A touch of Ben

It seems to me that many projects proposed by government agencies here in N.Y., particulary by the MTA are similar to Ben Franklin's 'Striking Sundial". But first, the MTA.

Down by Fulton Street in Lower Manhattan, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is one Billion thats with a "B" over budget for a subway hub at that location. Meanwhile the finishing date gets bumped back. Much of 2nd Ave uptown has been torn up to install a new subway line. MTA estimates Four Billion. When I read that I laughed at the abject stupidity of the estimate. Their last line cost 20 Billion dollars and that was finished 5 or years ago. A safer estimate would've 24 Billion, all told.

Just as a matter of perspective, 20 billion dollars was the total federal aid immediately after 9/11 (not supplementals)

The MTA also plans to install a third track on a portion of the mainline of the Long Island RR. Also concerning the LIRR, the MTA is trying to connect the LIRR to Grand Central station to reduce pressure on Penn Station on the West Side. GC is on the East Side of Manhattan. Speaking of Penn, the MTA is dreaming of rebuilding that as well.

The problem is much of this needs to be done. However there are higher priority items, such as building a Rail tunnel/bridge for freight only across the Hudson River (Nearest bridge is 150+ miles North at Selkirk, by Albany) Connecting that Rail Bridge/tunnel with the West Side Yards and turning that section into an Intermodal center would reduce the number of trucks coming over the myriad bridges into NYC. That would be worth the money as priority 1. Alas it is not to be at this point.




I include Ben Franklin's Sundial story for easy access/ comparison.


How to make a STRIKING SUNDIAL, by which not only a Man's own Family, but all his Neighbours for ten Miles round, may know what o'Clock it is, when the Sun shines, without seeing the Dial.Choose an open Place in your Yard or Garden, on which the Sun may shine all Day without any Impediment from Trees or Buildings. On the Ground mark out your Hour Lines, as for a horizontal Dial, according to Art, taking Room enough for the Guns. On the Line for One o'Clock, place one Gun; on the Two o'Clock Line two Guns, and so of the rest. The Guns must all be charged with Powder, but Ball is unnecessary. Your Gnomon or Style must have twelve burning Glasses annex'd to it, and be so placed as that the Sun shining through the Glasses, one after the other, shall cause the Focus or burning Spot to fall on the Hour Line of One, for Example, at one a Clock, and there kindle a Train of Gunpowder that shall fire one Gun. At Two o'Clock, a Focus shall fall on the Hour Line of Two, and kindle another Train that shall discharge two Guns successively; and so of the rest.Note, There must be 78 Guns in all. Thirty-two Pounders will be best for this Use; but 18 Pounders may do, and will cost less, as well as use less Powder, for nine Pounds of Powder will do for one Charge of each eighteen Pounder, whereas the Thirty-two Pounders would require for each Gun 16 Pounds.Note also, That the chief Expence will be the Powder, for the Cannon once bought, will, with Care, last 100 Years.Note moreover, That there will be a great Saving of Powder in cloudy Days.Kind Reader, Methinks I hear thee say, That it is indeed a good Thing to know how the Time passes, but this Kind of Dial, notwithstanding the mentioned Savings, would be very expensive; and the COst greater than the Advantage. Thou art wise, my Friend to be so considerate beforehand; some Fools would not have found out so much, till they had made the Dial and tried it.Let all such learn that many a private and many a publick Project, are like this Striking Dial, great Cost for little Profit."

taken from http://www.mail-archive.com/sundial@uni-koeln.de/msg08138.html

checked against editor Carl Japikse's Fart Proudly: Writings of Benjamin Franklin You Never Read in School.