Large annual dividends had been paid regularly and the company had been very successful--sufficient proof of the policy: "Make nothing but the very best." We never did.
[Footnote 24: Mr.Carnegie had previous to this--as early as 1861--been associated with Mr.Miller in the Sun City Forge Company, doing a small iron business.] When at Altoona I had seen in the Pennsylvania Railroad Company's works the first small bridge built of iron.

It proved a success.

I saw that it would never do to depend further upon wooden bridges for permanent railway structures.

An important bridge on the Pennsylvania Railroad had recently burned and the traffic had been obstructed for eight days.

Iron was the thing.