Graduation on sections A C D,
Masonry on sections A C D,
Ballasting on sections A C D,
Bridging on sections A X T,
Fencing on sections O O O,
Sills and ties on sections O O O,
Track laying on sections O O O.
____________ }
____________ } Contractors.

Articles of agreement made and concluded this first day of January, A. D. 1857, between —— of the first part, and the A and B Railroad Company of the second part, being a company duly incorporated by the State of —— of the second part, whereby it is mutually agreed as follows, namely: The said party
parties of the first part hereby agree to and with the said party of the second part that he
they will perform in a substantial and workmanlike manner the following work, namely:—

[The work here described.]

The said work to be performed and completed agreeably to the directions and to the approval of the chief engineer of said company for the time being, and subject to all the general provisions of the specification attached to and forming a part of this agreement, and also subject to such of the special provisions of said specifications as are applicable to the work hereby contracted for.

And in consideration of the full and faithful performance by the said party
parties of the first part of this agreement on his
their part, the said party of the second part hereby agrees to pay for the same in the time and in the manner hereinafter mentioned, at the rates as follows, namely:—

[Here insert the items and corresponding prices.]

It is mutually agreed that this contract applies only to those items to which prices are attached, and that where it embraces both labor and materials introduced in the work, such prices are in full compensation therefor when introduced in the manner required. When it embraces materials only, such prices are in full compensation for the materials and the labor necessary to deliver the same to the company, and when it embraces labor only, such prices are in full compensation for such labor, and every incident to its complete and proper performance. In every case the estimate for ascertaining the amount of compensation shall be made by the engineer from the actual work, from the material furnished, or from that on which the labor contracted for is bestowed.

It is also agreed that partial payments shall be made from time to time during the progress of the work as follows:—

[Times and manner of payment.]

And that in thirty days after the contract is fully completed to the satisfaction of the chief engineer of the company for the time being, and the work is surrendered to and accepted by the company, a final measurement and estimate thereof shall be made under the direction of the chief engineer, and be duly certified by him, on the return of which to the president of the company the whole amount then found to be due to the said party
parties of the first part shall be paid to him
them on demand as follows:—

[Insert mode of payment.]

And it is also hereby further agreed, that bank-bills current in the State of —— shall be accepted for cash in payment for all claims under this contract.

And the said party
parties of the first part further agree
agrees that in twenty days after he
they shall be notified to do so, as provided for in said specifications, he
they will begin the work hereby contracted to be performed, with a force of all kinds sufficient for its completion in the time herein prescribed, and that he
they will finish and deliver the same to the company fully completed in all its parts as follows:—

And the said specifications hereunto annexed are hereby made a component part of this contract and (except so far as any provision therein may not be pertinent to the subject-matter of the contract or may be specially modified herein,) shall be looked to in ascertaining the meaning, extent, and purport of this agreement, and in determining the rights, powers, duties, privileges, and obligations of the contracting parties as to any particular embraced therein.

In virtue whereof the said party
parties of the first part has
have hereunto set his
their hand and seal, and the said party of the second part have caused their president to subscribe his name and affix the corporate seal of the company hereto, all done in triplicate the day and year first above written.

Contractor’s name,      [SEAL.]
President’s name,       [SEAL.]

SOLICIT FOR BIDS.

88. The approximate estimates, plans, and profiles being made, and other preliminaries settled, proposals for executing work are solicited by the public papers. Thus:—

New York, January 1, 1857.         }
Office of the A and B Railroad Company. }

Proposals for executing the graduation, bridging, masonry, and track laying, and for the supply of materials upon the A and B railroad will be received at this office until the 31st day of January, 1857.

Plans, profiles, and schedules of amounts of work may be seen, and blank bids obtained by application at this office.

All proposals must be directed to the chief engineer of the A and B Railroad Company.

No bids will be received after January 31st, at 12, M.

Per order,
C. D., Secretary A and B R. R. Co.

FORM FOR A BID.

89. That proposers may make their bids in a convenient form for comparison, a blank, somewhat like the following, is given them to fill out.

Number of Section. Sec. 1. Sec. 2. Sec. 3. Sec. 4.
Length in miles. 1½ 1¼ 1¾ 1½
Graduation. Clearing and grubbing,        
  Price per acre,        
  Cost on the section,        
  Earth excavation,        
  Price per yard,        
  Cost on the section,        
  Loose rock excavation,        
  Price per yard,        
  Cost on the section,        
  Solid rock excavation,        
  Price per yard,        
  Cost on the section,        
  Average haul on section,        
  Ballasting,        
  Price per yard,        
  Cost on the section,        
  Whole cost of graduation,        
Masonry. First class masonry,        
  Price per yard,        
  Cost on the section,        
  Second class masonry,        
  Price per yard,        
  Cost on the section,        
  Third class masonry,        
  Price per yard,        
  Cost on the section,        
  Foundation timber,        
  Cost per M., b’d measure,        
  Cost on the section,        
  Excavation for foundation,        
  Price per yard,        
  Cost on the section,        
  Rip rap,        
  Price per yard,        
  Cost on the section,        
  Whole cost of masonry,        
Bridging. Detailed as above,        
Track laying.          
Fencing.          

This form being filled out, evidently gives the cost of each or all of the items upon any one or all of the sections, the cost of all the items upon any one section being at the foot of that section, and the whole cost of any one item at the extreme right and on the line of that item.

On the bottom of the form is printed, “The undersigned having read the specifications, and made due examination, hereby proposes to the A and B Railroad Company, to perform the work in the above schedule, to which he
they has
have set figures, at those prices and under the conditions described, and upon acceptance of this proposal by the company, binds
bind himself
themselves to enter into a written contract to that effect, and to furnish the required security.

Name,
Address,
Name of Surety,
Address of Surety.”

COMPARISON OF BIDS.

90. The bids being received, are compared as follows:—

Name of bidder. Graduation. Masonry.
Sec. 1. Sec. 2. Sec. 3. Sec. 4. Total. Sec. 1. Sec. 2. Sec. 3. Sec. 4. Total.
A                    
B                    
C                    
 
_
Name of bidder. Bridging. Superstructure.
Sec. 1. Sec. 2. Sec. 3. Sec. 4. Total. Sec. 1. Sec. 2. Sec. 3. Sec. 4. Total.
A                    
B                    
C                    
Name of bidder. Fencing. Grand Total.
Sec. 1. Sec. 2. Sec. 3. Sec. 4. Total.
A            
B            
C            

From which the names may be easily selected either for one or more sections, for any or all of the items, that shall give the least cost.