Ancient and Modern Engineering and the Isthmian Canal

Ancient and Modern Engineering and the Isthmian Canal is by William H. Burr, listed as Professor of Civil-Engineering in Columbia University. The introduction says the book is the outcome of a course of six lectures delivered at the Cooper Union in the city of New York in February and March, 1902, under the auspices of Columbia University, and that its six Parts comprise the substance of the six lectures.

The text says that there must be as many influence lines drawn as there are sections to be discussed. The cross-ties are of mild steel and weigh 80 pounds each except in the long Albula tunnel, where treated oak ties are used as being better adapted to the special conditions existing there. A section headed The Professional Spirit of Vitruvius says it is evident, from many passages in the writings of this Roman architect-engineer, that the ways of the professional men in old Rome were not always such as led to his peace of mind.