Scamping Tricks and Odd Knowledge Occasionally Practised upon Public Works

A survey of construction practice and common fraudulent shortcuts used on public works, combining practical descriptions of piling (screw, iron, timber), masonry, tunnels, bridge piers, drains, concrete, brickwork and trackwork with anecdotal accounts and advice for engineers. It records manipulations by subcontractors—cost-cutting deviations, deceptive measurements, and labour tricks—explaining how they are performed, where they occur, and how to detect or guard against them. Written in a conversational, confessional style, the text mixes technical detail with case illustrations and ethical commentary to inform resident engineers and practitioners about risks in specification, execution, and supervision.