— 10 — 
economical and satisfactory to import the iron and manufacture them in this coun- 
try ; that for nil single track bridges ami all ordinary double track bridges it would 
be cheaper au<l betler to have them manufactured in America, and that for all 
double track bridges which arc so heavy as to Tiecessitate the use of Iniilt cliamiels 
for tlie top chords aiul batter braces it would pay to purelmse them in Fnglaml. 
The extra half cent per pound may appear to some of you so great as to nullify 
Uie economy of purchasing bridges in America, but you will find that such for 
various reasons is not tho case. 
First the want of tlie proper channel sections will generally necessitate tlie use 
of built channels for tlie top cliorJs and batter braces, as in tlie present Japanese 
bridges, and sometimes even for posts. I3y reason of the sliopwork thereon such 
clnirmelö are more expensive than rolled sections ； nor are they as strong or of as 
pleasing an appearance. Secondly bridges o：' the American style can be built much 
better in America than in Englaiul, where not only are tlie workmen unused to tliis 
style of woi •卜 , but alao the manufacturers are unin-ovided with tlie necessary special 
appliance a. 
Tlunlly such bridges can be built much more quickly in A merica ; and time is 
money. It was only a few weeks ago that I read in au American teclmical journal 
that one of the South American countries liad decided to purchase all its iron 
bridges in the United States rather than in ilngland, simply on account of the 
delay. 
An(l finally there may uofc bo such a difference as half a cent per pound, be- 
cause tlie prices of iron nud labour are falling in America, and it was only one 
compitny in England that was willing to quote any prices at all. * 
Whenever there is a largo piece of ironwork to bo douo in Japan, it would 
be well I if time permit., to send to the principal English and American manufac- 
turers for prices. In this way only can it bo determined to wliom it will be best to 
award tbe contract. 
The adtlresses of the principal manufaefcurers can bo found among tlie adver- 
tisements in the London Knf/ineerinrf and in tlio Now York Engineering News and 
American Jurncil. It would be out of place for me to recommend to you 
in this work any particular manufacturers, tliougli I have no objection to giving to 
tlll y 0 f you individually my opinion as to wliat shops in America do tlie best work. 
* since the M. S. of this book was sent to the printer, I have heard from the engineer 
of one of tho largest and best known bridge companies of the United States, that Ame- 
rienn iron manufacturers aro undersell inqj the English by three or four pounds sterling 
per ton ； and that American iron is about to be used in Australia. The sarno engineer 
writes as follow.?. “Our structural iron is notoriously better than English Besides 
the lower price and better quality of metal in American work, the latter lias the advantage 
of far .rreater fncility in eroetion. En^Höh work requires skilled labor to put together in 
the field, on account of its rivelting. Our structures can be put up in Japan by the 
natives themselves. We can ship work to Japan with erection plans, where it can be 
received and put up by the Japanese themselves. We are constantly doing this for 
South American parties.” 
