10. The Brooklyn Bridge and American Urbanization

Question 1

John Augustus Roebling

Answer 1

• father
• German
• began the first wire rope company in the U.S.
• 1848 -> built a double-decker suspension bridge in Niagara.

Question 2

Washington Roebling

Answer 2

• son
• two roads, two sets of train tracks, and elevated walkways
• April 1867 formed the NY Bridge Company

Question 3

Caisson

Answer 3

• a really big upside down block
• float out to position that you want and let it sink slowly and gradually build the towers
  > dig out and goal is to reach bedrock. No pressure so you add air pressure into the caisson
• finished in 1871

Question 4

Caisson disease

Answer 4

• aka the “bends”
• nitrogen bubbles are in bloodstream
• Washington Roebling almost died from this