The Wasp — 1893 — page 180: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This political cartoon satirizes what appears to be a public works project involving street extension, likely in San Francisco (given The Wasp's Bay Area origins). The main figure is a portly gentleman in a top hat, depicted as a puppeteer controlling several smaller figures below him via strings—a common metaphor for political manipulation and corruption. The figures below appear to represent various officials or politicians being controlled, suggesting that one powerful person or interest is pulling strings behind a public infrastructure project. The title "Street Extension Socalled" implies the project is dubiously named or justified—perhaps being used as a pretext for enriching connected parties rather than serving genuine public benefit. A small map shows the proposed extension route. The satire criticizes cronyism and backroom control of civic projects.