Issue 10

The CHAIRMAN suggested that the Meeting should first discuss Clauses 1 (General), 2 (Dead Loads), and 3 (Imposed Floor Loads), and he invited Mr. Cocking, who had rendered valuable assistance to the Committee, to explain shortly the principle involved in the proposals.

In designing a river bridge, a careful study of currents, together with erosion and silting action of the river, is of importance. Many structures have been badly undermined as a result of this phase of design being neglected. Adequate protection to abutments and piers should form part of the construction programme to ensure that the capital expenditure on the bridge is not mortgaged by heavy maintenance obligations. H.E. Brooke-Bradley

SIR,-Since Mr. Rodmell has been good enough to invite discussion of his admirable article dealing with the above subject published in your September issue, I would like to submit the following remarks relative to some points in his article which appear to me to be controversial.

In rising to address you, may I reiterate what I said at the Special General Meeting when I was inducted into the Chair as your President, and thank you once again for having honoured me with the highest and proudest position which it was in your power to confer. I am following a long line of Presidents, all of whom have not only done good service for the Institution, but have left their mark in the various walks of life in which they moved. E.C.P. Monson

THE existence of road corrugation in this and other Colonies has been a matter of concern for some considerable time, and the problem of building roads suitable for modern traffic has been a somewhat perplexing one. In new and undeveloped countries the problem is exceptionally difficult. Leslie Scott

EDWARD CHARLES PHILIP MONSON was born at Acton, Middlesex, on June 3rd, 1871. His father, who is still living, is Mr. Edward Monson, J.P., formerly F.R.I.B.A.,and one of the Diocesan Surveyors for London.

In this paper land is described as meaning anything over, on, in, or under land. It will be agreed therefore that whatever engineering schemes are formulated, that ultimately they will find their suspension, foundation, fixation and position over, on, in, or under land. An engineering scheme cannot be carried out, therefore, unless the undertakers of the scheme have either obtained a special Act of Parliament duly authorising them to do so, or by advantage of the provisions of existing Acts of Parliament, or by agreement with the land owners and other interests where no Act or Acts of Parliament can be taken advantage of. We therefore come to the point that the value of the land and other interests, the damage and disturbance and injurious affection and severance caused by the proposed or actual, and in some cases ultimate, operations of the engineering scheme is to be paid for by those responsible for the scheme. It now becomes necessary to sub-divide the class of engineering schemes into appropriate divisions in relation to the nature of the Acts of Parliament that provide the necessary powers to enable the scheme to be operated. H.W.J. Powell