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jasoncrawford's profile
Jason Crawford
Jason Crawford
Jason Crawford
@jasoncrawford

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Jason Crawford

@jasoncrawford

I write about the history of technology & industry at @rootsofprogress. Previously: co-founder & CEO, @fieldbookapp; engineering manager at Flexport and Amazon

San Francisco, CA
jasoncrawford.org
Joined April 2007

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    Jason Crawford‏ @jasoncrawford Jan 5
    • Report Tweet

    So, let's say it's the 1840s, and you're tasked with building a suspension bridge at Niagara Falls, spanning a gorge almost 800 feet across and over 200 feet deep. How do you get the *first* metal cable across?pic.twitter.com/pnMqOgfoa9

    2:54 PM - 5 Jan 2020
    • 158 Retweets
    • 571 Likes
    • Adam Harris Amber Abbas vanessa Siberian Fox Emerson Hsieh Nikko is elizabWITH warren Doina Badescu xanarchocapitalist 🎶Domo🎶
    24 replies 158 retweets 571 likes
      1. New conversation
      2. Jason Crawford‏ @jasoncrawford Jan 5
        • Report Tweet

        Here's one method: 1. Start by getting a light string across the gap, any way you can—one method was archery. 2. Use that string to pull a heavier string across. 3. Repeat with heavier and heavier cords/ropes/cables until you have one of the desired strength in place.

        4 replies 0 retweets 56 likes
        Show this thread
      3. Jason Crawford‏ @jasoncrawford Jan 5
        • Report Tweet

        This “bootstrapping” method works well, but there was a challenge facing Charles Ellet, Jr., the engineer in charge: No one could shoot an arrow across the 800 feet. What to do instead?

        2 replies 1 retweet 37 likes
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      4. Jason Crawford‏ @jasoncrawford Jan 5
        • Report Tweet

        Solution: Fly a kite! Even better: Organize a kite-flying contest and have lots of people attempt to fly it for you.

        4 replies 1 retweet 55 likes
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      5. Jason Crawford‏ @jasoncrawford Jan 5
        • Report Tweet

        Ellet offered a prize of $5 (about $150 in 2020 dollars). It was won by 16-year-old Homan Walsh, who, according to David McCullough, “would tell the story for the rest of his days.”

        2 replies 1 retweet 66 likes
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      6. Jason Crawford‏ @jasoncrawford Jan 5
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        Once the first cable was across, Ellet, a consummate showman, demonstrated its safety by climbing into an iron basket suspended from the cable and pulling himself across, becoming the first man to cross the gorge. (Basket shown here on display at the Buffalo Historical Society)pic.twitter.com/MHruYSYPdJ

        2 replies 1 retweet 55 likes
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      7. Jason Crawford‏ @jasoncrawford Jan 5
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        This story is told in David McCullough's book The Great Bridge (which is mainly about the Brooklyn Bridge; Niagara is just a bit of backstory). It's also given here, with more detail:https://blog.ferrovial.com/en/2016/02/the-story-of-the-first-bridge-over-niagara-falls-begins-with-a-kite/ …

        2 replies 2 retweets 50 likes
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      8. Jason Crawford‏ @jasoncrawford Jan 5
        • Report Tweet

        Images in this thread are public domain and can be found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niagara_Falls_Suspension_Bridge …

        1 reply 0 retweets 25 likes
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      9. Jason Crawford‏ @jasoncrawford Jan 6
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        PS: Ellet's bridge only lasted 5 years before crashing. This was common back then! People didn't know how to build suspension bridges, and many engineers didn't trust them. John Roebling, who designed the Brooklyn Bridge, pioneered safe, sturdy suspension bridges.

        0 replies 2 retweets 41 likes
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      10. End of conversation
      1. New conversation
      2. (((Charlie Martin)))‏ @chasrmartin Jan 6
        • Report Tweet
        Replying to @jasoncrawford

        Drop a long wire down to the water level on one side. Drop a really long wire down to the water level on the other side. Get a couple guys in a rowboat to row across pulling the really long wire. Tie them together. Et voila

        2 replies 0 retweets 0 likes
      3. Jason Crawford‏ @jasoncrawford Jan 6
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        Replying to @chasrmartin

        In this case the bridge was over some violent rapids. Boat was not an option

        0 replies 0 retweets 0 likes
      4. End of conversation

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