Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-08-27
TIMES REPUBLICAN,. MARsHAIIrowN, IOWA,

Patterson bridge company. He WORK
ed hard. he WAS good salesman, and
In time b was promoted. By and by
the story was forgotten BY every one
except Henry Hauford. But he had
lost some precious years.
When Il became known that the
English and continental structural
shops were 10 full Of work that they
could not figure on the mammoth
100000 steel bridge designed to
span the Barrata river in Africa and
when the royal commission finally
advertised from London that time was
the essence OF this contract, Mr.. Jack
son Wyte. ST.. realised that his plant
was in magnificent shape to handle the
Job with great profit and renown to
the Wylie name. He sent his son. or
jackson wylie ''the second" as he
was known since he had become .
partner. to London armed with the
strongest sort Of letters to almost ev-
erybody In England from almost ev-
erybody In America.
Two weeks later-the Patterson
Bridge company was not SO aggressive
as its more pretentious rival-Henry
Hanford went abroad on the same
mission. but Hanford carried no letters
Of Introduction, principally because he
had no pull.
Jackson Wyle the second had been
to London frequently. so he found
things there much to his liking. He
had friends with headquarters II
Princes and Romano's who were de.
American. His letters gave him entFee
to the clubs and paved his way 90
cially wherever he chose to so.
It was Hanford's hrst trip. He NJ
rived with nothing but grip full OF
blue prints and no destination outside
Of the parliament buildings, where he
counted upon finding the Barrata
bridge commission eagerly awaiting
his estimates. Instead he failed not
only to ind the commission, but any
body who knew anything about 1t. he
did locate the Offices finally to discover
that it was merely a forwarding ad,
dress. He was Informed that the com
mission had lonvened once and hence
was not entirely an imaginative body
and on one visit to the Office he dis
covered that Sir Thomas Drummond
the chairman. was inside, but his clerk
with whom Hantcrd had become &C.
quainted, informed him that Mt. Jack
son wylie the second from America was
closeted with his lordship, who could
not be disturbed. When aanford gn'
thoroughly in touch with the situa
ton he soon saw that introductions
acquaintance and social influence
would 90 further toward landing the
Barrata bridge than mere engineering
ability or natural capacity. It also be
came plain during his early visits that
the work would of necessity go tt
America. inasmuch az no European
shop was prepared to complete 1t OF
time.
Owing to government needs thi.
huge eleven span structure must be OF
the ground within ninety days from
the date Of the contract and erected
eight months thereafter. The commits
sion's clerk, 4 big. red faced. jovia
fellow, informed Hanford that price
was not nearly % essential - time O
delivery, and, while the contract gilt
tered with alluring bonuses and wa
heavily weighted with forfeits, neithe
bonuses nor forfeitures could compen
safe for q delay in time. Hence 1t wa!
that the commissioners looked askanc'
at prospective bidders who might II
any way fail to complete the task q!
specified.
"And that's why Wylie gets the call
eh?" Hanford observed.
II understand he has the highes
references" the Englishman said.
"Um-m! Well, inasmuch as l can
arrange an interview with any mem
! Der Of the commission. suppose yo'
and 60 to lunch"
The clerk accepted, and thereafte
the two saw much Of each other. Thi
fellow, Lowe by name. interested Fan
| ford. He was cosmopolite. widel!
travelled. daredevil chap with COLI
eye and firm chin, combining
| strange mixture Of recklessness. mod
esty and liberality Of morals. he ha'
roamed the far places. had fought II
war or two and had led hopes quit
as forlorn as the one Hanford was nov
engaged upon. 1t was this. perhaps
! that drew the two together.
In spite Of loves help. however
Hanford found 1T difficult to Obtain
any real inside Information concernin;
| the Barrata bridge. He even expert
I I > n L.