South ferry and elevated railway, N.Y

The history of New York City's transportation system. New York City is distinguished from other U.S. cities for its low personal automobile ownership and its significant use of public transportation. New York is the only city in the United States where over half of all households do not own a car (Manhattan's non-ownership is even higher, around 75%; nationally, the rate is 8%). New York City has, by far, the highest rate of public transportation use of any American city. New York City also has the longest mean travel time for commuters (39 minutes) among major U.S. cities. The Second Industrial Revolution fundamentally changed the city – the port infrastructure grew at such a rapid pace after the 1825 completion of the Erie Canal that New York became the most important connection between all of Europe and the interior of the United States. Elevated trains and subterranean transportation ('El trains' and 'subways') were introduced between 1867 and 1904. Private automobiles brought an additional change for the city by around 1930, notably the 1927 Holland Tunnel.

Benjamin West Kilburn (1827-1909) was an American photographer and publisher. He was born in Littleton, New Hampshire, and began his career as a photographer in the 1850s. Kilburn is best known for his stereoscopic photography, which he produced with his brother Edward and his son James. Kilburn's stereoscopic images were popular in the late 19th century and were sold as souvenirs and educational tools. They were produced by taking two photographs of the same scene from slightly different angles and then mounting them side by side on a card. When viewed through a stereoscope, the images would appear three-dimensional. Kilburn also published a series of stereoscopic views of the American Civil War, which were widely distributed and helped to shape public opinion about the conflict. In addition to his photography work, Kilburn was also involved in publishing and printing. He founded the Kilburn Brothers publishing company with his brother Edward in 1865, which produced stereoscopic views, postcards, and other printed materials. Kilburn died in Littleton, New Hampshire, in 1909. His legacy as a pioneer of stereoscopic photography and a publisher of popular images continues to be celebrated today.

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