A railroad may have to be carried over a gorge or arroya…
“A railroad may have to be carried over a gorge or arroya. Obviously it does not need an Engineer to point out that this may be done by filling the chasm with earth, but only a Bridge Engineer is competent to determine whether it is cheaper to do this or to bridge it, and to design the bridge which will safely and most cheaply serve.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Choosing between filling a gap or building a bridge requires specialized analysis of cost and safety.
In simple terms: Bridge engineers decide the cheapest safe solution.
Key Takeaway
Use expert analysis for cost‑effective design.
Themes
engineering
cost analysis
infrastructure
Mood
analytical
pragmatic
Type
technical
practical
When to use this quote
- construction planning
- budgeting
- risk assessment
Key Concepts
economics
structural design
Questions to Reflect On
- Is the cheapest option always the safest?
- How do we balance short‑term savings with long‑term durability?
A Different Perspective
A simple fill may be cheaper but could compromise long‑term safety.