Editing Queensboro Bridge (section)

==== Rainey attempts ====
An attempt to finance a fixed East River crossing was made in 1867 by wealthy Long Island City residents, who established the ''New-York and Long Island Bridge Company'' to erect the crossing.<ref name="Society Society 2008 p. 13"/><ref name="p278774250">{{cite news |date=March 27, 1994 |title=Queens History; How a Bridge Shaped a City Queensboro Span Key to Population Explosion |page= |work=Newsday |issn=2574-5298 |id={{ProQuest|278774250}}}}</ref> This group was led by Thomas Rainey, a doctor from Astoria.<ref name="n133722053" /> The crossing would have connected 77th Street in Manhattan and 34th Avenue in Queens, passing over the center of Blackwell's Island.<ref name="Society Society 2008 p. 13"/> The New-York and Long Island Bridge Company appointed commissioners for the proposed bridge in 1875<ref>{{cite web |date=July 1, 1875 |title=The Second East River Bridge.; Election of Directors of the New-York And Long Island Bridge Company Description of the Enterprise. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1875/07/01/archives/the-second-east-river-bridge-election-of-directors-of-the-newyork.html |access-date=October 19, 2023 |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=October 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231022014711/https://www.nytimes.com/1875/07/01/archives/the-second-east-river-bridge-election-of-directors-of-the-newyork.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=July 1, 1875 |title=Another Proposed East River Bridge: Election of a Board of Directors—site and ... Of the Structure |page=5 |work=New-York Tribune |issn=1941-0646 |id={{ProQuest|572585390}}}}</ref> and hosted an [[architectural design competition]] for the bridge in 1876.<ref name="STRUCTURE magazine 2015 d973" /><ref>{{cite web |last=Gentilviso |first=Richard |date=March 25, 2009 |title=AIA Celebrates Queensboro Bridge Centennial |url=https://www.qgazette.com/articles/aia-celebrates-queensboro-bridge-centennial/ |access-date=October 19, 2023 |website=Queens Gazette – |archive-date=October 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231022014710/https://www.qgazette.com/articles/aia-celebrates-queensboro-bridge-centennial/ |url-status=live }}</ref> A cantilever design by Charles Macdonald and the [[Delaware Bridge Company]] was selected in early 1877,<ref>{{cite news |date=April 5, 1877 |title=Spanning the East River: The Blackwell's Island Bridge Adoption of the Delaware Bridge Company's Plan—its Characteristics—features of the Whole Structure—its Probable Completion in Two Years Asserted Diagram of the Plan Adopted |page=2 |work=New-York Tribune |issn=1941-0646 |id={{ProQuest|572675015}}}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=March 29, 1877 |title=Blackwell's Island Bridge |pages=4 |work=Times Union |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-union-blackwells-island-bridge/133721355/ |access-date=October 19, 2023 |archive-date=October 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231022014709/https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-union-blackwells-island-bridge/133721355/ |url-status=live }}</ref> but no action had been taken by 1878, a year after the plans were approved.<ref name="n133720976">{{Cite news |date=August 27, 1878 |title=The Blackwell's Island Bridge |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-the-blackwells/133720976/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231022014711/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-the-blackwells/133720976/ |archive-date=October 22, 2023 |access-date=October 19, 2023 |work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |pages=4 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Media sources reported in May 1881 that work was to commence shortly,<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 3, 1881 |title=The Blackwell's Island Bridge |pages=1 |work=The Buffalo Commercial |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-buffalo-commercial-the-blackwells-i/133842493/ |access-date=October 21, 2023 |archive-date=November 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231110175242/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-buffalo-commercial-the-blackwells-i/133842493/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=May 2, 1881 |title=New York News |page=3 |work=The Hartford Courant |issn=1047-4153 |id={{ProQuest|554167211}}}}</ref> and a [[cofferdam]] for one of the bridge's piers was installed that month.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 24, 1881 |title=Blackwell's Island Bridge |pages=1 |work=The Brooklyn Union |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-union-blackwells-island-br/133843152/ |access-date=October 21, 2023 |archive-date=November 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231110175244/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-union-blackwells-island-br/133843152/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |date=May 28, 1881 |title=The Second Bridge Between New York and Brooklyn |magazine=Scientific American |volume=XLIV |issue=22 |page=335 |id={{ProQuest|126602806}}}}</ref> By the time the [[United States Congress]] approved plans for the bridge in 1887,<ref name="n133722053">{{Cite news |date=March 3, 1887 |title=The Blackwell Island's Bridge |pages=2 |work=New-York Tribune |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/new-york-tribune-the-blackwell-islands/133722053/ |access-date=October 19, 2023 |archive-date=October 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231022014711/https://www.newspapers.com/article/new-york-tribune-the-blackwell-islands/133722053/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Rainey's bridge had been relocated southward.<ref>{{cite news |date=June 16, 1889 |title=Arguments for His Bridge: Thomas Rainey Issues a Circular About the Proposed Structure From Black Well's Island |page=14 |work=New-York Tribune |issn=1941-0646 |id={{ProQuest|573536126}}}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=April 23, 1887 |title=The New East River Bridge.; Property Which the Company Wants for Its Approaches. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1887/04/23/archives/the-new-east-river-bridge-property-which-the-company-wants-for-its.html |access-date=October 22, 2023 |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=November 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231110175247/https://www.nytimes.com/1887/04/23/archives/the-new-east-river-bridge-property-which-the-company-wants-for-its.html |url-status=live }}</ref> A state justice found in 1890 that the bridge's charter was invalid.<ref>{{cite web |date=November 8, 1889 |title=No Blackwell's Island Bridge. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1889/11/08/archives/no-blackwells-island-bridge.html |access-date=October 19, 2023 |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=October 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231022014711/https://www.nytimes.com/1889/11/08/archives/no-blackwells-island-bridge.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=November 8, 1889 |title=It Is Invalid |pages=6 |work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-it-is-invalid/133847653/ |access-date=October 22, 2023 |archive-date=November 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231110175246/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-it-is-invalid/133847653/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Nonetheless, Rainey's efforts to build the bridge made his name "a household word in western Long Island".<ref name="n135292602">{{Cite news |date=April 13, 1907 |title=East River Bridge No. 4 Nearing Completion |pages=30 |work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-east-river-brid/135292602/ |access-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116170927/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-east-river-brid/135292602/ |url-status=live }}</ref>[[File:Queensboro Bridge 1908 LOC 3c00105u.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.2|Bridge seen from Manhattan, c. 1908]]By the 1890s, [[Long Island Rail Road]] (LIRR) president [[Austin Corbin]] had merged Rainey's plan and a competing plan.<ref name="The New York Times 2023 i117">{{cite web |date=May 24, 1896 |title=Long Island Territory; Property That Will Be a Part of Greater New-York. More Than One-Half Of the Consolidated City Will Be Across the East River – Developments That Are Now Under Way in Brooklyn and in the Cities and Towns That Adjoin It – Advantages That May Be Obtained There. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1896/05/24/archives/long-island-territory-property-that-will-be-a-part-of-greater.html |access-date=November 9, 2023 |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=November 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109015807/https://www.nytimes.com/1896/05/24/archives/long-island-territory-property-that-will-be-a-part-of-greater.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Rainey resubmitted plans for the bridge in early 1890.<ref>{{cite web |title=Debating High License; A Brief Hearing Before the Senate Committee. Naive Mr. Cornell Gets a Little Setback – Another Excise Bill – a Home-Rule Discussion. |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |date=March 7, 1890 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1890/03/07/archives/debating-high-license-a-brief-hearing-before-the-senate-committee.html |access-date=October 22, 2023 |archive-date=November 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231110230205/https://www.nytimes.com/1890/03/07/archives/debating-high-license-a-brief-hearing-before-the-senate-committee.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=March 15, 1890 |title=Over Blackwell's Island |pages=8 |work=Times Union |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-union-over-blackwells-island/133849324/ |access-date=October 22, 2023 |archive-date=November 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231110175243/https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-union-over-blackwells-island/133849324/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The state legislature gave Rainey a charter for the Blackwell's Island Bridge in mid-1892.<ref>{{cite news |date=August 1, 1892 |title=The Blackwell's Island Bridge |page=6 |work=New-York Tribune |issn=1941-0646 |id={{ProQuest|573750645}}}}</ref> Corbin received an option to buy out Rainey's charter,<ref name="p574687307">{{cite news |date=December 27, 1899 |title=Dr. Rainey on His Bridge Charter |page=3 |work=New-York Tribune |issn=1941-0646 |id={{ProQuest|574687307}}}}</ref> and a [[groundbreaking ceremony]] for the bridge was held at 64th Street in Manhattan on August 19, 1894.<ref name="n134814941">{{Cite news |date=September 9, 1894 |title=The Blackwell's Island Bridge |pages=20 |work=The Sun |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sun-the-blackwells-island-bridge/134814941/ |access-date=November 8, 2023 |archive-date=November 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108021338/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sun-the-blackwells-island-bridge/134814941/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=August 21, 1894 |title=Blackwell's Island Bridge: Ground Broken on the Great Long Island Railway Structure. |page=5 |work=St. Louis Post – Dispatch |id={{ProQuest|579162706}}}}</ref> The span was planned as a cantilever bridge carrying four LIRR tracks, as well as roadways and footpaths.<ref name="n134814941" /><ref name="The New York Times 2023 f692">{{cite web |date=May 8, 1895 |title=The New East River Bridge Begun; Rapid Development on Long Island Expected to Follow Its Completion. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1895/05/08/archives/the-new-east-river-bridge-begun-rapid-development-on-long-island.html |access-date=November 9, 2023 |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=November 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109015754/https://www.nytimes.com/1895/05/08/archives/the-new-east-river-bridge-begun-rapid-development-on-long-island.html |url-status=live }}</ref> By that November, two cofferdams were being sunk for the bridge's piers.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 25, 1894 |title=Corbin's Great Bridge; Work on a Pier on Blackwell's Soon to Be Begun |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1894/11/25/archives/corbins-great-bridge-work-on-a-pier-on-blaekwells-soon-to-be-begun.html |access-date=November 8, 2023 |archive-date=November 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108021339/https://www.nytimes.com/1894/11/25/archives/corbins-great-bridge-work-on-a-pier-on-blaekwells-soon-to-be-begun.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=November 25, 1894 |title=To Build The Bridge: It Is to Connect the Long Island Railroad With This City the Structure to Pass Over Blackwell's Island to Be Finished in 1897 |page=8 |work=New-York Tribune |issn=1941-0646 |id={{ProQuest|573993107}}}}</ref> Laborers began constructing foundations for another pier on the eastern shore of Blackwell Island in April 1895.<ref>{{cite web |date=April 25, 1895 |title=At Work on the New East River Bridge; Laborers Laying the Foundation on the Easterly Shore of Blackwell's. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1895/04/25/archives/at-work-on-the-new-east-river-bridge-laborers-laying-the-foundation.html |access-date=November 9, 2023 |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=November 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109053323/https://www.nytimes.com/1895/04/25/archives/at-work-on-the-new-east-river-bridge-laborers-laying-the-foundation.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Stone and steel contracts had been awarded by the following year, and two of the piers had been built above the water line.<ref>{{cite news |date=April 5, 1896 |title=East River Bridge No. 2: That at Blackwell's Island Is in Part a Fact |page=B8 |work=New-York Tribune |issn=1941-0646 |id={{ProQuest|574172215}}}}</ref> Construction was halted after the piers were built,<ref name="n134871305">{{Cite news |date=March 2, 1897 |title=Inter-Urban Transit |pages=7 |work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-inter-urban-tra/134871305/ |access-date=November 9, 2023 |archive-date=November 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109015756/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-inter-urban-tra/134871305/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=March 4, 1897 |title=Crossing the East River |pages=10 |work=Times Union |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-union-crossing-the-east-river/134870921/ |access-date=November 9, 2023 |archive-date=November 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109015758/https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-union-crossing-the-east-river/134870921/ |url-status=live }}</ref> first due to lawsuits, then because of Corbin's death.<ref name="p574687307" />