SOLID MEASURE. 



TO MEASUEE BEOKEN METAL FOE EOADS. 



Before proceeding directly to give a rule for this, it 

 may first be remarked, that metal for roads is generally 

 undertaken to be broken at so much per 16 solid feet, 

 to which quantity the term ton has been applied. So, 

 when speaking or writing of breaking metal at so much 

 per ton, it is not to be understood a ton weight, but only 

 16 solid or cubic feet, whatever the real weight of that 

 quantity may be. 



To ascertain the number of such tons in any quantity 

 of broken metal, of a square or oblong form : 



RULE. When the length and breadth are greater at 

 the ground than at the top (which will in general be 

 the case), take the length both at the ground and top, 

 add these together, and divide their sum by 2 for the 

 mean length; find the mean breadth in the same way, 

 and if it seems to be of an unequal depth, take several 

 depths, add these together; their sum, divided by the 

 number of depths taken, will give the mean depth. 

 Having thus found the dimensions in feet and inches, 

 multiply the length by the breadth, and their product by 

 the depth ; this last product, divided by 16, will give tire 

 number of tons. 



Or more simply thus 



Having found the dimensions, as above directed, re- 

 duce them all to inches, then multiply the breadth by 

 the depth, and their product by the length ; this last pro- 



