2015-01-24 2015-01-24File Name: B00T3G2R80
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Cincinnatis murky history beneath its streetsBy the BEARIn his "Cincinnati Subway : History of Rapid Transit; The (OH) Images of America;" Allen Singer provides a great little biography on the early stages of Cincinnatis genesis in 1788. First known as Losantiville; it was named as an acronym derived from 4 languages meaning "the city opposite the mouth of the Licking River (Covington; KY). He traces its various and colorful stages of development from its renaming to Cincinnati by governor St. Clair in honor of the Society of the Cincinnatus who occupied its first fort along the Ohio River.In particular; Singer covers the construction and decline of the Miami Erie Canal; once Cincinnatis lifeline for trade with the north; mutating from little more than an open sewer to the central focus of converting it into part of an elaborate subway system by covering the old canal; excavations; and exploiting natural limestone tunnels created by the last ice age runoff.Offering a wealth of photos and lithographs; Singer has produced a wonderful little template of what in my experience is one of the more magical; interesting; and culturally rich cities of the early 19th centurys Midwest.With reference to writing style and layout; I rate this book as top shelf in my collection and offer kudos to both Singer and his photographer; Suzanne Fleming for providing us with an enlightening and enjoyable peek into Cincinnatis "Queen City" legacy; and unique past in its role during western expansion.Bear Baker;LISTEN Media; Inc.0 of 1 people found the following review helpful. AbandonedBy V A HUYINGVery in-depth story on the Cincinnatti subway history. This story is exemplary of all those municipal; provincial; state; or nation funded projects; that either never left the planning table; or did; but just didnt start; did; got constructed; were abandoned. For whatever reason.The various ideas of the Cincinnatti city planners; I think they might have proven right; correct; nevertheless those plans were surpassed by other developments; throughout society; because of which; subways in Cincinnatti got obsolete before their wheels ever saw one piece of track layed.The very proposition to emphasize on a Cincinnatti subway system; to get people out of tenements; into suburban homes; also lowered the need for a transit system. Along with the success of the automobile in pre and post war American society. Especially the fact of the availability of consumer-auto traffic is the final blow to Cincinnatti subway transit.This booklet is out of nice series. Well written; lots of photos; here and there; photo texts interfere or interrupt the main text. Its not that much of a problem; I personally think; it doesnt always look nice. Furthermore; I love this book for its content.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy TomCool history of Cincinnati.
