having their bridges properly designed, manufactured, inspected, shipped, and erected; and, sixth, to a few county commissioners, who may desire to obtain through the specifications good highway bridges at minimum legitimate cost.

The author has endeavored to make the various specifications in this book thorough, correct, and complete. If he has failed to do so in any particular, he would feel deeply indebted to any one who will point out to him how and where; and he would be grateful to any reader who will inform him of any typographical or other errors that be may. discover; for all errors found in the first edition will be corrected in the second, provided the work be well enough received by the profession to warrant the issue of another edition.

In conclusion the author desires to acknowledge with many thanks his indebtedness to his assistant engineers, Ira G. Hedrick, Assoc. M. Am. Soc. C. E.; Lee Treadwell, Mem. Am. Soc. C. E.; and John L. Harrington, Jun. Am. Soc. C. E., for valuable aid rendered him in the preparation and checking of the MS. of this work.

Kansas City, Mo., Oct. 18, 1897.