Template:Did you know nominations/James Laurie


 * The following is an archived discussion of the DYK nomination of the article below. Please do not modify this page. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as |this nomination's talk page, the article's talk page or Wikipedia talk:Did you know), unless there is consensus to re-open the discussion at this page. No further edits should be made to this page.

The result was: promoted by Cwmhiraeth (talk) 05:21, 9 July 2016 (UTC)

James Laurie

 * ... that James Laurie proposed an elevated railroad over Broadway fifteen years before New York City's first such line was built?


 * Reviewed: Yukiko Sakamoto

5x expanded by Pi.1415926535 (talk). Self-nominated at 21:44, 1 July 2016 (UTC).
 * (ALT1): ... that James Laurie proposed an elevated railroad over Broadway in 1853, fifteen years before New York City's first such line was built?


 * Symbol question.svg The article has had its prose portion expanded at least fivefold (previously just 66 words, now 559 words), so now long enough, within policy (neutral and sourced using inline references). There is one main source which is available online and checking against it shows that it is free of copyright violations or close paraphrasing. There is a journal article cited twice as a source which requires a subscription, so I have not been able to check this but assume there is no problem. The hook is short enough, neutral and interesting. In my opinion, the hook could be improved by adding a date, I would propose using the date that he gave his presentation. Also, for accuracy in the passage that supports the hook the article, some material should be added to provide adequate referencing of the dates that the construction/ opening of the IRT Ninth Avenue Line. (He presented the paper in 1853, construction began July 1, 1867 and line opened July 1, 1868). QPQ has been met. Also I note the article has a picture that is in the public domain but it hasn't been used for this DYK nomination. Drchriswilliams (talk) 09:47, 3 July 2016 (UTC)


 * I've added a good source for the 1868 opening of the elevated line. The image doesn't look great at DYK width so I wasn't sure if it was worthwhile, but I wouldn't be opposed. Your ALT1 hook looks good to me. Thanks! Pi.1415926535 (talk) 15:28, 5 July 2016 (UTC)


 * (ALT2): ... that James Laurie co-founded the first national engineering society in the United States and in 1853 helped the group advocate an elevated railroad over Broadway, fifteen years before New York City's first such line was built?
 * Symbol question.svg Looking closer at the article, I'm suggesting a revised hook. I want to avoid using language that might suggest that he was involved with designing the elevated railway- I can't see any source suggesting such an involvement. I also think his connection to the American Society of Civil Engineers is also worthy of a mention, although it wasn't incorporated with that name until 1868. Drchriswilliams (talk) 18:54, 7 July 2016 (UTC)


 * (ALT3): ... that James Laurie co-founded the first national engineering society in the United States in 1852 and was the organization's first president?
 * Symbol question.svg Thinking about things more, ALT2 tries to fit too much in, so I have put the other claim in a hook of its own. I think that overall ALT1 remains more interesting. Drchriswilliams (talk) 14:53, 8 July 2016 (UTC)
 * I prefer ALT1 as well - I think it's the more unusual fact, without implying that he was actually involved in the line's construction. Should we just go with that then? Thanks for finding additional sources for the article! Pi.1415926535 (talk) 15:43, 8 July 2016 (UTC)
 * Symbol confirmed.svg Good to go. Drchriswilliams (talk) 15:46, 8 July 2016 (UTC)