QUOTE - Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. - Mark Twain

BROOKLYN BRIDGE - A MODERN AGE MARVEL

The Brooklyn Bridge is a true engineering marvel , even though architecture is not my cup of tea nor do I have any idea about the the countless hours of sweat , hardship and the labour that went into constructing this New york city landmark I'm in awe of its  enthralling and captivating picturesque beauty as it shimmers down the New York city skyline .

But this was not any bridge which was built with just stone , steel and sweat , it had something more . It was the triumph of a single man's dream  over  a billion people whothought he was insane and ludicrous . It is a testament to the  the power of human will and persistance . It made me wonder if the the famous quote " What the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve " was may be written keeping in mind the achievements of the great  John Roebling , the master craftsmen and architect behind this kink .

The Brooklyn bridge is a remarkable achievement considering it was built with just stone  which is no longer used by the modern engineers and has long been left for the dumpster .

In today's world of sophisticated material availablity, computer-aided engineering and with safe construction conditions building a replica of the Brooklyn bridge wouldn't be that ardent a task, but considering the fact that it was built with out any technological help or bulldozers 
or any spreadsheets and not to mention the countless hours spent in convincing the thousands of people who thought it was a ridiculous and cockamamie of an idea, it is truly a modern age marvel

It laid the foundation for the advancement of architecture over the next 100 years and as they say it all started with a SINGLE THOUGHT .

THE STORY - The East river connecting New York and Brooklyn was frozen once again in the winter of 1867 and as ever people had to go through this painful period in despair having no short route to travel to the other city , but it was all about to change . This time the political leaders of Brooklyn promised the people of New York a bridge would be built that would connect both the cities and it would be headed by John Roebling  .

It sounded promising but it had its fair share of skeptics too who argued a bridge of its magnitude has never been built before and it was impossible . It was thought to be impossible because of the following reasons

1-The width of the waterway stretched several miles

2-The East river was succeptible to turbulence

It took nearly 15 years to even convince people it would work , if built  it would become the longest suspension bridge in the world .

Even though the construction officialy began only on 1870 the idea was conceived by  Roebling as early as 1857 . When he told his peers about his plan , everybody thought he was nuts , but Roebling never let his idea fade away and always believed in his idea and one 
day he would build it . His only support at that time was his son Washington who was an upcoming engineer and helped 
his father in laying out the plan and helped nurture the brilliant vision of his dad .

Tragedy strikes -

As construction was about to begin , John Roebling died in a freak accident from tetanus after his foot was crushed by a ferry while he was searching locations for the construction of the bridge . It sent a wave of despair over the entire country , but little did they know it was 
not the end but just  the beginning .

Washington continued in his fathers footsteps and became the head engineer of the process . Washington was as passionate as his dad about the bridge and equally talented so the work continued steadily .

CAISSON AND THE BENDS -

Caisson is an  engineering tool which is used to keep the environment dry buy sucking out all the stagnated water . Since the bridge was built about the East river , this was a very important part of the whole construction process. The working condition inside the caisson 
is highly dangerous from the tremendous pressure , lack of pure air along with the noise and heat made it impossible to work inside it for more than 2 hours and bends is the common disease associated while working inside a caisson .

Bends is caused due to mixing of excess of nitrogen or other gases in the blood stream under pressure.

The bends turned out into a major phenomen during the construction of the Brooklyn bridge and several workers were affected by it including the chief engineer of the project " Washington " causing him serious brain damage and crippling him for life . He could not even talk .

The project was set to be scrapped since Roebling was the only one who knew how to build the bridge . There was a huge uproar and all the critics blamed Roebling for not heeding their advice and for going ahead  with this  impossible task . He was called a fool and a lunatic , but all this did not deter Roebling .

A MOMENT OF INSPIRATION -

There was only  a single thought in his mind and that was to complete the bridge inspite of his handicap . But he did not know how to 
complete the project , he lay in the hospital contemplating possible ways to finish the project and as he kept looking through the window pane  a wave of inspiration swept through him like a tsunami . He still believed he could finish constructing the bridge even though it looked so bleak .

THE FINGER OF GOD -

For many this would have been a problem but for Roebling it was an opportunity . Roebling could move just one finger after his attack and he thought " He will use just that one little finger to  complete the project " .

He tapped his wife with that finger and indicated her to call the engineers and then he used the same method to pass out instruction to his engineers , it sounded bizarre but this was his plan . He developed a new code of communication with his wife who was able to interpret it and would eventually pass it on the engineers on a daily basis . This was how the instruction was passed for not just 1 or 2 but 13 long years .

THE GRAND OPENING -

Brooklyn bridge was finally completed in 1883 . The Brooklyn bridge story will go down in history as one of the most inspirational stories ever . Its a story when read shows anything and everything is possible if we believe in it . It has  been over 125 years after its completion and is still the lifeline for commuters in New York .

The bridge after its completion was acknowledged worldwide and instantly became a standout piece of art . The bridge was nicknamed the "Wonder of Science " . The grand opening ceremony of the bridge on May 24 , 1883 was attended by the President Arthur along with other 
dignataries who walked across the bridge along with cannons sounding sirens .

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CELEBRATION -

The whole city celebrated and all this was possible because one man was daring enough to believe in himself

even in th darkest hours of his life . The total construction cost was around $ 15 million , 5 million more than the estimated $ 10 million . Nearly 20 to 30 workers lost their lives approximately during the construction of the bridge .

The Brooklyn Bridge is not only a story of a bridge across a river but also a bridge across generations .

4- Robert E.Odlum was the first man to die from the bridge .

Some Motivational quotes to complete
this awe inspiring story -

“I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” - Michael Jordan

To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe- Anatole France .

Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot; but make it hot by striking. William B. Sprague