of bridges and other structural metal-work, to be made from time to time as a portion of the inspection for large contracts. This would need the assistance of the consulting engineers, who, in preparing their specifications, should include, as a part of the work of the manufacturers, the making, under the supervision of the inspectors, of certain tests of full size parts, it being understood at the outset that the results of such tests shall be of direct value to the accomplishment of the work covered by the specifications. The author has for the past five years been endeavoring in this way to obtain some much-needed information concerning the strength of both main members and details of bridges and elevated railroads; but his attempts to have the tests made have not always proved successful.

As for the proper price to pay for first-class inspection, the author would state that some three years ago he submitted to several of the principal inspecting bureaus a draft of instructions to inspectors at mills and shops, similar to those incorporated in this chapter, with a request that they tender upon inspecting for him, according to said instructions, a large order of structural steel; and that the bids received varied from one dollar to one dollar and twenty-five cents per ton of two thousand pounds. Subsequent experience has proved to the author that such inspection as he then called for is worth fully one dollar per ton for large orders and a trifle more for smaller ones; although it is very seldom that such a price is paid in this country for inspection.

In respect to inspection of materials and workmanship in the field, the following instructions, which the author has prepared for his field forces of engineers and inspectors, will be found to cover the subject pretty thoroughly.

(A) METAL-WORK.

First. Examine with the greatest care all of the metal-work as fast as it is delivered, so as to make sure that it has not been injured during transportation, and keep an eye on it thereafter to see that it is not injured during erection. See also that there are no missing parts.