is only financially feasible in the absence of alternatives
and the two cities tried to one-up each other through infrastructure projects
Boston already had a well-developed system of horse- and mule-pulled streetcar lines run by five competing companies
Greater Houston has always been skeptical of rapid transit
the privately-owned commuter trains were bankrupt
Portland Railway Light & Power streetcar system map, 1915 Size:24x36 is only financially feasible inPortland was built around the streetcar. In the early 20th century, the city was rapidly expanding, and the best way to build new suburban subdivisions was to build streetcar lines. After all, if you didn't want to take the train, didn't own a horse, and weren't a millionaire who owned one of those newfangled automobile gizmos, you had to walk. The train system was run by Portland Railway Light & Power, which is the ancestor of today's Portland