the motion after considerable discussion both pro and con was lost, Considering the fact that the people of the United States are investing annually many millions of dollars in structural steel, and that no satisfactory preservative for the metal has yet been found, one would think that the question of the best kind of paint for metal-work and the best method of painting would be a proper subject of investigation for a special committee of the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Since this negative vote was cast, the technical papers have stated that certain parties in New York City have at considerable expense inaugurated a series of practical tests of a number of brands of metal-work paint. The results thereof ought to be of great value to the engineering profession; but the good work should be carried still farther by an authorized body of well-known engineers, who would be willing to devote a portion of their tine for many years to the investigation.

A perusal of this introductory chapter may cause the reader to think that the author is at variance with the manufacturers of structural steel; but such is by no means the case, for his relations with them on construction are almost invariably of the most pleasant description. Moreover, the assertions made herein concerning the opposition of steel manufacturers in general to improvements in design and in the quality of the manufactured product do not apply to all of the manufacturers of structural steel in the United States; because there are several companies who are always ready to do anything in reason to aid an engineer in making investigations and improvements, and who are continually putting in new machinery for the purpose of bettering their output. It is altogether natural that the manufacturer should try to make all the money he can by adopting simple details which are easily manufactured and easily put together in the field, and by avoiding such slow and tedious shop processes as subpunching and reaming; and it is also altogether natural that the consulting engineer should use every endeavor to secure certain results in finished structures which are in the line of improvement and of  ultimate  economy  for  his  employers; hence  it is to  be  ex-