Identifier: newyorkbysunligh00mcca_1 (find matches)
Title: New York by sunlight and gaslight : a work descriptive of the great American metropolis ; its high and low life; its splendors and miseries; its virtu
Year: 1882 (1880s)
Authors: McCabe, James D., 1842-1883.
Subjects:
Publisher: New York : Union Publishing House
Contributing Library: Columbia University Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: The Durst Organization

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row but in onedirection—from south to north. As the lower portionsof the city were taken for business purposes, the popu-lation moved northward. In the course of time thisstate of affairs came about: the majority of the dwellersin the city had their places of business down town, ata distance of several miles from their residences. Toreach the former in the morning, and return to the lat-ter in the afternoon, they were dependent upon thehorse-cars and stages. These trips consumed a greatdeal of time, and imposed upon the people an immenseamount of fatigue. Early in the morning and late inthe evening the cars and stages were crowded, so thatoften the entire journey had to be made standing; thevehicles were dirty and badly ventilated, and everydiscomfort was encountered. During heavy snows,hours would be sometimes consumed in making thejourney, and at all times street blockades caused theloss of much valuable time. Altogether, the wholesystem of street travel was badly arranged, uncom-
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THE FIRST ELEVATED RAILROAD. 179 fortable, and entirely unsuited to the needs of a citylike New York. This led to many plans for rapid transitthat is,for a system of roads running the length of the city,and operated by steam, which should shorten the timebetween given points and increase the comforts of thetraveler. At first these plans were for undergroundroads, but they were rejected almost as fast as pro-posed, as it was found that they would cost severalmillion dollars per mile, and require a generationfor their construction. After various other plans hadbeen proposed, a company was chartered and beganthe construction of an elevated railroad on Green-wich street and Ninth avenue, from the Battery to theCentral Park. It was proposed to operate the roadby means of an endless wire rope, worked by station-ary engines at stated points along the line. Thisproved a failure, however; the endless ropes would notwork, and the stationary engines had to be abandoned.The road was then strength

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