http://www.amazon.com/Bold-Endeavors-Government-America-Rebuild/dp/1416533125/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234137976&sr=8-1
New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/magazine/08wwln-Q4-t.html?ref=magazine&pagewanted=all
Felix Rohatyn first gained fame for guiding NYC through its financial troubles when Rober Moses' building spree could not be paid for.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felix_Rohatyn
It might be useful to place a rebuttal of the Canal and railroad booms somewhere on the net.