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to them. This is, necessarily, the case upon small 

 jobs, while on the large and important works there 

 may be a number of inspectors among whom the dif- 

 ferent classes of work are divided. A satisfactory in- 

 spection cannot be made by an unskilled man, the 

 duties of the position demanding one who has more 

 than a superficial knowledge of the line of work and 

 preferably a certain amount of engineering knowledge. 

 The most essential qualification for the position is 

 good, sound common sense coupled with an ability to 

 keep the temper under strict control. Circumstances 

 continually arise in this line of work which are aggra- 

 vating and apt to lead to hasty speech. It is desirable 

 that the inspector be able to keep his self control in 

 such emergencies. It is necessary that the superin- 

 tendent of construction, each inspector and the fore- 

 men of the various lines of work should understand 

 the position and authority of the inspector. The resi- 

 dent engineer and the superintendent must be familiar 

 with the duties of the inspector. Where possible, it 

 is desirable that the duties of the inspector should be 

 definitely outlined; it is, however, impossible to lay 

 down a series of rules and regulations which will cover 

 all possible contingencies, and common sense must be 

 used in dealing with emergencies, in interpreting the 

 rules and specifications governing the inspection of the 

 work and materials and in interpreting the various 

 clauses in the contract and the specifications under 

 which the work is being conducted. 



Duties of the Inspector. It is the duty of the in- 

 spector to familiarize himself with the terms of the 

 specifications and such clauses of the contract as have 

 a bearing upon the methods of conducting the work. 

 He must also be familiar with the drawings and other 

 plans conncerning the work in hand. It is necessary 

 that an inspector should be on the work during the 

 entire time it is in progress, during the erection of 

 forms, the placing of reinforcement, the mixing and 



