Interior New York Subway, 14th Street to 42nd Street (part 2)

Photographed May 21, 1905.
American Mutoscope and Biograph Co.
Camera: G. W. ''Billy'' Bitzer

With steam power playing a smaller and smaller role in the daily business of running the world, it became possible to ride long distances underground without the dangers of smoke in enclosed spaces. Electric engineering had come a very long way. Steel was now a primary fact of construction with iron playing a quickly diminishing role in the city's infrastructure. In 1905, most U.S. cities in general and New York in particular, were now fifteen years away from becoming thoroughly modern. The term skyscraper was now a word with decades of use, and every successive structure bearing the moniker made its predecessor look quaint by comparison, one or two floors at a time. At the moment the Park Row building held the title of worlds tallest and would do so for three more years. With the city finding itself bursting at the proverbial seams, and the population expanding, the only way to go was up...and down. Through most of its history New York City was Manhattan and Brooklyn was Brooklyn. The building of bridges and tunnels and the expansion of the transit system into the outer boroughs would bring full meaning to the official title of Greater New York.

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjixNmKxLPM&feature=related

Recommended reading:
722 Miles / The Building of the Subways and How They Transformed New York - Clifton Hood
Subway City / Riding the Trains, Reading New York
- Michael W. Brooks

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[jack9717]

I bet the trains ran better and on time back then not like it does today.

[TigerRocket]

@jack9717 The first train to leave City Hall on the inaugural trip uptown started out later than scheduled (driven by the mayor, no less) The NYC subway system has always had schedule problems and financial deficits since the beginning. Despite these problems, it's still the best and most extensive subway system in the world...and the only one that operates more smoothly than not 24/7.

[GoofballLtG]

It's hard to think we had things like subways back then. And then we see these videos. AWESOME!

[iLuVMeTaL4LiFe]

its just amazing to look at something like this and think yourself, things were much different than today. there were no ipods no cell phones no fast food places, and everyone was more respectful or at least it seemed like it was

[jimmbo13]

Very Interesting, Thanks