The tower was designed by Arthur L. Adams, M. Am. Soc. C. E., under whose direction the plans for all the work of remodeling the water-works system were prepared and executed. The forms, scaffolding, etc., were designed by the writer, who was also in immediate charge of the erection. Tenders received for the construction of the tower covered an extremely wide range, and indicated at once the utter lack of knowledge on the part of the bidders of the cost of a structure of this kind. Inasmuch as none of them had had previous experience in this class of construction, the engineer deemed it the part of wisdom and economy to retain the construction under his immediate supervision, and, therefore, the work was done by days' labor. Table 1 gives the cost of the structure. The total herein given will not coincide with the total cost as shown by the city's books, for the reason that various items not properly chargeable to the structure itself have been omitted, the principal ones of which are the cost of the site, the laying of about 600 ft. of sewer pipe to connect with the overflow, and considerable expense incident to the construction of a wagon road to the tower. The rates of wages paid, all being on a basis of an 8-hour day, were as follows: Common labor $2.25 and $2.50 Carpenter 4.00 Carpenter's helper 2.75 Boiler-maker 3.50 Holders on 2.50 Boiler-maker foreman 5.00 Plasterers 6.00 Plasterers' helpers 3.00 The cost of material was as follows: Cement, per barrel $2.53 Sand, per yard 1.47 Rock, per yard 0.80 Lumber, per 1,000 ft. b. m. 14.00 and 16.00 All these prices are for material delivered on the work. An examination of the cost data, as given, will show that for the most part the unit costs are very high. This is due chiefly to the continued interruption of the work, during its later stages, owing to bad weather, particularly in the case of the erection of the steel tank. The material cost in this case was also exceedingly high. In the case of the concreting, inability to purchase a hoist and motor and the high cost of renting the same, together with the delays mentioned, added greatly to the unit cost. When it is considered that the cost of plastering covers that of four coats over the entire inside of the tank and three more over about one-third of it, it does not appear so high, especially in view of the high rate of wages paid. The cost per yard for concrete alone was $25.126, and this is probably about 25% in excess of the cost of the same class of work executed under more favorable conditions as to location, weather conditions, etc. TABLE 1.--COST OF HIGH-LEVEL TOWER, VICTORIA WATER-WORKS. (412 cu. yd.)