Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 September 1901 — COULDN’T WAIT FOR PLANS. [ARTICLE]

COULDN’T WAIT FOR PLANS.

Hard-Headed Bridge Builder Was a Goo 4 Emergency Man. A bridge on a western railway in America had been washed away, and it was necessary to replace it with % temporary structure. The chief engineer and his staff were ordered in hot haste to the plac\ a draughting room was established ia an adjoining station, and the sceaa became one of great activity. Two days later came the general manager to add more pressure to tha already tense situation. Alighting from his private car, he encountered the master bridge builder. The latter was a type evolved by tha railroad situation of the last genera-tion—heavy-handed, hard of head, with some knowledge of books, and a vast experience. “John,” said the manager, and tha words quivered with energy, “I want this job rushed. Every hour’s delay costs the company money. Have you got the engineer’s plans for the new bridge?” “Colonel,” said the old man (tha general manager of an American railway never ranks lower than colonel). “Colonel, 1 don’t know whether tha engineer has got the picture drawed yet or not, but the bridge is up and the trains are passing over it.”—London Tit-Bits.