Typical Example of Specifications

"Bases—The pier bases, with the mouldings On top of the same, all of one piece for each pier, are to be supplied; the bases are to extend 6 inches below the grade line for each pier, and all the work is to be carefully cut and rubbed.

"These bases are to be of blue stone.

"Artificial Stone Pavemen.

The sidewalks on the avenues and the streets are to be of arti ficial stone, Portland cement composition, grano Ethic, fiintolithic, or other equally good, ap proved by the Architect. After the arches have been concreted and asphalted as before specified, they are to be covered with a layer of Portland cement concrete, not less than 5 inches thick, made as before specified. Before the concrete has set, all is to be covered with a layer of corn position as above, to be not less than one inch thick, put down in sections, and finished with indented pattern, flush with the curb and the vault lights." The architect here has evidently worked on the supposition that ordinary practice will govern the laying of sidewalks and pave ments. This is rather a long chance to take, as practice in this work varies greatly. Specifications applicable to this work are easily obtained if the architect wishes to use standard specifications, and should be in serted rather than to leave the contractor the leeway implied in the expression "approved by the architect." "Hollow-Tile Arches—The floor of the base ment near and the engine room, and also the floor and part of the roof of the elevator deck-house, are to have built in between the steel beams, hollow-tile hard-burnt terra-cotta flat arches, to be 10 inches deep, all laid in the very best manner in Portland cement mortar, on , centers which the Contractor is to provide and set." Here again the specification is incomplete, the architect probably having intentionally left it so, counting upon well-defined practice in this line of work. The kind of tile to be used, and more definite information as to the sizes, should be given.

"Fireproof Partitions, etc.

The partitions shown on plans for the elevator shaft, the pipe shaft, and the vent shaft, are to be built of first quality hard-burnt, porous, hollow terra-cotta blocks 4 inches thick, laid in Portland cement mortar, plumb, true, and to a line, properly bonded and fitted to the iron framework.

"The roof of the deck-house to be lined with the same kind of fireproof blocks, properly fitted to the iron framework and set in Portland ce ment mortar.

"The furring shown on basement plan No. 2, against the vault walls, is to be of 4-inch terra cotta blocks laid in Portland cement mortar.

"The columns in the basement are to be en closed with the same kind of terra-cotta blocks, 2 inches thick, made to proper radii, and fitted and built up in the very best manner, properly bonded." As in the case of the floor blocks, the specification for column fireproofing should be more carefully drawn. The architect has no doubt depended upon the rules of common practice.

"Metal

the ceilings throughout, on all stories, including the basement and sub basement (but not in the vault under the side walk), and all other parts necessary, including skylights, bulkheads, curbs, etc., are to be cov ered with flat embossed No. 29 stamped mild steel sheets. The show-windows are included.

"The ceiling sheets are to be 2 feet by 8 feet, and the other parts are to be of proper sizes, all to be of the very best quality, uniform in pattern, straight and true, to have concealed lap joints." The choice of this ceiling, while appar ently left to the contractor, was no doubt made by the architect. It certainly should have been so, and such should have been specified.

"Coves and mouldings, 10 inches deep, are to be provided for all first-story walls and parti tions. Coves and mouldings, 6 inches deep, are to be provided for the walls and partitions on all the other stories. In all eases, a neat finish must be made at the walls; wood cover mould ings inches wide are to be provided. The ceiling pattern is to be properly arranged for the gas and electric light outlets; the Contractor is to give the exact location of the pattern before the work is put up.