CHAPTER V 



CONSTRUCTION 

 BEGINNING OF OPERATIONS 



THE time for starting the work is stated in the specifica- 

 tions. The time allowed is often " not later than ten 

 days after the awarding of the contract. " The necessary 

 machinery must be brought on the ground at once, and 

 stables, shanties and offices provided. If there are any 

 suitable buildings on the land, they may, with the en- 

 gineer's permission, be used as stables and offices. In 

 order that these buildings may be available until the 

 completion of the work, it is desirable that their location 

 be such that but little work shall remain to be done after 

 their removal. In parks remote from town, the contractor 

 is permitted to erect shanties for the men. Their needs 

 are supplied by the company's store which, though neces- 

 sary, needs regulation in its methods in order that the 

 interests of the men may be protected. 



UNDERDRAINAGE 



Before any other operations can be accomplished on 

 swampy lands, the ground must be drained in order to 

 lower the water-table. The laying of tile drains should 

 be begun at the outlets, although in order to hasten the 

 work operations may be begun at several parts of the 

 system. Where lines of tile are laid without an outlet, 

 water will always collect at the starting-points and this 



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