The bigger dig


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METADATA FOR EMTAF
The history behind Bostons race to build Americas first subway

In the race to construct Americas first subway, Boston ultimately prevailed over rival New York City. But as a new book shows, there would be tragedy before triumph.
By Doug Most
20140126050000
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  • THE BOSTONIAN SOCIETY

    Boston broke ground on its subway in 1895, with workers digging the trench in sections. Horse-drawn carts carried away the dirt and rocks.

  • GLOBE FILE

    The city managed to keep its busiest thoroughfares open to traffic. Rather than eliminate street-level rail service, engineers took the extraordinary step of designing a detour of the tracks.

  • BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY, PRINT DEPARTMENT

    On March 4, 1897, the sparks from an above-ground streetcar and an undetected gas leak combined to create a horrific explosion. Ten people were killed.


  • BOSTON ATHENAEUM

    To raise the grade of the Public Garden and the Common to accommodate the subway, an estimated 9,000 cubic yards of fill were needed for the former and 62,000 cubic yards for the latter.

  • DOUG MOST’S COLLECTION

    It was bright enough to read underground. The air was clean enough to take in one long deep breath and not notice any difference from aboveground.

  • The London Underground tunnels were typically between 100 and 200 feet down, but the Boston tunnels would be no more than 50 feet.

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