Manual of examinations for engineering positions in the service of the city of New York. Questions and answers in 3 volumes and 8 parts

Front matter

(fess

Book

COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT

Part 2. Assistant Engineer. — General, Aqueduct, Docks, Sewers and Highways

Appendix to Vol. II. Some L^seful Engineering Formulas.

VOLUME III.

Part 1. Draftsman and Draftsman's Helper.

Part 2. Inspector. — Buildings; Masonry and Carpentry; Steel; Kegulating. Grading and Paving; Sewers.

GENEKAL APPENDIXES.

General Appendix I. Civil Service of the United States, General Information and Previous Examination Papers.

General Appendix II. Civil Service of the State of New York; Cities of Buffalo, Boston, New Orleans, etc.

PUBLISHEKS' NOTE.

When announcement was made that these volumes were in preparation, inquiries and orders poured in very rapidly. In order to make the various parts available for the forthcoming examinations, the preparation of the manuscript, and the composition and presswork had to be completed with all possible haste, which accounts for the various typographical errors that have crept in, particularly in the case of Vol. II, Part 2. A sheet of errata has been prepared, and the publishers, as well as the authors, would thank the readers for calling attention to any other errors that may be discovered, which will be corrected in the next edition.

PKEFACE.

"Civil Service" has had such a marked development during the past decade that it has come to be recognized as one of the important institutions in our civic life. In the Federal Service, as well as in that of many States and municipalities, thousands of positions which for years were under political control are now filled on the basis of merit and fitness as ascertained by competitive examinations.

Especially is this true in positions requiring knowledge of a technical character, and, in the City of New York alone, over two thousand persons hold civil engineering positions, the majority of which have been filled through the medium of competitive examinations. The widespread interest in these examinations has brought to editors of technical journals numerous inquiries concerning their scope, character, frequency, etc., requests for sample questions and for suitable books of reference. Considerable difficulty was experienced in answering many of these queries and in making recommendations, for, while excellent text-books were to be had, no single work was available containing the desired information.

The present book aims in a measure to fill the want that has been so long apparent.

Some difficulty was experienced in its preparation. To cover the whole field of Civil Engineering was -impracticable, and another text-book would not materially aid the candidate. The authors therefore decided at the outset that the most appropriate information to include in a work of this character would be:

1st, Previous Examination Papers — giving as many sets as were readily available.

2nd, Typical Questions and Answers — such answers to be brief and to the point, and, while giving the information asked for, to avoid text -book discussion; in short, to indicate what may be expected of candidates in the examination room.

In the "Previous Examination Papers" the questions may not, in all cases, be identical in wording with those actually given at the examinations, as copies of the original papers were not readily procurable, but they embody the substance of the questions asked.

The "Typical Questions and Answers" are not intended to be perfect or complete, as reasonable variance of opinion may exist as

VI PREFACE.

to what is the best answer in many cases, owing to differences in interpretation of the question and in the education and experience of the candidate. In several instances, where questions on a given topic were few in number, the answers were intentionally enlarged upon.

Examinations are not always the best tests of merit and fitness, and they are never conclusive; but they must be employed for want of better means. Incompetent men occasionally succeed while others fail, such failure usually arising from lack of preparation, or inability to put on paper the requisite information in a given time. To the latter, the authors hope this book will prove useful, and also serve as a review and guide to engineers seeking to enter government employ. It is also hoped that the extensive collection of examination papers will prove useful to Civil Service Examiners in preparing new papers, and to instructors and students in engineering schools, for the purpose of quizzes and reviews, especially now that the introduction of Civil Service in the curriculum of such schools is being advocated.

As a matter of convenience, the book has been divided into eight parts, each complete in itself, the division being based upon the classification obtaining in New York City. As similar questions occasionally appear in the examination papers for different positions, it has been deemed advisable to repeat the answers, with due regard, however, to the requirements of the position. The parts were issued separately, and not in regular sequence, to render them available for the forthcoming examinations. For this reason the paging in the volumes is not consecutive. It is intended to remedy this in future editions.

Appendixes have been added to the first and second volumes, containing the formulas which appear in the text and some of the more common formulas with which the candidate should be familiar.

For those desiring information concerning examinations outside of New York City, an extensive appendix has been added, giving the Rules and Examination Papers for the United States Navy, Panama Canal and other Federal positions, the New York State Service, Boston, Buffalo and New Orleans, etc.

The work complete contains over one hundred sets of "Previous Examination Papers," comprising over two thousand questions and answers to about a thousand typical questions. Interleaving has

PREFACE. Vn

been introduced for the convenient addition of new sets and to provide space for notes, sketches, etc.

It may not be amiss here to say that the Civil Service of Hew York offers a broad and attractive field for engineers. The many public improvements under way and projected have necessitated the employment of a large number of technical men. Most of the candidates who pass the examinations receive appointment at fair salaries, and the opportunities for promotion and advancement are quite good.

Extracts from the rules and regulations governing the service in New York City and other pertinent data appear in the introduction.

The Authors are indebted to Mr. M. Feldman of the Department of Bridges for valuable assistance in the preparation of Volume III; to Mr. G. Harwood Frost, manager publication department. Engineering News, for advice and suggestions ; to the Keuffel & Esser Co. of New York for the loan of many cuts.

Thanks are also due to those who kindly furnished copies of examination papers.

M. H. L.

M. K.

New York, October 1, 1906.

INTEODUCTOKY.

The Civil Engineer Service of the City of New York forms one of the most important arms of its municipal organization, having under its direction the prosecution of public works involving a large part of the annual expenditures. This service embraces nearly 2 500 employees, most of whom, as stated in the preface, obtained their original appointment through competitive examinations. Positions in the lowest grades are filled by original appointment of successful candidates, and those in the higher by promotion, where possible. Owing to the lack of sufficient eligibles to meet the demands of the service, many examinations have been held during the past five years for the higher grades, and most of the successful candidates have received appointment. Applications for examinations are only received at stated times and on prescribed blanks, which may be obtained by addressing the Municipal Civil Service Commission, 299 Broadway, New York. The following table gives an idea of the classification, distribution and compensation of the Civil Engineering Employees. Extracts from the rules of the Commission follow the table, giving the pertinent information relative to Appointment, Promotion, Transfer, etc.

INTRODUCTORY.

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INTRODUCTORY. XI

EXTRACTS FROM THE RULES OF THE MUNICIPAL

CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION OF THE

QTY OF NEW YORK.

KULE VIII— FILING OF APPLICATIONS.

1. Applications for examination for positions in the Competitive Class shall be addressed to the Commission on a prescribed form, in the handwriting of the applicant, and accompanied by such certificates or other evidences as to citizenship, character, condition of health, education, previous employment, training and fitness as the Commission may require.

The statements of the applicant in these particulars shall be made under oath, properly attested.

2. Every application shall bear the certificate of four reputable citizens, whose residences or places of business are within the City of New York, to the effect that they have personally known the applicant for not less than one year, that they have read his statements and believe them to be correct, and that they will, upon request, give such further facts concerning him as they may possess, either for the files of the Commission or for the information of appointing officers.

If the previous occupation or employment of the applicant has been wholly or in part outside the City of New York, not more than two of the said certificates may be accepted, in the discretion of the Commission, from persons resident or engaged in business elsewhere ; but no such certificate shall be accepted from a near relative of the applicant, or from any person the character of whose business, in the judgment of the Commission, laaj disqualify him as a fit voucher.

3. The Commission shall, by regulation or otherwise, fix the limits of time between which applications for a given examination shall be presented; but such period shall in no case be less than two weeks, and there shall be not less than five days between the last date for the presentation of applications and the date of examination.

4. An application presented within the prescribed limits of time, but found to be defective, shall be suspended, and notification shall be given to the applicant of the particulars in which it requires correction. Such an application shall be accepted if corrected and returned before the date of examination, but not otherwise.

5. Applications when presented shall be dated, numbered, and recorded in the order of their receipt. An application that has been accepted and filed shall not be returned for any reason to the applicant.

Xn - INTRODUCTORY.

6. A person claiming rights of preference as a veteran shall file, with his application, proof of such veteranship and of his residence within the State of New York.

7. Application forms shall be furnished to intending applicants, upon personal or written request, at the office of the Commission, and shall be procurable there only.

KULE IX— MAEKING AND EATING.

1. The examination papers shall be rated, in each case, by at least two examiners assigned therefor, who shall review them separately, and after such rating is completed shall affix to each a mark expressing the average of their judgment, attested by their respective signatures or initials. The marking shall be strictly comparative and according to such standards of proficiency as the needs of the service may require. Each subject shall be marked upon a scale of 100, which shall represent the maximum possible attainment.

2. Every candidate who receives a general average marking of not less than 70 per cent., and who has received not less than 20 per cent, in any required subject, or not less than 75 per cent, in any technical subject, when the examination is for a position of scientific, professional or technical nature, shall be eligible for certification and appointment in the manner, and under the conditions, hereinafter prescribed.

3. Where the Chief Examiner is satisfied, through investigation made under his direction, or otherwise, that the general character or the reputation of a candidate whose papers have been marked is not good, the name of such candidate shall not be placed on any eligible list; but all action under this clause shall be reported in writing, with the reasons therefor, to the Commission and shall be subject to the Commission's approval. The burden of proof of good character shall be upon the candidate who may, where doubt exists, be required to furnish evidence thereof additional to the certificates required at the time of his application.

4. The Secretary shall, as early as practicable after the completion of an examination, notify each candidate of the rating he has received, and of his relative standing, if such rating be above the minimum. He shall in the same manner notify any candidate who may be rejected for reasons other than failure to receive the minimum average, stating such reasons specifically.

5. A candidate receiving such notice may personally inspect his examination papers, in the presence of a designated officer or employee of the Commission, and, if he believes that any error or mistake in marking appears, or that injustice has otherwise been done him, may, not later than fifteen days after the date of such notice, file an appeal with the Commission, specifying particularly

INTRODUCTORY. XIH

the grounds of his complaint. The Commission shall take such action with reference to such appeal as substantial justice mayrequire.

KULE X— ELIGIBLE LISTS.

1. The results of each examination shall be reported by the Chief Examiner to the Secretary, who shall enter the names of the persons passing, in the order of their average rating, on the proper list of eligibles; provided that the names of veterans so passing shall be entered, in the order of average rating, at the head of such list. The date of the establishment of a list shall be the date of such report.

2. When two or more eligibles on a list have the same average rating, preference in certification shall be determined by the order in which their applications were filed, or, if the examination be for promotion, by the order of their original appointment in the department or other division of the service in which the promotion occurs.

3. The term of an eligible list shall be not less than one year nor more than four years from the date of its establishment. An eligible list that has been in force for one year, except for the position of temporary clerk, shall terminate whenever a new list is established under the same title, and, in case of a graded position, for the same grade or grades.

Persons whose names appear on a list about to be terminated shall be notified of the new examination, in the same manner that applicants therefor are notified, and shall be informed that, upon the establishment of the new list, their original eligibility shall cease.

4. All eligible lists shall be published as early as may be practicable after their establishment, in the "City Record."

RULE XI— CERTIFICATION AND APPOINTMENT.

1. Selections for appointment to all positions in the Competitive Class not filled by promotion, reduction, transfer or reinstatement shall, except as provided in Rule XII, be made in the following manner :

The appointing ofiicer shall notify the Commission of the title of the position, the duties to be performed and the compensation to be paid. The Commission shall thereupon certify to such appointing ofiicer from the eligible list most nearly appropriate to such position, and for the grade thereof, if in a graded service, the three names at the head thereof; provided that, except in the case of a veteran, no such name shall be certified more than three times to the same appointing officer for the same or a similar position, unless at such officer's request. The relative rating of each candidate shall be stated in the certification, and, if the appointing officer requests, the application and examination papers of each shall be jXIV mTRODUCTORY.

submitted for his inspection, at the office of the Commission. Certification shall be made without regard to sex unless sex is specified in the requisition.

The appointing , officer shall make selection, with reference solely to merit and fitness, from the three names certified, unless objection shall be made, and sustained by the Commission, to one or more of the persons named, in which case the certification of three names shall be completed by addition of the name or names next following upon the eligible list. If there be more than one vacancy to be filled, names shall be certified and selection shall be made for each of such vacancies in the same manner.

2. The person selected shall be duly notified by the appointing officer, and, upon accepting and reporting for duty, shall receive from such officer a certificate of appointment for a probationary period of three months; except in the Police or the Fire Service, where such period shall be one month. If his conduct or capacity en probation be unsatisfactory to the appointing officer the probationer shall be notified in writing that at the end of such period he shall, for that reason, not be retained; his retention in the service otherwise shall be equivalent to permanent appointment.

3. A probationer separated from the service for any reason other than fault or delinquency shall be restored to the eligible list from which he was selected, with the same relative standing, and the time during which he has actually served shall be deducted from the period of probation if he be again selected by the same appointing officer. When two or more persons selected from the same eligible list are serving as probationers under the same appointing officer, and a reduction of force is necessary, they shall be preferred for retention in the order of their original standing on such list.

4. The name of any person certified as eligible for a probationary appointment who shall decline such appointment shall be stricken from the list from which such certification is made, unless such declination be for one of the following reasons : ,

(a) Residence in a borough other than that in which the duties are to be performed; (h) insufficiency of the compensation offered, if such compensation be lower than the amount or the maximum amount stated in the announcement of examination; or (c) temporary inability, physical or otherwise, the evidences of which must be acceptable to and approved by the Commission and set forth in its minutes.

The failure of an eligible person to respond within four days to an offer of appointment sent to his post-office address shall be considered a declination.

An eligible who has declined appointment by reason of the insufficiency of the compensation offered shall not be again certified for a position at the same or any less compensation, and whenever

INTRODUCTORY. X\^

one or more eligibles shall have declined appointment to any position for such reason, and an eligible whose standing is lower is appointed thereto, the compensation of such appointee shall not be increased within one year thereafter beyond the amount offered to any person so declining.

On notification from an appointing officer that a person named in a certification has declined appointment, and on receipt from such officer of such declination in writing, or of evidence of the failure of such person to respond to a notice properly sent, such certification shall be completed by addition of the name of the eligible next in order.

5, ISTo certification shall remain in force for a longer period than fifteen days. Until such certification has been exhausted or terminated no new certification shall be made for the same position, but the names of the persons certified may be certified for any similar position.

6. Every person selected for appointment shall be required to fill out and sign, in the presence of the appointing officer or his representative, an identification sheet, repeating the essential facts stated by him at the time of examination, which shall be forwarded to the Commission with the notice of appointment and filed with the appointee's application papers.

If a person who is not entitled to certification is certified and ^ippointed, his appointment, upon due notification from the Commission to the appointing officer, shall be revoked.

1. Whenever any permanent position in the Competitive Class is abolished or made unnecessary, or whenever the number of positions of a certain character is reduced, the person or persons legally holding such positions shall be deemed to be suspended without pay, and the names of such persons shall, on due notification from the appointing officer, be placed by the Commission on a special list, under such classified title and corresponding to such competitive eligible list as, in the judgment of the Commission, most nearly cover the class of duties performed by such persons in the position from which suspension is made. Eor a period of one year from the date of suspension such persons shall be entitled to reinstatement in any position, or any grade of such position, for which certification from such corresponding eligible list might be made, and the Secretary shall certify their names to the proper appointing officer as entitled to such reinstatement, in the order of the dates of their original appointment to the Classified Service, before certification is made from such corresponding eligible list for any such vacancy; provided that such persons shall be selected for certification, first,

XVI INTRODUCTORY.

for a position the same as that from which suspension was made, if the vacancy exists in such a position, and second, for corresponding^ or similar positions.

A person so certified who declines to accept a reinstatement,, except for one of the reasons and under the conditions stated in subdivision 4 of Rule XI, shall be considered to be permanently separated from the service.

2. The provisions of the foregoing clause shall not apply to any person who resigns his position or who is suspended or removed, therefrom for any reason other than those therein specified. Leaves of absence without pay may be granted by an appointing officer,, without conflict with such provisions, where such absence does not exceed thirty days, or in case of sickness six months; but the Commission, in exceptional cases, the circumstances of which shall be stated in its minutes and in its annual report, may extend such, periods. Absence without leave for a period of five days, unless it be subsequently shown that such absence was unavoidable, shall be construed as a resignation.

3. A person who has resigned from a permanent competitive position, or who has been removed or otherwise separated therefrom from any cause other than fault or delinquency on his part, may be reinstated without examination, at any time within one year from the date of such separation, in a vacant position in the same class and grade, provided that for original entrance to such position there is not required by these rules, in the judgment of the Commission, an examination involving tests or qualifications different from or higher than those involved in the examination for appointment to the position formerly held by such person. But no person shall be so reinstated who at any time within a year prior to the date of his separation from the service had been eligible for reinstatement as a suspended employee.

The Commission may in its discretion extend the period during which reinstatement may be made under this clause where the I)erson seeking reinstatement resigned his position in order to serve in the Army or Navy of the United States in time of war, and hasreceived an honorable discharge therefrom.

RULE XIV— TRANSFER. . ^

1. A person who has been permanently appointed to a position in the Competitive Class may be transferred without examination to a similar position in such class, or to a position of the same grade thereof, if it be in a graded service, in any other department, office or institution; provided that for original entrance to the position proposed to be filled by transfer there is not required by these rules,, in the judgment of the Commission, an examination involving tests or qualifications essentially different from or higher than those-

IXTEODrCTORY. XYII

required in an examination for original entrance to the position from which transfer is sought; or provided he shall have passed the examination or obtained a place upon the eligible list in force for such position; and provided further that if such person entered the service without competitive examination, and prior to the requirement thereof in the case of the position held by him, he shall have served with fidelity for at least three years in such position, or in a similar position.

2. A person may be transferred from a position in one class to a position in another class, or from a position in any grade of the Competitive Class to a different grade in such class, who has served a year in the position from which transfer is sought, under special authority granted by the Commission, for reasons to be stated in its annual report, and subject to the provisions of Clause 1 of this rule.

3. A person who, by transfer or promotion from a competitive position, is holding a position in another class or in another grade, and who has served continuously therein from the date of such transfer or promotion, may be retransferred, without the application of the foregoing restrictions, either to the position originally held by him, or to any position to which transfer could be made therefrom.

4. Upon the written request of an appointing officer, stating the facts with reference to a proposed transfer, accompanied by the consent, also in writing, of the appointing officer from whose jurisdiction the transfer is to be made, the Commission will, if such transfer be in accordance with law and the provisions of these rules, issue its certificate to that effect ; but no such transfer shall be made or recognized until after the issuance of such certificate.

KULE XV— PEOMOTIO^.

1. Vacancies in positions above the lowest grade in any Part of the Competitive Class, except Part I, that are not filled by original appointment, transfer, reinstatement or reduction, shall be filled by promotion, based, so far as practicable, on competitive tests.

2. Examinations for promotion shall be ordered as often as may be necessary to meet or to anticipate the needs of the higher grades, and, so far as practicable, shall be held periodically. Except where otherwise provided by law, such examinations shall be open, in each case, to all persons who shall have served with fidelity for not less than six months in positions of the same group or general character in the grade next lower, in the same department, office or institution; except that, for reasons to be set forth in its minutes, and where permitted by law, the Commission may open such examination to persons in two or more lower grades who shall have served

XVTTI INTHODUCTORY .

with fidelity for not less than six months in the periods held by them respectively.

ISTotice of such examination shall be given by the Secretary to all eligible persons in the grade or grades from which promotion is to be made at least one week in advance of the date thereof.

3. A position in any of the aforesaid Parts the compensation of which is not identical with that specified in the Classification for any grade of snch Part shall, for purposes of promotion, be deemed as of the grade the compensation of which is specified as next lower than the compensation paid.

6. The subjects of rating and the relative w^eights thereof, in any competitive promotion examination, shall be as follows: For seniority of service in the position or grade from which promotion is sought, 20; for comparative conduct and efficiency in previous service in such position or grade, 40; and for written papers on pertinent subjects, 40; provided, that in rating for seniority, where more than one grade is opened, such rating shall be based upon the service of a candidate in all of such grades; and provided further that the maximum term of service in a position or grade to be considered in rating for seniority shall be fifteen years.

KULE XVI— KEMOVALS.

1. No person holding a position in the service of the city shall be removed from such position, except in the manner prescribed by the Charter and the Civil Service Law; and the officer charged w^ith the power of removal, in each case, shall transmit to the Commission, with the report of his action required under Rule XX, a copy of the reasons therefor, or of the findings of any trial board or officer, as stated to the person removed, and as filed in the department or office.

2. No person who is an honorably discharged soldier, sailor or marine, having served as such in the Union Army or Navy during the War of the Rebellion, or in the volunteer army or navy of the United States during the Spanish War, or who is a veteran volunteer firemen, shall be removed from any position in the Classified Service except in the manner prescribed by section 21 of the Civil Service Law.

3. The provisions of this rule shall apply to the removal of any person from a graded position by reduction to a position in a lower grade, but shall not apply to a suspension from service for lack of work or reduction of force.

FOR

Vol. 1. AXEMAN, CHAINMAN and RODMAN, LEVELER, AND TRANSITMAN and COMPUTER.

Vol. II. ASSISTANT ENGINEER.

Vol. III. DRAFTSMAN, and INSPECTOR.

VOL I. PART I.

Axeman.