244 
NATURE 
[JuLy 10, 1902 
use of the plane-table as a topographical instrument is 
inadequate. 
About a dozen pages are devoted to hydrographic 
surveying, and it is no doubt desirable that the engineer 
should have a bowing acquaintance with the subject, 
mainly to enable him to carry out the survey of small 
inland waters. If he had a larger task on hand, he 
should consult one of the recognised treatises on the 
subject. : 
Ina book on surveying written by a professor of engineer- 
ing it is remarkable that there is so little mention of the 
execution of special surveys for engineering purposes, 
such as railway and canal surveys. The whole theory 
of plane surveying is so simple that the engineer is far 
more likely to look up a text-book to discover what is 
the practical method adopted than to discover the solution 
of some theoretical problem, and the ideal text-book 
should largely quote examples of practical methods and 
expedients. The chapter on mine surveying contributed 
by Mr. W. S. Hall is, however, an example of the brief 
discussion of the survey methods used for a special 
engineering purpose, and appears to be useful and clear. 
There is a long appendix of some fifty pages on photo- 
topographic methods and instruments, being a paper by 
Mr. J. A. Flemer in the Report of the U.S. Coast and 
Geodetic Survey for 1897. Such asystem has been much 
advocated in various quarters during the last few years, 
and it is interesting andingenious. Under certain special 
conditions, such as those in the Canadian North-West, 
where the features are bold and open and where the field 
season is short, and where sometimes only occasional 
glimpses through the clouds can be had of the higher 
peaks, the method is efficient and economical. But 
under ordinary conditions it is neither, and as a method 
it cannot be said to be established, nor is it likely to be ; 
and the inclusion of a detailed report on a tentative 
topographic method in a book devoted to large-scale 
engineering survey increases the size of the book, but 
not its value. 
As regards the nomenclature of the book, we do not 
like the author's division of surveying into plane survey- 
ing and geodesy, although authorities can be found in 
favour of it. The term geodesy should be reserved for 
those scientific operations of which the object is the 
determination of the form and size of the earth. Some 
of the words used are new, e.g. “ declinator,’ meaning 
the box containing the compass. The northings and 
southings of a traverse are here called “ latitudes,” and 
the eastings and westings ‘“‘longitudes.” We are glad to 
see that the author uses the word “plotting ” and not 
“platting.” The latter is sometimes found in American 
technical works and is objectionable in spite of its 
greater antiquity. GC. F. CLOSE. 
INSPECTION OF RAILWAY MATERIALS. 
The Inspection of Railway Materials. By G. R. 
Bodmer, A.M.Inst.C.E. Pp. ix + 154. (London: 
Whittaker and Co., 1902.) Price 5s. 
HE inspection of their products has long been a 
source of worry to the manufacturers of railway 
material, be it locomotives, bridges or rails. Consulting 
engineers have their own ideas as to what the tests 
NO. 1706, VOL. 66] 
should be ; few specify alike, with the result that manu- 
facturers have to make various qualities of material for 
the same purpose—a state of affairs not conducive to 
economy of manufacture. 
The question of material is not the only trouble. Con- 
sulting engineers very often specify methods of manufac- 
ture for their material. Interference of this kind in 
works management is most expensive to the manufac- 
turer ; it upsets the sequence of the work, delays pro- 
gress, and in the end has to be paid for by the railway 
shareholders. 
A third complaint might be made by manufacturers, 
and one which very largely adds to the cost of work in 
many cases, and that is, what kind of man is the 
inspector? It is on this point the author of this book 
commences. He says :— 
“The inspection of railway material is a class of 
work for which every inexperienced neophyte devoted 
to the engineering profession imagines himself to be 
qualified.” 
The author goes on to say that 
“in reality, however, many qualifications are required 
to make a good inspector, and chief among these is 
experience, the one most likely to be wanting in a young 
engineer.” 
With this we thoroughly agree. In certain specifica- 
tions the general clauses are such that the contractor is 
entirely in the inspector’s hands, and if the inspector 
does not know his work the result is disastrous. Much 
has been written lately on the standardisation of loco- 
motives, for instance, as a means of shortening the time 
of delivery ; but given standard tests, non-interference 
in works practice and a practical man as resident in- 
spector, there is no necessity to crystallise any design, 
for when all is said and done a thing of yesterday is old. 
This book has evidently been written by one who has 
been through the “‘inspection mill.” There is much 
evidence of this in the various chapters. Chapter ii. 
deals with rails, ordinary and tramway, fish plates, &c. 
We are told that in the case of fairly heavy rails it is 
possible to inspect four or five at a time. The reviewer 
could never do more than three continuously. 
Steel sleepers are dealt with in chapter iii. The in- 
formation is well up to date, although we cannot agree 
that the Indian sleeper fitted with punched up lugs can- 
not be gauged for gauge unless fitted with a length of 
rail, &c, The author might have explained that with 
this type of sleeper the position of the keys for normal 
gauge is outside the rail, for a medium curve one is 
moved inside, and for a very sharp curve both are placed 
inside. 
On tyres and axles we find much useful information, 
and further on rolled material generally is very fully gone 
into, the tests being carefully explained. Chapter vii. 
deals very thoroughly with the condition governing the 
specifications for steel rails, more particularly discussing 
the mechanical tests, which vary very largely in present- 
day practice. The work concludes with a short account 
of the inspection of finished work dealing with various 
parts of rolling stock, and fulfils the intention of the 
author in being a brief guide to the inspection of railway 
material for the use of engineers. Ni Jee. 
