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Many waterways had been put underground because in early days it was vital in which, it had been beneficial to people and had helped reduce the use of electricity. In fact, these waterways had provided transportation routes allowing people to get to where they needed to go in a timely manner. These waterways had also given water power for grain mills, sawmills, bounty of fish and also drinking water. One issue with these waterways was that it tended to become polluted due to the increase in population overtime. Decisions to put waterways underground had sparked the development of the railroad and other industrial advances in which the waterways had started the use of transportation and had helped people come up with the idea of railroads. Putting the waterways underground had allowed more land above ground providing more grounds for the buildings. From the video we seen in class today, I was interested in how Steve Duncan had the courage to explore through these waterways and especially, be able to climb on top of Williamsburg bridge.

• This reply was modified 7 years, 6 months ago by Dgeorge.
• This reply was modified 7 years, 6 months ago by Dgeorge.
• This reply was modified 7 years, 6 months ago by Dgeorge.

“The forgotten Stream of New York City”, by Steve Duncan discusses how waterways were diverted or put underground because many of small streams were insufficient for the growing populations. As Duncan states in the article, “overtime, though, many of these small streams became inadequate for the growing populations that had sprouted up on their banks, and instead of supplying freshwater, they became polluted nuisances. The decisions to put waterways underground was a way to create more buildable land above, and also use the idea as transportation routes.

As the water streams were crucial for providing food and power, the growing population soon caused these streams to become polluted. During the industrialization era in the 19th century, those streams were transformed to railroad routes. It also replaced its use of water power into electric power. Eventually all these streams were placed underground and altered to sewers and drains in order to build land above. The water powered sawmill built by Adriaen van der Donck provided power to a small village in the Yonkers of 1855. In order to expand its use, the stream under the sawmill (Sawmill River) grew with the development of bridges and buildings. It became a primary transportation in and out of the city until the railroad and industrialization grew rapidly. Ultimately, concrete tunnels were built around those streams leaving very little visible.

The article “The Forgotten Streams of NY” by Steven Duncan discusses why streams were placed underground. According to Steven Duncan, one reason why streams were placed underground is because, “many of these small streams became inadequate for the growing populations that had sprouted up on their banks, and instead of supplying freshwater, they became polluted nuisance.” During the 18th and 19th century, not only did the population in NY grow, but more businesses and structures were being built. Placing streams underground allowed people and investors to create more land space for businesses which is beneficial for those in seek of a job and opportunity. Second, placing streams underground resulted in a safer environment. Reasons for the polluted areas in New York is derived from industrialization where factories and industrial areas polluted the exposing water stream which became a hazard for the people to drink. Lastly, with water streams placed underground, there was more space for buildings to be built.