The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-15
6o-62 West 23d st.
the BLACkWELL's ISLAND BRIDoE.
To Re Z IL Miles Long. and 10 Be RuiIt In
Three Years ut Cost of Ss,OOD,OOO.

Ihree ut lost OF Ss,OOD,OOO,
The plans so long in contemplation for the
construction OF n bridge across the East River
and Blackwel's Island have at last matured.
and the character and location Of tho structure
have been definitely settled uron. II will be a
cantilever will begin on the New York side on
the line o, Si1ty-fourth street. will cross tho
East River ut right angles. and will roach a
point in Sunnysde, u mile or so back from the
Long Island City shore. 1t is said that the
structure can be completed within three years
at cost less than one-half that OF the Brook
Ign Bridge. Work may he begun stmultano-
The approaches in New ork will no on Second
and Third avenues. from orty. fourth street ON
the south and from Eighty-i.rst street on the
north. Later 1t is proposed I" extend the ap-
south and to Harlem on tho north aud also 10
a connection with the west side elevated rail-
ways. The approaches will ria" at u grade not
exceeding rcr cent. and will De constructed
The Long Island main pier will be tuated at
the bulkhead line at Point between the
There VIII be nlcr nj either side OF Black.
well 8 Island, and the pier on the New York
East Sixty-iourth street. All the piers will be
o. solid masonry.
Tho main spans will ,consis, OF pair OF
through cantilevers with connecting truss
span over each channel. They will be so
feet long from centre to centre of the piers.
Tn" two shore ends OF the shore cantiirvels
WI, be- balanced by masonrr anchorage piers
while. to obviatc the necessity for ancnoregos
on BlackwOlis Island, the centre cantilevcrs
VIII be connected and carried through upon
the two Island piers. The clear height Of the
superstructure above high water level at tho
centre Of each channel Will DO 1913 feet which
Is eighteen feet higher than the Brooklyn
Bridge.
The approaches on the New York side will
consIs: OF steel tower, and spans. Tho June
ton OF the approaches will be Just east Of irst
avenue. The main centre approach will
terminate at Third avenue. and will he an
elevated structure. There will lie eisYators to
the street Tor loot Passengers.
At First avenue there w!Ii hs n divergence OF
the approaches. The southern will carry on
the tor dock railway tracks to tho Grand en-
trail station. Zach approach will have on tho
lower deck wagpnwars and footwRys.
The bridge Will ts constructed of a width
sufficient for two raj way tracks douhla wagon
ways. and Il iootway upon either side. The
cantleyer SUSTAIN makes it feasible to wi,Ien
tho bridge sufficiently for nineteen railway
tracks il necessary.
miles long, including the approaches and will
cost about SSuUOUOD. Ii was projected by
DIR. Thomas fainey who secured the franchise
from the leg stature, Its construction was
uiEoriZrh in March 1850. by act OF Congress-
The bridge will hring Long Island into much
easier com Ilulcatton with New \ Ork. ia
maicn. tho 1t distributing point of the Long Isl
and laiiroad. will 1t IA thought. he brought
within twenty-five minutes Of the Grand I en-
be reached in about half an hour.
While III" bridge Is to 80 built by the New
York and Long Island Bridge Company, il is
understood that the prim" mover in tho enter
prise Is Austin tOrhin. acting in the interest OF
the Long Island Railroad Company.