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1
378
The Story of the Atlantic Telegraph
·
Henry M. Field
362
This
was
the
great
barrier
to
the
city's
growth,
and
must
be
removed
if
it
was
not
to
be
stunted
and
dwarfed
by
these
limitations.
To
furnish
some
relief,
an
elevated
railroad,
built
on
stilts,
had
been
attempted
on
a
small
scale,
but
soon
broke
down,
when
Mr.
Field
bought
the
control
of
the
whole
concern,
and
took
it
in
his
own
strong
arms.
It
was
no
easy
matter
to
galvanize
it
into
life,
for
though
it
had
a
charter,
it
was
still
obstructed
in
the
legislature,
and
in
the
courts,
so
that
it
was
a
long
time
before
he
could
get
full
possession.
But
once
master
of
the
situation,
he
undertook
the
work
on
a
grand
scale,
and
pushed
it
with
such
vigor
that
in
less
than
two
years
the
road
was
in
operation.
It
has
since
been
extended
with
the
public
demand,
until
now
(in
1892)
there
are
thirty-six
miles
of
road,
over
which
the
trains
sweep
incessantly
from
the
bay
to
the
river,
and
from
the
river
to
the
bay.
The
structures
are
not
indeed
the
most
graceful
in
the
world,
as
they
bestride
the
long
avenues
of
the
city.
But
these
tall
iron
pillars,
that
line
our
streets
for
miles,
are
the
long
legs
of
civilization,
and
have
a
somewhat
imposing
effect
as
they
stretch
away
into
the
distance,
with
the
fire-drawn
cars
flying
swiftly
over
them.
Dean
Stanley
glorified
them
by
a
historical
parallel
which
could
occur
only
to
one
full
of
the
wonders
of
ancient
times,
that
started
into
life
under
the
touch
of
his
imagination.
Going
with
him
one
day
on
an
excursion,
he
stepped
briskly
(for
his
frame
was
so
light
as
to
offer
little
impediment
to
motion),
and
as
he
mounted
the
long
stairway,
and
stood
on
the
platform
above
the
crowded
street
below,
he
exclaimed,
"This
is
Babylonian!
Four
chariots
driving
abreast
on
the
walls
of
the
city!"
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