"All excavated matter, including earth, sand, rock, bowlders, old building materials, and other debris, must be promptly removed from the premises.
"The borings which the Architect has caused to be made show the character of the ground, but the Architect does not guarantee these bor ings to be correct. Additional borings that may be required are to be made by the Contractor at his own expense." This clause allows doubt in the mind of the contractor as to conditions, and causes him to bid higher than otherwise. If the architect does not know that the borings are correct, and will not guarantee them, the contractor certainly can place no faith in them. If additional borings are required, it is no fault of the contractor, and he should not be made to stand their cost. All condi tions previous to the entering of the contrac tor upon the ground should be known to the architect, as only in this way can compre hensive specifications be made.
"Pumping—The Contractor is to provide all necessary pumps and all apparatus in connec tion therewith, and is to do all pumping that may be required to keep the trenches and other excavated parts free from water when the foot ings are being laid and the column bases and pit pans are being set and other necessary work is being done, and to keep the entire basement and sub-basement free from water until the water proofing is completed. No water is to be allowed to accumulate in the basement or sub basement after the waterproofing is done; the Contractor is to remove all surface water promptly." While this may entail some expense, it is quite as much to the contractor's advantage to keep things dry as to the owner's, if not more so. The clause is unnecessarily ver bose; that is, its substance could be put in fewer words.
"The adjoining and contiguous walls and structures are to be preserved from injury, and underpinned wherever necessary, by the Con tractor, in accordance with the requirements of the Building Code.
"The Contractor is to provide all materials of all kinds, to the satisfaction of the Architect, including shores, braces, needles, blocking, screw pumps, wedges, sheath-piling, wedge blocks, steel wedges, concrete footings, brick underpin ning laid in Portland cement mortar, stone posts, etc.
"The Contractor must procure permission from the adjoining property holders to enter the premises for the purpose of shoring, underpin ning, and protecting the contiguous walls in accordance with the Building Code.
"All damage and injury to the adjoining property, including the buildings, walls, streets, and sidewalks, stoops, vaults, vault lights, copings, railings, fences, lamp posts, etc., must be repaired and made good in the very best manner, by the Contractor, at his expense.
"The Contractor must hold the Owner harm less against any and all claims for damages on account of injury to the adjoining property, and must defend any actions at law that may be brought by reason thereof.
"All necessary plank curbing for the trenches, properly braced, must be furnished and set by the Contractor.
"The sheath-piling, where directed by the authorities or by the Architect, is not to be removed.