s to be paid or excess credited.

Travelling expenses and other necessary disbursements are payable when
incurred.

In case contracts are not entered into for the work within six months
after the drawings are ready for contractors to estimate, payment shall
be made for the work done at the rates herein before specified, computed
upon the estimated cost. Provided, however, that if at any subsequent
time the plans and specifications prepared by us, are used and the
actual cost exceeds the estimated cost, compensation upon such excesses,
shall be made at the rates aforesaid.

REMARKS.

Respectfully yours,

Accepted, ---- 189

* * * * *

INSPECTION OF BUILDINGS IN NEW YORK.

NEW YORK, N.Y., December 22, 1889.

TO THE EDITORS OF THE AMERICAN ARCHITECT:--

_Dear Sirs_,--In your issue of the 21st. I note an editorial setting
forth how the New York City Health Department trapped an ingenious
builder, who piped his sewerage into his back-yard, and I, and, I think
I can safely say, many other architects of New York, would ask why you
omit, when publishing such facts, to mention that such work was so put
in and is continually put in, in as bad or in a very unworkmanlike and
insanitary manner, under the supervision of the same department, and
thus shows how the paid officials and inspectors whose business it is to
pass upon and approve the plans and specifications and to give continual
inspection--to see, examine and test every length of pipe and every
joint; who have the might of the law to strike down the offender who
shall make bold to violate their mandates, fail to give protection to
the innocent owners and purchasers of property, or curb the avaricious
hands of unscrupulous builders and careless workmen.

I should like further, to ask you to publish to the New York City
public, the fact that the "Department", the "Health Department", with
its Bureau of Plumbing and Light and Ventilation, and the Building
Bureau of the Fire Department, are unable to protect property owners and
purchasers from errors in sanitation and construction as they are
supposed by too many to do. Owners frequently think that unless they
want "fancy" drawings and fronts, an architect is superfluous. The
"speculator" finds it no advantage, but rather the opposite, to have an
impartial judge between owner and Contractor, or a close inspection over
his subs; as he gains little by the fact of his having employe