tie between the guard rails and the guard rails themselves with galvanized iron sheeting.

Where only the stringers and caps are protected, the protection of the stringers only applies to wooden bridges. The caps of bents supporting steel bridges are protected. On divisions where the entire deck has been fireproofed, this fireproofing has been done on both timber and steel bridges.

We have not suffered any severe fire losses in the decks of bridges fireproofed, but one dangerous fire is reported and several small fires originating in the piling.

Reports from the four divisions on which some fireproofing has been applied show total length of bridge so protected about one mile, or a small proportion of the total number of bridges on these divisions.

The division on which the tops of caps and stringers are covered with galvanized iron, projecting 1 in. over the sides, report 75 per cent. decrease in the number of fires on bridges so protected. The other divisions report that, on account of the recent adoption of self-cleaning ash pans, which have largely increased the number of fires, statistics cannot be furnished.

The cost of protecting tops of stringers between ties and tops of caps with galvanized iron, projecting 1 in. over the sides of each, is reported 22 cents per linear foot of track. The cost of protecting the deck with old Winslow car roofing is reported at 101⁄2 cents per linear foot of track, for labor only. The cost of protecting the entire deck with galvanized iron sheeting to lines 3 in. or 4 in. beyond the outside wooden guard rails varies from 792 cents to $1.88 per linear foot, depending upon the location and size of bridge. This fireproofing was applied by a contract tinner and roofer.

Louisville & Nashville:

We use creo

16. We do not fireproof the decks of steel bridges. soted timber wall plates under ends of steel bridges of moderate spans and we cover these creosoted timber wall plates with galvanized iron, partly as fire protection.

We cover tops of stringers and caps of open timber trestles with galvanized iron, partly for fire protection purposes and partly to increase the life of the timber. This method is effective for both purposes. The above is the extent to which we go, fireproofing bridge structures.

Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe:

19. We use No. 26 galvanized sheet iron on the tops of the stringers and caps. On open deck trestles we use crushed rock ballast on our

creosoted bridges.

Do not recall any fire loss from bridges protected by galvanized iron or ballast, but have had some bridges damaged by fire originating in tall grass and communicated to the creosoted piling.

REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON UNIFORM

GENERAL CONTRACT FORMS.

To the Members of the American Railway Engineering Association:

Your Special Committee on Uniform General Contract Forms presents its report, as follows:

The Committee was instructed to complete its report and submit the General Construction Contract.

The meetings of the Committee were held as follows: At Chicago, Ill., August 2 and 3, 1912, attended by Wm. G. Atwood, Chairman; H. C. Phillips, Thos. Earle, C. A. Wilson and E. H. Lee; at Chicago, Ill., January 13, 1913, attended by Wm. G. Atwood, Chairman; H. C. Phillips, Thos. Earle, E. H. Lee and R. G. Kenly. Considerable work has also been done by correspondence, in which practically all members of the Committee joined.

In accordance with the suggestions made at the convention in 1912, the Secretary of the Association had a draft of the proposed form printed and sent a copy to the Senior officer of each railway having membership in the Association, with a request for a criticism of the contract by the Legal Department. There were seventy replies received, which may be classed as follows:

The Secretary tabulated the replies, both the criticisms and the corresponding clauses of other contracts. This information was used by the Committee in revising the forms submitted for criticism. As this compilation would fill about one hundred and twenty-five printed pages, it

was considered undesirable to publish it. However, it is available at the office of the Secretary in case any of the members wish to consult it. Many of these criticisms concerned the detailed wording of the various clauses, and but few of them disapproved of any of the provisions as a whole.

The plan of having an agreement form of two pages to be used by itself for unimportant work and to act as a binder for the "General Conditions, Specifications and Plans," was approved by the convention of 1912. This agreement form as presented was also approved. As the result of legal criticisms received the Committee desires to recommend three amendments to this form, as follows:

In the third paragraph insert the words "except as hereinafter specified," making this paragraph read: "The Contractor shall furnish all necessary transportation, except as hereinafter specified, materials, superintendence, etc."

In the first line below the blanks left for the description of the work, insert after the word "attached," the words "identified by the signatures of the parties hereto" and eliminate the word "as," making this paragraph read: “in accordance with the plans hereto attached, identified by the signatures of the parties hereto, or herein described, and the following general conditions, etc."

Add to the next paragraph the words "time being of the essence of this contract," making this paragraph read: "The work covered by this contract shall be commenced.

completed on or before the......... day of.

time being of the essence of this contract. The Committee presents for approval: (1)

Amendments to form "A" as above.

(2) Form "B" as presented.

RECOMMENDATIONS.

and be

191.....

(1) That Standing Committees which have prepared specifications be instructed to harmonize them with the approved contract form by the elimination of provisions which duplicate or nullify clauses of the contract form.

(2) That the Special Committee on Uniform General Contract Forms be discharged on account of the completion of the work assigned to it.

Respectfully submitted,

COMMITTEE ON UNIFORM GENERAL CONTRACT FORMS.

first part, hereinafter called the Contractor, and..
party of the second part, hereinafter called the Company.

WITNESSETH, That, in consideration of the covenants and agreements hereinafter mentioned, to be performed by the parties hereto, and of the payments hereinafter agreed to be made, it is mutually agreed as follows:

The Contractor shall furnish all the necessary transportation, except as hereinafter specified, materials, superintendence, labor and equipment, and shall execute, construct and finish, in an expeditious, substantial and workmanlike manner, to the satisfaction and acceptance of the Chief Engineer of the Company.

in accordance with the plans hereto attached, identified by the signatures of the parties hereto, or herein described, and the following general conditions, requirements and specifications, forming part of this contract. The work covered by this contract shall be commenced. . . . . .

.day of

.and be completed on or before the

191...., time being of the

essence of this contract.