Book

Jonnes, Jill, 1952-

Conquering Gotham : a Gilded Age epic : the construction of Penn Station and its tunnels / Jill Jonnes.

New York : Viking, 2007.

xiv, 368 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Traces the epic story of the struggle to build Penn Station, describing how the nation's most powerful railroad tackled Tammany Hall corruption and the forces of nature to create a tunnel system linking Manhattan, New Jersey, and Long Island.

Pennsylvania Station (New York, N.Y.) -- History -- 20th century.

Tunneling -- New York (State) -- New York -- History -- 20th century.

Railroad stations -- New York (State) -- New York -- History -- 20th century.

Historic buildings -- New York (State) -- New York -- History -- 20th century.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 319-354) and index.

pt. 1: How shall we reach Gotham?. We must find a way to cross ; Haskins's tunnel and Lindenthal's bridge ; The ablest man this railway ever produced ; The North River Bridge matter ; A severe disappointment ; It might offer the solution ; Get a little of the Tenderloin ; Crooked and greedy ; Someone in the Penn Is leaking ; The town Is on fire ; We shall make our fight aboveboard ; Ugly rumors of boodle -- pt. 2: The crossing. We are not making a mistake ; A work unsought ; Drilling of first hole ; The shield is ready to be shoved ; Slow progress has been made ; Disturbed about North River tunnels ; Would Mr. Cassatt be resigning? ; Death stalks alongside them ; The shields have met exactly ; The only railroad statesman ; New York City shaken ; The way is stony and wet ; Officially declare the station open ; Coda.

Table of contents

Contributor biographical information

Publisher description

2006050171

0670031585

9780670031580

0670031585

9780670031580

71266589

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802243

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385.31409 Jonnes