New-York tribune., 1885-02-17
THE LONG ISLAND BRIDGE.
GREAT SPANS OVER BLACKwELLS ISLAND.

TALK WITH DOCTOR RAINEY-DErAILs OF THE
PLAN.
The Brooklyn Bridge has so long and so
largely occupied public interest that comparatively few
persons nave paid any attention to the interesting pro-
ect OF the railway, carriage and foot bridge chartered
ana begun over the East River at BlackwePs Island
The charter was granted in 1867 at the time with
that OF the elevated railroads. and attempt to utilize
IL was made until 1872. II then secured by Colonel
X NJ c. Graham, who with 1t secured also the cO-opera
tion OF William stenway and other OF influence and
responsibility, who organized anew in 1878 for deter
mined effort to build Their efforts, however, were de-
feated by the great financial crisis of that year.
MI. steinway becoming fatigued by the duties OF the
place. and dsheartened by the Indifference Of the public
peciay that OF Long Island, III 1879 resigned the
presidency TO DIR. Rainey, of Ravenswood who under
took the active management OF the enterprise and has
since devoted to It his whole time. He obtained short
extension OF the time for beginning the workin 1879,
and was convinced OF the public interest in the enter
prses to refuse in 1880 offer from prominent New
York millionaire to build the bridge at once for
cash. and then put all the bonds anu
stock on tho market that could be sold
twenty millions OF dollars IL possible. He refused
promptly and pointedly saying that the people of Long
Island could not afford to pay tolls that sum or on
the half OF It, and that he and his friends held 1t as
public trust they would not sacrifice the public interests
but walt and hope build 1t without water and on solid
basis.
Dr. Rainey resi- gned tho presidency to Charles A.
Trowbrdge took contract for the whole structure aud
made subcOntracts with 0f tho largest bridge build
ing firms OF this country, which advanced part OF the
funds with which Dr. Raney began work In 1881 as re-
qured by the act OF extension and continued work un
now over quarter OF million OF dollars have been ex
pended. TRIBUSE reporter Yesterday called on DE-
Rainey and obtained from hun the following descrp
ton OF the enterprise:
"Tho work was begun most Loyalty by me per
sOnaly long before the time required by law In 1851
aud continued throughout that year and more or less to
present time item of expenditure purchased
the rghtOfway in RayenswOod and built large cofer-
dam for OF the per i6 feet iong 80 feet Wide ana
from 20 To 30 feet deep This finished. fortified and
pumped out and has remained and dehcl The ice hows
OF these winters notwithstanding tho warning OF the
great engineer. General Newton. that tho lee would
probably sweep II away during the first winter jt was'
however. built to stand
naturally supposed that business would improve ny
the end OF 1851 ON the contrary the depression was 50
serious aud remains serious that the raising OF
money for the bridge has been checked As
the t,y te,lr us moi only 10 begin good faith
did at lime. but limited also the ilme Tor com
p.etIug the work. We naturally and most rrhSohapN
amply t. the Legislature for the time necessary 10 bridge
over the great financial cha.m nrs and realize the our
oh~ri>hel entcrpri-e IN form thit VIII peSt pFohote
tine public trfc't ana Justify our iof,'.gnt nna pgeSv
u .cr-sary railroad bridge. and as slch start IL 4h
ibe hr'dse shohld start in Fourth-avc. between
Srventy-ixth and seventy seventh SIS, ana enter e
Harlem Railroad iune by 'Ir'e' norm o @ ond and
two on ,kwr's Island. and wal terminate on the
oiy one mile froiu Woolsdc L. H. where II Will con
Lc-t with the whole Long Island sysrm Ot rotus ny
snort dIuDrtrwk line IL WA o"'l1o 'e' hlsn "' ~ ,o
cru 4. oI each channel aud while II VIII have Two VIDE
t t from end to end over when rans can
fn kfN
no cncr the Grand Central Depot, or 10 tue Cy Hal
and nm" Etttery by switching the second Avenue
Elevated Railroad which built douby strong for
other rAlroa c ,nnccllon, aud for last travel -.
with such facilities aud trains OF light cars
running directly to the heart OF tho city
without % change, from all OF the small towns owns
OF Ling Isiaod. IN less than half the time
now reaureI And without increasing tho expenss great
changes viii occuru the movement and concentration
I4a fna ant aSn. 5S q $s%Yok y aud
rrss s, Tn"1n cheap quickly and cheapy
two to sN miles. leaving tue uhIe 'lraCv tengn' .
better pairing class of renters.
Inc dept bot cen second and Third ayes occupy
part of the enterprise. IL will be aboat sixteen ret
nDnye thr rhriive Elevated platform. and viii accom-
mod ate about trains At once. Tue depot VIII r.
.enblc tnat uf the Prnnsylvaaia Railroad ~ bro"i-
a. PHILADELPHIA. There Will be elevator, near he rlver
also on both sides. TIE depot VIII ahord quick ana
ready connection between tho roads On Long l'an anu
all OF the east. north an west oi the 'oumtrg
nent neither money, land. exemption nor any PRIV!
cge only to be duly proectei III AN honoranlo ai i'n
m effort 10 empny private ncaHs IN uSelu plplc 'h-
trrpri.c our risht of way aud bridge ami otner woks
rli co.t probably little over nyo millions Nature mas
AN, mos, ul The oar location fANors the cheLrst
structure OF It's kiud erected. "chaVe rpckln "s
av,ry mi of the w milo, covered, not only OH land
ht iu-f below the surface Of the water rms - coh
pai gnr,. with nearly ycrtca dip both IN Ne" lorA
and Long Island Ia the coli rdam ana under the
pillar. have only o. remove the drcayed uPPereuSs
OF the rocs when We come To SOIL bearing on oIocA
and need so down further The avOl lance thu' OF
,, ep caisson work saves rs tp1oh money iheh hghh
the two spans together are 24i feet shorter man tue NJ
of the Brooklyn Bridge. with consequent decrease o
cost IL may safely asserted thai the Increase III the
c. Of ordinary spans varies almost the squares ot
the length whereas In very long spans. reaching tue
limit of trucou II varies more nearly as tue cuDes
NOw taking the economy Of tue iJhhdhohs' VIII tnae
OF spans aud also our cheaper rght oI way, We
conumzr at least two-thlrd, OF the cost o such "ohs
generally. aYd build foe little over S1,ooo'ooo
what would Ordinarily cost Sl5.OOOOOO III l, thlS' con
nrrl ed with An Immense movement Of parsenstrS' car
rayc- market wagons, etc, that will JUSTIFY tho con
.triction Of great work by private means hIoho.
There around for the theory lhnt We mcIciJ
an extension of tim. la order To sell our ohditoI, "o
nave no r. of selling It, have already refused sew
era Offers We intend TO build that bridge Ourselves,
and when the business dcpresslon IL oVor "o sn' '
no difficulty In raising the money.