Explore Chicago's rise as a power and transport hub, written as a practical guide for visitors to the 1904 Electrical Congress. This edition explains how the city’s streets, factories, and public works were reshaped by electric power, railways, and modern planning. It highlights the pace of growth, the layout of downtown, and the people who built and ran the systems that energized daily life.
Chicago’s story is presented through concrete details about:
- the city’s rapid population and industrial expansion in the 19th and early 20th centuries
- how electric power is generated, distributed, and used in factories and street transportation
- the structure of urban transit, including the elevated railways and their key lines
- the organization of electric utilities, public works, and technical publishing for professionals
Ideal for readers of early urban history and the technical side of city electrification, transportation, and infrastructure.