ,useful
 advice is given which the railway      
engineer and earthwork contractor may   
profit by4  ,the book contains a fund of
 useful information4  c4     c4     c4  
c4   ,,builder',s ,,reporter ,,and      
,,engineering ,,times3  ,the book which 
,mr4 ,john ,newman has written imparts a
 new interest to earthworks4 ,it is in  
fact a sort of pathological treatise1   
and as such may be said to be unique    
among books on construction1 for in them
 failures are rarely recognised4 ,now in
 ,mr4 ,newman's volume the majority of  
the pages relate to failures1 and from  
them the reader infers how they are to  

be avoided1 and thus to form earthworks 
that will endure longer than those which
 are executed without much regard to    
risks4  ,the manner of dealing with the 
subsidences when they occur1 as well as 
providing against them1 will be found   
described in the book4  ,it can be said 
that the subject is thoroughly          
investigated1 and contractors as well as
 engineers can learn much from ,mr4     
,newman's book4  c4     c4     c4     c4
   ,e4  ,f4 ,n4 ,,spon1 #abe1 ,,strand1 
,,london4     #ahia4  ,,books ,,relating
 ,,to ,,applied ,,science  ,,published  
,,by ,e4  ,f4 ,n4 ,,spon1 ,,london3     
#abe1 ,,strand4 ,,new ,,york3 #ab1      
,,cortlandt ,,street4   ,the ,engineers'
 ,sketch-,book of ,mechanical           
,movements1 ,devices1 ,appliances1      
,contrivances1 ,details employed in the 
,design and ,construction of ,machinery 
for every purpose4 ,collected from      
numerous ,sources and from ,actual      
,work4 ,classified and ,arranged for    
,reference4 ,nearly #bjjj               

,illustrations4 ,by ,t4 ,b4 ,,barber1   
,engineer4 #hvo1 cloth1 #gs4 #f;d4  ,a  
,pocket-,book for ,chemists1 ,chemical  
,manufacturers1 ,metallurgists1 ,dyers1 
,distillers1 ,brewers1 ,sugar ,refiners1
 ,photographers1 ,students1 etc41 etc4  
,by ,,thomas ,,bayley1 ,assoc4 ,r4,c4   
,sc4 ,ireland1 ,analytical and          
,consulting ,chemist and ,assayer4      
,fourth edition1 with additions1 #dcg   
pp41 royal #cbmo1 roan1 gilt edges1 #es4
      ,,synopsis ,,of ,,contents3       
,atomic ,weights and ,factors--,useful  
,data--,chemical ,calculations--        
,rules for ,indirect ,analysis--,weights
 and ,measures--,thermometers and       
,barometers--,chemical                  
,physics--,boiling ,points1             
etc4--,solubility of                    
,substances--,methods of ,obtaining     
,specific ,gravity--,conversion of      
,hydrometers--,strength of ,solutions by
 ,specific ,gravity--,analysis--        
,gas ,analysis--,water                  
,analysis--,qualitative ,analysis and   

,reactions--     ,volumetric            
,analysis--,manipulation--,mineralogy--,
assaying--,alcohol                      
--,beer--,sugar--,miscellaneous         
,technological matter relating to       
,potash1 ,soda1 ,sulphuric ,acid1       
,chlorine1 ,tar ,products1 ,petroleum1  
,milk1 ,tallow1 ,photography1 ,prices1  
,wages1 ,appendix1 etc41 etc4  ,the     
,mechanician3 ,a ,treatise on the       
,construction and ,manipulation of      
,tools1 for the use and instruction of  
,young ,engineers and ,scientific       
,amateurs1 comprising the ,arts of      
,blacksmithing and ,forging2 the        
,construction and ,manufacture of ,hand 
,tools1 and the various ,methods of     
,using and ,grinding them2 description  
of ,hand and ,machine ,processes2       
,turning and ,screw ,cutting4 ,by       
,,cameron ,,knight1 ,engineer4          
,containing #aadg illustrations1 and    
#cig pages of letter-press4 ,fourth     
edition1 #dto1 cloth1 #ahs4     ,just   
,published1 in ,demy #hvo1 cloth1       

containing #ige pages and #bej          
,illustrations1 price #gs4 #f;d4        
,,spons' ,,household ,,manual3  ,a      
,treasury of ,domestic ,receipts and    
,guide for ,home ,management4           
,,principal ,,contents4  ,hints for     
selecting a good ,house1 pointing out   
the essential requirements for a good   
house as to the ,site1 ,soil1 ,trees1   
,aspect1 ,construction1 and ,general    
,arrangement2 with instructions for     
,reducing ,echoes1 ,waterproofing ,damp 
,walls1 ,curing ,damp ,cellars4         
,sanitation4--,what should constitute a 
good ,sanitary ,arrangement2 ,examples  
7with ,illustrations7 of ,well- and     
,ill-drained ,houses2 ,how to ,test     
,drains2 ,ventilating ,pipes1 etc4      
,water ,supply4--,care of ,cisterns2    
,sources of ,supply2 ,pipes2 ,pumps2    
,purification and ,filtration of ,water4
  ,ventilation and ,warming4--,methods  
of ,ventilating without causing cold    
draughts1 by various means2 ,principles 
of ,warming2 ,health ,questions2        

,combustion2 ,open ,grates2 ,open       
,stoves2 ,fuel ,economisers2 ,varieties 
of ,grates2 ,close-,fire ,stoves2       
,hot-air ,furnaces2 ,gas ,heating2 ,oil 
,stoves2 ,steam ,heating2 ,chemical     
,heaters2 ,management of ,flues2 and    
,cure of ,smoky ,chimneys4              
,lighting4--,the best methods of        
,lighting2 ,candles1 ,oil ,lamps1 ,gas1 
,incandescent ,gas1 ,electric ,light2   
,how to test ,gas ,pipes2 ,management of
 ,gas4  ,furniture and                  
,decoration4--,hints on the ,selection  
of ,furniture2 on the most approved     
methods of ,modern ,decoration2 on the  
best methods of arranging ,bells and    
,calls2 ,how to ,construct an ,electric 
,bell4  ,thieves and                    
,fire4--,precautions against ,thieves   
and ,fire2 ,methods of ,detection2      
,domestic ,fire ,escapes2 ,fireproofing 
,clothes1 etc4  ,the ,larder4--,keeping 
,food fresh for a limited time2 ,storing
 ,food without change1 such as ,fruits1 
,vegetables1 ,eggs1 ,honey1 etc4        

,curing ,foods for lengthened           
,preservation1 as ,smoking1 ,salting1   
,canning1 ,potting1 ,pickling1 ,bottling
 ,fruits1 etc42 ,jams1 ,jellies1        
,marmalade1 etc4  ,the ,dairy4--,the    
,building and ,fitting of ,dairies in   
the most approved modern style2         
,butter-making2 ,cheesemaking and       
,curing4  ,the ,cellar4--,building and  
,fitting2 ,cleaning ,casks and ,bottles2
 ,corks and ,corking2 ,aerated ,drinks2 
,syrups for ,drinks2 ,beers2 ,bitters2  
,cordials and ,liqueurs2 ,wines2        
,miscellaneous ,drinks4  ,the           
,pantry4--,bread-making2 ,ovens and     
,pyrometers2 ,yeast2 ,german ,yeast2    
,biscuits2 ,cakes2 ,fancy ,breads2      
,buns4  ,the ,kitchen4--,on ,fitting    
,kitchens2 a description of the best    
,cooking ,ranges1 close and open2 the   
,management and ,care of ,hot ,plates1  
,baking ,ovens1 ,dampers1 ,flues1 and   
,chimneys2 ,cooking by ,gas2 ,cooking by
 ,oil2 the ,arts of ,roasting1          
,grilling1 ,boiling1 ,stewing1          

,braising1 ,frying4  ,receipts for      
,dishes4--,soups1 ,fish1 ,meat1 ,game1  
,poultry1 ,vegetables1 ,salads1         
,puddings1 ,pastry1 ,confectionery1     
,ices1 etc41 etc42 ,foreign ,dishes4    
,the ,housewife's ,room4--,testing ,air1
 ,water1 and ,foods2 ,cleaning and      
,renovating2 ,destroying ,vermin4       
,housekeeping1 ,marketing4  ,the        
,dining-,room4--,dietetics2 ,laying and 
,waiting at ,table3 ,carving2 ,dinners1 
,breakfasts1 ,luncheons1 ,teas1         
,suppers1 etc4  ,the                    
,drawing-,room4--,etiquette2 ,dancing2  
,amateur ,theatricals2 ,tricks and      
,illusions2 ,games 7indoor74  ,the      
,bedroom and ,dressing-,room2 ,sleep2   
the ,toilet2 ,dress2 ,buying ,clothes2  
,outfits2 ,fancy ,dress4  ,the          
,nursery4--,the ,room2 ,clothing2       
,washing2 ,exercise2 ,sleep2 ,feeding2  
,teething2 ,illness2 ,home ,training4   
,the ,sick-,room4--,the ,room2 the      
,nurse2 the ,bed2 ,sick ,room           
,accessories2 ,feeding ,patients2       

,invalid ,dishes and ,drinks2           
,administering ,physic2 ,domestic       
,remedies2 ,accidents and ,emergencies2 
,bandaging2 ,burns2 ,carrying ,injured  
,persons2 ,wounds2 ,drowning2 ,fits2    
,frost-bites2 ,poisons and ,antidotes2  
,sunstroke2 ,common ,complaints2        
,disinfection1 etc4  ,the               
,bath-,room4--,bathing in ,general2     
,management of ,hot-,water ,system4     
,the ,laundry4--,small ,domestic        
,washing ,machines1 and methods of      
getting up linen1 ,fitting up and       
,working a ,steam ,laundry4  ,the       
,school-,room4--,the ,room and its      
,fittings2 ,teaching1 etc4  ,the        
,playground4--,air and ,exercise2       
,training2 ,outdoor ,games and ,sports4 
,the ,workroom4--,darning1 ,patching1   
and ,mending ,garments4  ,the           
,library4--,care of ,books4  ,the       
,garden4--,calendar of ,operations for  
,lawn1 ,flower ,garden1 and ,kitchen    
,garden4  ,the ,farmyard4--,management  
of the ,horse1 ,cow1 ,pig1 ,poultry1    

,bees1 etc41 etc4  ,small ,motors4--,a  
description of the various small        
,engines useful for domestic purposes1  
from #a man to #a horse power1 worked by
 various methods1 such as ,electric     
,engines1 ,gas ,engines1 ,petroleum     
,engines1 ,steam ,engines1 ,condensing  
,engines1 ,water ,power1 ,wind ,power1  
and the various methods of working and  
managing them4  ,household ,law4--,the  
,law relating to ,landlords and         
,tenants1 ,lodgers1 ,servants1          
,parochial ,authorities1 ,juries1       
,insurance1 ,nuisance1 etc4  ,on        
,designing ,belt ,gearing4 ,by ,e4 ,j4  
,,cowling ,,welch1 ,mem4 ,inst4 ,mech4  
,engineers1 ,author of ',designing      
,valve ,gearing4' ,fcap4 #hvo1 sewed1   
#f;d4  ,a ,handbook of ,formulae1       
,tables1 and ,memoranda1 for            
,architectural ,surveyors and others    
engaged in ,building4 ,by ,j4 ,t4       
,,hurst1 ,c4,e4 ,fourteenth edition1    
royal #cbmo1 roan1 #es4      ,it is no  
disparagement to the many excellent     

publications we refer     to1 to say    
that in our opinion this little         
pocket-book of ,hurst's     is the very 
best of them all1 without any exception4
 ,it would be     useless to attempt a  
recapitulation of the contents1 for it  
appears     to contain almost everything
 that anyone connected with building    
could require1 and1 best of all1 made up
 in a compact form for     carrying in  
the pocket1 measuring only #e in4 by #c 
in41 and about     #c_/d in4 thick1 in a
 limp cover4 ,we congratulate the author
 on the     success of his laborious and
 practically compiled little book1      
which has received unqualified and      
deserved praise from every              
professional person to whom we have     
shown it4--,the ,dublin     ,builder4   
,tabulated ,weights of ,angle1 ,tee1    
,bulb1 ,round1 ,square1 and ,flat ,iron 
and ,steel1 and other information for   
the use of ,naval ,architects and       
,shipbuilders4 ,by ,c4 ,h4 ,,jordan1    
,m4,i4,n4,a4 ,fourth edition1 #cbmo1    

cloth1 #bs4 #f;d4  ,a ,complete ,set of 
,contract ,documents for a ,country     
,lodge1 comprising ,drawings1           
,specifications1 ,dimensions 7for       
quantities71 ,abstracts1 ,bill of       
,quantities1 ,form of ,tender and       
,contract1 with ,notes by ,j4 ,,leaning1
 printed in facsimile of the original   
documents1 on single sheets fcap41 in   
paper case1 #ajs4  ,a ,practical        
,treatise on ,heat1 as applied to the   
,useful ,arts2 for the ,use of          
,engineers1 ,architects1 c4 ,by ,,thomas
 ,,box4 ,with #ad plates4 ,sixth        
edition1 crown #hvo1 cloth1 #abs4 #f;d4 
,a ,descriptive ,treatise on            
,mathematical ,drawing ,instruments3    
their construction1 uses1 qualities1    
selection1 preservation1 and suggestions
 for improvements1 with hints upon      
,drawing and ,colouring4 ,by ,w4 ,f4    
,,stanley1 ,m4,r4,i4 ,sixth edition1    
with numerous illustrations1 crown #hvo1
 cloth1 #es4  ,quantity ,surveying4 ,by 
,j4 ,,leaning4 ,with #db illustrations4 

,second edition1 revised1 crown #hvo1   
cloth1 #is4      ,contents3      ,a     
complete ,explanation of the ,london    
,practice4     ,general ,instructions4  
,order of ,taking ,off4     ,modes of   
,measurement of the various ,trades4    
,use and ,waste4     ,ventilation and   
,warming4     ,credits1 with various    
,examples of ,treatment4                
,abbreviations4     ,squaring the       
,dimensions4     ,abstracting1 with     
,examples in illustration of each       
,trade4     ,billing4     ,examples of  
,preambles to each ,trade4     ,form for
 a ,bill of ,quantities4       ,do4     
,bill of ,credits4       ,do4      ,bill
 for ,alternative ,estimate4            
,restorations and ,repairs1 and ,form of
 ,bill4     ,variations before          
,acceptance of ,tender4     ,errors in a
 ,builder's ,estimate4     ,schedule of 
,prices4     ,form of ,schedule of      
,prices4     ,analysis of ,schedule of  
,prices4     ,adjustment of ,accounts4  
,form of a ,bill of ,variations4        

,remarks on ,specifications4     ,prices
 and ,valuation of ,work1 with ,examples
 and ,remarks upon       each ,trade4   
,the ,law as it affects ,quantity       
,surveyors1 with ,law ,reports4         
,taking ,off after the ,old ,method4    
,northern ,practice4 ,the ,general      
,statement of the ,methods              
recommended by the ,manchester ,society 
of ,architects for       taking         
,quantities4     ,examples of           
,collections4     ,examples of ,taking  
,off in each ,trade4     ,remarks on the
 ,past and ,present ,methods of         
,estimating4  ,spons' ,architects' and  
,builders' ,price ,book1 with useful    
,memoranda4 ,edited by ,w4 ,,young1     
,architect4 ,crown #hvo1 cloth1 red     
edges1 #cs4 #f;d4 ,published annually4  
,seventeenth edition4 ,now ready4       
,long-,span ,railway ,bridges1          
comprising ,investigations of the       
,comparative ,theoretical and ,practical
 ,advantages of the various adopted or  
proposed ,type ,systems of              

,construction1 with numerous ,formulae  
and ,tables giving the weight of ,iron  
or ,steel required in ,bridges from #cjj
 feet to the limiting ,spans2 to which  
are added similar ,investigations and   
,tables relating to ,short-span ,railway
 ,bridges4 ,second and revised edition4 
,by ,b4 ,,baker1 ,assoc4 ,inst4 ,c4,e4  
,plates1 crown #hvo1 cloth1 #es4        
,elementary ,theory and ,calculation of 
,iron ,bridges and ,roofs4 ,by ,,august 
,,ritter1 ,ph4,d41 ,professor at the    
,polytechnic ,school at                 
,aix-la-,chapelle4 ,translated from the 
third ,german edition1 by ,h4 ,r4       
,,sankey1 ,capt4 ,r4,e4 ,with #ejj      
illustrations1 #hvo1 cloth1 #aes4  ,the 
,elementary ,principles of ,carpentry4  
,by ,,thomas ,,tredgold4 ,revised from  
the original edition1 and partly        
re-written1 by ,,john ,,thomas ,,hurst4 
,contained in #eag pages of             
letter-press1 and illustrated with #dh  
plates and #aej wood engravings4 ,sixth 
edition1 reprinted from the third1 crown

 #hvo1 cloth1 #abs4 #f;d4      ,section 
,i4 ,on the ,equality and ,distribution 
of ,forces--,section ,,ii4              
,resistance of ,timber--,section ,,iii4 
,construction of ,floors--,section      
,,iv4 ,construction of ,roofs--,section 
,v4 ,construction of ,domes and         
,cupolas--,section ,,vi4 ,construction  
of ,partitions--,section ,,vii4         
,scaffolds1 ,staging1 and               
,gantries--,section ,,viii4             
,construction of     ,centres for       
,bridges--,section ,,ix4 ,coffer-dams1  
,shoring1 and     ,strutting--,section  
,x4 ,wooden ,bridges and                
,viaducts--,section ,,xi4     ,joints1  
,straps1 and other ,fastenings--,section
 ,,xii4 ,timber4  ,the ,builder's       
,clerk3 a ,guide to the ,management of a
 ,builder's ,business4 ,by ,,thomas     
,,bales4 ,fcap4 #hvo1 cloth1 #as4 #f;d4 
,practical ,gold-,mining3 a             
,comprehensive ,treatise on the ,origin 
and ,occurrence of ,gold-bearing        
,gravels1 ,rocks and ,ores1 and the     

methods by which the ,gold is extracted4
 ,by ,c4 ,g4 ,,warnford ,,lock1         
co-,author of ',gold3 its ,occurrence   
and ,extraction4' ,with #h plates and   
#bge engravings in the text1 royal #hvo1
 cloth1 #bl4 #bs4  ,hot ,water ,supply3 
,a ,practical ,treatise upon the        
,fitting of ,circulating ,apparatus in  
connection with ,kitchen ,range and     
other ,boilers1 to supply ,hot ,water   
for ,domestic and ,general ,purposes4   
,with a ,chapter upon ,estimating4      
,fully illustrated1 crown #hvo1 cloth1  
#cs4  ,hot ,water ,apparatus3 ,an       
,elementary ,guide for the ,fitting and 
,fixing of ,boilers and ,apparatus for  
the ,circulation of ,hot ,water for     
,heating and for ,domestic ,supply1 and 
containing a ,chapter upon ,boilers and 
,fittings for ,steam ,cooking4 #cb      
illustrations1 fcap4 #hvo1 cloth1 #as4  
#f;d4  ,the ,use and ,misuse1 and the   
,proper and ,improper ,fixing of a      
,cooking ,range4 ,illustrated1 fcap4    
#hvo1 sewed1 #f;d4  ,iron ,roofs3       

,examples of ,design1 ,description4     
,illustrated with #fd ,working ,drawings
 of ,executed ,roofs4 ,by ,,arthur ,t4  
,,walmisley1 ,assoc4 ,mem4 ,inst4 ,c4,e4
 ,second edition1 revised1 imp4 #dto1   
half-morocco1 #cl4 #cs4  ,a ,history of 
,electric ,telegraphy1 to the ,year     
#ahcg4 ,chiefly compiled from ,original 
,sources1 and hitherto ,unpublished     
,documents1 by ,j4 ,j4 ,,fahie1 ,mem4   
,soc4 of ,tel4 ,engineers1 and of the   
,international ,society of              
,electricians1 ,paris4 ,crown #hvo1     
cloth1 #is4  ,spons' ,information for   
,colonial ,engineers4 ,edited by ,j4 ,t4
 ,,hurst4 ,demy #hvo1 sewed4      ,no4  
#a4 ,ceylon4 ,by ,,abraham ,,deane1     
,c4,e4 #bs4 #f;d4          ,,contents3  
,introductory ,remarks--,natural        
,productions--,architecture and         
,engineering--,topography1 ,trade1 and  
,natural ,history--,principal           
,stations--,weights and ,measures1 etc41
 etc4      ,no4 #b4 ,southern ,africa1  
including the ,cape ,colony1 ,natal1 and

 the     ,dutch ,republics4 ,by ,,henry 
,,hall1 ,f4,r4,g4,s41 ,f4,r4,c4,i4 ,with
 ,map4 #cs4     #f;d4                   
,,contents3          ,general           
,description of ,south                  
,africa--,physical ,geography with      
reference to ,engineering               
,operations--,notes on ,labour and      
,material in ,cape ,colony--,geological 
,notes on ,rock ,formation              
,south ,africa--,engineering            
,instruments for ,use in ,south         
in ,africa--,principal ,public ,works in
 ,cape ,colony3 ,railways1              
,mountain ,roads and ,passes1 ,harbour  
,works1 ,bridges1 ,gas ,works1          
,irrigation and ,water ,supply1         
,lighthouses1 ,drainage and ,sanitary   
,engineering1 ,public ,buildings1       
,mines--,table of ,woods in ,south      
,africa--,animals used for ,draught     
,purposes--,statistical                 
,notes--,table of ,distances--,rates of 
,carriage1 etc4      ,no4 #c4 ,india4   
,by ,f4 ,c4 ,,danvers1 ,assoc4 ,inst4   

,c4,e4 ,with ,map4 #ds4     #f;d4       
,,contents3          ,physical          
,geography of ,india--,building         
,materials--,roads--         ,railways--
 ,bridges--,irrigation--,river          
,works--,harbours--         ,lighthouse 
,buildings-- ,native ,labour--,the      
,principal ,trees of                    
,india--,money--,weights and            
,measures--,glossary of ,indian ,terms1 
etc4  ,our ,factories1 ,workshops1 and  
,warehouses3 their ,sanitary and        
,fire-,resisting ,arrangements4 ,by ,b4 
,h4 ,,thwaite1 ,assoc4 ,mem4 ,inst4     
,c4,e4 ,with #ahc wood engravings1 crown
 #hvo1 cloth1 #is4  ,a ,practical       
,treatise on ,coal ,mining4 ,by ,,george
 ,g4 ,,andre1 ,f4,g4,s41 ,assoc4 ,inst4 
,c4,e41 ,member of the ,society of      
,engineers4 ,with #hb lithographic      
plates4 #b vols41 royal #dto1 cloth1    
#cl4 #abs4  ,a ,practical ,treatise on  
,casting and ,founding1 including       
descriptions of the modern machinery    
employed in the art4 ,by ,n4 ,e4        

,,spretson1 ,engineer4 ,fifth edition1  
with #hb plates drawn to scale1 #dab    
pp41 demy #hvo1 cloth1 #ahs4  ,a        
,handbook of ,electrical ,testing4 ,by  
,h4 ,r4 ,,kempe1 ,m4,s4,t4,e4 ,fourth   
edition1 revised and enlarged1 crown    
#hvo1 cloth1 #afs4  ,the ,clerk of      
,works3 a ,vade-,mecum for all engaged  
in the ,superintendence of ,building    
,operations4 ,by ,g4 ,g4 ,,hoskins1     
,f4,r4,i4,b4,a4 ,third edition1 fcap4   
#hvo1 cloth1 #as4 #f;d4  ,american      
,foundry ,practice3 ,treating of ,loam1 
,dry ,sand1 and ,green ,sand ,moulding1 
and containing a ,practical ,treatise   
upon the ,management of ,cupolas1 and   
the ,melting of ,iron4 ,by ,t4 ,d4      
,,west1 ,practical ,iron ,moulder and   
,foundry ,foreman4 ,second edition1 with
 numerous illustrations1 crown #hvo1    
cloth1 #ajs4 #f;d4  ,the ,maintenance of
 ,macadamised ,roads4 ,by ,t4           
,,codrington1 ,m4,i4,c4,e41 ,f4,g4,s41  
,general ,superintendent of ,county     
,roads for ,south ,wales4 ,second       

edition4 #hvo4                          
,nearly ready4  ,hydraulic ,steam and   
,hand ,power ,lifting and ,pressing     
,machinery4 ,by ,,frederick ,,colyer1   
,m4 ,inst4 ,c4,e41 ,m4 ,inst4 ,m4,e4    
,with #gc plates1 #hvo1 cloth1 #ahs4    
,pumps and ,pumping ,machinery4 ,by ,f4 
,,colyer1 ,m4,i4,c4,e41 ,m4,i4,m4,e4    
,with #bc folding plates1 #hvo1 cloth1  
#abs4 #f;d4  ,pumps and ,pumping        
,machinery4 ,by ,f4 ,,colyer4 ,second   
,part4 ,with #aa large plates1 #hvo1    
cloth1 #abs4 #f;d4  ,a ,treatise on the 
,origin1 ,progress1 ,prevention1 and    
,cure of ,dry ,rot in ,timber2 with     
,remarks on the ,means of ,preserving   
,wood from ,destruction by ,sea-,worms1 
,beetles1 ,ants1 etc4 ,by ,,thomas      
,,allen ,,britton1 late ,surveyor to the
 ,metropolitan ,board of ,works1 etc41  
etc4 ,with #aj plates1 crown #hvo1      
cloth1 #gs4 #f;d4  ,the ,artillery of   
the ,future and the ,new ,powders4 ,by  
,j4 ,a4 ,,longridge1 ,mem4 ,inst4 ,c4,e4
 #hvo1 cloth1 #es4  ,gas ,works3 their  

,arrangement1 ,construction1 ,plant1 and
 ,machinery4 ,by ,f4 ,,colyer1 ,m4      
,inst4 ,c4,e4 ,with #ca folding plates1 
#hvo1 cloth1 #abs4 #f;d4  ,the          
,municipal and ,sanitary ,engineer's    
,handbook4 ,by ,h4 ,,percy ,,boulnois1  
,mem4 ,inst4 ,c4,e41 ,borough ,engineer1
 ,portsmouth4 ,with numerous            
illustrations4 ,second edition1 demy    
#hvo1 cloth4      ,,contents3      ,the 
,appointment and ,duties of the ,town   
,surveyor--,traffic--,macadamised       
,roadways--,steam ,rolling--,road ,metal
 and ,breaking--,pitched ,pavements     
--,asphalte--,wood                      
,pavements--,footpaths--,kerbs and      
,gutters--,street     ,naming and       
,numbering--,street                     
,lighting--,sewerage--,ventilation of   
,sewers--,disposal of ,sewage--,house   
,drainage--,disinfection--,gas and      
,water ,companies1 etc41 ,breaking up   
,streets--,improvement of ,private      
,streets--,borrowing ,powers--,artisans'
 and ,labourers' ,dwellings--           

,public ,conveniences--,scavenging1     
including ,street ,cleansing--          
,watering and the ,removing of          
,snow--,planting ,street                
,trees--,deposit     of                 
,plans--,dangerous                      
,buildings--,hoardings--,obstructions--,
improving     ,street ,lines--,cellar   
,openings--,public ,pleasure            
,grounds--,cemeteries                   
--,mortuaries--,cattle and ,ordinary    
,markets--,public ,slaughter-houses1    
etc4--,giving numerous ,forms of        
,notices1 ,specifications1 and ,general 
,information upon these and other       
subjects of great importance to         
,municipal ,engineers and others engaged
 in ,sanitary ,work4  ,metrical ,tables4
 ,by ,sir ,g4 ,l4 ,,molesworth1         
,m4,i4,c4,e4 #cbmo1 cloth1 #as4 #f;d4   
,,contents3      ,general--,linear      
,measures--,square ,measures--,cubic    
,measures--,measures     of             
,capacity--,weights--,combinations--,the
rmometers4  ,elements of ,construction  

for ,electro-,magnets4 ,by ,count ,,th4 
,,du ,,moncel1 ,mem4 de l',institut de  
,france4 ,translated from the ,french by
 ,c4 ,j4 ,,wharton4 ,crown #hvo1 cloth1 
#ds4 #f;d4  ,a ,treatise on the ,use of 
,belting for the ,transmission of       
,power4 ,by ,j4 ,h4 ,,cooper4 ,second   
edition1 illustrated1 #hvo1 cloth1 #aes4
  ,a ,pocket-,book of ,useful ,formulae 
and ,memoranda for ,civil and           
,mechanical ,engineers4 ,by ,sir        
,,guilford ,l4 ,,molesworth1 ,mem4      
,inst4 ,c4,e4 ,with numerous            
illustrations1 #gdd pp4 ,twenty-second  
edition1 #cbmo1 roan1 #fs4              
,,synopsis ,,of ,,contents3             
,surveying1 ,levelling1 etc4--,strength 
and ,weight of ,materials--             
,earthwork1 ,brickwork1 ,masonry1       
,arches1 etc4--,struts1 ,columns1       
,beams1 and ,trusses--,flooring1        
,roofing1 and ,roof ,trusses--,girders1 
,bridges1 etc4--,railways and           
,roads--,hydraulic ,formulae--,canals1  
,sewers1 ,waterworks1                   

,docks--,irrigation and                 
,breakwaters--,gas1     ,ventilation1   
and ,warming--,heat1 ,light1 ,colour1   
and ,sound--,gravity3     ,centres1     
,forces1 and ,powers--,millwork1 ,teeth 
of ,wheels1 ,shafting1                  
etc4--,workshop ,recipes--,sundry       
,machinery--,animal ,power--,steam and  
the ,steam ,engine--,water-power1       
,water-wheels1 ,turbines1 etc4--,wind   
and ,windmills--,steam ,navigation1     
,ship ,building1 ,tonnage1 etc4--       
,gunnery1 ,projectiles1 etc4--,weights1 
,measures1 and ,money--                 
,trigonometry1 ,conic ,sections1 and    
,curves--,telegraphy--,mensuration      
--,tables of ,areas and ,circumference1 
and ,arcs of ,circles--     ,logarithms1
 ,square and ,cube ,roots1              
,powers--,reciprocals1 etc4--           
,useful ,numbers--,differential and     
,integral ,calculus--,algebraic         
,signs--,telegraphic ,construction and  
,formulae4  ,hints on ,architectural    
,draughtsmanship4 ,by ,g4 ,w4 ,tuxford  

,hallatt4 ,fcap4 #hvo1 cloth1 #as4 #f;d4
  ,spons' ,tables and ,memoranda for    
,engineers2 selected and arranged by ,j4
 ,t4 ,,hurst1 ,c4,e41 ,author of        
',architectural ,surveyors' ,handbook1' 
',hurst's ,tredgold's ,carpentry1' etc4 
,eleventh edition1 #fdmo1 roan1 gilt    
edges1 #as42 or in cloth case1 #as4     
#f;d4  ,this work is printed in a pearl 
type1 and is so small1 measuring only   
#b-a_/b in4 by #a-c_/d in4 by #a_/d in4 
thick1 that it may be easily carried in 
the waistcoat pocket4      ,it is       
certainly an extremely rare thing for a 
reviewer to be     called upon to notice
 a volume measuring but #b-a_/b in4 by  
#a-c_/d     in41 yet these dimensions   
faithfully represent the size of the    
handy little book before us4 ,the       
volume--which contains #aah printed     
pages1 besides a few blank pages for    
memoranda--is1 in fact1 a true          
pocket-book1 adapted for being carried  
in the waistcoat pocket1 and            
containing a far greater amount and     

variety of information than     most    
people would imagine could be compressed
 into so small a     space4444 ,the     
little volume has been compiled with    
considerable     care and judgment1 and 
we can cordially recommend it to our    
readers     as a useful little pocket   
companion4--,engineering4  ,a ,practical
 ,treatise on ,natural and ,artificial  
,concrete1 its ,varieties and           
,constructive ,adaptations4 ,by ,,henry 
,,reid1 ,author of the ',science and    
,art of the ,manufacture of ,portland   
,cement4' ,new ,edition1 with #ei       
woodcuts and #e plates1 #hvo1 cloth1    
#aes4  ,notes on ,concrete and ,works in
 ,concrete2 especially written to assist
 those engaged upon ,public ,works4 ,by 
,,john ,,newman1 ,assoc4 ,mem4 ,inst4   
,c4,e41 crown #hvo1 cloth1 #ds4 #f;d4   
,electricity as a ,motive ,power4 ,by   
,count ,,th4 ,,du ,,moncel1 ,membre de  
l',institut de ,france1 and ,,frank     
,,geraldy1 ,ingenieur des ,ponts et     
,chaussees4 ,translated and ,edited1    

with ,additions1 by ,c4 ,j4 ,,wharton1  
,assoc4 ,soc4 ,tel4 ,eng4 and ,elec4    
,with #aac engravings and diagrams1     
crown #hvo1 cloth1 #gs4 #f;d4  ,treatise
 on ,valve-,gears1 with special         
consideration of the ,link-,motions of  
,locomotive ,engines4 ,by ,dr4 ,,gustav 
,,zeuner1 ,professor of ,applied        
,mechanics at the ,confederated         
,polytechnikum of ,zurich4 ,translated  
from the ,fourth ,german ,edition1 by   
,professor ,j4 ,f4 ,,klein1 ,lehigh     
,university1 ,bethlehem1 ,pa4           
,illustrated1 #hvo1 cloth1 #abs4 #f;d4  
,the ,french-,polisher's ,manual4 ,by a 
,french-,polisher2 containing ,timber   
,staining1 ,washing1 ,matching1         
,improving1 ,painting1 ,imitations1     
,directions for ,staining1 ,sizing1     
,embodying1 ,smoothing1 ,spirit         
,varnishing1 ,french-,polishing1        
,directions for ,re-polishing4 ,third   
edition1 royal #cbmo1 sewed1 #f;d4      
,hops1 their ,cultivation1 ,commerce1   
and ,uses in various ,countries4 ,by ,p4

 ,l4 ,,simmonds4 ,crown #hvo1 cloth1    
#ds4 #f;d4  ,the ,principles of ,graphic
 ,statics4 ,by ,,george ,,sydenham      
,,clarke1 ,major ,royal ,engineers4     
,with #aab illustrations4 ,second       
edition1 #dto1 cloth1 #abs4 #f;d4       
,dynamo ,tenders' ,hand-,book4 ,by ,f4  
,b4 ,,badt1 late #ast ,lieut4 ,royal    
,prussian ,artillery4 ,with #gj         
illustrations4 ,third edition1 #ahmo1   
cloth1 #ds4 #f;d4  ,practical ,geometry1
 ,perspective1 and ,engineering         
,drawing2 a ,course of ,descriptive     
,geometry adapted to the ,requirements  
of the ,engineering ,draughtsman1       
including the determination of cast     
shadows and ,isometric ,projection1 each
 chapter being followed by numerous     
examples2 to which are added rules for  
,shading1 ,shade-lining1 etc41 together 
with practical instructions as to the   
,lining1 ,colouring1 ,printing1 and     
general treatment of ,engineering       
,drawings1 with a chapter on drawing    
,instruments4 ,by ,,george ,s4 ,,clarke1

 ,capt4 ,r4,e4 ,second edition1 with #ba
 plates4 #b vols41 cloth1 #ajs4 #f;d4   
,the ,elements of ,graphic ,statics4 ,by
 ,professor ,,karl ,,von ,,ott1         
translated from the ,german by ,g4 ,s4  
,,clarke1 ,capt4 ,r4,e41 ,instructor in 
,mechanical ,drawing1 ,royal ,indian    
,engineering ,college4 ,with #ic        
illustrations1 crown #hvo1 cloth1 #es4  
,a ,practical ,treatise on the          
,manufacture and ,distribution of ,coal 
,gas4 ,by ,,william ,,richards4 ,demy   
#dto1 with numerous wood engravings and 
#bi plates1 cloth1 #bhs4      ,,synopsis
 ,,of ,,contents3                       
,introduction--,history of ,gas         
,lighting--,chemistry of ,gas           
,manufacture1     by ,lewis ,thompson1  
,esq41 ,m4,r4,c4,s4--,coal1 with        
,analyses1 by ,j4     ,paterson1 ,lewis 
,thompson1 and ,g4 ,r4 ,hislop1         
,esqrs4--,retorts1 ,iron     and        
,clay--,retort ,setting--,hydraulic     
,main--,condensers--,exhausters--       
,washers and                            

,scrubbers--,purifiers--,purification--,
history of ,gas     ,holder--,tanks1    
,brick and ,stone1 ,composite1          
,concrete1 ,cast-iron1     ,compound    
,annular                                
,wrought-iron--,specifications--,gas    
,holders--     ,station                 
,meter--,governor--,distribution--,mains
--,gas ,mathematics1     or ,formulae   
for the ,distribution of ,gas1 by ,lewis
 ,thompson1                             
,esq4--,services--,consumers'           
,meters--,regulators--,burners--,fitting
s--     ,photometer--,carburization of  
,gas--,air ,gas and ,water ,gas--       
,composition of ,coal ,gas1 by ,lewis   
,thompson1 ,esq4--,analyses     of      
,gas--,influence of ,atmospheric        
,pressure and ,temperature     on       
,gas--,residual                         
,products--,appendix--,description of   
,retort     ,settings1 ,buildings1 etc41
 etc4  ,the ,new ,formula for ,mean     
,velocity of ,discharge of ,rivers and  
,canals4 ,by ,w4 ,r4 ,,kutter4          

,translated from articles in the        
',cultur-,ingenieur1' by ,,lowis ,d',a4 
,,jackson1 ,assoc4 ,inst4 ,c4,e4 #hvo1  
cloth1 #abs4 #f;d4  ,the ,practical     
,millwright and ,engineers ,ready       
,reckoner2 or ,tables for finding the   
diameter and power of cog-wheels1       
diameter1 weight1 and power of shafts1  
diameter and strength of bolts1 etc4 ,by
 ,,thomas ,,dixon4 ,fourth edition1     
#abmo1 cloth1 #cs4  ,tin3 ,describing   
the ,chief ,methods of ,mining1         
,dressing and ,smelting it abroad2 with 
,notes upon ,arsenic1 ,bismuth and      
,wolfram4 ,by ,,arthur ,g4 ,,charleton1 
,mem4 ,american ,inst4 of ,mining       
,engineers4 ,with plates1 #hvo1 cloth1  
#abs4 #f;d4  ,perspective1 ,explained   
and ,illustrated4 ,by ,g4 ,s4 ,,clarke1 
,capt4 ,r4,e4 ,with illustrations1 #hvo1
 cloth1 #cs4 #f;d4  ,practical          
,hydraulics2 a ,series of ,rules and    
,tables for the use of ,engineers1 etc41
 etc4 ,by ,,thomas ,,box4 ,ninth        
edition1 numerous plates1 post #hvo1    

cloth1 #es4  ,the ,essential ,elements  
of ,practical ,mechanics2 based on the  
,principle of ,work1 designed for       
,engineering ,students4 ,by ,,oliver    
,,byrne1 formerly ,professor of         
,mathematics1 ,college for ,civil       
,engineers4 ,third edition1 with #adh   
wood engravings1 post #hvo1 cloth1 #gs4 
#f;d4      ,,contents3      ,chap4 #a4  
,how ,work is ,measured by a ,unit1 both
 with and without     reference to a    
,unit of ,time--,chap4 #b4 ,the ,work of
 ,living ,agents1     the ,influence of 
,friction1 and introduces one of the    
most beautiful     ,laws of             
,motion--,chap4 #c4 ,the principles     
expounded in the first and     second   
chapters are applied to the ,motion of  
,bodies--,chap4 #d4 ,the                
,transmission of ,work by simple        
,machines--,chap4 #e4 ,useful           
,propositions and ,rules4  ,breweries   
and ,maltings3 their ,arrangement1      
,construction1 ,machinery1 and ,plant4  
,by ,g4 ,,scamell1 ,f4,r4,i4,b4,a4      

,second edition1 revised1 enlarged1 and 
partly rewritten4 ,by ,f4 ,,colyer1     
,m4,i4,c4,e41 ,m4,i4,m4,e4 ,with #bj    
plates1 #hvo1 cloth1 #abs4 #f;d4  ,a    
,practical ,treatise on the             
,construction of ,horizontal and        
,vertical ,waterwheels1 specially       
designed for the use of operative       
mechanics4 ,by ,,william ,,cullen1      
,millwright and ,engineer4 ,with #aa    
plates4 ,second edition1 revised and    
enlarged1 small #dto1 cloth1 #abs4 #f;d4
  ,a ,practical ,treatise on            
,mill-gearing1 ,wheels1 ,shafts1        
,riggers1 etc42 for the use of          
,engineers4 ,by ,,thomas ,,box4 ,third  
edition1 with #aa plates4 ,crown #hvo1  
cloth1 #gs4 #f;d4  ,mining ,machinery3 a
 ,descriptive ,treatise on the          
,machinery1 ,tools1 and other           
,appliances used in ,mining4 ,by ,g4 ,g4
 ,,andre1 ,f4,g4,s41 ,assoc4 ,inst4     
,c4,e41 ,mem4 of the ,society of        
,engineers4 ,royal #dto1 uniform with   
the ,author's ,treatise on ,coal        

,mining1 containing #ahb plates1        
accurately drawn to scale1 with         
descriptive text1 in #b vols41 cloth1   
#cl4 #abs4      ,,contents3             
,machinery for ,prospecting1            
,excavating1 ,hauling1 and ,hoisting--  
,ventilation--,pumping--,treatment of   
,mineral ,products1 including     ,gold 
and ,silver1 ,copper1 ,tin1 and ,lead1  
,iron1 ,coal ,sulphur1     ,china ,clay1
 ,brick ,earth1 etc4  ,tables for       
,setting out ,curves for ,railways1     
,canals1 ,roads1 etc41 varying from a   
radius of five chains to three miles4   
,by ,a4 ,,kennedy and ,r4 ,w4           
,,hackwood4 ,illustrated #cbmo1 cloth1  
#bs4 #f;d4  ,practical ,electrical      
,notes and ,definitions for the use of  
,engineering ,students and ,practical   
,men4 ,by ,w4 ,,perren ,,maycock1       
,assoc4 ,m4 ,inst4 ,e4,e41 ,instructor  
in ,electrical ,engineering at the      
,pitlake ,institute1 ,croydon1 together 
with the ,rules and ,regulations to be  
observed in ,electrical ,installation   

,work4 ,second edition4 ,royal #cbmo1   
roan1 gilt edges1 #ds4 #f;d4  ,the      
,draughtsman's ,handbook of ,plan and   
,map ,drawing2 including instructions   
for the preparation of ,engineering1    
,architectural1 and ,mechanical         
,drawings4 ,with numerous illustrations 
in the text1 and #cc plates 7#ae printed
 in colours74 ,by ,g4 ,g4 ,,andre1      
,f4,g4,s41 ,assoc4 ,inst4 ,c4,e4 #dto1  
cloth1 #is4      ,,contents3      ,the  
,drawing ,office and its                
,furnishings--,geometrical ,problems--  
,lines1 ,dots1 and their                
,combinations--,colours1 ,shading1      
,lettering1     ,bordering1 and ,north  
,points--,scales--,plotting--,civil     
,engineers'     and ,surveyors'         
,plans--,map ,drawing--,mechanical and  
,architectural     ,drawing--,copying   
and ,reducing ,trigonometrical          
,formulae1 etc41 etc4  ,the             
,boiler-maker's and ,iron               
,ship-builder's ,companion1 comprising a
 series of original and carefully       

calculated tables1 of the utmost utility
 to persons interested in the iron      
trades4 ,by ,,james ,,foden1 author of  
',mechanical ,tables1' etc4 ,second     
edition revised1 with illustrations1    
crown #hvo1 cloth1 #es4  ,rock          
,blasting3 a ,practical ,treatise on the
 means employed in ,blasting ,rocks for 
,industrial ,purposes4 ,by ,g4 ,g4      
,,andre1 ,f4,g4,s41 ,assoc4 ,inst4      
,c4,e4 ,with #ef illustrations and #ab  
plates1 #hvo1 cloth1 #ajs4 #f;d4        
,experimental ,science3 ,elementary1    
,practical1 and ,experimental ,physics4 
,by ,,geo4 ,m4 ,,hopkins4 ,illustrated  
by #fgb engravings4 ,in one large vol41 
#hvo1 cloth1 #ahs4  ,a ,treatise on     
,ropemaking as practised in public and  
private ,rope-yards1 with a ,description
 of the ,manufacture1 ,rules1 ,tables of
 ,weights1 etc41 adapted to the ,trade1 
,shipping1 ,mining1 ,railways1          
,builders1 etc4 ,by ,r4 ,,chapman1      
formerly foreman to ,messrs4 ,huddart   
and ,co41 ,limehouse1 and late ,master  

,ropemaker to ,h4 ,m4 ,dockyard1        
,deptford4 ,second edition1 #abmo1      
cloth1 #cs4  ,laxton's ,builders' and   
,contractors' ,tables2 for the use of   
,engineers1 ,architects1 ,surveyors1    
,builders1 ,land ,agents1 and others4   
,bricklayer1 containing #bb tables1 with
 nearly #cj1jjj calculations4 #dto1     
cloth1 #es4  ,laxton's ,builders' and   
,contractors' ,tables4 ,excavator1      
,earth1 ,land1 ,water1 and ,gas1        
containing #ec tables1 with nearly      
#bd1jjj calculations4 #dto1 cloth1 #es4 
,egyptian ,irrigation4 ,by ,w4          
,,willcocks1 ,m4,i4,c4,e41 ,indian      
,public ,works ,department1 ,inspector  
of ,irrigation1 ,egypt4 ,with           
,introduction by ,lieut4-,col4 ,j4 ,c4  
,ross1 ,r4,e41 ,inspector-,general of   
,irrigation4 ,with numerous lithographs 
and wood engravings1 royal #hvo1 cloth1 
#al4 #afs4  ,screw ,cutting ,tables for 
,engineers and ,machinists1 giving the  
values of the different trains of       
,wheels required to produce ,screws of  

any pitch1 calculated by ,lord ,lindsay1
 ,m4,p41 ,f4,r4,s41 ,f4,r4,a4,s41 etc4  
,cloth1 oblong1 #bs4  ,screw ,cutting   
,tables1 for the use of ,mechanical     
,engineers1 showing the proper          
arrangement of ,wheels for cutting the  
,threads of ,screws of any required     
pitch1 with a ,table for making the     
,universal ,gas-pipe ,threads and ,taps4
 ,by ,w4 ,a4 ,,martin1 ,engineer4       
,second1 edition1 oblong1 cloth1 #as41  
or sewed1 #f;d4  ,a ,treatise on a      
,practical ,method of ,designing        
,slide-,valve ,gears by ,simple         
,geometrical ,construction1 based upon  
the principles enunciated in ,euclid's  
,elements1 and comprising the various   
forms of ,plain ,slide-,valve and       
,expansion ,gearing2 together with      
,stephenson's1 ,gooch's1 and ,allan's   
,link-,motions1 as applied either to    
reversing or to variable expansion      
combinations4 ,by ,,edward ,j4 ,,cowling
 ,,welch1 ,memb4 ,inst4 ,mechanical     
,engineers4 ,crown #hvo1 cloth1 #fs4    

,cleaning and ,scouring3 a ,manual for  
,dyers1 ,laundresses1 and for ,domestic 
,use4 ,by ,s4 ,,christopher4 #ahmo1     
sewed1 #f;d4  ,a ,glossary of ,terms    
used in ,coal ,mining4 ,by ,,william    
,,stukeley ,,gresley1 ,assoc4 ,mem4     
,inst ,c4,e41 ,f4,g4,s41 ,member of the 
,north of ,england ,institute of ,mining
 ,engineers4 ,illustrated with numerous 
woodcuts and diagrams1 crown #hvo1      
cloth1 #es4  ,a ,pocket-,book for       
,boiler ,makers and ,steam ,users1      
comprising a variety of useful          
information for ,employer and ,workman1 
,government ,inspectors1 ,board of      
,trade ,surveyors1 ,engineers in charge 
of ,works and ,slips1 ,foremen of       
,manufactories1 and the general         
,steam-using ,public4 ,by ,,maurice     
,,john ,,sexton4 ,second edition1 royal 
#cbmo1 roan1 gilt edges1 #es4           
,electrolysis3 a ,practical ,treatise on
 ,nickeling1 ,coppering1 ,gilding1      
,silvering1 the ,refining of ,metals1   
and the treatment of ,ores by means of  

,electricity4 ,by ,,hippolyte           
,,fontaine1 translated from the ,french 
by ,j4 ,a4 ,,berly1 ,c4,e41 ,assoc4     
,s4,t4,e4 ,with engravings4 #hvo1 cloth1
 #is4  ,barlow's ,tables of ,squares1   
,cubes1 ,square ,roots1 ,cube ,roots1   
,reciprocals of all ,integer ,numbers up
 to #aj1jjj4 ,post #hvo1 cloth1 #fs4  ,a
 ,practical ,treatise on the ,steam     
,engine1 containing ,plans and          
,arrangements of ,details for ,fixed    
,steam ,engines1 with ,essays on the    
,principles involved in ,design and     
,construction4 ,by ,,arthur ,,rigg1     
,engineer1 ,member of the ,society of   
,engineers and of the ,royal            
,institution of ,great ,britain4 ,demy  
#dto1 copiously illustrated with        
woodcuts and #if plates1 in one ,volume1
 half-bound morocco1 #bl4 #bs42 or      
cheaper edition1 cloth1 #bes4      ,this
 work is not1 in any sense1 an          
elementary treatise1 or history     of  
the steam engine1 but is intended to    
describe examples of ,fixed     ,steam  

,engines without entering into the wide 
domain of locomotive     or marine      
practice4 ,to this end illustrations    
will be given of the     most recent    
arrangements of ,horizontal1 ,vertical1 
,beam1 ,pumping1     ,winding1          
,portable1 ,semi-portable1 ,corliss1    
,allen1 ,compound1 and     other similar
 ,engines1 by the most eminent ,firms in
 ,great ,britain     and ,america4 ,the 
laws relating to the action and         
precautions to be     observed in the   
construction of the various details1    
such as     ,cylinders1 ,pistons1       
,piston-rods1 ,connecting-rods1         
,cross-heads1     ,motion-blocks1       
,eccentrics1 ,simple1 ,expansion1       
,balanced1 and     ,equilibrium         
,slide-valves1 and ,valve-gearing will  
be minutely dealt     with4 ,in this    
connection will be found articles upon  
the ,velocity     of ,reciprocating     
,parts and the ,mode of ,applying the   
,indicator1 ,heat     and ,expansion of 
,steam ,governors1 and the like4 ,it is 

the writer's     desire to draw         
illustrations from every possible       
source1 and give     only those rules   
that present practice deems correct4  ,a
 ,practical ,treatise on the ,science of
 ,land and ,engineering ,surveying1     
,levelling1 ,estimating ,quantities1    
etc41 with a general description of the 
several ,instruments required for       
,surveying1 ,levelling1 ,plotting1 etc4 
,by ,h4 ,s4 ,,merrett4 ,fourth edition1 
revised by ,g4 ,w4 ,,usill1 ,assoc4     
,mem4 ,inst4 ,c4,e4 #da plates1 with    
illustrations and tables1 royal #hvo1   
cloth1 #abs4 #f;d4      ,,principal     
,,contents3      ,part #a4 ,introduction
 and the ,principles of ,geometry4 ,part
 #b4 ,land     ,surveying2 comprising   
,general ,observations--,the            
,chain--,offsets     ,surveying by the  
,chain only--,surveying ,hilly          
,ground--,to ,survey an     ,estate or  
,parish by the ,chain only--,surveying  
with the ,theodolite     --,mining and  
,town ,surveying--,railroad             

,surveying--,mapping--     ,division and
 ,laying out of ,land--,observations on 
,enclosures--     ,plane ,trigonometry4 
,part #c4 ,levelling--,simple and       
,compound     ,levelling--,the ,level   
,book--,parliamentary ,plan and         
,section--     ,levelling with a        
,theodolite--,gradients--,wooden        
,curves--,to ,lay     out a ,railway    
,curve--,setting out ,widths4 ,part #d4 
,calculating     ,quantities generally  
for ,estimates--,cuttings and           
,embankments--                          
,tunnels--,brickwork--,ironwork--,timber
 ,measuring4 ,part #e4     ,description 
and ,use of ,instruments in ,surveying  
and ,plotting--     ,the ,improved      
,dumpy ,level--,troughton's ,level--,the
 ,prismatic     ,compass--,proportional 
,compass--,box                          
,sextant--,vernier--,pantagraph--       
,merrett's ,improved                    
,quadrant--,improved ,computation       
,scale--,the     ,diagonal              
,scale--,straight ,edge and ,sector4    

,part #f4 ,logarithms of                
,numbers--,logarithmic ,sines and       
,co-,sines1 ,tangents and ,co-,tangents 
--,natural ,sines and                   
,co-,sines--,tables for ,earthwork1 for 
,setting     out ,curves1 and for       
various ,calculations1 etc41 etc41 etc4 
,mechanical ,graphics4 ,a ,second       
,course of ,mechanical ,drawing4 ,with  
,preface by ,prof4 ,,perry1 ,b4,sc41    
,f4,r4,s4 ,arranged for use in          
,technical and ,science and ,art        
,institutes1 ,schools and ,colleges1 by 
,,george ,,halliday1 ,whitworth         
,scholar4 #hvo1 cloth1 #fs4  ,the       
,assayers ,manual3 an ,abridged         
,treatise on the ,docimastic            
,examination of ,ores and ,furnace and  
other ,artificial ,products4 ,by ,,bruno
 ,,kerl4 ,translated by ,w4 ,t4         
,,brannt4 ,with #fe illustrations1 #hvo1
 cloth1 #abs4 #f;d4  ,dynamo-,electric  
,machinery3 a ,text-,book for ,students 
of ,electro-,technology4 ,by ,,silvanus 
,p4 ,,thompson1 ,b4,a41 ,d4,sc41        

,m4,s4,t4,e4 ,new edition in the press4 
,the ,practice of ,hand ,turning in     
,wood1 ,ivory1 ,shell1 etc41 with       
,instructions for ,turning such ,work in
 ,metal as may be required in the       
,practice of ,turning in ,wood1 ,ivory1 
etc42 also an ,appendix on ,ornamental  
,turning4 7,a book for beginners47 ,by  
,,francis ,,campin4 ,third edition1 with
 wood engravings1 crown #hvo1 cloth1    
#fs4      ,,contents3      ,on          
,lathes--,turning ,tools--,turning      
,wood--,drilling--,screw ,cutting--     
,miscellaneous ,apparatus and           
,processes--,turning ,particular        
,forms--                                
,staining--,polishing--,spinning        
,metals--,materials--,ornamental        
,turning1 etc4  ,treatise on ,watchwork1
 ,past and ,present4 ,by the ,rev4 ,h4  
,l4 ,,nelthropp1 ,m4,a41 ,f4,s4,a4 ,with
 #cb illustrations1 crown #hvo1 cloth1  
#fs4 #f;d4      ,,contents3             
,definitions of ,words and ,terms used  
in ,watchwork--,tools--,time--          

,historical ,summary--,on ,calculations 
of the ,numbers for ,wheels     and     
,pinions2 their ,proportional ,sizes1   
,trains1 etc4--,of ,dial ,wheels1     or
 ,motion ,work--,length of ,time of     
,going without ,winding up--,the        
,verge--,the ,horizontal--,the          
,duplex--,the ,lever--,the              
,chronometer--     ,repeating           
,watches--,keyless ,watches--,the       
,pendulum1 or ,spiral ,spring--         
,compensation--,jewelling of ,pivot     
,holes--,clerkenwell--,fallacies of     
the ,trade--,incapacity of              
,workmen--,how to ,choose and ,use a    
,watch1     etc4  ,algebra              
,self-,taught4 ,by ,w4 ,p4 ,,higgs1     
,m4,a41 ,d4,sc41 ,,ll4,d41 ,assoc4 ,inst
 ,c4,e41 ,author of ',a ,handbook of the
 ,differential ,calculus1' etc4 ,second 
edition1 crown #hvo1 cloth1 #bs4 #f;d4  
,,contents3      ,symbols and the ,signs
 of ,operation--,the ,equation and the  
,unknown     ,quantity--,positive and   
,negative ,quantities--,multiplication--

     ,involution--,exponents--,negative 
,exponents--,roots1 and the ,use of     
,exponents as                           
,logarithms--,logarithms--,tables of    
,logarithms and     ,proportionate      
,parts--,transformation of ,system of   
,logarithms--     ,common ,uses of      
,common ,logarithms--,compound          
,multiplication and     the ,binomial   
,theorem--,division1 ,fractions1 and    
,ratio--,continued     ,proportion--,the
 ,series and the ,summation of the      
,series--,limit     of ,series--,square 
and ,cube ,roots--,equations--,list of  
,formulae1 etc4  ,spons' ,dictionary of 
,engineering1 ,civil1 ,mechanical1      
,military1 and ,naval2 with technical   
terms in ,french1 ,german1 ,italian1 and
 ,spanish1 #cajj pp41 and nearly #hjjj  
engravings1 in super-royal #hvo1 in #h  
divisions1 #el4 #hs4 ,complete in #c    
vols41 cloth1 #el4 #es4 ,bound in a     
superior manner1 half-morocco1 top edge 
gilt1 #c vols41 #fl4 #abs4  ,notes in   
,mechanical ,engineering4 ,compiled     

principally for the use of the ,students
 attending the ,classes on this subject 
at the ,city of ,london ,college4 ,by   
,,henry ,,adams1 ,mem4 ,inst4 ,m4,e41   
,mem4 ,inst4 ,c4,e41 ,mem4 ,soc4 of     
,engineers4 ,crown #hvo1 cloth1 #bs4    
#f;d4  ,canoe and ,boat ,building3 a    
complete ,manual for ,amateurs1         
containing plain and comprehensive      
directions for the construction of      
,canoes1 ,rowing and ,sailing ,boats1   
and ,hunting ,craft4 ,by ,w4 ,p4        
,,stephens4 ,with numerous illustrations
 and #bd plates of ,working ,drawings4  
,crown #hvo1 cloth1 #is4  ,proceedings  
of the ,national ,conference of         
,electricians1 ,philadelphia1 ,october  
#hth to #acth1 #ahhd4 #ahmo1 cloth1 #cs4
  ,dynamo-,electricity1 its ,generation1
 ,application1 ,transmission1 ,storage1 
and ,measurement4 ,by ,g4 ,b4           
,,prescott4 ,with #ede illustrations4   
#hvo1 cloth1 #al4 #as4  ,domestic       
,electricity for ,amateurs4 ,translated 
from the ,french of ,e4 ,,hospitalier1  

,editor of ,l',electricien1 by ,c4 ,j4  
,,wharton1 ,assoc4 ,soc4 ,tel4 ,eng4    
,numerous illustrations4 ,demy #hvo1    
cloth1 #fs4      ,,contents3      #a4   
,production of the ,electric            
,current--#b4 ,electric ,bells--#c4     
,automatic ,alarms--#d4 ,domestic       
,telephones--#e4 ,electric ,clocks--#f4 
,electric ,lighters--#g4 ,domestic      
,electric ,lighting--#h4 ,domestic      
,application of the ,electric           
,light--#i4 ,electric ,motors--#aj4     
,electrical     ,locomotion--#aa4       
,electrotyping1 ,plating1 and           
,gilding--#ab4 ,electric                
,recreations--#ac4 ,various             
applications--,workshop of the          
,electrician4  ,wrinkles in ,electric   
,lighting4 ,by ,,vincent ,,stephen4     
,with illustrations4 #ahmo1 cloth1 #bs4 
#f;d4      ,,contents3      #a4 ,the    
,electric ,current and its production by
 ,chemical means--#b4     ,production of
 ,electric ,currents by ,mechanical     
means--#c4     ,dynamo-,electric        

,machines--#d4 ,electric ,lamps--#e4    
,lead--#f4 ,ship     ,lighting4         
,foundations and ,foundation ,walls for 
all classes of ,buildings1 ,pile        
,driving1 ,building ,stones and ,bricks1
 ,pier and ,wall construction1 ,mortars1
 ,limes1 ,cements1 ,concretes1 ,stuccos1
 c4 #fd illustrations4 ,by ,g4 ,t4      
,,powell and ,f4 ,,bauman4 #hvo1 cloth1 
#ajs4 #f;d4  ,manual for ,gas           
,engineering ,students4 ,by ,d4 ,,lee4  
#ahmo1 cloth1 #as4  ,telephones1 their  
,construction and ,management4 ,by ,f4  
,c4 ,,allsop4 ,crown #hvo1 cloth1 #es4  
,hydraulic ,machinery1 ,past and        
,present4 ,a ,lecture delivered to the  
,london and ,suburban ,railway          
,officials' ,association4 ,by ,h4       
,,adams1 ,mem4 ,inst4 ,c4,e4 ,folding   
plate4 #hvo1 sewed1 #as4  ,twenty ,years
 with the ,indicator4 ,by ,,thomas      
,,pray1 ,jun41 ,c4,e41 ,m4,e41 ,member  
of the ,american ,society of ,civil     
,engineers4 #b vols41 royal #hvo1 cloth1
 #abs4 #f;d4  ,annual ,statistical      

,report of the ,secretary to the        
,members of the ,iron and ,steel        
,association on the ,home and ,foreign  
,iron and ,steel ,industries in #ahhi4  
,issued ,june #ahij4 #hvo1 sewed1 #es4  
,bad ,drains1 and ,how to ,test them2   
with ,notes on the ,ventilation of      
,sewers1 ,drains1 and ,sanitary         
,fittings1 and the ,origin and          
,transmission of ,zymotic ,disease4 ,by 
,r4 ,,harris ,,reeves4 ,crown #hvo1     
cloth1 #cs4 #f;d4  ,well ,sinking4 ,the 
modern practice of ,sinking and ,boring 
,wells1 with geological considerations  
and examples of ,wells4 ,by ,,ernest    
,,spon1 ,assoc4 ,mem4 ,inst4 ,c4,e41    
,mem4 ,soc4 ,eng41 and of the ,franklin 
,inst41 etc4 ,second edition1 revised   
and enlarged4 ,crown #hvo1 cloth1 #ajs4 
#f;d4  ,the ,voltaic ,accumulator3 an   
,elementary ,treatise4 ,by ,,emile      
,,reynier4 ,translated by ,j4 ,a4       
,,berly1 ,assoc4 ,inst4 ,e4,e4 ,with #fb
 illustrations1 #hvo1 cloth1 #is4  ,ten 
,years' ,experience in ,works of        

,intermittent ,downward ,filtration4 ,by
 ,j4 ,,bailey ,,denton1 ,mem4 ,inst4    
,c4,e4 ,second edition1 with additions4 
,royal #hvo1 cloth1 #es4  ,land         
,surveying on the ,meridian and         
,perpendicular ,system4 ,by ,,william   
,,penman1 ,c4,e4 #hvo1 cloth1 #hs4 #f;d4
  ,the ,electromagnet and               
,electromagnetic ,mechanism4 ,by        
,,silvanus ,p4 ,,thompson1 ,d4,sc41     
,f4,r4,s4 #hvo1 cloth1 #aes4            
,incandescent ,wiring ,hand-,book4 ,by  
,f4 ,b4 ,,badt1 late #ast ,lieut4 ,royal
 ,prussian ,artillery4 ,with #da        
illustrations and #e tables4 #ahmo1     
cloth1 #ds4 #f;d4  ,a ,pocket-book for  
,pharmacists1 ,medical ,practitioners1  
,students1 etc41 etc4 7,british1        
,colonial1 and ,american74 ,by ,,thomas 
,,bayley1 ,assoc4 ,r4 ,coll4 of         
,science1 ,consulting ,chemist1         
,analyst1 and ,assayer1 ,author of a    
',pocket-book for ,chemists1' ',the     
,assay and ,analysis of ,iron and       
,steel1 ,iron ,ores1 and ,fuel1' etc41  

etc4 ,royal #cbmo1 boards1 gilt edges1  
#fs4  ,the ,fireman's ,guide2 a         
,handbook on the ,care of ,boilers4 ,by 
,,teknolog1 foereningen ,t4 ,i4         
,stockholm4 ,translated from the third  
edition1 and revised by ,,karl ,p4      
,,dahlstrom1 ,m4,e4 ,second edition4    
,fcap4 #hvo1 cloth1 #bs4  ,a ,treatise  
on ,modern ,steam ,engines and ,boilers1
 including ,land ,locomotive1 and       
,marine ,engines and ,boilers1 for the  
use of ,students4 ,by ,,frederick       
,,colyer1 ,m4 ,inst4 ,c4,e41 ,mem4      
,inst4 ,m4,e4 ,with #cf plates4 #dto1   
cloth1 #abs4 #f;d4      ,,contents3     
#a4 ,introduction--#b4 ,original        
,engines--#c4 ,boilers--#d4             
,high-,pressure     ,beam ,engines--#e4 
,cornish ,beam ,engines--#f4 ,horizontal
 ,engines--#g4     ,oscillating         
,engines--#h4 ,vertical ,high-,pressure 
,engines--#i4 ,special                  
,engines--#aj4 ,portable ,engines--#aa4 
,locomotive ,engines--#ab4 ,marine      
,engines4  ,steam ,engine ,management2 a

 ,treatise on the ,working and          
,management of ,steam ,boilers4 ,by ,f4 
,,colyer1 ,m4 ,inst4 ,c4,e41 ,mem4      
,inst4 ,m4,e4 #ahmo1 cloth1 #bs4  ,a    
,text-,book of ,tanning1 embracing the  
,preparation of all kinds of ,leather4  
,by ,,harry ,r4 ,,proctor1 ,f4,c4,s41 of
 ,low ,lights ,tanneries4 ,with         
illustrations4 ,crown #hvo1 cloth1 #ajs4
 #f;d4  ,aid ,book to ,engineering      
,enterprise4 ,by ,,ewing ,,matheson1 ,m4
 ,inst4 ,c4,e4 ,the ,inception of       
,public ,works1 ,parliamentary          
,procedure for ,railways1 ,concessions  
for ,foreign ,works1 and means of       
,providing ,money1 the ,points which    
determine ,success or ,failure1         
,contract and ,purchase1 ,commerce in   
,coal1 ,iron1 and ,steel1 c4 ,second    
edition1 revised and enlarged1 #hvo1    
cloth1 #bas4  ,pumps1 ,historically1    
,theoretically1 and ,practically        
,considered4 ,by ,p4 ,r4                
,b,j,oe,r,l,i,n,g4 ,with #aef           
illustrations4 ,crown #hvo1 cloth1 #gs4 

#f;d4  ,the ,marine ,transport of       
,petroleum4 ,a ,book for the use of     
,shipowners1 ,shipbuilders1             
,underwriters1 ,merchants1 ,captains and
 ,officers of ,petroleum-carrying       
,vessels4 ,by ,g4 ,h4 ,,little1 ,editor 
of the ',liverpool ,journal of          
,commerce4' ,crown #hvo1 cloth1 #ajs4   
#f;d4  ,liquid ,fuel for ,mechanical and
 ,industrial ,purposes4 ,compiled by ,e4
 ,a4 ,,brayley ,,hodgetts4 ,with wood   
engravings4 #hvo1 cloth1 #gs4 #f;d4     
,tropical ,agriculture3 ,a ,treatise on 
the ,culture1 ,preparation1 ,commerce   
and ,consumption of the principal       
,products of the ,vegetable ,kingdom4   
,by ,p4 ,l4 ,,simmonds1 ,f4,l4,s41      
,f4,r4,c4,i4 ,new edition1 revised and  
enlarged1 #hvo1 cloth1 #bas4  ,health   
and ,comfort in ,house ,building2 or1   
,ventilation with ,warm ,air by         
,self-acting ,suction ,power4 ,with     
,review of the ,mode of ,calculating the
 ,draught in ,hot-air ,flues1 and with  
some ,actual ,experiments by ,j4        

,,drysdale1 ,m4,d41 and ,j4 ,w4         
,,hayward1 ,m4,d4 ,with plates and      
woodcuts4 ,third edition1 with some ,new
 ,sections1 and the whole carefully     
,revised1 #hvo1 cloth1 #gs4 #f;d4       
,losses in ,gold ,amalgamation4 ,with   
,notes on the ,concentration of ,gold   
and ,silver ,ores4 ,with six plates4 ,by
 ,w4 ,,mcdermott and ,p4 ,w4 ,,duffield4
 #hvo1 cloth1 #es4  ,a ,guide for the   
,electric ,testing of ,telegraph        
,cables4 ,by ,,col4 ,v4 ,,hoskioer1     
,royal ,danish ,engineers4 ,third       
edition1 crown #hvo1 cloth1 #ds4 #f;d4  
,the ,hydraulic ,gold ,miners' ,manual4 
,by ,t4 ,s4 ,g4 ,,kirkpatrick1 ,m4,a4   
,oxon4 ,with #f plates4 ,crown #hvo1    
cloth1 #fs4      ,we venture to think   
that this work will become a text-book  
on the     important subject of which it
 treats4 ,until comparatively recently  
hydraulic mines were neglected4 ,this   
was scarcely to be surprised     at1    
seeing that their working in ,california
 was brought to an     abrupt           

termination by the action of the farmers
 on the debris     question1 whilst     
their working in other parts of the     
world had not     been attended with the
 anticipated success4--,the ,mining     
,world and     ,engineering ,record4    
,the ,arithmetic of ,electricity4 ,by   
,t4 ,o',,conor ,,sloane4 ,crown #hvo1   
cloth1 #ds4 #f;d4  ,the ,turkish ,bath3 
,its ,design and ,construction for      
,public and ,commercial ,purposes4 ,by  
,r4 ,o4 ,,allsop1 ,architect4 ,with     
plans and sections4 #hvo1 cloth1 #fs4   
,earthwork ,slips and ,subsidences upon 
,public ,works3 ,their ,causes1         
,prevention and ,reparation4 ,especially
 written to assist those engaged in the 
,construction or ,maintenance of        
,railways1 ,docks1 ,canals1 ,waterworks1
 ,river ,banks1 ,reclamation            
,embankments1 ,drainage ,works1 c41 c4  
,by ,,john ,,newman1 ,assoc4 ,mem4      
,inst4 ,c4,e41 ,author of ',notes on    
,concrete1' c4 ,crown #hvo1 cloth1 #gs4 
#f;d4  ,gas and ,petroleum ,engines3 ,a 

,practical ,treatise on the ,internal   
,combustion ,engine4 ,by ,,wm4          
,,robinson1 ,m4,e41 ,senior             
,demonstrator and ,lecturer on ,applied 
,mechanics1 ,physics1 c41 ,city and     
,guilds of ,london ,college1 ,finsbury1 
,assoc4 ,mem4 ,inst4 ,c4,e41 c4         
,numerous illustrations4 #hvo1 cloth1   
#ads4  ,waterways and ,water ,transport 
in ,different ,countries4 ,with a       
description of the ,panama1 ,suez1      
,manchester1 ,nicaraguan1 and other     
,canals4 ,by ,j4 ,,stephen ,,jeans1     
,author of ',england's ,supremacy1'     
',railway ,problems1' c4 ,numerous      
illustrations4 #hvo1 cloth1 #ads4  ,a   
,treatise on the ,richards              
,steam-,engine ,indicator and the       
,development and ,application of ,force 
in the ,steam-,engine4 ,by ,,charles ,t4
 ,,porter4 ,fourth ,edition1 revised and
 enlarged1 #hvo1 cloth1 #is4            
,,contents4      ,the ,nature and ,use  
of the ,indicator3       ,the several   
lines on the ,diagram4                  

,examination of ,diagram ,no4 #a4       
,of ,truth in the ,diagram4             
,description of the ,richards           
,indicator4     ,practical ,directions  
for ,applying and ,taking ,care of the  
,indicator4     ,introductory ,remarks4 
,units4     ,expansion4     ,directions 
for ascertaining from the ,diagram the  
,power exerted by       the ,engine4    
,to ,measure from the ,diagram the      
,quantity of ,steam ,consumed4     ,to  
,measure from the ,diagram the ,quantity
 of ,heat ,expended4     ,of the ,real  
,diagram1 and how to ,construct it4     
,of the ,conversion of ,heat into ,work 
in the ,steam-engine4     ,observations 
on the several ,lines of the ,diagram4  
,of the ,loss attending the ,employment 
of ,slow-piston ,speed1 and the         
,extent to which this is ,shown by the  
,indicator4     ,of other ,applications 
of the ,indicator4     ,of the use of   
the ,tables of the ,properties of ,steam
 in ,calculating       the ,duty of     
,boilers4     ,introductory4     ,of the

 ,pressure on the ,crank when the       
,connecting-rod is conceived       to be
 of ,infinite ,length4     ,the         
,modification of the ,acceleration and  
,retardation that is       occasioned by
 the ,angular ,vibration of the         
,connecting-rod4     ,method of         
representing the actual pressure on the 
crank at every       point of its       
revolution4     ,the ,rotative ,effect  
of the ,pressure exerted on the ,crank4 
,the ,transmitting ,parts of an ,engine1
 considered as an ,equaliser       of   
,motion4     ,a ,ride on a ,buffer-beam 
7,appendix74     ,in demy #dto1         
handsomely bound in cloth1 illustrated  
with #bbj full page plates1 ,price #aes4
   ,,architectural ,,examples  ,,in     
,,brick1 ,,stone1 ,,wood1 ,,and ,,iron4 
,a ,,complete ,,work ,,on ,,the         
,,details ,,and ,,arrangement ,,of      
,,building ,,construction ,,and         
,,design4  ,,by ,,william ,,fullerton1  
,,architect4  ,containing #bbj ,plates1 
with numerous ,drawings selected from   

the ,architecture of ,former and        
,present ,times4  ,the ,details and     
,designs are ,drawn to ,scale1 #a_/h1   
#a_/d1 #a_/b1 and ,full size being      
chiefly used4   ,the ,plates are        
arranged in ,two ,parts4 ,the ,first    
,part contains ,details of ,work in the 
four principal ,building materials1 the 
following being a few of the subjects in
 this ,part3--,various forms of ,doors  
and ,windows1 ,wood and ,iron ,roofs1   
,half ,timber ,work1 ,porches1 ,towers1 
,spires1 ,belfries1 ,flying ,buttresses1
 ,groining1 ,carving1 ,church ,fittings1
 ,constructive and ,ornamental ,iron    
,work1 ,classic and ,gothic ,molds and  
,ornament1 ,foliation ,natural and      
,conventional1 ,stained ,glass1         
,coloured ,decoration1 a ,section to    
,scale of the ,great ,pyramid1 ,grecian 
and ,roman ,work1 ,continental and      
,english ,gothic1 ,pile ,foundations1   
,chimney ,shafts according to the       
regulations of the ,london ,county      
,council1 ,board ,schools4 ,the ,second 

,part consists of ,drawings of ,plans   
and ,elevations of ,buildings1 arranged 
under the following heads3--,workmen's  
,cottages and ,dwellings1 ,cottage      
,residences and ,dwelling ,houses1      
,shops1 ,factories1 ,warehouses1        
,schools1 ,churches and ,chapels1       
,public ,buildings1 ,hotels and         
,taverns1 and ,buildings of a general   
character4  ,all the ,plates are        
accompanied with particulars of the     
,work1 with ,explanatory ,notes and     
,dimensions of the various parts4       
,illustration3 ,specimen ,pages1 reduced
 from the originals4     ,crown #hvo1   
cloth1 with illustrations1 #es4         
,,workshop ,,receipts1  ,,first         
,,series4  ,,by ,,ernest ,,spon4        
,,synopsis ,,of ,,contents4             
,bookbinding4     ,bronzes and          
,bronzing4     ,candles4     ,cement4   
,cleaning4     ,colourwashing4          
,concretes4     ,dipping ,acids4        
,drawing ,office ,details4     ,drying  
,oils4     ,dynamite4                   

,electro-,metallurgy--7,cleaning1       
,dipping1 ,scratch-brushing1 ,batteries1
       ,baths1 and ,deposits of every   
description74     ,enamels4             
,engraving on ,wood1 ,copper1 ,gold1    
,silver1 ,steel1 and ,stone4            
,etching and ,aqua ,tint4     ,firework 
,making--7,rockets1 ,stars1 ,rains1     
,gerbes1 ,jets1 ,tour-billons1          
,candles1 ,fires1 ,lances1 ,lights1     
,wheels1 ,fire-balloons1 and minor      
,fireworks74     ,fluxes4     ,foundry  
,mixtures4     ,freezing4               
,fulminates4     ,furniture ,creams1    
,oils1 ,polishes1 ,lacquers1 and        
,pastes4     ,gilding4     ,glass       
,cutting1 ,cleaning1 ,frosting1         
,drilling1 ,darkening1 ,bending1        
,staining1 and ,painting4     ,glass    
,making4     ,glues4     ,gold4         
,graining4     ,gums4     ,gun ,cotton4 
,gunpowder4     ,horn ,working4         
,indiarubber4     ,japans1 ,japanning1  
and kindred processes4     ,lacquers4   
,lathing4     ,lubricants4     ,marble  

,working4     ,matches4     ,mortars4   
,nitro-,glycerine4     ,oils4           
,paper4     ,paper ,hanging4            
,painting in ,oils1 in ,water ,colours1 
as well as ,fresco1 ,house1             
,transparency1 ,sign1 and ,carriage     
,painting4     ,photography4            
,plastering4     ,polishes4             
,pottery--7,clays1 ,bodies1 ,glazes1    
,colours1 ,oils1 ,stains1 ,fluxes1      
,enamels1 and ,lustres74     ,scouring4 
,silvering4     ,soap4     ,solders4    
,tanning4     ,taxidermy4     ,tempering
 ,metals4     ,treating ,horn1          
,mother-o'-,pearl1 and like substances4 
,varnishes1 ,manufacture and ,use of4   
,veneering4     ,washing4               
,waterproofing4     ,welding4     ,crown
 #hvo1 cloth1 #dhe pages1 with          
illustrations1 #es4  ,,workshop         
,,receipts1  ,,second ,,series4  ,,by   
,,robert ,,haldane4       ,,synopsis    
,,of ,,contents4      ,acidimetry and   
,alkalimetry4     ,albumen4             
,alcohol4     ,alkaloids4               

,baking-powders4     ,bitters4          
,bleaching4     ,boiler ,incrustations4 
,cements and ,lutes4     ,cleansing4    
,confectionery4     ,copying4           
,disinfectants4     ,dyeing1 ,staining1 
and ,colouring4     ,essences4          
,extracts4     ,fireproofing4           
,gelatine1 ,glue1 and ,size4            
,glycerine4     ,gut4     ,hydrogen     
peroxide4     ,ink4     ,iodine4        
,iodoform4     ,isinglass4     ,ivory   
substitutes4     ,leather4     ,luminous
 bodies4     ,magnesia4     ,matches4   
,paper4     ,parchment4     ,perchloric 
acid4     ,potassium oxalate4           
,preserving4  ,pigments1 ,paint1 and    
,painting3 embracing the preparation of 
,pigments1 including alumina lakes1     
blacks 7animal1 bone1 ,frankfort1 ivory1
 lamp1 sight1 soot71 blues 7antimony1   
,antwerp1 cobalt1 caeruleum1 ,egyptian1 
manganate1 ,paris1 ,peligot1 ,prussian1 
smalt1 ultramarine71 browns 7bistre1    
hinau1 sepia1 sienna1 umber1 ,vandyke71 
greens 7baryta1 ,brighton1 ,brunswick1  

chrome1 cobalt1 ,douglas1 emerald1      
manganese1 mitis1 mountain1 ,prussian1  
sap1 ,scheele's1 ,schweinfurth1         
titanium1 verdigris1 zinc71 reds        
7,brazilwood lake1 carminated lake1     
carmine1 ,cassius purple1 cobalt pink1  
cochineal lake1 colcothar1 ,indian red1 
madder lake1 red chalk1 red lead1       
vermilion71 whites 7alum1 baryta1       
,chinese1 lead sulphate1 white lead--by 
,american1 ,dutch1 ,french1 ,german1    
,kremnitz1 and ,pattinson processes1    
precautions in making1 and composition  
of commercial samples--whiting1         
,wilkinson's white1 zinc white71 yellows
 7chrome1 gamboge1 ,naples1 orpiment1   
realgar1 yellow lakes72 ,paint          
7vehicles1 testing oils1 driers1        
grinding1 storing1 applying1 priming1   
drying1 filling1 coats1 brushes1        
surface1 water-colours1 removing smell1 
discoloration2 miscellaneous            
paints--cement paint for carton-pierre1 
copper paint1 gold paint1 iron paint1   
lime paints1 silicated paints1 steatite 

paint1 transparent paints1 tungsten     
paints1 window paint1 zinc paints72     
,painting 7general instructions1        
proportions of ingredients1 measuring   
paint work2 carriage painting--priming  
paint1 best putty1 finishing colour1    
cause of cracking1 mixing the paints1   
oils1 driers1 and colours1 varnishing1  
importance of washing vehicles1         
re-varnishing1 how to dry paint2        
woodwork painting74     ,crown #hvo1    
cloth1 #dhj pages1 with #ahc            
illustrations1 #es4  ,,workshop         
,,receipts1  ,,third ,,series4  ,,by ,c4
 ,g4 ,,warnford ,,lock4  ,uniform with  
the ,first and ,second ,series4         
,,synopsis ,,of ,,contents4             
,alloys4     ,aluminium4     ,antimony4 
,barium4     ,beryllium4     ,bismuth4  
,cadmium4     ,caesium4     ,calcium4   
,cerium4     ,chromium4     ,cobalt4    
,copper4     ,didymium4     ,electrics4 
,enamels and ,glazes4     ,erbium4      
,gallium4     ,glass4     ,gold4        
,indium4     ,iridium4     ,iron and    

,steel4     ,lacquers and ,lacquering4  
,lanthanum4     ,lead4     ,lithium4    
,lubricants4     ,magnesium4            
,manganese4     ,mercury4     ,mica4    
,molybdenum4     ,nickel4     ,niobium4 
,osmium4     ,palladium4     ,platinum4 
,potassium4     ,rhodium4     ,rubidium4
     ,ruthenium4     ,selenium4         
,silver4     ,slag4     ,sodium4        
,strontium4     ,tantalum4     ,terbium4
     ,thallium4     ,thorium4     ,tin4 
,titanium4     ,tungsten4     ,uranium4 
,vanadium4     ,yttrium4     ,zinc4     
,zirconium4     ,,workshop ,,receipts1  
,,fourth ,,series1  ,,devoted ,,mainly  
,,to ,,handicrafts  ,,mechanical        
,,subjects4  ,,by ,c4 ,g4 ,,warnford    
,,lock4  #bej ,illustrations1 with      
,complete ,index1 and a ,general ,index 
to the ,four ,series1 #es4              
,waterproofing--rubber goods1           
cuprammonium processes1 miscellaneous   
preparations4  ,packing and ,storing    
articles of delicate odour or colour1 of
 a deliquescent character1 liable to    

ignition1 apt to suffer from insects or 
damp1 or easily broken4  ,embalming and 
,preserving anatomical specimens4       
,leather ,polishes4  ,cooling ,air and  
,water1 producing low temperatures1     
making ice1 cooling syrups and          
solutions1 and separating salts from    
liquors by refrigeration4  ,pumps and   
,siphons1 embracing every useful        
contrivance for raising and supplying   
water on a moderate scale1 and moving   
corrosive1 tenacious1 and other liquids4
  ,desiccating--air- and water-ovens1   
and other appliances for drying natural 
and artificial products4                
,distilling--water1 tinctures1 extracts1
 pharmaceutical preparations1 essences1 
perfumes1 and alcoholic liquids4        
,emulsifying as required by pharmacists 
and photographers4  ,evaporating--saline
 and other solutions1 and liquids       
demanding special precautions4          
,filtering--water1 and solutions of     
various kinds4  ,percolating and        
,macerating4  ,electrotyping4           

,stereotyping by both plaster and paper 
processes4  ,bookbinding in all its     
details4  ,straw ,plaiting and the      
fabrication of baskets1 matting1 etc4   
,musical ,instruments--the preservation1
 tuning1 and repair of pianos           
harmoniums1 musical boxes1 etc4  ,clock 
and ,watch ,mending--adapted for        
intelligent amateurs4                   
,photography--recent development in     
rapid processes1 handy apparatus1       
numerous recipes for sensitizing and    
developing solutions1 and applications  
to modern illustrative purposes4        
,,now ,,complete4  ,with nearly #aejj   
illustrations1 in super-royal #hvo1 in  
#e ,divisions1 cloth4 ,divisions #a to  
#d1 #acs4 #f;d4 each2 ,division #e1     
#ags4 #f;d42 or #b vols41 cloth1 ,l#c   
#ajs4  ,,spons' ,,encyclopaedia  ,,of   
,,the  ,,industrial ,,arts1             
,,manufactures1 ,,and ,,commercial      
,,products4  ,,edited ,,by ,c4 ,g4      
,,warnford ,,lock1 ,f4,l4,s4   ,among   
the more important of the subjects      

treated of1 are the following3--        
,acids1 #bjg pp4 #bbj figs4             
,alcohol1 #bc pp4 #af figs4             
,alcoholic ,liquors1 #ac pp4            
,alkalies1 #hi pp4 #gh figs4            
,alloys4 ,alum4     ,asphalt4 ,assaying4
     ,beverages1 #hi pp4 #bi figs4      
,blacks4     ,bleaching ,powder1 #ae pp4
     ,bleaching1 #ea pp4 #dh figs4      
,candles1 #ah pp4 #i figs4     ,carbon  
,bisulphide4     ,celluloid1 #i pp4     
,cements4 ,clay4     ,coal-tar          
,products1 #dd pp4 #ad figs4     ,cocoa1
 #h pp4     ,coffee1 #cb pp4 #ac figs4  
,cork1 #h pp4 #ag figs4     ,cotton     
,manufactures1 #fb pp4 #eg figs4        
,drugs1 #ch pp4     ,dyeing and ,calico 
,printing1 #bh pp4 #i figs4             
,dyestuffs1 #af pp4                     
,electro-,metallurgy1 #ac pp4           
,explosives1 #bb pp4 #cc figs4          
,feathers4     ,fibrous ,substances1 #ib
 pp4 #gi figs4     ,floor-cloth1 #af pp4
 #ba figs4     ,food ,preservation1 #h  
pp4     ,fruit1 #h pp4     ,fur1 #e pp4 

,gas1 ,coal1 #h pp4     ,gems4          
,glass1 #de pp4 #gg figs4     ,graphite1
 #g pp4     ,hair1 #g pp4     ,hair     
,manufactures4     ,hats1 #bf pp4 #bf   
figs4     ,honey4 ,hops4     ,horn4     
,ice1 #aj pp4 #ad figs4     ,indiarubber
 ,manufactures1 #bc pp4 #ag figs4       
,ink1 #ag pp4     ,ivory4     ,jute     
,manufactures1 #aa pp4 #aa figs4        
,knitted ,fabrics--,hosiery1 #ae pp4 #ac
 figs4     ,lace1 #ac pp4 #i figs4      
,leather1 #bh pp4 #ca figs4     ,linen  
,manufactures1 #af pp4 #f figs4         
,manures1 #ba pp4 #cj figs4             
,matches1 #ag pp4 #ch figs4             
,mordants1 #ac pp4     ,narcotics1 #dg  
pp4     ,nuts1 #aj pp4     ,oils and    
,fatty ,substances1 #abe pp4     ,paint4
     ,paper1 #bf pp4 #bc figs4          
,paraffin1 #h pp4 #f figs4     ,pearl   
and ,coral1 #h pp4     ,perfumes1 #aj   
pp4     ,photography1 #ac pp4 #bj figs4 
,pigments1 #i pp4 #f figs4     ,pottery1
 #df pp4 #eg figs4     ,printing and    
,engraving1 #bj pp4 #h figs4     ,rags4 

,resinous and ,gummy ,substances1 #ge   
pp4 #af figs4     ,rope1 #af pp4 #ag    
figs4     ,salt1 #ca pp4 #bc figs4      
,silk1 #h pp4     ,silk ,manufactures1  
#i pp4 #aa figs4     ,skins1 #e pp4     
,small ,wares1 #d pp4     ,soap and     
,glycerine1 #ci pp4 #de figs4           
,spices1 #af pp4     ,sponge1 #e pp4    
,starch1 #i pp4 #aj figs4     ,sugar1   
#aee pp4 #acd figs4     ,sulphur4       
,tannin1 #ah pp4     ,tea1 #ab pp4      
,timber1 #ac pp4     ,varnish1 #ae pp4  
,vinegar1 #e pp4     ,wax1 #e pp4       
,wool1 #b pp4     ,woollen              
,manufactures1 #eh pp4 #ci figs4     ,in
 super-royal #hvo1 #aafh pp41 with #bdjj
 illustrations1 in #c ,divisions1 cloth1
 price #acs4 #f;d4 each2 or #a vol41    
cloth1 #bl42 or half-morocco1 #bl4 #hs4 
,a ,,supplement  ,,to  ,,spons'         
,,dictionary ,,of ,,engineering4        
,,edited ,,by ,,ernest ,,spon1 ,,memb4  
,,soc4 ,,engineers4       ,abacus1      
,counters1 ,speed ,indicators1 and      
,slide ,rule4     ,agricultural         

,implements and ,machinery4     ,air    
,compressors4     ,animal ,charcoal     
,machinery4     ,antimony4     ,axles   
and ,axle-boxes4     ,barn ,machinery4  
,belts and ,belting4     ,blasting4     
,boilers4     ,brakes4     ,brick       
,machinery4     ,bridges4     ,cages for
 ,mines4     ,calculus1 ,differential   
and ,integral4     ,canals4             
,carpentry4     ,cast ,iron4            
,cement1 ,concrete1 ,limes1 and ,mortar4
     ,chimney ,shafts4     ,coal        
,cleansing and ,washing4     ,coal      
,mining4     ,coal ,cutting ,machines4  
,coke ,ovens4 ,copper4     ,docks4      
,drainage4     ,dredging ,machinery4    
,dynamo-,electric and ,magneto-,electric
 ,machines4     ,dynamometers4          
,electrical ,engineering1 ,telegraphy1  
,electric ,lighting and its practical   
details1 ,telephones4     ,engines1     
,varieties of4     ,explosives4 ,fans4  
,founding1 ,moulding and the practical  
work of the ,foundry4     ,gas1         
,manufacture of4     ,hammers1 ,steam   

and other ,power4     ,heat4 ,horse     
,power4     ,hydraulics4                
,hydro-geology4     ,indicators4 ,iron4 
,lifts1 ,hoists1 and ,elevators4        
,lighthouses1 ,buoys1 and ,beacons4     
,machine ,tools4     ,materials of      
,construction4     ,meters4     ,ores1  
,machinery and ,processes employed to   
,dress4     ,piers4     ,pile ,driving4 
,pneumatic ,transmission4     ,pumps4   
,pyrometers4     ,road ,locomotives4    
,rock ,drills4     ,rolling ,stock4     
,sanitary ,engineering4     ,shafting4  
,steel4     ,steam ,navvy4     ,stone   
,machinery4     ,tramways4     ,well    
,sinking4     ,,just ,,published4  ,in  
demy #hvo1 cloth1 #fjj pages1 and #adbj 
,illustrations1 #fs4  ,,spons'          
,,mechanics' ,,own ,,book2  ,a ,,manual 
,,for ,,handicraftsmen ,,and ,,amateurs4
       ,,contents4      ,mechanical     
,drawing--,casting and ,founding in     
,iron1 ,brass1 ,bronze1     and other   
,alloys--,forging and ,finishing        
,iron--,sheetmetal ,working--           

,soldering1 ,brazing1 and               
,burning--,carpentry and ,joinery1      
embracing     descriptions of some #djj 
,woods1 over #bjj ,illustrations of     
,tools     and their uses1 ,explanations
 7with ,diagrams7 of #aaf joints and    
hinges1 and ,details of ,construction of
 ,workshop appliances1 rough            
furniture1 ,garden and ,yard ,erections1
 and ,house ,building--                 
,cabinet-,making and                    
,veneering--,carving and                
,fretcutting--,upholstery               
--,painting1 ,graining1 and             
,marbling--,staining ,furniture1 ,woods1
     ,floors1 and ,fittings--,gilding1  
dead and bright1 on various             
grounds--,polishing ,marble1 ,metals1   
and ,wood--,varnishing--,mechanical     
movements1 illustrating contrivances for
 transmitting motion--     ,turning in  
,wood and ,metals--,masonry1 embracing  
,stonework1 ,brickwork1     ,terracotta1
 and ,concrete--,roofing with ,thatch1  
,tiles1 ,slates1     ,felt1 ,zinc1      

c4--,glazing with and without putty1 and
 lead glazing--     ,plastering and     
,whitewashing--,paper-hanging--,gas-fitt
ing--,bell-hanging1     ordinary and    
electric                                
,systems--,lighting--,warming--,ventilat
ing--     ,roads1 ,pavements1 and       
,bridges--,hedges1 ,ditches1 and        
,drains--,water     ,supply and         
,sanitation--,hints on ,house           
,construction suited to new             
countries4  ,e4  ,f4 ,n4 ,,spon1 #abe1  
,strand1 ,london4  ,new ,york3 #ab1     
,cortlandt ,street4