Interview with Eddie Smith

Partial Transcript: Where'd you go to school?

Segment Synopsis: Smith gives his educational background and details his career.

Keywords: Public Service Commission; University of Kentucky

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Where did you get your interest in High Bridge?

Segment Synopsis: Smith talks about how High Bridge was designed and built. He talks about the pros and cons of trestle bridges and cantilever bridges.

Keywords: Cantilever bridge; Trestle bridge

Subjects: High Bridge (Ky.) Kentucky River (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: Here's a picture of the original bridge.

Segment Synopsis: Smith talks about Roebling and the bridges that he designed, how he funded them, and whether he made a profit or not.

Keywords: Bridge architect; Bridge design; Bridge engineer; Brooklyn Bridge; Niagara Falls Bridge; Roebling, John

Subjects: High Bridge (Ky.) Kentucky River (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: Now this is the original bridge, how much research or was any research put into the development of this bridge?

Segment Synopsis: Smith talks about the design and construction of High Bridge and what considerations were made in respect to it.

Keywords: Bridge construction; Bridge design; Suspension bridge; Trestle bridge

Subjects: High Bridge (Ky.) Kentucky River (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: Now the present bridge doesn't give you that impression

Segment Synopsis: Smith explains the differences between the old bridge and new bridge in terms of design and materials used.

Keywords: Bridge construction; Bridge design

Subjects: High Bridge (Ky.) Kentucky River (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: Now, you have hundreds of thousands of people working on it.

Segment Synopsis: Smith talks about how the role of civil engineer has largely shifted to becoming an administrator.

Keywords: American Society of Civil Engineers

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: But a fellow with the American Society of Civil Engineers formed the History and Heritage Committee.

Segment Synopsis: Smith talks about the History and Heritage Committee and which engineering feats from the area have been accepted. He includes High Bridge and the Louisville Water Company on that list.

Keywords: American Society of Civil Engineers; History and Heritage Committee; Louisville Water Company

Subjects: High Bridge (Ky.) Kentucky River (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: Do you have any others in mind?

Segment Synopsis: Smith talks about what he thinks will be accepted by the committee in the future.

Keywords: American Society of Civil Engineers; Hellcat Bridge; History and Heritage Committee

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: The current bridge, you were talking earlier it's been a long time since it's been painted, how much maintenance is done on that bridge?

Segment Synopsis: Smith says that the bridge has not had as much maintenance as expected because it keeps changing ownership. Railroad companies own it and they keep buying it from each other.

Keywords: Bridge maintenance; Railroad bridge; Railroads

Subjects: High Bridge (Ky.) Kentucky River (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: Kentucky has sort of always been the crossroads I guess.

Segment Synopsis: Smith talks about books and other sources used for research.

Keywords: History and Heritage Committee Guidelines

Subjects: