Handbook of Railroad Construction; For the use of American engineers. / Containing the necessary rules, tables, and formulæ for the location, construction, equipment, and management of railroads, as built in the United States.

by George L. Vose

Whenever required, ditches shall be cut along the tops of the slopes, of the form and size and in the position directed.

SURPLUS MATERIAL.

Whenever the earth or rock required for the adjoining embankments exceeds the amount in the neighboring excavations, the contractor, when required, shall increase the width of said excavations, as directed by the engineer, to a sufficient width for a double track, provided that this additional width shall not be extended so as to produce an average haul of more than eight hundred lineal feet, on said borrowed stuff. And whenever the earth or rock to be moved from any cut exceeds in amount the adjoining embankments, (unless elsewhere wanted,) it shall be applied to widening the embankment to a width for a double track, within the same limits of haul; but for a greater haul than eight hundred feet, the contractor shall be paid
100 of a cent per yard per hundred feet of excess.

BORROW PITS.

Where the excavation does not furnish sufficient material to make the adjoining embankments, borrow pits may be opened. But no earth shall be deposited in spoil banks nor borrow pits opened without the knowledge and consent of the superintending engineer, who shall take care that such operations are arranged so as not to damage the road or its slopes, nor interfere with the widening of the road-bed at a future time for additional tracks.

MATERIAL TO BE SAVED.

If materials be found in the excavations applicable to useful purposes, such as building stone, limestone, gravel, minerals, etc., they shall be laid aside in such place as the engineer may direct, for use, to be applied then or subsequently to the construction of the road under the conditions of these specifications and of the contract.

CLASSIFICATION OF MATERIALS.

Earth—every thing except solid and loose rock. Loose rock—all boulders and detached masses of rock measuring over one cubic foot in bulk and less than five cubic yards. Solid rock, includes all work in ledge, which requires drilling and splitting, and all loose rocks containing more than five cubic yards.

The prices for excavation include all earth or rock excavated in ditching, bottoming, borrowing, road crossings, alterations of road crossings and water channels, and the construction of temporary roads, provided the average distance hauled on each section, be the same as stated on the schedule here annexed; but if the actual average haul on any section is found, on completion, to have been greater or less than the distance stated, a corresponding addition or deduction shall be made, of one cent per cubic yard per hundred feet which the actual haul exceeds or falls short of that stated.