242 The Story of The Bronx 



newly annexed district. Accordingly, April 5, 1880, articles 

 of association were filed by the Harlem River and Port Chester 

 Rapid Transit Company, under the general railroad laws 

 of 1850, for the construction of a steam railway from East 

 129th Street and Second Avenue, Manhattan, to a point on 

 Westchester Avenue near the Bronx River, there dividing 

 into two branches, one of which was to go to Hunt's Point. 



October 19, 1880, the Suburban Rapid Transit Company 

 was chartered under the Rapid Transit Act of 1875, relating 

 to elevated railroads. November 30, 1883, the New York, 

 Fordham, and Bronx Railway Company filed articles of incor- 

 poration under the same act for the purpose of constructing 

 a railroad in the Annexed District, to connect with the elevated 

 railroads then running on Manhattan Island, and to extend to 

 Bronxdale and Williamsbridge in two branches from Fordham. 

 March 17, 1886, the Suburban Rapid Transit Company ac- 

 quired all the rights, franchises, etc., of the last-named company 

 and began the construction of an elevated road from East 

 129th Street and Third Avenue, south of the Harlem River, 

 to 143d Street, between Willis and Alexander avenues in 

 the Borough. The bridge over the Harlem River, generally 

 known as the "Second Avenue Bridge," was opened to the 

 public May 17, 1886. 



In 1887, the line was continued to 161st Street, a distance 

 of 2.16 miles from the Manhattan end. To 145th Street, the 

 road uses its own property, none of the streets being used 

 except to cross over, and the tracks are constructed in the 

 middle of the blocks between Willis and Alexander avenues. 

 From 145th Street, the elevated structure follows the line 

 of Third Avenue. The next extension was made to Tremont, 

 177th Street, in July, 1891. Another extension was made to 

 Pelham Avenue. Fordham, in 1900; and the last extension was 



