New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-12
THE NEW EAST RIVER BRIDGE
DIR. RAINEY EXPLAINS HIS PROJECT.

A GREAT STRUCTURE TO CONNECT NEW YORK WITH
LONG ISLAND CITY.
1t seems probable that the people of New-York and
Long Island City, who have been waiting for years to
DR.. Thomas Rainey's plans for bridge over the
East River between the two cities assume practical
FORM will have their patience rewarded The project
is at last getting into shape to be carried ont che
necessary capital has been practically secured, and
unless something entirely unexpected happens work
tho bridge will be started within short time. MIR.
Evarts introduced a bill In the Senate last week and
MIR. Hewitt a similar in the House to obtain the
consent of Congress. There is little doubt that 1t will
be secured since there is known opposition to the
scheme. The reason and the importance of obtaining
permission from Congress for the work explained
by DR.. Rainey yesterday discussing the project that
he has spent fortune and the best years of his life in
trying to carry out
sCongres. very reasonably asserts its right to super
wise the navigable waters of the United States" he
said. The reason for seeking this permission just
is that have recently negotiated the sale of my
bridge securities in England certain conditions.
with which have complied in the main, one of them
being that l should obtain the consent of Congress
before the bonds wore offered to the public They
ssvs thea OF 9 % @
years, but they do not that was because the
structure was twenty feet too low aud would las II
does interfere somewhat with shipping"
But will your bridge not encounter the same oppo
sitionin
q Not at all Our original charter permitted us to
tmld the same height-Only 100 teet-but, unwilling
TO appear Indifferent to the puoc convenience and to
flank what would be most reasonable objection to
our enterprise went TO the Legislature and OBJ
tanned an amendment to our charter which compcls
to build at least $50 feet above the average high
tide at the middle OF each channel wrote the text
of the amendment myself and submitted II TO William
II. Webb. who approved il sufficient. At the same
time cnarter provides that the piers shall not ex
tend into the water beyond the bukhead line. that
w Our w
two great arteries OF commerce free as the ocean
Hence Congress can have no desire to interfere but
rather to foster and encourage important public
interest which asks nothing from the public treasury
out depends on private means alone"
said: The bridge proposed by board Of dis
tngushed engineers was to be 100 feet
1t be built Seventy seventnst to terminate at
Thirave without connections anc carry live load OF
1,50U pounds TO the running foot Our present plans
call for bridge l55 feet high. IL miles long with
on both Oh ne 1ef 81 as Win vi bet
at the Grand Central Depot; tho northern one In the
connections. 1t will be bnlt Sxtethst and carry
alive load Of 5000 pounds to the foot @. each OF the
trucks carriages funeral trains market etc., On
light platform ncl"sod cars. which can make tho whole
extending from Second 10 Third ayes 10 Y%rE,
station will be for the use Long Island trains we'll
those Of oter railroads having business with Long
elevated trains alongside of platform for quick aud
easy transfer going up or aGwS
build first class double track railroad TO the city line
SO as to connect directly With tue trunk line o. tbe Long
from Jauac, to Fourth ave-, New-York We propose
bridgs OF Calvary Cemetery into Brooklyn, by all
OF which WILL ~ you readily see. pour constant
Graod Central Depot for distribution throughout tie
city and to hs Eastern Northern and Western States
for tnosc who essay toserve the pubic
Wee a n e.. n@
bridge that American art and science produces sat
essay to shorten the miles travel by onehaf
without increasing the eIpeuse and to this general end
dollars The bridge will be caDtilever; not the cheapest
but me strongest and best Is dessTsd t by
lever bridge ut Niagara well as that ovor the Frazer
River"
from seventy seventh to sixeth st. was s asked e
aa so n nr n oSnc transit and pubic convenience
object is 10 just near To the Oiahu Sehid
IRE of the s eity The Fifth Avenue Hotel is today
of motion in New.iofk How does IL anect lne
PIE Of Brookly have their bridge facilities for pas
but for saTfS and h" @ G viii
reach its utmost capacity; ana nave mtle uouD1
do a. T for more Ns cable cars As 70 Long itself
if You viii 20 to the Hunters Point
James Slip and Annex boats TO wallst twelve or four
teen 20 at Thirty fourthst tending toward inc
ping worth twice much as all of the business men
and clerks that go down from a parts of the great
Island. No power earth can switch them INTO any
channel south this Our bridge will accommodate TINS
mass of travel well as the large new pOpatoh tnat
will naturally gravate into Long Island and take them
into town in half the consumed uStllDuunS
them by the elevated roads, without constant changes
delays and the thousand petty annoyaneeS tnat t1aay
drive the island tens OF thousands VINO wouIgay
profit by its convenient locality ana healthy ana uehsh'
fu climate"
Why do YOU have to go TO England for your money Y
Simply because the English have vast amount OF
money cheaper than ours, with fewer oppornues
of profitable employment They make Investment
science tine art, business New Workers take no no
OF the good enterprises right under ther noses ak
the Elevated roads, for example. The pubnc would not
much AS them ten years after they were cha
tered but persisenty ignored their promoters untl ney
their hearts and until slrewd ana iar.sighleo
man. Cyrus w Field, took them up And even then. ne
and his friends after collecting all attanabe statistics
for three years unable 10 cipher out conclusye
even so much as enough business TO pay xed charges
But they went and offered the facilities &ho
public rushed in an avalanche. Inc
whole thing about the money is this when thoroughly
strong good and conyencYt bridge is built VIII take
ending maintenance wear and tear and operating ex-
pepses and you judge quite as well as whether
there Is likely TO be business enough 10 meet sueh
charges"