David B. Steinman - Start at Bridge Building

Start At Bridge Building

After contacting Gustav Lindenthal about working on the Hell Gate Bridge, he returned to New York City to become a special assistant to Lindenthal, along with Othmar Ammann of Switzerland, another young bridge builder. It was said this experience of working together led to their 40-year professional rivalry. Pay was typical for the era, 200-225 USD/month. Lindenthal gave his protégés advice about engineering such as, “Steinman, bridge engineering is easy. It is the financial engineering that is hard” (Petroski 327). While working with Lindenthal, Steinman also worked on the Sciotoville Bridge, a crossing of the Ohio River. After this work Steinman sought other employment, working as assistant engineer on the Rondout Creek Bridge, and as an assistant engineer for the New York Central Railroad.


Read more about this topic:  David B. Steinman

Famous quotes containing the words start, bridge and/or building:

    It is the manner of gods and prophets to begin: “Thou shalt have none other God or Prophet but me.” If I were to start as a God or a prophet I think I should take the line: “Thou shalt not believe in me. Thou shalt not have me for a God. Thou shalt worship any d_____d thing thou likest except me.” This should be my first and great commandment, and my second should be like unto it.
    Samuel Butler (1835–1902)

    Oh, who will now be able to relate how Pantagruel behaved in face of these three hundred giants! Oh my muse, my Calliope, my Thalie, inspire me now, restore my spirits, because here is the ass’s bridge of logic, here is the pitfall, here is the difficulty of being able to describe the horrible battle undertaken.
    François Rabelais (1494–1553)

    The limits of prudence: one cannot jump out of a burning building gradually.
    Mason Cooley (b. 1927)