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Arielle Mayer
Professor Hey & Professor Russo
COR 390
10 July 2014
The New York City Subway System
Networks of sewers, gas and water mains, foundations of buildings; beneath the surface
of the empire of Manhattan lay a number of hindrances to the construction of a subterranean
railway. On the surface many obstacles existed as well including, financing, lawsuits, and permit
regulations. The construction of the New York City subway system not only faced a number of
limitations from a construction standpoint, but bureaucratic limitations existed as well. Although
the first subway prototype was conceptualized in 1864, construction for the project did not begin
until 1901. (Burr)
The Civil War of The United States of America brought about many changes in society.
It also resulted in advancements in technology, and the creation of a transcontinental railroad.
(Burr) The Civil War made citizens throughout the country aware of the possibility of a rapid
transit railroad. Additionally, the Great Blizzard of 1988 also made citizens aware of the
necessity of a subway system. (Burr) An underground transportation system could eliminate the
effects that inclement weather would have on the city.
To meet the demands of commuters within the city, omnibuses were introduced to
transport people from Broadway to Houston Street in the early 1800s. (Burr) However by 1864,
the transportation conditions were extremely unsafe, and city officials along with industrialists
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became aware of the necessity for transportation reform. In 1864, steam railroads supplied rapid
transit from New York City to distant points such as Harlem, and New Haven. (Burr)
Meanwhile in 1863, London, England created the worlds first underground railroad
system (Hood). Hugh G. Wilson, an American railroad developer remained in London
throughout the construction of the subway. Upon its completion, he was able to note all of the
clear benefits of such a system. He returned to New York determined to secure business
connections that would allow him to develop a subway system in the city. This invention
inspired city officials of New York to explore an innovative new option to integrate in their city.
(Burr)
In January of 1964 Wilson, along with prominent financial analyst Henry V. Poor,
founded the Metropolitan Railway Company with a startup capital of five million dollars. (Most)
The news of such a large fortune being set aside to develop a new form of transportation
generated much excitement among the public.
It can be said that New York City Mayor Abram S. Hewitt was the father of the New
York City subway system. Hewitt submitted the first realistic set of plans to create a rapid
transport railroad. (Hood) Hewitts plans differed from previous models, because he proposed
that the government of New York work in direct conjunction with builders from private sectors.
(Hood) His plan mandated that the government of New York would own the railroad, while
members of the private sectors would construct and operate the railway system. (Hood) During
this period, the Chamber of Commerce of the State of New York was the most powerful business
organization in New York. The Chamber of Commerce supported Hewitts proposal, and
ensured that the Rapid Transit Act of 1894 was ratified. (Hood)
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The Interborough Rapid Transit Subway, also known as IRT, was the first subway
company in New York City. The actual construction of the majority of the subway was
conducted using a cut and cover system in which the roadways were excavated, the tracks
were laid, and the roads were replaced. (Hood) However in some areas, this method could not be
used and several alternatives needed to be developed. For example, in order to build the East side
line that passes underneath the Harlem river, a 1,500 ft tube was constructed using tunneling.
(Burr)
The opening ceremony for the subway was held in City Hall on October 27, 1904.
(Burr) During his speech, Mayor McClellan stated, "Without rapid transit Greater New York
would be little more than a geographical expression. It is no exaggeration to say that without
inter-borough communication Greater New York would never have come into being."
This statement demonstrates that the subway system is arguably one of the most
important components of New York. Without the subway, New York City would not be the same
place that it is today. The subway allowed for the population of Manhattan to disperse
throughout the rest of the island. Before the subway, the population of lower manhattan
contained more people than the entire island does today. (Burr) The residents of crowded Lower
Manhattan were able to leave the crowded section and move to the upper region. It is said that
the subway was not built towards specific towns, but the towns grew around the subway
stations. (Burr) Each additional subway station resulted in the conversion of a rural area into a
populated one. (Burr)
Nowadays, the New York City subway system carries over 1.6 billion passengers per
year. (Burr) Without the subway system functioning, the City would no longer be able to
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function. Currently the subway system has its own police force of 4,250 employees, and it has
469 stations. (Hood) There is no denying that the New York City subway system is an
extremely advanced mass transportation system. There are so many people that rely on this
method of transportation on a daily basis. In fact, the possibility of a Mass Transit Authority
strike is having a crippling affect on the city today.
The subway system caused the island of Manhattan to become what it is today. Its
creation caused the expansion throughout the island. The subway connects all of the boroughs
with one another, resulting in a relatively simple and energy efficient mode of transportation.
Commuters can rely on this system 24 hours a day, seven days a week to get them to any
destination they need to reach within the network of New York City. Without the subway
system, the population of Manhattan and the other four boroughs would not be able to travel
effectively.
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Works Cited
Burr, V. "Nycsubway.org." Rapid Transit in New York City and in the Other Great Cities.
University of Michigan Digital Library, n.d. Web. 10 July 2014.
Hood, Clifton. 722 Miles: The Building of the Subways and How They Transformed New York.
New York: Simon & Schuster, 1993. Print.
Most, Doug. The Race Underground: Boston, New York, and the Incredible Rivalry That Built
America's First Subway. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.