The evening world., 1893-11-29
ACROSS EAST RIVER.
Long Island Trains Will Run on the
Blackwell'S Island Bridge.
AUSTIN C0RBIN ACQUIRES THE DR..
RAlNEY FRANCHISE.
WORK TO PROCEED At ONCE.

Austin Corbin has at last effected an
arrangement by which the Long Island
railroad Company will have a terminus
in New York cry. For a long time the
railroad has been aching to have &
bridge across the East River. In March,
lS92, a bill was introduced IN the Legis-
lature asking for a franchise for a Sl2,
WO,VU structure. The bill was energet-
ically opposed by the friends of DR..
Thomas Rainey. who for more than a
score OF years had striven to get per-
mission for the erection of a bridge with
piers on Blackwell's Island. DR.. Rainey
by perseverance and by Indifference to
haunting and sneering which
classed him among Missionaries and pro-
moters without capital. achieved his
object.
His bridge was l%egislated into a prac-
teal project, and after a difference with
the New York municipal authorities. who
were doubling Thomases. work was ac-
tually begun at the foot of East Sixty
fourth street in March last.
The Long Island Railroad Company
rose to he occasion. "A bird in the
hand Is worth two in the bush" Here
was a real bridge. by hard and fast
legislation. with a practical beginning
by the evidence of spade, pick. mortar
man, n ason n ironworker.
After a few months of silence and
saving wood, Mr.. Corbin yesterday an
nounced that he and his friends had
acquired a controlling Interest in the
stock of the Blackwell's Island Bridge.
Mr. Corbin said yesterday: The
charter of the company provides for the
construction of a bridge for the passage
of teams, vehicles and foot passengers,
with piers resting on ~Blackwell's Island,
and under the provisions Of an act
passed by the Legislature at its last
session the bridge company has also
the right to lay tracks and operate a
railroad over its structure. 1t is in
tended, when the bridge is constructed,
to provide facilities to run the trains of
the Long Island Railroad Company over
IT into New York City without change
of cars.
'ln order to make comfortable grades
the termini of the bridge structure will be
located somewhere in the neighborhood
of Forty-fourth street on the south and
EiGhty-tirst street on the north, and 1t is
also intended to connect with the Second
and Third avenue elevated railroads at
SlXty-fourth street. The plans for this
DTllRe nave already DttH approved DN
an act of Congress and by the Secretary
Of War, and 1t Is intended to proceed
Immediately with its construction. The
charter contains very valuable privileges
proaches, which will afford immense ad-
vantages to the public in the future,
should the business of the company re-
quire other construction
one of Mr.. Corb,n's friends said: Yes,
his is the bridge that DIR. Rainey got
charter for in 1892. The bridge VIII
miles lie of New York, lnd the erowding in
he east-side- tenement district will be
| relieved. Tn people will nave an OPP
portunity to seek homes in Long Island,
taken advantage OF by thousands"
DIR. Rainey's original plans provided
for two elevated railroad approaches on
through Sixty-fourth street, and west to
Second avenue, through Second avenue
TO Fift,eth street, thence across blocks
and through priyate property TO Forty
thence to the yards Of the New York
Central Railroad. The other approach
was to run northward in Second avenue,
above the elevated tracks n across the
Harlem River, to connect there at pleas
ure with any roads of whatsoever ma
ture."
4 to connect Long Island
and New York by a bridge was incor-
porated In 1867, under the name of THE
New York and Long Island Bridge Com
pany." Among the incorporators were
Robert Bonner. G, G.. Rowland. Stephen
c. Walker, Daniel c. D~uzenbury, Charles
w. Goddard, William Trumbull, Archi-
bald Bliss. G.. Lee knanp: Augustus
Silliman and Phineas L.. Tyler. In 1887
Congressional consent was given, and
In 1892 the New York Legislature passed
amendments to its original act, fixing
the dues that should come to New York
and Long Island City.
According to an act OF Congress. ALI
railroad companies desiring the use OF
the bridge shall be entitled 10 equal
rights and privileges for the passage OF
their trains. on payment OF u reason
able compensation"