[RichG]

I can vouch for the use of DC in NYC.  I worked, as an electrician, on the Times Tower in 1964 when it was being converted to the Allied chemical building.  One day the foreman and I went down to the 3rd level basement to find 3 feet of water and no operating pumps.  Come to find they were still using Edison era DC motors and pumps.  We found a bad contactor.  I told the foreman good luck finding one of those.  He smiled and sent me to a Canal Street supplier.  The supplier went in the back room and brought out a NOS contactor from the early 1900's, a perfect replacement!  I was surprised at the amount of DC still around in 1964 and even more surprised you could still find parts.
Rich