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Events
Mar. 1 | 2012 Franklin Prize
Nominations for 2012 John Hope Franklin Publication Prize for the best-published book in American Studies due
Mar. 1 | 2012 Romero Prize
Nominations for 2012 Lora Romero Publication Prize for the best-published first book in American Studies due
Mar. 1 | Community Partnership Grants
Applications for the 2012 Community Partnership Grants Program to assist American Studies collaborative, interdisciplinary community projects due
Resources: Abstracts of American Studies Dissertations
By University | By Year
Joel Fischer. "Urban Transportation: Home Rule and the Independent Subway System in New York City, 1917-1925," St. John's University, 1978. Advisor: Dr. Curran
The so-called, “Independent Subway” system, was the first fully owned and operated municipal subway in the United States. This dissertation is a history of the political struggles that preceded, accompanied, and then followed, the formulation and construction of this system. By examining the importance of the city’s early transit network, the controversy surrounding the locus of regulatory power and the initial struggles to build subways, the reasons for new transit initiatives are explored. An in-depth analysis of the two prior private-company subway operating contracts with the City, detailing how the companies were organized, is included so as to explain why the City authorities believed a totally separate system was needed, and why, at this particular time. The use of transit as a focal point for the controversy over local versus state control over municipal affairs is explored by analyzing various city and state elections. Arguments and tactics used by the various civic, private and political groups provide lessons in the desire for local control over decisions affecting their communities. Finally, census data is used to examine the economic and social impact of, what essentially, were political decisions.
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