[PRCo] Speedy Gonzales

[Schneider Fred]

I never cease to be amazed how fast work could be done before the  
government was there to protect us from ourselves....

On June 17, 1920 a heavy rain flooded Chartiers Creek (the same body  
of water that screwed with our trolley museum a few years ago) and  
washed out the bridge between Chartiers Avenue in McKees Rocks and  
West Carson Street in Pittsburgh.  This bridge was used by trolley  
routes 23 (Sewickley) 25 (Island Ave), 26 (West Park).  The railways  
company used the cars that were stuck out there to provide a shuttle  
service on the outer end (they still had a barn in McKees Rocks).    
And they ran cars out to the bridge from downtown.   You waded across  
or walked across the adjacent railroad bridge.  Or maybe they put a  
temporary foot bridge over the creek within a day.

The new bridge was opened July 23, 1920, 36 days later.

If that happened in 2009, would we still be picking our noses 36 days  
later wondering about the rules for bidding and buy American content  
and affirmative action and and and and?

P. S.   I'll bet the P&LE was delight to have that bridge washing up  
against their bridge!

fws