Nolan
had enjoyed the advantage of a "floating" jam; of convenient
facilities incident to a large city; and of an aroused public
sentiment that proffered him all the help he could use. Monrovia,
little village that it was, had not grasped the situation. Redding
saw it clearly. The loss of the timber alone--representing some
millions of dollars' worth of the sawed product--would mean failure
of mill companies, of banks holding their paper, and so of firms in
other lines of business; and besides would throw thousands of men
out of employment. Furthermore, what was quite as serious, should
the iron bridge give way, the wooden bridges below could hardly fail
to go out. Railroad communication between eastern and western
Michigan would be entirely cut off. For a season industry of every
description would be practically paralysed. Therefore Nolan had all
the help he required. Every device known was employed to strengthen
the jam. For only a few hours was the result in doubt. Then as the
CLARION jubilantly expressed it, "It's a hundred dollars to an old
hat she holds!"
Orde received all this with satisfaction, but with a slight
scepticism.
"It's a floating jam; and it gets a push from underneath," he
pointed out.
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