Elevated Train Scandal: A Web of Corruption Unravels

In the sweltering streets of New York City, a secretive world of corruption and deceit has been laid bare. On December 23, 1902, a group of powerful railroad companies and municipal authorities joined forces with the Merchants Associations committee on franchises and transportation to send Secretary S.C. Mead to Albany for a pivotal hearing before the State Railroad Commissioner. The stakes were high, and many organizations and individuals with a vested interest in the betterment of local transportation facilities had already signaled their intention to be heard.