Keystone Bridge Analysis

The Civil War caused a boom in the iron industry in which Carnegie took notice and at the same time, he went to work in Altoona, Pennsylvania where the Pennsylvania Railroad company was converting a wooden railroad bridge into stronger iron. Main reason for the drastic increase was transportation. These two components lead Carnegie to take his first major step as an entrepreneur. Carnegie organized together the designer of the bridge in Altoona as well as two business partners and his good friend Thomas Scott to develop the Keystone Bridge Company, with the intention of replacing wooden bridges in Pennsylvania with stronger and more modern iron. First task for Carnegie and his partners was to construct a railway bridge with a span of three

Later on he becomes interested with Thomas N. Miller, Henry Phipps, and Andrew Kloman. Millar joins Carnegie and his partners in the steel business. It was determined that he pay eight hundred dollars for a one-sixth interest, in November, 1861. Carnegie saw miller as a great asset to his growing company. Unfortunately Tom Millar died before Carnegie Steel became what we know it as today. In 1864 Carnegie turned his attention to oil. He takes a trip with Mr. William Coleman to the wells of Pennsylvania. With his investments in the oil business Carnegie made some serious money. With the oil money Carnegie and his partner Harry Phipps visited most of the capitals in Europe. Because of this visit Carnegie learned about painting, sculpture, and music. Later on Carnegie started bettering the developments of iron and steel. He recognizes that America in the past had been dependent on European countries for its steel. Therefore wanted to satisfy the people who demanded a home supply. He also knew that the American people did not want the pay the tariffs implemented by President Cleveland that came with overseas items. Carnegie even went to Washington to modify the Wilson bill. Carnegie was not alone in his disapproval pf the Wilson bill. In fact Senator Gorman, Democratic leader of the Senate, Governor Flower of New York, and a number of the ablest Democrats also shared his views on it. They all believed the Wilson bill to be unnecessarily severe and certain to cripple some of the domestic