gondolas and box cars with steel under frames, we are led to conclude that some contract shops use less of the paint specified than has been presumed. What they do use is frequently applied in the open under such unfavorable weather conditions, and under conditions of painting contracts at such a low rate per car, as to preclude the possibility of either employing competent workmen to apply the paint or such application of it as to prevent corrosion. Good paint illegitimately thinned with cheap oils or japans is practically rendered of little protective value, and to apply it to steel cars more or less covered with rolling-mill scale, dew, frost, snow, slush, ice, grease, etc., is waste of time, thought, and material. There is  no  reason  why  paint  applied  to steel cars should not wear as well as paint applied  to  any other  steel structures,  pro-