I think a big part of the costs is the labor conditions of today VS 120 years ago. Back then most of the workers were unskilled immigrants and they were paid about $10/hour in today's money. That wouldn't be possible today. They also worked under very dangerous conditions compared to today and although there weren't a lot of deaths (whatever that means), there were more deaths than what we would find OK today. We threw cheap, disposable people at the problem back then.
Also, we had to build a whole lot less. The venting system was literally grates in the sidewalk. That's not to code today. There was also no accessibility. Again, that's not to code today. So to build anything today, there's so much more infrastructure that needs to be built making it impossible to build anything.
But all it takes is a change in mindset. Treat workers like the military and have parades for them and memorials for the young men that die building. Give their families a bag of cash. Get rid of all the strict building requirements. Seriously, it would be cheaper just giving free taxi rides for life to people that need accessibility than building and maintaining the infrastructure that those people have a legal right to.
Also, we had to build a whole lot less. The venting system was literally grates in the sidewalk. That's not to code today. There was also no accessibility. Again, that's not to code today. So to build anything today, there's so much more infrastructure that needs to be built making it impossible to build anything.
But all it takes is a change in mindset. Treat workers like the military and have parades for them and memorials for the young men that die building. Give their families a bag of cash. Get rid of all the strict building requirements. Seriously, it would be cheaper just giving free taxi rides for life to people that need accessibility than building and maintaining the infrastructure that those people have a legal right to.
We may need to be a bit more pragmatic.