[Autobiography of Andrew Carnegie by Andrew Carnegie]@TWC D-Link book
Autobiography of Andrew Carnegie

CHAPTER IX
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This was Captain Eads, of St.Louis,[26] an original genius _minus_ scientific knowledge to guide his erratic ideas of things mechanical.
He was seemingly one of those who wished to have everything done upon his own original plans.

That a thing had been done in one way before was sufficient to cause its rejection.

When his plans for the St.
Louis Bridge were presented to us, I handed them to the one man in the United States who knew the subject best--our Mr.Linville.He came to me in great concern, saying: "The bridge if built upon these plans will not stand up; it will not carry its own weight." "Well," I said, "Captain Eads will come to see you and in talking over matters explain this to him gently, get it into proper shape, lead him into the straight path and say nothing about it to others." [Footnote 26: Captain James B.Eads, afterward famous for his jetty system in the Mississippi River.] This was successfully accomplished; but in the construction of the bridge poor Piper was totally unable to comply with the extraordinary requirements of the Captain.

At first he was so delighted with having received the largest contract that had yet been let that he was all graciousness to Captain Eads.

It was not even "Captain" at first, but "'Colonel' Eads, how do you do?
Delighted to see you." By and by matters became a little complicated.


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