Shishu Sansaar
Great People's Story 11 - John Roebling

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11 - One Man's Efforts: Result of Perseverance

In 1883, a creative Germany born engineer named John Augustus Roebling (in Trenton, NJ) was inspired by an idea to build a spectacular bridge connecting New York with Brooklyn, however bridge building experts throughout the world thought that this was an impossible feat and told Roebling to forget the idea. It just could not be done. It was not practical. It had never been done before.

Roebling could not ignore the vision and after much discussion and persuasion he managed to convince his son Washington, an up and coming engineer, that the bridge in fact could be built. Working together for the first time, the father and son developed concepts of how it could be accomplished and how the obstacles could be overcome. With great excitement and inspiration, and the headiness of a wild challenge before them, they hired their crew and began to build their dream bridge.

The project started well, but when it was only a few months underway a tragic accident on the site took the life of John Roebling (because of tetanus). Washington was injured and left with a certain amount of brain damage, which resulted in him not being able to walk or talk or even move.

In spite of the mockery and his handicap Washington was never discouraged and still had a burning desire to complete the bridge and his mind was still as sharp as ever. . Suddenly an idea hit him. All he could do was move one finger and he decided to make the best use of it. By moving this, he slowly developed a code of communication with his wife - Emily Warren Roebling.

He touched his wife's arm with that finger, indicating to her that he wanted her to call the engineers. Then he used the same method of tapping her arm to tell the engineers what to do. It seemed foolish but the project was under way again.

For 13 years Washington tapped out his instructions with his finger on his wife's arm, until the bridge was finally completed. Today the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge stands in all its glory as a tribute to the triumph of one man's indomitable spirit and his determination not to be defeated by circumstances. It is also a tribute to the engineers and their team work, and to their faith in a man who was considered mad by half the world. It stands too as a tangible monument to the love and devotion of his wife who for 13 long years patiently decoded the messages of her husband and told the engineers what to do.

Perhaps this is one of the best examples of a never-say-die attitude that overcomes a terrible physical handicap and achieves an impossible goal. Even the most distant dream can be realized with determination and persistence.

About Brooklyn Bridge - The Brooklyn Bridge, one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States, stretches 5,989 feet  (1,825 m) over the East River, connecting the New York City boroughs of Manhattan ad Brooklyn (on Long Island). Upon completion it was the longest suspension bridge in the world - the first steel wire suspension bridge. Originally referred to as the New York and Brooklyn Bridge, it was dubbed the Brooklyn Bridge in 1867 letter to the Editor of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle and formally so named by the city government in 1915.

Its construction began on Jan 3, 1870. It was completed in 13 years and was first opened  for use on May 24, 1883. On that first day,  a total 1,800 vehicles and 150,300 people crossed the brdge. The bridge's main span over the East River is 1,595 feet 6 inches (486.3 m). The bridge cost $15.5 million to build and approximately 27 people died during its construction.

At the time it opened, it was the longest suspension bridge of the world - 50% longer than any bridge built before. For several years its towers were the tallest structures in the western hemisphere. It is built of limestone, granite and Rosendale cement. Since the 1980s, it has been floodlit at night to highlight its architectural features.

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