20. The size and character of the earth, as excavated in the cuttings; for instance, whether picked and shovelled soil, or lumps of excavation simply barred away and deposited in small masses with earth approaching a state of dirt or mud. 21. Overpressure upon the material forming an embankment. 22. The different conditions of the weather, when an embankment is tipped, causing portions to become dry, wet, or frozen. 23. The lead or distance from a cutting to the place of deposition being of considerable length. 24. The earth being loosened from vibration and concussion during transit in the wagons, and in the process of deposition, thus causing it to be non-homogeneous. 25. By the earth being tipped with greater impetus at one part than at another place. 26. An embankment not being tipped to its full width as it progresses, whether in one or more wagon roads. 27. First tipping the central portion of an embankment, and completing the width and slope by side deposition after some time has elapsed. 28. Tipping the contents of earth wagons from a considerable height, thereby loosening and separating the soil, causing the larger and heavier material to be near the foot of a slope and in lumps, and an embankment to have interstices and be temporarily or permanently unstable. 29. Irregular consolidation, artificial or otherwise. 30. Unequal exposure, particularly in embankments upon sidelong ground. 31. Insufficient width of the formation, especially in high and exposed embankments. 32. The junction of two embankments tipped from cuttings in different kinds of earth. 33. No time being allowed for subsidence or consolidation before the deposited earth is subject to varying loads and vibration. 34. By allowing water to collect upon the formation and to form channels down the slopes. 35. The neglect to fill, or otherwise remedy, cracks or fissures. 36. The want of uniformity of the covering of the slopes or top of an embankment causing unequal percolation of water. 37. By a retaining wall at the toe of a slope preventing the discharge of water that has percolated through the formation and the slope. 38. By an abnormal increase of the load upon the foundation of a wall caused by lateral thrust and tilting forward, or fracture of the footings or the concrete bed. The first seven heads of “the chief causes of slips in embankments” might be classed as NATURAL, _i.e._, produced by nature, and, therefore, beyond the power of man to entirely prevent; the remainder as ARTIFICIAL, and, therefore, more or less to be prevented. In the case of earthworks made to contain or exclude water for the purposes of docks, canals, waterworks, reclamation of land, irrigation or drainage, &c., may be added, without reference to their construction:— 1. Leakage along a discharge culvert, sluice, or tunnel in an embankment, or through the earthwork.