Historical reference: Do not rely on this information. It is very old. About this collection
Eads, James Buchanan (1820-1887), an American engineer, was born in Indiana. He invented boats for raising sunken ships, and in the War of Secession built several ironclads for the Federal Government. In 1867 he built a steel bridge over the Mississippi at St. Louis, with a central span of 520 feet. He suggested the ship-railway, and he did much towards improving Mississippi navigation.