We had always made the upper cord of the bridge of the latter, while our rivals' was made of cast-iron.

This furnished my text.

I pictured the result of a steamer striking against the one and against the other.

In the case of the wrought-iron cord it would probably only bend; in the case of the cast-iron it would certainly break and down would come the bridge.

One of the directors, the well-known Perry Smith, was fortunately able to enforce my argument, by stating to the board that what I said was undoubtedly the case about cast-iron.