SO TRACK. 



time or to avoid real or supposed difficulties in forming the 

 embankments. The maintenance cost of such bridges is 

 many times in excess of that of embankments of equal first 

 cost, and no bridges of this character should be "built unless 

 the cost of the embankments otherwise necessary exceeds 

 both the first cost of such bridges and the subsequent cost of 

 filling same by train or otherwise. 



Thorough drainage is a maxim to be impressed on the mind 

 and practice of every one engaged in construction, and en- 

 gineers must beware of being deceived or misled in so-called 

 "rainless districts," for experience proves that sometimes 

 (perhaps at long intervals), most destructive and uncontroll- 

 able floods occur in such localities. 



Top of bridge stringers will be set 0.25 ft. above regular 

 profile grade, and regular grade changed about 100 ft. to meet 

 it. This will apply in all cases, unless otherwise ordered. 



In the construction of pile and trestle bridges a competent 

 inspector should be retained, whose duty it shall be to keep 

 -a record of all piles driven. The inspector's record must show 

 length of piles, depth to which each pile is driven, sinking 

 in inches by the last three blows of the hammer, weight of 

 hammer, and fall in feet of same, and amount of piles cut off. 



Engineers should endeavor to secure, wherever practicable, 

 at reasonable expense, undergrade or overhead highway cross- 

 ings. Bridges and culverts can frequently be utilized at slight 

 expense for undergrade crossings for stock by making neces- 

 sary openings in right of way fence. 



Before the completion of the work, all construction material 

 left over and scattered along the line must be picked up and 

 returned to the material yard. Refuse will be burned or other- 

 wise disposed of. 



IV. 



Track and Ballast. 



PREPARATION OF ROADBED. 



The standard width of single-track roadbed at sub-grade 

 is 14 ft. on embankments, 20 ft. in earth cuts, and 16 ft. in. 

 Tock cuts unless otherwise ordered. 



