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advice given was based on the best understanding of the firm's representative 
regarding the engineer's specific needs. Accordingly, what was proposed was 
reduced to writing and utilized as specifications. 
When the work'of the photogrammetric firm was completed and the engineer 
began to use the aerial photographs and/or maps received, he soon learned that 
he could be accomplishing his work more effectively and economically had the 
scales been smaller or larger, depending upon the particular stage in which 
they were being utilized. From then on the engineer started to write his own 
specifications. The next step was to permit other photogrammetric firms, on 
a competitive basis, to offer their services in providing what the engineer 
felt would best fulfill his needs. 
Competition developed. As in other fields of proselyting and procuring 
contracts, photogrammetric engineering firms devised improved and more effi- 
cient methods, and in some cases "corner cutting" to work at less cost to attain 
greater profits, and to be more competitive. One commonly employed "corner cut- 
ting" was use of photographs taken from a flight height much higher than prac- 
ticable for the photogrammetric compilation therefrom of map manuscripts and 
finally the finished maps at the specified scale which would fulfill contour 
interval, map detail, and accuracy requirements. In some cases, map manuscripts 
were enlarged two or more diameters, after compilation with a contour interval 
larger than specified. Then intermediate contours were interpolated between 
those initially delineated with the photogrammetric instruments, in order to 
place contours therefrom on finished maps at the interval specified. 
When the engineer gave his approval to this practice of map enlargement 
and contour interpolation and knew that the accuracy of contours and other 
details on the finished maps would not be any better than could be expected on 
the smaller scale manuscripts, he governed his work accordingly. The costs to 
him of the maps at their enlarged scale would normally be commensurate with 
their direct compilation at the smaller manuscript scale. 
Unfortunately, the practice of "corner cutting" was sometimes employed, 
without knowledge of the engineer for the purpose of decreasing costs of ground 
control and of map compilation to the consultant, without seeming regard for 
the effects of such practice on accuracy. In such cases the engineer paid for 
and rightfully expected to receive maps that were compiled at the scale which 
would fulfill his accuracy requirements in the finished large scale maps; but 
unknown to him, until later, these maps failed to serve him properly due to 
their deficiencies and inaecuracies. When these facts became known it was 
usually very costly, especially in terms of time, to cope with the deficien- 
cies and inaccuracies or to have them appropriately eliminated before any fur- 
ther engineering was attempted. 
The engineer would be likely to invite difficulties if he were to prepare 
specifications and make them available to everyone who might wish to submit a 
proposal on a price basis, and then award the contract merely because a per- 
formance bond was supplied with the proposal. He would still be without know- 
ledge of the firm's qualifications and its plans for contract performance in 
accordance with the specifications and schedule for performance. As a means 
for achieving better understanding between the contracting authority and con- 
sultant regarding what is required and the manner in which the consultant will 
perform his services, it is good practice to engage in consultations before 
contracts are entered into. These consultations will reveal what the engineer 
requires and the specific manner, in factual detail, in which the consultant 
will fulfill the engineer's requirements. 
Before any contract award is made, the contracting authority should have 
obtained sufficient information for ascertaining the qualifications and compe- 
tency of the proposing consultant. This can be done by requesting a certified 
statement from each consultant regarding his technical organization and finan- 
cial resources; the equipment he has available for immediate use in fulfilling 
contract requirements; his experience in aerial photography, in ground control 
surveys, in mapping surveys on the ground, and in topographic and planimetric