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It's the summer of 1841 in rural Pennsylvania.

John Robling, a German-American civil engineer, works feverishly at his desk.

Until recently, John was a farmer,

but when he failed to achieve any success working in the field,

he decided to fall back on his training as an engineer.

Now, the lean, balding 35ing 35 year old is hoping to win a contract

from the Pennsylvania Canal Commission to improve their system for transporting boats across

the Allegheny Mountains. John has come up with a potentially game-changing innovation.

He noticed that hemp rope used to haul the boats is unreliable,

prone to fraying and snapping.

So he devised a new stronger kind of rope made of interwoven iron threads.

John hopes that this innovative wire cable will become the new industry standard and catapult

him to fame and fortune.

John puts down his pencil, stands and walks across the room.

He pushes open the door and steps outside.

John has enlisted the help of half the town in manufacturing his wire cable,

and his backyard is a hive of activity.

John watches with satisfaction as neighbors, friends, and relatives carefully weave together

...