The Steam-Shovel Man

"The Steam-Shovel Man" by Ralph Delahaye Paine is a tale set in the era of ambitious engineering feats, following Walter Goodwin, a young man determined to change his family’s future by working on the Panama Canal project. He meets Captain Martin Bradshaw, whose bold character gives Walter the chance to venture on a ship to Panama. On his journey, Walter is driven by his desire for adventure and the need to contribute something meaningful, all while his thoughts are filled with his Wolverton family home. The story is about youthful ambition, adventure, identity, and the spirit of a young man seeking both personal growth and a chance to make his mark on the world through hard work and determination.