Quote:
Originally Posted by philatonian
It is sad, but not entirely reflective of today's era. That's what I meant when I said that the iron and steel in the original Chestnut Street Bridge was meant (probably) to showcase the state's booming industries of the day. It wasn't a solely aesthetic choice, it was also a billboard for the state.
I also think there was a much greater amount of public investment in projects like that at the time, especially considering the wealth the city had at the time. In the late 1800s, Philadelphia was the western world's Dubai. It looked pretty and gave us feats of engineering, but they weren't all good for everyone living here, namely those who had to build them. All the more reason to protect what we have left.
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Off-topic but a very interesting subject.
It wasn't just the city's wealth. Remember, back in the American boom period, workers were paid peanuts and there was little to no zoning regulation or work rules. So it was much easier for industrialists and governments to finance lavish projects with expensive materials and master craftsmen. And deals were done in back rooms (perhaps with some cash-filled envelopes) negating the need to pay lawyers to push projects through neighborhood groups, government committees, and potentially lawsuits.
Today, massive infrastructure projects like subways are too impossibly expensive to build; bridges and other public works are built as cheaply as possible (see South St bridge); quality brick and limestone have been replaced by cheap prefab paneling, and intricate detailing like what you see in City Hall, etc. are a thing of the past.
Places like Dubai can afford these insanely expensive projects partially because they are being built by armies of laborers working under near slave-like conditions. NIMBYs? Please. Citizens of Dubai don't even possess the right to vote. Zoning? LOL! Environmental impact studies? Double LOL!
All the conditions that favored massive project building in 1800's America are history here, but can be found in Dubai, China, etc.