Editing Manhattan Bridge (section)

=== Anchorages, towers, and approach viaducts ===
Best reviewed bids for the construction of the anchorages in December 1904.<ref name="n138529868">{{Cite news |date=December 25, 1904 |title=Bridge Anchorage Bids |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-bridge-anchorag/138529868/ |access-date=January 11, 2024 |work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |pages=42}}</ref> The Williams Engineering Company received the $2 million contract for the anchorages' construction.<ref name="n138526137">{{Cite news |date=February 16, 1905 |title=Tammany Firm's Big Plum |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-new-york-times-tammany-firms-big-pl/138526137/ |access-date=January 11, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |pages=6}}</ref> Construction commenced on the Brooklyn anchorage in February 1905 and on the Manhattan anchorage that April.<ref name="n138523343">{{Cite news |date=June 18, 1931 |title=Manhattan Bridge Is Seen as Monument to M'Clellan Former Mayor of New York |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-standard-union-manhattan-bridge-is-s/138523343/ |access-date=January 11, 2024 |work=The Standard Union |pages=15}}</ref> The foundation subcontractors excavated the foundations of each anchorage using [[sheet piling]]s.<ref name="n138550087">{{Cite news |date=July 9, 1906 |title=Pushing Work on Anchorage |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-standard-union-pushing-work-on-ancho/138550087/ |access-date=January 12, 2024 |work=The Standard Union |pages=3}}</ref><ref name="Ripley p. 204">{{harvnb|Ripley|1907|ps=.|page=204}}</ref> Barges were used to transport material from the East River to the anchorages' sites.<ref name="Ripley p. 204" /> Mixers constructed the masonry for the anchorages at a rate of up to {{convert|550|yd3}} per day.<ref name="Ripley p. 205">{{harvnb|Ripley|1907|ps=.|page=205}}</ref> During mid-1905, officials condemned land in Manhattan and Brooklyn for the bridge's approaches;<ref name="n138526928">{{Cite news |date=May 6, 1905 |title=Making Good Progress in Condemnation of Land |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-citizen-making-good-progres/138526928/ |access-date=January 11, 2024 |work=The Brooklyn Citizen |pages=2}}</ref> the land acquisition was partially delayed because the contractors rented out houses that were supposed to be demolished.<ref name="n138549750">{{Cite news |date=March 30, 1905 |title=Why New Bridge Waits |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-new-york-times-why-new-bridge-waits/138549750/ |access-date=January 12, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |pages=7 |postscript=none}}; {{cite news |date=March 29, 1905 |title=On Bridge 3 Approaches Some Houses Are Rented |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-on-bridge-3-app/138549784/ |access-date=January 12, 2024 |work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |pages=1}}</ref> By the end of the year, the city's bridge department was planning to erect streetcar terminal buildings at either end of the bridge.<ref name="p571667503" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=December 20, 1905 |title=The Manhattan Bridge Terminals |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1905/12/20/100495904.pdf |access-date=December 23, 2017 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

To avoid the delays that had occurred during the [[Williamsburg Bridge]]'s construction, Best planned to award a single large contract for the towers and the deck, rather than splitting the work into multiple contracts.<ref name="n138526333">{{Cite news |date=February 20, 1905 |title=To Advertise by May 1 Plans for Bridge No. 3 |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-citizen-to-advertise-by-may/138526333/ |access-date=January 11, 2024 |work=The Brooklyn Citizen |pages=2}}</ref> He began soliciting bids for the metalwork in July 1905,<ref name="n138531720">{{Cite news |date=July 23, 1905 |title=Bids for Manhattan Bridge |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/new-york-tribune-bids-for-manhattan-brid/138531720/ |access-date=January 11, 2024 |work=New-York Tribune |pages=5 |postscript=none}}; {{cite news |date=July 23, 1905 |title=New Bridge Plans Ready |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-new-york-times-new-bridge-plans-read/138532356/ |access-date=January 11, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |pages=12}}</ref> at which point the bridge was to use {{convert|44000|ST|LT t}} of metal.<ref name="p129000387">{{cite news |date=July 21, 1905 |title=Steel for Manhattan Bridge.: Greater New York Wants Nearly 44,000 Tons. |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-wall-street-journal-steel-for-manhat/138532281/ |access-date=January 11, 2024 |work=The Wall Street Journal |pages=5 |issn=0099-9660 |id={{ProQuest|129000387}}}}</ref> The [[Pennsylvania Steel Company]] received the contract in August 1905 after submitting a low bid of $7.248 million,<ref name="The New York Times 1905 s523">{{cite web |date=August 16, 1905 |title=Prison Commission Named; To Consider New Sites and Plans to Abolish Sing Sing and Auburn. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1905/08/16/archives/prison-commission-named-to-consider-new-sites-and-plans-to-abolish.html |access-date=January 11, 2024 |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |postscript=none}}; {{cite news |date=August 16, 1905 |title=Contract for $7,284,000 |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-contract-for-7/138534743/ |access-date=January 11, 2024 |work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |pages=16}}</ref> and a competing bidder sued to prevent the contract from being awarded to Pennsylvania Steel.<ref name="n138533348">{{Cite news |date=August 17, 1905 |title=Suit to Enjoin Mr. Best Will Be Heard on Sept. 6 |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-suit-to-enjoin/138533348/ |access-date=January 11, 2024 |work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |pages=3 |postscript=none}}; {{cite news |date=August 18, 1905 |title=More Trouble for Bridge Department |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-standard-union-more-trouble-for-brid/138534956/ |access-date=January 11, 2024 |work=The Standard Union |pages=5}}</ref> In November, a [[New York Supreme Court]] judge ruled that the contract with Pennsylvania Steel was illegal, as the bidding process had been designed to shut out other bidders.<ref name="The New York Times 1905 m406">{{cite web |date=November 22, 1905 |title=Court Holds Up Work on Manhattan Bridge; Contract with Pennsylvania Steel Company Declared Illegal |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1905/11/22/archives/court-holds-up-work-on-manhattan-bridge-contract-with-pennsylvania.html |access-date=January 11, 2024 |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |postscript=none}}; {{cite news |date=November 21, 1905 |title=Manhattan Bridge Contract Enjoined |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-evening-world-manhattan-bridge-contr/138538373/ |access-date=January 11, 2024 |work=The Evening World |pages=2}}</ref> Although Best tried to appeal the Supreme Court's decision,<ref name="The New York Times 1905 n965">{{cite web |date=December 8, 1905 |title=Appeals Bridge Contract; City Hopes to Give the Work to the Pennsylvania Steel Company. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1905/12/08/archives/appeals-bridge-contract-city-hopes-to-give-the-work-to-the.html |access-date=January 11, 2024 |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |postscript=none}}; {{cite news |date=December 7, 1905 |title=Best to Appeal Contract |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-best-to-appeal/138539366/ |access-date=January 11, 2024 |work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |pages=1}}</ref> the contract was re-advertised anyway; Pennsylvania Steel refused to submit another bid.<ref name="p537167327">{{Cite news |date=May 8, 1906 |title=Topics in New York: Lassoed Would-Be Suicide Who Leaped From a Boat Steel for the New Bridge Pennsylvania Steel Co. Refuses to Enter Competition for the Manhattan Span's Superstructure |work=The Sun |page=5 |id={{ProQuest|537167327}}}}</ref> When Stevenson became the bridge commissioner at the beginning of 1906, he ordered that new bridge specifications be created.<ref name="n138548685">{{Cite news |date=January 3, 1906 |title=Will Include Eye-Bars In Bridge Specifications |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-will-include-ey/138548685/ |access-date=January 12, 2024 |work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |pages=10}}</ref> Stevenson received bids for the steelwork in May 1906,<ref name="p537167327" /><ref name="p144643797">{{cite news |date=May 8, 1906 |title=Manhattan Bridge Contract.: Lowest Bid on Big New York Structure Was $6,493,223. |newspaper=The Washington Post |page=9 |issn=0190-8286 |id={{ProQuest|144643797}} |postscript=none}}; {{cite news |date=May 8, 1906 |title=Bridge Bids Opened: Ryan-Parker Company Offers Lowest Figures for Steel Work |work=New-York Tribune |page=12 |issn=1941-0646 |id={{ProQuest|571832220}}}}</ref> and the Ryan-Parker Construction Company received the contract the next month, following delays caused by an injunction and threats of lawsuits.<ref name="n138539932">{{Cite news |date=June 16, 1906 |title=Manhattan Bridge Contract Awarded |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-standard-union-manhattan-bridge-cont/138539932/ |access-date=January 11, 2024 |work=The Standard Union |pages=1 |postscript=none}}; {{cite news |date=June 17, 1906 |title=Manhattan Bridge Work Begun |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/new-york-tribune-manhattan-bridge-work-b/138539986/ |access-date=January 11, 2024 |work=New-York Tribune |pages=5}}</ref>

The Ryan-Parker Company hired the [[Phoenix Iron Works (Phoenixville, Pennsylvania)#Phoenix Bridge Company|Phoenix Bridge Company]] in September 1906 to fabricate the steelwork.<ref name="n138550254">{{Cite news |date=September 1, 1906 |title=Manhattan Bridge |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-wall-street-journal-manhattan-bridge/138550254/ |access-date=January 12, 2024 |work=The Wall Street Journal |pages=5 |issn=0099-9660}}</ref> The Phoenix Bridge Company's 2,000 workers began making beams, girders, eyebars, and other parts of the bridge at the firm's factory in [[Phoenixville, Pennsylvania]].<ref name="n138579192">{{Cite news |date=February 17, 1907 |title=Manhattan Bridge Work Pushed by Phoenixville Steel Mills |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-manhattan-bridg/138579192/ |access-date=January 12, 2024 |work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |pages=50}}</ref> The anchorages were less than half complete, in part because of inclement weather and material shortages.<ref name="n138550087" /> That November, the Board of Estimate and Apportionment approved $4 million for land acquisition in Manhattan and $300,000 for land acquisition in Brooklyn.<ref name="p129105464">{{cite news |date=November 24, 1906 |title=Millions for New Bridge Approaches |work=The Wall Street Journal |page=7 |issn=0099-9660 |id={{ProQuest|129105464}} |postscript=none}}; {{cite news |date=November 23, 1906 |title=To Acquire Approaches |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-citizen-to-acquire-approach/138547252/ |access-date=January 12, 2024 |work=The Brooklyn Citizen |pages=2}}</ref> By early 1907, the city had spent over $6 million on the bridge;<ref name="n138580906">{{Cite news |date=February 6, 1907 |title=Cost of the Third Bridge |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-citizen-cost-of-the-third-b/138580906/ |access-date=January 12, 2024 |work=The Brooklyn Citizen |pages=12 }}</ref> the bridge's total cost was estimated at $20 million.<ref name="n138582414">{{Cite news |date=April 7, 1907 |title=Panama Outdone in New York |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sun-panama-outdone-in-new-york/138582414/ |access-date=January 12, 2024 |work=The Sun |pages=38}}</ref> To speed up the bridge's completion, Manhattan borough president [[Bird Sim Coler]] considered implementing [[night shift]]s.<ref name="p571947857a">{{cite news |date=February 2, 1907 |title=To Hurry Bridge Work: Coler Wants to Know If Night Shifts Can Be Used on Manhattan |work=New-York Tribune |page=3 |issn=1941-0646 |id={{ProQuest|571947857}} |postscript=none}}; {{cite news |date=February 2, 1907 |title=Favors Union Square Site for Court House; Board of Estimate Likely to Accept Commission's Report |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1907/02/02/archives/favors-union-square-site-for-court-house-board-of-estimate-likely.html |access-date=January 12, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |language=en-US}}</ref> By February 1907, the Phoenix Bridge Company was manufacturing steel faster than it could be installed,<ref name="n138581156">{{Cite news |date=February 21, 1907 |title=Manhattan Bridge Steel |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-union-manhattan-bridge-steel/138581156/ |access-date=January 12, 2024 |work=Times Union |pages=10}}</ref> and the steel for the anchorages was done.<ref name="n138581218">{{Cite news |date=February 14, 1907 |title=Extra Shifts Required on Manhattan Bridge |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-extra-shifts-re/138581218/ |access-date=January 12, 2024 |work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |pages=3}}</ref> The company had also begun fabricating beams for the towers.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 19, 1907 |title=First Completed Section of Manhattan Bridge Tower |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-first-completed/138581493/ |access-date=January 12, 2024 |work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |pages=23}}</ref> Land acquisition for an extension of Flatbush Avenue to the bridge began in March,<ref name="n138582183">{{Cite news |date=March 3, 1907 |title=To Cut a Wide Swath in Brooklyn's Heart |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-citizen-to-cut-a-wide-swath/138582183/ |access-date=January 12, 2024 |work=The Brooklyn Citizen |pages=13}}</ref> and the first steel girders of the towers were lifted in place the next month.<ref name="n138582327">{{Cite news |date=April 5, 1907 |title=Setting Up the Towers for the Manhattan Bridge |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-setting-up-the/138582327/ |access-date=January 12, 2024 |work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |pages=25}}</ref> The first steel pedestals for the towers were installed on June 26, 1907.<ref name="n138585713">{{Cite news |date=June 26, 1907 |title=Real Work Begins on New Bridge To-Day |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-real-work-begin/138585713/ |access-date=January 12, 2024 |work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |pages=20}}</ref><ref name="n138585751">{{Cite news |date=June 26, 1907 |title=Manhattan Bridge Work |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-union-manhattan-bridge-work/138585751/ |access-date=January 12, 2024 |work=Times Union |pages=12}}</ref> The anchorages were nearly done by late 1907; they could not be completed until the cables were finished.<ref name="p571995180">{{cite news |date=September 8, 1907 |title=New Bridge Approach: Changes in Brooklyn in Preparation for Manhattan Structure |work=New-York Tribune |page=B6 |issn=1941-0646 |id={{ProQuest|571995180}}}}</ref>

The city government acquired land for the approaches in October 1907; this required the relocation of several hundred families in Brooklyn<ref name="n138588324">{{Cite news |date=November 13, 1907 |title=City's Tenants to Beg for Extension of Time |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-citys-tenants/138588324/ |access-date=January 12, 2024 |work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |pages=5}}</ref> and nearly 1,000 families in Manhattan.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 29, 1907 |title=1,000 Families Must Move |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sun-1000-families-must-move/138590018/ |access-date=January 12, 2024 |work=The Sun |pages=1}}</ref> In total, about 145 lots in Brooklyn and 173 lots in Manhattan were obtained for the bridge's approaches and plazas.<ref name="p572045467">{{cite news |date=August 2, 1908 |title=Manhattan Bridge: Clearing Ground for the Approaches Almost Completed |work=New-York Tribune |page=C7 |issn=1941-0646 |id={{ProQuest|572045467}}}}</ref> Some Brooklyn residents requested additional time to relocate.<ref name="n138588324" /> Residents in the path of the Manhattan approach also protested efforts to evict them,<ref name="p571981215">{{cite news |date=November 25, 1907 |title=Put Off Moving Day: Tenants in Condemned Buildings Oppose Wreckers |work=New-York Tribune |page=4 |issn=1941-0646 |id={{ProQuest|571981215}} |postscript=none}}; {{Cite news |date=November 25, 1907 |title=Tenants Won't Move |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-new-york-times-tenants-wont-move/138588176/ |access-date=January 12, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |pages=16}}</ref> though they were relocated at the beginning of December 1907.<ref name="nyt-1907-12-03">{{Cite news |date=December 3, 1907 |title=Tenements Give Way to New Bridge; Last Moving Day for Tenants Along the Line of the Manhattan's Approach |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1907/12/03/archives/tenements-give-way-to-new-bridge-last-moving-day-for-tenants-along.html |access-date=January 12, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |language=en-US}}</ref> Later that month, four companies submitted bids for the construction of the bridge's Manhattan and Brooklyn approach spans.<ref name="p129028537">{{cite news |date=December 10, 1907 |title=New Bridge Approaches |work=The Wall Street Journal |page=7 |issn=0099-9660 |id={{ProQuest|129028537}} |postscript=none}}; {{Cite news |date=December 12, 1907 |title=Opens Bids for Steel on Manhattan Bridge |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-standard-union-opens-bids-for-steel/138588498/ |access-date=January 12, 2024 |work=The Standard Union |pages=10}}</ref> John C. Rodgers submitted a low bid of $2.17 million for the viaducts,<ref name="n138588838">{{Cite news |date=December 17, 1907 |title=Approaches for New Bridge |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-approaches-for/138588838/ |access-date=January 12, 2024 |work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |pages=1}}</ref> and Stevenson requested that amount from the Board of Estimate.<ref name="n138588872">{{Cite news |date=December 17, 1907 |title=To Finish 3D Bridge by 1910 Is the Plan |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-citizen-to-finish-3d-bridge/138588872/ |access-date=January 12, 2024 |work=The Brooklyn Citizen |pages=10}}</ref> By the beginning of 1908, most of the land had been cleared, and the suspension towers had been built to above the height of the deck.<ref name="n138592853">{{Cite news |date=January 9, 1908 |title=The Manhattan Bridge May Be Ready in Two Years |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-the-manhattan-b/138592853/ |access-date=January 12, 2024 |work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |pages=28}}</ref> The Manhattan tower was finished that March,<ref name="n138593749">{{Cite news |date=March 21, 1908 |title=Towers Quickly Built for Manhattan Bridge |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-towers-quickly/138593749/ |access-date=January 12, 2024 |work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |pages=2}}</ref> followed by the Brooklyn tower the next month.<ref name="n138599081">{{Cite news |date=April 28, 1908 |title=Last Saddle in Place on New Bridge Tower |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-last-saddle-in/138599081/ |access-date=January 12, 2024 |work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |pages=3 |postscript=none}}; {{Cite news |date=April 28, 1908 |title=New Bridge Towers Practically Completed |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-standard-union-new-bridge-towers-pra/138599152/ |access-date=January 12, 2024 |work=The Standard Union |pages=1}}</ref> Land acquisition was nearly done by the middle of that year.<ref name="p572045467" />