Rail mass transit in the form of underground subways seems
so synonymous with New York and Boston that it may seem hard to believe the
difficulties and hurdles that had to be overcome for it to become a staple of
those two cities.
Author/journalist Doug Most explores those difficulties, the
numerous early incarnations and the tale of two cities that dueled to develop
the first underground rail system in, The
Race Underground –Boston, New York, and the Incredible Rivalry That Built
America’s First Subway. It is a
story of dogged determination, startling innovation and a strenuous rivalry.
While the story centers on brothers Henry Melville Whitney of
Boston and William Collins Whitney of New York, the cast of colorful characters
included in the mix Boss Tweed, Thomas Edison, Fredrick Law Olmstead and Grover
Cleveland.
The tale includes political intrigue, insider manipulation,
high level real estate transactions, and financial shenanigans. While most folks
consider today’s political machinations to be at an all time low, they pale in
comparison to the underhanded actions that stifled and road blocked these
projects.
The Race Underground is
an interesting look not only at the subway story, but also provides a snapshot
of the times and the growth of the nation.
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