1891 Cable Road Construction in NYC

You’ve written before about capriccio, accompanied by the suggestion that perhaps capriccio was not in fact some romantic fantasy of archaic ruin that become overwhelmingly popular for no apparent reason… that perhaps people were painting what was real.

I’d like to extend that notion to “steampunk” and its ancillaries. Perhaps what we consider “science fiction” based on fantastical imaginary creations of the late 1800s and early 1900s… are somewhat honest renditions of the last glimpse of antiquitech before the electro-petroleum revolution?

EDIT: I also find it curious that with the exception of what appears to be a large valve in a brick lined dugout, the vast majority of these pipes are direct burial. In modern days, and even in historical photos that I’ve dug up of contemporary work (to our time, in my opinion), we build all of our infrastructure in tunnels, basements, and freestanding. I’m assuming that’s to account for the need for regular service and maintenance.

were the implementers of this subterranean system oblivious to the need for serviceability? Or maybe their design was so robust that there was no foreseeable service required? Or maybe it was accessible until the mud flood occurred?