British Era and 1800s
Proper grid of street started to develop during the British ruling period. The province of New York developed the old trails. New streets constructed beyond the Wall Street. Especially, the new roads were developed parallel to the modern Hudson River. Since the island is longer in north/south direction than east/west direction, the street blocks are longer in north/south direction than the east/west direction. The population of the city had grown and the streets were laid out throughout the upper part of the Manhattan Island.
In March 1807 the state legislature appointed a commission with three members to establish a comprehensive street plan for Manhattan. The purpose of the commission was to provide a street plan for the city that would benefit to the future. The plan was published in 1811 and it is known as “the Commissioners plan of 1811”. The plan included twelve numbered avenues running approximately north and south, and 155 orthogonal cross streets. The planners suggested that the grid's regularity would provide an efficient development to the new real estate properties and would promote economic development. However, most of the streets were unpaved. This may be due the fact that the transportation during that time were solely depend on the animal. In late 1820s the public transportation introduced. Streets were filled with thousands of the animals pulling streetcars, omnibuses, carts. Omnibuses were fifteen seated over sized stagecoaches that had a fixed route. Horse cars are streetcars which placed along embedded iron or steel tracks, as trains. These were able to carry more people and it was smoother ride since it ran on the rails. Horse driven vehicles jammed city streets. In 1872 a deadly equine influenza (horse flu), outbreak killed many horses, and it emphasis the neediness of alternative power source for public transportation (1).
Omnibuses.
Horsecars
The industrial revolution made a great impact on the New York City transportation. In 1825 and after the Erie Canal, the Gowanus Canal, the Morris Canal and Delaware and Raritan Canal were built to transport coal and other commodities to inlands via ships. As a result New York City became a trade center, the ports got busier, and transportation became more and more necessity. In 1831, The New York & Harlem Railroad Company built a rail road line in Manhattan from 23rd Street north to 129th Street between Third and Eighth Avenues. In later years it was elongated to White Plains and then eventually connected to New York Central rail Road System.
Due to the high population growth rate east and west sides of the Manhattan Island populated. Since the Long Island populated, a connection between Manhattan and Brooklyn became an inevitability. Consequently the Brooklyn bridge construction started in 1870s and finished in 1883. Even though it is not the first bridge built it was the New York City oldest suspension bridge. Also it was the longest bridge in the world at that time. With the development of the Brooklyn Bridge in 1883 the New York and Brooklyn Bridge Railway was opened (2). It was a cable car system and power for the Cable Cars supplied by electricity which were generated by steam powerhouse. A loop of wire cables were laid beneath the street. The cable car operator gripped the running cable with a special device as it wanted to move forward. When the operator needed to stop, he released the cable. This became a reliable replacement for the horse driven transportations. In beginning of 1900s the electricity became available for trolleys, and the demand for the steam-powered cable was limited. The steam powered cable car system ended in 1909.
Due to the high population growth rate east and west sides of the Manhattan Island populated. Since the Long Island populated, a connection between Manhattan and Brooklyn became an inevitability. Consequently the Brooklyn bridge construction started in 1870s and finished in 1883. Even though it is not the first bridge built it was the New York City oldest suspension bridge. Also it was the longest bridge in the world at that time. With the development of the Brooklyn Bridge in 1883 the New York and Brooklyn Bridge Railway was opened (2). It was a cable car system and power for the Cable Cars supplied by electricity which were generated by steam powerhouse. A loop of wire cables were laid beneath the street. The cable car operator gripped the running cable with a special device as it wanted to move forward. When the operator needed to stop, he released the cable. This became a reliable replacement for the horse driven transportations. In beginning of 1900s the electricity became available for trolleys, and the demand for the steam-powered cable was limited. The steam powered cable car system ended in 1909.
1. “History of Public Transportation in New York City”. www.transitmuseumeducation.org. Retrieved July 28, 2013, from http://www.transitmuseumeducation.org/trc/background
2."The Building Of The Bridge.; Its Cost And The Difficulties Met With-- Details Of The History Of A Great Engineering Triumph.". The New York Times. May 24, 1883. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
2."The Building Of The Bridge.; Its Cost And The Difficulties Met With-- Details Of The History Of A Great Engineering Triumph.". The New York Times. May 24, 1883. Retrieved July 28, 2013.