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Something I have found while researching the history of this great city of ours, and something I am sure can be said for any large city, is that it’s not unusual for major infrastructure projects to take longer (and cost more) than announced in the original construction proposal.

Take for instance the 1910 proposal to build subways, or tubes as such rapid transit projects were called way back when, that would encircle the city of the day and be the basis for a rapid transit system that could be expanded as the city expanded.

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This wildly enthusiastic concept, as described in a massive report prepared for Mayor Reginald Geary by the American consulting firm of Jacobs and Davies at a cost of $5,000, would eventually see “tubes” constructed under Yonge St., St. Clair Ave., Broadview Ave., Danforth Ave. and Woodbine Ave. in the central, north and east ends of the city and Keele St. in the west end.

According to the consultants the first phase, dubbed “Scheme No. 1” in the report, should be constructed as soon as feasible to handle the ever-increasing number of commuters headed for work or a shopping spree (anyone remember Eaton’s and Simpson’s?) in the commercial and retail heart of the city in the Yonge St., Front St., Bay St., Queen St. and King St. part of town.