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THE

FIELD ENGINEER:

A

Handy Book of Practice

IN THE

SURVEY, LOCATION, AND TRACK-WORK OF
RAILROADS ;

CONTAINING

A LARGE COLLECTION OF RULES AND TABLES,

ORIGINAL AND SELEcted,

APPLICABLE TO BOTH THE STANDARD AND THE
NARROW GAUGE,

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COPYRIGHT, 1890

BY D. VAN NOSTRAND COMPANY

THE AUTHOR

Affectionately Dedicates this Book

ΤΟ

ALBERT J. SCHERZER, C.E,

Old Comrade and Bear Friend,

IN TOKEN OF ESTEEM FOR HIS PROFESSIONAL
ATTAINMENTS AND RESPECT FOR HIS
MANLY CHARACTER.

PREFACE.

THE author's principal aim in preparing this volume has been, as its title indicates, to serve that large class of young engineers who, like himself, have not had the advantage of a technical education before going out for their livelihood.

The initial chapters are, therefore, given to a compendious exposition of those mathematical truths and methods which they must needs become familiar with from the beginning. Plane Trigonometry, Logarithms, and propositions relating to the circle, are tools of the craft in constant use; ready handling of them is an indispensable condition of excellence. Be not discouraged by obscurities and difficulties at the outset; light will gradually break on the scrutinizing eye, and a way always open to manful effort.

These chapters are followed by instructions as to the adjustment and use of instruments, and hints concerning field routine, which it is thought will be found acceptable to the inexperienced learner. The same may be said of the articles on staking out work, and those on track problems, with which the text of the book closes. They have been written with the author's own early ignorance in mind, and with a wish to set the subjects forth as plainly as possible, disembarrassed of hard words in the description, and of unpractical niceties in the operation.

The chapter on field location is believed to include all the problems likely to occur. The author, in compiling it, has taken those only which have arisen in his own practice, and which, therefore, may arise in the practice of others. His

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