Part 2, Chapter 9 Summary and Analysis

"Down in the Caisson" looks below-water as the Brooklyn caisson is dug into the bottom of the East River. Roebling and his assistants learn what looks good on paper is hard in reality and consider starting over somewhere else and in some other way, but the public gets no hint of trouble. Thousands of commuters every day see activity that resembles other massive projects, and are fascinated by the terrifying nether world worked by super humans or fools. Master Mechanic E. F. Farrington provides a description replete with allusions to Revelation, Sisyphus rolling his stone, and Dante's Inferno. Passing through the air lock is unnerving for novices and makes the head feel like it will explode. People want to flee back into the open air as soon as possible. The six work chambers are covered with muck water. Limelights...