Frederick Law Olmsted Subject File Parks Brooklyn, New York Printed Reports and Maps 1861-70 2Brooklyn Parks Reports 1861-68F. L. Olmsted Esq First Annual Report of the Commissioners of Prospect Park, Brooklyn, January 28th, 1861. Een Draght Mockt Maght Seal of the City of Brooklyn. Brooklyn: L. Darbee & Son, Book & Job Printers, 92 South-First St. 1861IN COMMON COUNCIL Brooklyn, Jan. 28, 1861 Resolved, That fifteen hundred copies of the First Annual Report of the Commissioners of Prospect Park, be printed in pamphlet form. The resolution was adopted. Attest, WM. G. BISHOP City Clerk. To Hon. Martin Kalbfleisch, President, &c., of the Common Council: Sir: In pursuance of the Act of the Legislature, I herewith present to the Common Council of the City of Brooklyn the First Annual Report of the Commissioners of Prospect Park. I have the honor to be, Very respectfully yours, J.S.T. STRANAHAN, President Board of Commissioners of Prospect Park Brooklyn, January 28th, 1861.Prospect Park. View from the Reservoir Looking West. ENDICOTT & CO LITH 59 BEEKMAN ST N.Y.Report OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF PROSPECT PARK. By the 20th section of the Act of the Assembly of April 17th, 1860, entitled “An Act to lay out a Public Park and a Parade Ground for the City of Brooklyn, and to alter the Commissioners’ Map of said city,” it is made the duty of the Commissioner of Prospect Park, in the month of January of every year, to make to the Common Council of the City of Brooklyn a full report of their proceedings, and a detailed statement of all their receipts and expenditures. In complying with this provision of the law, the Commissioners deem it proper to introduce their first Annual Report with a history of the successive legislative enactments relating to the subject upon which they are called to act. On the 18th day of April, 1859, at the solicitation of the citizens of Brooklyn, the Legislature of the State of New-York passed the following act, entitledCH Dalton 14 Dec 78 NY 21st Dec 1878 Jas. P. Davis [??] City Engineer; Dear Sir; I have received your form of 18th inst. which gives me all the advice I require in the permits referred to. I think that I shall propose a standing body of water, suffice at say +8 to +9, with an surface of nearer 40 than 50 acres but which with should in 50 acres more [over 50 acres] with a rise of 2 feet. Assuming this arrangement with the 6x6 ft box serves you suggest, it remains to be cursed end what the [??] should8 the city, a small part being in Flatbush, adjacent to the city, and particularly described as follows, viz: Commencing at the intersection of Douglass street and Washington avenue; running thence southerly along Washington avenue to the city line, at Montgomery street; thence southwesterly in a straight line to the intersection of the city line and Ninth street; thence northwesterly along Ninth street to Tenth avenue; thence northwesterly along Third street to the center of the block between Eighth and Ninth avenues; thence northerly in a line parallel with Ninth avenue to Douglass street; thence easterly along Douglass street to Washington avenue, the place of beginning, containing about two hundred and fifty acres, exclusive of Flatbush avenue and the reservoir, which, together, contain seventeen acres, making the whole area of the park about two hundred and sixty-seven acres. This land is designated on the map hereto annexed, by the letter A, as Mount Prospect Park. The estimated present value of this land, with the buildings thereon, is one million of dollars. 2. The piece of land situated at, and adjacent to the receiving reservoir of the Nassau water works, at Ridgewood, lying partly in the county of Kings and partly in the county of Queens, and designated on said map by the letter B. 3. The piece of land situated at what is commonly called Bay Ridge, and designated on the map hereto annexed by the letter C. The Commissioners recommend that these three pieces of land be reserved for city parks, for the general benefit of the city of Brooklyn and the county of Kings. 4. They also recommend that a piece of land, of about twenty-five acres, situated at East New York, in the town of New Lots, to be taken from the southerly portion of the lands of the heirs of White Howard, deceased, be taken and reserved for a parade ground. This land is designated on the map by the letter D. That the three follows described pieces of land be taken and reserved as local parks, to be paid for on the principle of assessment adopted in the case of Washington park, in this city, if no other principle should be deemed more equitable and expedient, viz: First.-All that parcel of land, situated on Brooklyn Heights, overlooking the East river, the Bay, the city of New York, and the shores of New Jersey, and lying between Remsen, Montague, and Furman streets and Pierrepont Place, and designated on said 9 map by the letter E, commanding a view unsurpassed, as is believed, for varied and picturesque beauty. Second.-The land lying between Ewen, Smith, North-second, and Ainsley streets, comprising four blocks of ground, and designated on said map by the letter F. Third - The land lying between the Fourth and Fifth avenues and Third and Sixth streets, comprising three large blocks of ground, containing about seventeen acres of land, and designated on said map by the letter G. The Commissioners have, perhaps, performed the duty assigned to them, by simply making the above recommendations. But the great importance of the subject, and the deep interest which they feel in the prosperity and future progress of the city, may excuse a brief statement of the reasons which led them to the above conclusions. No single location for a great Central Park, suitable both to the present state and future growth of the city, presented itself. Prospect Hill, on account of its commanding views of Brooklyn, New York, Jamaica Bay, and the Ocean beyond, of the eastern part of Kings county, of the Bay of New York, Staten Island, the Narrows, and the New Jersey shore, the undulating surface of the ground, the fine growth of timber covering a large portion of it, the absence of any considerable improvements to be paid for, has, for many years, been contemplated by our citizens as a favorite place for a park. Another very important consideration was, that the distribution reservoir was established there, upon a piece of land of about fourteen acres, owned by the city. While this would add to the attractions of a park, the park, by surrounding, would protect the reservoir from encroachments, which might, at a future time, prove a serious detriment. The county has also recently purchased land near the reservoir, for a court-house. But this place, however suitable in other respects, is not central, in reference to the whole population of the consolidated city of Brooklyn. That population now extends for a distance of about eight miles along the East river and the Bay of New York, namely, from Greenpoint, on the East river, to the northerly line of New Utrecht, and is destined to extend still further, as is believed, in both of those directions, keeping pace with the northward movement of the population of New York, and at 210 the same time rapidly occupying the cheaper, but equally attractive situations lying along the eastern shore of the bay, towards Fort Hamilton. The progress of population eastward has been quite as remarkable, and seems to justify the current opinion that in a few more years of such increase, not only a large portion of Kings county, now lying beyond the city limits, but a considerable part of Queens, will be merged in the city. A glance at the annexed map will illustrate these statements, and show that a park at Prospect Hill could not fairly be called a Central Park; but though very accessible to the inhabitants of the Western district, so called, is more distant from, and less accessible to those of the Eastern district. The Commissioners, in view of these facts, of the incalculable importance of protecting from encroachment the great receiving reservoir at Ridgewood; in view, also, of the diversified surface of the land there, of its fine natural forest, of the noble views of the surrounding country, the Bay and Ocean, presented from its heights, and the comparative cheapness of the land, determined to recommend that another large city park be laid out there. This receiving reservoir, lying in a tract of land of about fifty acres, owned by the city, now has the Cemetery of the Evergreens on the southwest, and the Cypress Hills Cemetery on the northeast. These cemeteries are now at a distance from the reservoir, but the population of the cities of the dead increases, only less rapidly than that of the abodes of the living. The reservoir certainly should never be allowed to come in contact with these cemeteries. Ridgewood is near the termini of three city railroads, communicating with six ferries on the East river. The population of the city is rapidly spreading in that direction. A portion of the land recommended for a park lies beyond the city line, and is in Queens county; but so is a part of the reservoir. This circumstance, especially in view of the rapid approach of the time when the city proper will absorb all this territory spoken of, affords no substantial objection to the proposition. This land will, we think, require but a small expenditure for embellishment. It may be almost called a natural park. It presents a great diversity of surface, yet is smooth and free from rock. A large portion of it is well covered with timber, and the {{page break}} 11 ridges of the hills overlook a charming landscape, bounded on the south only by the ocean, which is in full view. The land proposed for a park at Bay Ridge is well situated, commands magnificent views of the bay, the ocean, Staten Island and the New Jersey shore. It is now purchasable at a comparatively low price. If, as has been suggested, a macadamized road from Fort Hamilton around the eastern side of the city, passing over Prospect Hill, around Ridgewood Reservoir, and so westward to the river at Green Point, should be laid out, this, in connection with the other two great parks and the drive, would afford a public attraction unsurpassed, as we believe, in the world. Irrespective of this particular communication between the three parks, Atlantic avenue, if widened and ornamented as proposed by a bill now before the Legislature, will form a communication between the Mount Prospect and the Ridgewood Parks, and greatly enhance the value of all the parks as places of resort for health or pleasure. The Parade Ground recommended has been, by common choice, used for many years by the military of Brooklyn, and to some extent by that of New York, for exercises and displays. In the opinion of military men, this can be made as perfect a parade ground as could be desired. It lies near the termini of the three city railroads spoken of as terminating at Ridgewood. The land is almost perfectly level and smooth, and is commanded by the high grounds of Ridgewood Park as proposed. The Commissioners, after full consideration, are convinced that it is inexpedient to have the Parade Ground within either of the parks proposed; and that neither the comfort nor the safety of the citizens generally would be promoted by bringing large crowds of men, women and children in close contact with bodies of soldiers, exercising or on parade. That these public grounds should now be secured to the city, the Commissioners have no doubt. With the increase of the necessity for them, if not now reserved, will come a rapid increase of the cost of finally securing them. By taking them, we know the city in the first instance releases so much taxable property from the taxing power. The taxable value of the land lying in the three large parks is supposed to be about $300,000.12 The Commissioners entertain the hope that if these improvements are made, the increased taxable value of the real estate lying in the vicinity of these parks, the addition of a very large amount of taxable personal property, which may be expected as incidental to the increase of population, and to the general rise in the value of the real estate of the city, produced by these and the other great improvements now in progress, will not only prevent the withdrawal from taxation of the lands taken for parks from being felt, but will prevent the payment of the interest upon the debt created, and the gradual extinguishment of the debt itself from becoming burdensome. While it behooves our citizens to avoid creating oppressive burdens, something must be conceded to the taste and spirit of the age; an age unequalled in activity, enterprise, intelligence and refinement, something to the peculiarity of our geographical situation contiguous to the metropolis of the western world, and something to the wants of future millions, who seemed destined to draw largely to this point of the resources of every nation on the earth. The intense activity and the destructive excitement of business life as here conducted, imperatively demands these public places for exercise and recreation. If they tend to abate this excitement and to divert our people somewhat from the mere struggle for wealth, their moral and physical effects will compensate largely for the pecuniary cost. As already intimated, the fullest opportunity has been afforded to our fellow citizens to express their wishes and opinions in regard to this matter. Some earnestly advocated the adoption of a plan for a grand drive or carriage rode, to extend from Fort Hamilton to Green Point, connecting a chain of five parks, somewhat smaller than the three city parks recommended; three of which were proposed to be located where such large parks are recommended by the Commissioners. The Commissioners concluded that the pleasure of a great drive, though accessible to the more opulent, would be entirely inaccessible to the masses of our people; that these need parks to which they can go on foot or by the cheap railroad lines, where health and pleasure shall be freely offered to all classes. Again, the Commissioners heartily approve and recommend the plan for widening and ornamenting Atlantic avenue referred to, and trust that it will be sanctioned by the Legislature. That will connect the two great parks at Mount Prospect and Ridgewood 13 by an avenue unequalled for beauty in this country, at a moderate expense, and prove beneficial, as we believe, to the property on the line of improvement. For the purposes of a drive, that avenue will furnish all needful accommodation. All which is respectfully submitted, Brooklyn, February 3, 1860. J. GREENWOOD, THOMAS G. TALMAGE, L. B. WYMAN, THOS. H. RODMAN, JESSE C. SMITH, SAMUEL S. POWELL, JOHN A. CROSS, ABRM. J. BERRY, DANL. MAUJER, J. CARSON BREVOORT, N. B. MORSE, WM. H. PECK. TO JOHN GREENWOOD, ESQ., President of the Board of Park Commissioners: SIR: I have been requested to furnish a statistical table of the valuation of real and personal estate, as returned by the Assessors for twenty years last past, together with the average rate of taxation in the territory now comprising the city of Brooklyn, and my opinion has also been solicited as to the probability of its future increase of value for purposes of taxation. The annexed tabular statement I have compiled from the records, except for the years 1852 and 1853, the records for those years being imperfect. The statement is in part an estimate, but will be found sufficiently accurate for your purpose. With regard to the unexampled increase of our city, it has been frequently asserted, and as frequently disputed or doubted, that the population has, for the past forty years, doubled every eighth year. To prove that such is the fact, it is only necessary to have recourse to a few figures, as follows: The population of the town of Brooklyn in 1814 was 3,805; which doubled in eight years, would, in 1822, be 7,610; the next eight years would, in 1830, be 15,220, (the census for that14 year gives 15,295.) The next eight years, 1838, would be 30,440; the next eight years, 1846, would be 60,880, and the next eight years, 1854, 121,760. The census for 1855, one year later, gives 148,774 exclusive of Williamsburgh and Bushwick, which were annexed that year. If we estimate the increase of taxable property in the same ratio, the result will be far short of the reality, the comparison standing thus: Actual valuation. Doubled each 8th year In 1814 . . . . . . . . $ 1,459,791 In 1822 . . . . . . . . . 2,727,501 $ 2,919,582 In 1830 . . . . . . . . . 6,844,239 5,839,164 In 1838 . . . . . . . . 27,994,819 11,678,328 In 1846 . . . . . . . . 30,642,562 23,356,656 In 1854 . . . . . . . . 88,923,081 46,713,312 Carrying the estimate another period of eight years would give, in 1862, $93,426,624, while the valuation for 1859 is $101,047,136. The above valuation includes the boundaries of the present city as enlarged. Although there have been great irregularities in the ratio of increase, consequent upon commer- cial and monetary crises, yet the general average much more than sustains the allegation that the city has, for the past forty years, doubled her population, and far more than doubled her wealth, every eighth year, or in that proportion. As to the probabilities of its future increase, and the question whether it can probably continue in an equal ration for another period of forty years, it must remain a subject of conjecture. To continue the hypothesis, by taking a fresh start with the census of 1855 of the present enlarged city of Brooklyn, and the year 1895 would give a population of 6,468,000, and a property valuation of $3,260,837,280. These results are so enormous that the exclamation "Impos- sible," instinctively falls from our lips. To continue in that ratio for an indefinite period, would, ere many generations, absorb the population of one-half the globe; there must, there- fore, be a limitation somewhere; but who shall venture to fix that limitation ? It may, however, safely be averred, that so long as the great commercial metropolis continues to increase in the ratio of the past fifty years, so long must Brooklyn not only continue her past ratio of increase, but even exceed it, for the reason that the expansion of New York city must soon cease, for want of 15 space, and in that event, a much larger proportion of the increase will be on this side of the river. The boundaries of the city must necessarily be extended, to admit such increase of population, as they have already been on one occasion. Admitting, however, that such ratio of increase may continue to the year 1875, or fifteen years from the present time, a period which many of us may reasonably hope to see, the population would then be over 600,000, and the property valuation about $570,000,000. This I consider a very reasonable estimate, and have no doubt that the reality will exceed this estimate. To draw a practical comparison with the immediate question at issue, let us suppose that the proposed parks will cost two and a half millions, and that $65,000 per annum is to be raised for a sinking fund, which, annually invested at six per cent., would extinguish the principal in twenty years; this, with the annual interest, would require an annual tax of $215,000, which, on the present valuation, would be equal to about 21 cents on the the $100, (a serious addition to our present rates), while in 1875, supposing the above ratio of increase to continue, the rate of the $100 of valuation would be reduced to about 3 8/10 cents; or a sliding scale might be adopted by which the amount to be raised annually would be increased in proportion to the annual increase of taxable property, so that a tax of 5 or 6 cents on the $100 would extinguish the debt in twenty years. The wisdom of involving our posterity so deeply in debt, may be questioned, and can only be excused on the ground that the proposed improvement is designed more for their than for the present generation. That the enhanced value of the taxable property of the city, consequent upon the proposed improvement, not only in their immediate vicinity, but generally through the city, will more than compensate for the necessary increase in the rate of taxa- tion, in my opinion, leaves no room for doubt. The above remarks and calculations have been hastily thrown together, the shortness of the time allotted me not permitting me, even were it desirable, to pursue the enquiry further, nor even to review them as to their correctness. I am, sir, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, A. H. OSBORN.16 VALUATION AND AVERAGE RATE OF TAXATION, In the territory now compromising the city of Brooklyn, for the periods stated below: Year. Real. Personal. Total. Average Rate. 1839 $25,049,160 $3,400,917 $28,450,077 .53 1840 25,363,965 3,281,542 28,645,507 .48 1841 25,745,300 3,145,447 28,890,647 .49 1842 25,009,134 2,878,272 27,887,406 .58 1843 21,539,283 3,078,175 24,617,458 .64 1844 22,993,239 3,349,716 26,342,955 .72 1845 24,658,514 3,415,885 28,074,399 .63 1846 26,934,493 3,708,069 30,642,562 .77 1847 29,321,522 3,923,989 33,245,511 .72 1848 31,607,581 3,879,779 35,487,360 .91 1849 33,277,588 3,794,150 37,031,738 1.13 1850 37,567,334 4,349,205 41,916,539 1.09 1851 50,894,576 6,308,952 57,203,528. 1.18 1852 61,610,359 8,681,847 70,512,300 1.08 1853 73,008,152 9,171,131 82,179,883 1.20 1854 74,014,641 9,908,440 88,923,081 1.41 1855 84,543,798 10,044,867 94,588,665 1.62 1856 85,736,446 10,063,994 95,800,440 1.43 1857 87,807,150 11,168,875 98,976,025 1.79 1858 88,136,781 10,338,494 98,475,275 1.59 1859 90,150,396 10,896,740 101,047,136 1.24 17 In pursuance of the recommendations in the foregoing report, the Legislature, on the 17th day of April, 1860, passed the following act, entitled. "AN ACT To lay out a Public Park and a Parade Ground for the city of Brooklyn, and to alter the Commissioners' map of said city. Passed April 17th, 1860--three-fifths being present. The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows: Boundaries of Prospect Park. SECTION 1. All the following tracts, pieces and parcels of land in this act described, having been selected and located for a public park and for a parade ground for the city of Brooklyn, by the Commissioners appointed for that purpose, by the act entitled "An act to authorize the selection and location of certain ground for public parks and also for a parade ground for the city of Brooklyn," passed April eighteenth, eighteen hundred and fifty-nine; the said tracts, pieces and parcels of land, are hereby declared to be public places, that is to say: All that piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the city of Brooklyn, and town of Flatbush, and bounded and described as follows:— Commencing at the intersection of Warren street and Washington avenue; running thence southerly along Washington avenue to the city line at Montgomery street; thence southwesterly in a straight line to a point one thousand feet easterly in a straight line drawn from the intersection of Ninth street with the city line; thence to the intersection of the city line and Ninth street; thence northwesterly along Ninth street to Tenth avenue; thence northerly along Tenth avenue to the northerly side of Third street; thence northwesterly along Third street to Ninth avenue; thence northerly along Ninth avenue to Flatbush avenue; thence along Flatbush avenue to Vanderbilt avenue; thence along Vanderbilt avenue to Warren street; thence easterly along Warren street to Washington avenue, at the place of beginning, is hereby declared to be a public place to be known as Prospect Park, and which small be a charge upon said city as hereinafter provided. Parade Ground. §2. All that piece of land situate, lying and being in the town of New Lots, to be taken from the southerly part of the lands belonging to the heirs of White Howard, deceased, containing 318 about twenty-five acres, is hereby declared to be a public place, to be known as the Parade Ground, and which shall be a charge upon the county of Kings, as hereinafter provided, and shall be under the management and control of the Supervisors thereof. § 3. The aforesaid pieces of land shall, from and after the passage of this act, be public places, and the lands in the first section of this act mentioned, shall be deemed to have been taken by said city of Brooklyn, for public use, as and for a public park, and to have been declared open as a public place, with the same effect as if the whole of the same had been within Park and Parade Gr'd declared open. the city of Brooklyn and as if thy had been taken and declared open under and in pursuance of the provisions of an act entitled "An act to revise and amend the several acts relating to the city of Brooklyn," passed April fourth, eighteen hundred and fifty, and the acts amendatory thereof, except as herein otherwise provided, and with the same effect as if the same had been originally Commissioners' map altered. laid down upon the Commissioners' map of the city of Brooklyn, and from and after the passage of this act, they shall be and form a part of said city of Brooklyn, and of said Commissioners' map; and the parts of all streets, avenues and highways, (except Flatbush avenue and Third street,) laid out as running through said pieces of land, are hereby closed and discontinued and stricken from the said Commissioners' map, so far as the same would run through or intersect said pieces of land, and the land in the second section of this act mentioned shall be deemed to have been taken by the county of Kings, as and for a parade ground. Commissioners of Estimate and Assessment to be appointed. § 4. Three discreet and competent persons, being citizens of the state of New York, shall be appointed to act as Commissioners of Estimate and Assessment, in relation to the taking and the value of the land mentioned in the first section of this act; and three other persons shall also be appointed Commissioners of Estimate, in relation to the taking, and the value of the lands mentioned in the second section of this act. All of said Commissioners shall be appointed in the manner provided by an act entitled "An act to provide for the opening of Washington Park, on Fort Greene, in the city of Brooklyn,"* passed April 27, 1847, except that such Commissioners shall be appointed by the Supreme Court of the Second Judicial District, at any Special Term thereof, and all other proceedings in any * Appendix A. 19 Court contemplated by this act shall be had in said Court; and in case of the death, resignation disqualification or refusal to act, of either of said Commissioners, it shall be lawful for the said Court, at any General or Special Term thereof, on application, as in said act provided, and from time to time, as often as such event shall happen, to appoint any other discreet and disinterested person, being a citizen of the state of New York, in the place and stead of such Commissioner so dying, resigning or refusing to act; and said Commissioners shall proceed to discharge the duties of their appointment, and to complete their To file their final report within 12 months. estimate and award, as soon as conveniently may be; and shall, if practicable, file their final report in the office of the Clerk of the county of Kings within twelve months of the date of their appointment. A majority of each Board of Commissioners may act. §5. It shall be competent and lawful for a majority of each of said Board of Commissioners designated, as aforesaid, to perform the trust and duties of their appointments, and their acts shall be as valid and effectual as the acts of all the Commissioners so to be appointed, if they had acted therein, would have been; and in every case the proceedings and decisions of a majority in number of either of said Boards of Commissioners acting in the premises, shall be as valid and effectual as if the said Commissioners appointed for such purpose had all concurred and joined therein. Commissioners to estimate and award damages. § 6. The Commissioners herein provided for, in relation to the taking and value of the lands mentioned in the first section of this act, shall make just and true estimate of the value of the lands mentioned in said first section, and of the loss and damage to the respective owners, lessees, and parties and persons respectively entitled to or interested in the same, together with the tenements, hereditaments, and appurtenances, privileges or advantages to the same belonging or in any wise appertaining, by and in consequence of relinquishing the same to the said city of Brooklyn; and in making such estimate they shall not make any deduction or allowance for, or on account of any supposed benefits or advantages to be derived from taking said lands as public places, or in consequence thereof, and the amount so estimated, when duly confirmed, shall be paid as hereinafter in this act provided. But after the cost of the said lands shall have been determined by the confirmation of the final report in relation thereto, it shall be the duty of said Commissioners to apportion such part of said cost as they may deem equitable, and not exceeding twenty per cent. thereof, among the lands outside 20 [*Also to estimate and apportion benefits.*] of said park, which they shall deem to be benefitted thereby, and in proportion to such benefit; and said Commissioners may extend such apportionment to such distance from said park as they may deem equitable and proper within the Western Fire District of said city of Brooklyn. And whenever their report in relation to such apportionment shall be completed, they shall file the same with the Clerk of Kings county, and thereupon proceedings may be had to correct or confirm the same, as in this act provided. And after the confirmation of any final report of said Commissioners making such apportionment, the one twentieth [*Amounts assessed for benefit to be collected in annual payments.*] part of the amount thus apportioned shall be assessed annually upon the lands in said city affected thereby, and shall be included annually in the taxes to be levied thereon, and shall be levied and collected like other taxes upon property in said city; and the proceeds thereof shall be paid over to the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund of said city, to be by them applied to the redemption of the bonds of said city, to be issued by virtue of this act. § 7. The Commissioners appointed in relation to the taking and value of the lands mentioned in the second section of this act, shall in like manner make just and true estimate of the [*Damages to be awarded for lands tak'n for Parade Gro'nd.*] value of the lands in said second section mentioned, and of the loss and damage to the respective persons, owners thereof, or entitled to or interested in the same in any wise, in consequence of relinquishing the same to the county of Kings; and the value of the lands so taken and mentioned in the second section of this act, and the amount of compensation so estimated by the Commissioners to the owners thereof, shall, when confirmed, as [*County to issue its bonds to provide for Payments.*] herein provided, be paid by said county of Kings to the parties thereto respectively entitled, and for the purpose of making such payment, the said county may issue and dispose of its bonds to such amount as may be necessary, in such form and manner as the Supervisors thereof may direct. § 8. Payments of the damages awarded by the Commissioners provided for in this act, in any report made in pursuance hereof, [*Awards-- when payable.*]shall become due and payable, and shall be paid immediately upon the confirmation of any such report of said Commissioners in the premises. § 9. Said Commissioners and any party being owner of or interested in any of the lands mentioned in this act, may agree upon the value thereof, and upon the amount of damages and compensation to be awarded therefor, and said Commissioners may make special reports in relation to any matters so agreed 21 upon; and any such special report may be filed, and proceedings [*Commissioners, and owners may agree upon damages.*] may be had to confirm the same, and the same may be confirmed and in the same manner and with like effect as is provided herein in relation to other reports of said Commissioners; and upon the confirmation of any such special report, the amount of the awards thus confirmed shall be paid in the same manner as if such awards had been made in a general report of said Commissioners, and duly confirmed. § 10. Before proceeding to discharge any of their duties, the [*Commissioners to take oath.*] Commissioners shall respectively take and subscribe an oath in writing, before some officer, authorized by law to administer oaths, honestly and faithfully to discharge the duties which shall devolve upon them in pursuance of this act, which oath shall be filed in the office of the Clerk of the county of Kings. Said Commissioners shall proceed, as soon as may be after their appointment, to discharge the duties of their trust, and to make and complete their estimates, and awards and reports, as hereinbefore provided; and every estimate, award and report so made shall be signed by at least a majority of said Commissioners, and filed in the office of the Clerk of the county of Kings, and notice thereof given to the Counsel of the Corporation of said city of Brooklyn. Within twenty days after receiving such notice of the filing of any report of said Commissioners, [*Proceedings to confirm report of Commissioners.*] said Corporation Counsel shall give notice by publication for ten days in two daily papers of said city, that he will at the then next ensuing Special Term of the Court aforesaid, and at the time and place to be specified in such notice, present such report for confirmation; and if said Corporation Counsel shall not, within the time above prescribed, cause such report to be presented for confirmation, then such notice may be given, and said report may be presented for confirmation, as above prescribed, by any party whose lands are to be taken, and to whom compensation is estimated and awarded by such report; and thereupon all such proceedings as are provided for in the fifth section of an act entitled, "An act to provide for the opening of Washington Park, on Fort Greene, in the city of Brooklyn,"* passed April twenty-seventh, eighteen hundred and forty-seven, shall be had for the confirmation of said report, or for the revisal and correction thereof, until a report shall be made or returned in the premises, which the Court shall confirm; and any such report, when so confirmed by the said Court, shall be filed in the Office of the Clerk of the county of Kings, and shall be final conclusive ----------------------- *Appendix B.22 upon the said city of Brooklyn, and upon the owners of and persons interested in the lands and premises mentioned in said report, and also upon all other persons whomsoever; and upon the confirmation of any such report, and upon payment being made to the owners of the lands in such report mentioned, or upon their assent thereto by deed duly executed, the said lands shall vest forever in the said city of Brooklyn for the uses and purposes in this act mentioned; and whenever and as often as the title shall have been perfected in said city to the lands embraced in the park and public place provided for in the first section of this act, the Common Council of said city shall forthwith declare and establish said lands to which the title shall have been thus perfected, as a public park, or place, as herein provided, (and may make any improvements thereon, as such park and public place, which they may deem proper). In case any party, officer or person who is by this act directed or authorized to apply for the appointment of Commissioners, or for the confirmation of any report made by such Commissioners, shall neglect to make any such application in the manner and within the times in this act limited, such application may be made by any resident of the city of Brooklyn, being an owner of real estate in the said city, and the Court shall proceed thereon as if the same had been made by the person or officer hereinbefore authorized and directed to make the same. [*Damages-- how paid.*] 11. For the purpose of paying for the land mentioned in the first section of this act, and for the regulation and improvement of the same as in this act provided, the bonds of the city of Brooklyn, to such an amount as shall be necessary for that purpose, shall be issued by the Mayor, Comptroller and Clerk of said city, from time to time, as the same shall be required for [*City bonds to be issued.*] the purposes aforesaid; which bonds shall be issued in the manner, and shall be in the form of the bonds issued by said city under the provisions of an act entitled "An act to provide for the supply of the city of Brooklyn with water," passed February eleventh, eighteen hundred and fifty-seven, except as herein otherwise provided; and said bonds shall be payable in not less than forty-five, nor more than sixty years from the date thereof, and shall bear interest at the rate of six per cent. per annum, payable half-yearly, on the first day of January and July, in each year; and the said bonds and the proceeds of the sale thereof, shall constitute the fund for paying the costs of the lands in the first section of this act mentioned, and for the improvement of the same. And as the said bonds are from time 23 to time issued, the Mayor, Comptroller and Clerk shall each cause to be kept in his office, in a book to be provided for that purpose, a true and correct statement and account of each and every bond by him executed, showing the number of each bond and the date and amount thereof, and the time when due, and such book shall be open for public inspection, and shall be delivered by them to their successors in office. 12. The bonds of the city of Brooklyn, which shall be [*Bonds may be used in payment, or sold.*] issued by virtue of this act, may be used by said city, or by the Treasurer thereof, at their par value, in paying any amounts which said city shall have become liable to pay for compensation or damages awarded under this act; or the same may be sold at public or private sale, or by subscription, and on such terms as the Common Council of said city may think proper; and the proceeds of all such sales shall be paid over to the Treasurer of said city, or said Treasurer may, with the concurrence of the Mayor and Comptroller of said city, pledge any of said bonds for money borrowed temporarily, at a higher rate of interest, not exceeding seven per cent. per annum, if they shall deem it expedient and necessary so to do. 13. The property of the city of Brooklyn, and the lands [*City property pledg'd.*] authorized to be taken by the first section of this act as a public park and place, are hereby pledged for the payment of its bonds to be issued by virtue hereof. 14. In order to pay the interest upon the bonds hereby authorized [*Payment of interest on bonds.*] to be issued by said city, there shall be added to the general tax, for the city of Brooklyn at large, in the year eighteen hundred and sixty-two, and yearly thereafter, and levied and collected therein, as hereinafter specified, such sum of money in each of said years as shall be sufficient to pay the interest upon the bonds issued by virtue of this act; and from and after the year eighteen hundred and sixty-five, there shall be added to the general tax for the city of Brooklyn at large, and levied and collected, as aforesaid, in addition to any amount so required, to pay the interest upon said bonds, a sum equal to one-half of one per cent. upon the total amount of bonds which shall have been issued in pursuance of this act; and from and after the year eighteen hundred and seventy-five, there shall be in like manner levied and collected, in each year, and in addition to the amount required to pay the interest aforesaid, a sum equal to one per cent. upon the total amount of bonds which [*Sinking Fund provided for.*] have been issued in pursuance of this act; and from and after the year eighteen hundred and eighty-five, there shall be in 24 like manner annually levied and collected, in addition to the interest aforesaid, a sum which, together with the amounts above required to be levied and collected, and the accumulations thereof, will, with its accumulations, be adequate to pay and discharge the bonds to be issued under this act by the maturity thereof, which said several sums shall be, from time to time, and each year, paid over to the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund of the city of Brooklyn, to be held and managed by them, and shall be applied to the payment of the interest upon said bonds as it shall become payable, and to the full and final redemption of said bonds, and for no other purpose. And it shall be the duty of the Mayor and Comptroller of the said city to estimate and ascertain the amounts required to be so added to the general tax, by virtue of this section, and to transmit a statement of the same in each year to the Board of Supervisors of the county of Kings, in time to have such amount included in the general tax of said city, for that year; and it shall be the duty of said Supervisors to cause such amount to be included in such Supervisors general tax. And said Supervisors shall also annually provide by to levy tax. tax for the payment of the principal and interest of the bonds to be issued by the said county of Kings, by virtue of this act. And in making the levy of taxes in this section prescribed, the said Supervisors shall so apportion and levy the same, as that all sums of money which shall be levied for the purpose of paying Tax for principal and interest of the bonds which may have been Prospect issued on account of the purchase, improvement and ornamentation Park to be of the lands comprising the said Prospect Park, shall on twelve be levied and collected exclusively upon and from the taxable. first wards. property within the first twelve wards of said city. Commissioners 15. The Commissioners appointed by virtue of section four may of this act shall have authority to employ surveyors and to use employ Surveyors any map on file or belonging to said city, and to cause maps to and be made as may be necessary; and said Commissioners shall be use city allowed a compensation of three dollars per day for their time maps. actually employed in discharging their duties as such Commissioners; and all such compensation, and the necessary expenses of the Commissioners in discharging their duties, shall be allowed on taxation by the Court aforesaid, and paid by said city of Brooklyn, and shall be added to and form a part of the cost of the said Park. 16. The said Prospect Park shall be under the exclusive control and management of a Board of Commissioners, to consist of seven persons, who shall be named and styled "The 25 Commissioners of Prospect Park;" a majority of said Board of Board of Commissioners in office for the time being shall constitute a Commissioners quorum for the transaction of business, and no action of said for Board shall be final or binding, unless it shall receive the government approval of a majority of the said Board, whose names shall be of Park. recorded in its minutes. 17. James S. T. Stranahan, Thomas H. Rodman, E. W. Commissioners. Fiske, R. H. Thompson, Thomas G. Talmage, Stephen Haynes, and Cornelius J. Sprague, are hereby appointed, and shall constitute the first Board of Commissioners of Prospect Park; they shall hold office as such Commissioners for three years from the passage of this act. No member of said Board shall receive any compensation for his services, except the President or Treasurer, but each Commissioner shall nevertheless be entitled to receive for his personal expenses, in visiting and superintending said Park, a sum not exceeding three hundred dollars per annum. In case of a vacancy, the same may be filled by the remaining Vacancies, member of the Board, for the residue of the term then vacant; how filled. and all vacancies occasioned by expiration of the terms of office shall be filled by the Mayor, by and with the advice and consent of the Common Council of said city. 18. The said Board shall have the full and exclusive power Powers of to govern, manage and direct the said Park; to lay out and Board. regulate the same; to pass ordinances for the regulation and government thereof; to appoint such engineers, surveyors, clerks and other officer, except a police force, as may be necessary; to prescribe and define their respective duties, and authority; to fix the amount of their compensation; and generally in regard to said Park, they shall possess all the power and authority now by law conferred on, or possessed by the Common Council of said city, in respect to the public squares and places in said city. 19. It shall be a misdemeanor for any Commissioner to be Misdemeanor directly or indirectly, in any way pecuniarily interested in any for Commissioners contract or work of any kind whatever, connected with said to be interested park, and it shall be the duty of any Commissioner or other persons, in contracts. who may have any knowledge or information of the violation of this provision, forthwith to report the same to the Mayor of the city of Brooklyn, who shall present the facts of the case to any Judge of the Supreme Court of the Second Judicial District. Such Judge shall hear, in a summary manner, such Commissioner in relation thereto, and any evidence he may offer, and Commissioners if, after such hearing, he shall be satisfied of the truth thereof, may and shall so certify to the Mayor, he shall immediately remove be removed. 4 26 the Commissioner thus offending. Every Commissioner shall before entering upon the duties of his office, take and subscribe the oath prescribed by the Constitution of the State, which oath shall be filed in the office of the Clerk of the city of Brooklyn. Annual Report. 20. Said Board of Commissioners for the government of said park shall, in the month of January of every year, make to the Common Council of said city a full report of their proceedings, and a detailed statement of all their receipts and expenditures. Commissioners may let buildings within the Park. 21. Whenever the city of Brooklyn shall have become vested with the title to said park, as in this act provided, it shall be lawful for the Commissioners of said park to let from year to year any buildings and the grounds attached thereto, belonging to said city, which may be within the limits of said park, until the same shall be required for the laying out and regulation thereof, when the said buildings shall be removed, except such as may be used for the purposes of said park. May sell buildings. 22. Whenever the said city shall have become vested with the title to said park, as aforesaid, said Commissioners may sell any buildings, improvements, and other materials being within the limits of said park, and belonging to said city, which, in their judgment, shall not be required for the purposes of the said park, or for public use, the proceeds of which shall be deposited to the credit of the Commissioners and devoted to the improvement of the park. Cost of improvements limited. 23. No plan for the laying out, regulation and government of said Prospect Park, shall be adopted or undertaken by the Commissioners thereof, of which the entire expense, when funded, shall require for the payment of the annual interest thereon a greater sum than thirty thousand dollars per annum; and bonds shall be issued, sold and disposed of as directed in this act, for the purpose of providing such sums of money as shall be from time to time required by said Board of Commissioners having the government of said park, subject to the limitations in this section prescribed. Money to be deposited to credit of Commissioners in Bank. 24. The money raised from the bonds in the preceding section mentioned shall be deposited, as fast as the same shall be realized, to the credit of said Board of Commissioners, in such banks of the city of Brooklyn as shall be by said Board designate; such banks shall allow such interest upon such deposits as may be agreed upon with said Board, and shall open and keep an account therewith. All moneys received by said Commissioners shall be immediately deposited with such banks to 27 the credit of their account, and no moneys shall be drawn therefrom by said Board of Commissioners except upon a warrant signed by at least a majority of said Board, and all receipts and vouchers shall be filed in the office said Board. No power to create debts. 25. None of the said Commissioners, nor any person, whether in the employ of said Commissioners or otherwise, shall have the power to create any debt obligation claim or liability, for or on account of said Board, or the moneys or property under his control, except with the express authority of said Board, conferred at a meeting thereof duly convened and held. Office of Commissioner my be declared vacant. 26. The office of either of said Commissioners who shall not attend the meetings of the Board for three successive months, after having been duly notified of said meetings, without reason therefor satisfactory to said Board, or without leave of absence from said Board, may be by said Board declared vacant. Property may be granted or bequeathed for improvement of Park. 27. Real or personal property may be granted, devised, bequeathed or conveyed to the said city of Brooklyn, for the purposes of improvement or ornamentation of said park, or for the establishment or maintenance within the limits of said park, of museums, zoological or other gardens, collections of natural history, observatories, or works of art, upon such trusts and conditions as may be prescribed by the grantors or donors thereof, and greed to by the Mayor and Common Council of said city; and all property so devised, granted, bequeathed or conveyed, and the rents, issues, profits and income thereof shall be subject to the exclusive management, direction and control of the Commissioners of the park. Board may pass ordinance. 28. It shall be lawful for said Board of Commissioners, at any meeting thereof, duly convened, to pass such ordinances as they may deem necessary for the regulation, use and government of the park under their charge, not inconsistent with the ordinances and regulations of the city of Brooklyn, or with the provisions of this act; such ordinances shall, immediately upon their passage, be published for ten days in two daily papers published in said city. Violation of ordinances a misdemeanor. 29. All persons offending against such ordinances shall be deemed guilty of misdemeanor, and shall be punished, on conviction before any Court of competent jurisdiction in the county of Kings, by a fine not exceeding fifty dollars, and in default of payment, by imprisonment not exceeding thirty days. Acts repealed. 30. All acts and parts of acts inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed. 31. This act shall take effect immediately.28 On the passage of this law, the Common Council of the city of Brooklyn passed a resolution endorsing the action of the Legislature as being in accordance with the generally expressed wishes of the citizens. Under the provisions of this act of the Legislature, the undersigned Commissioners named therein, formally organized the Board by the election of JAMES S. T. STRANAHAN, as President, and R.H. THOMPSON, as Secretary. The location of Prospect Park having been selected and fixed by law, to the undersigned were confined its control and management, with power to lay it out and regulate it. In entering upon the discharge of duties so honorable and so important, the Commissioners determined that the whole subject, in all its general aspects, and in all its details, should receive their most careful and deliberate consideration; and while they felt reluctant, in any way, to delay the progress of so important a work, urged on by the great mass of the citizens of Brooklyn, they deem it but common prudence, and eminently due to the tax-payers of the city, that their actions should be cautious and their movements well considered. Much attention was given to the subject of the boundaries, and an earnest investigation as to whether those designated in the act, were the best which, under the circumstances, could be adopted. They directed their inquiries also to the practical bearing of the laws relating to the park, and endeavoring to ascertain whether their provisions were sufficiently 29 guarded for the interests of the city, and at the same time ample enough for the purposes of the contemplated improvements. As the law expressly forbids the adoption "of any plan for the laying out, regulation and government of said park, of which the entire expense, when funded, shall require for the payment of the interest thereon, a greater sum than $30.000 per annum," it became necessary for the Commissioners, at the very commencement of their duties, to obtain some definite information on the subject of the ultimate cost of the improvement. To this end, the services of an accomplished and experienced engineer were secured, and instructions were given for minute and accurate surveys, general plans and careful estimates of the entire work. The report of the engineer, to which the careful attention of the citizens of Brooklyn is earnestly invited, is embodied herein and submitted as a part of the proceedings of the Commissioners. The application for the appointment of Commissioners for Estimate and Assessment is now pending in the Supreme Court. Some question having arisen as to the constitutionality of the law in relation to this subject, the Commissioners suggest the propriety of such an alteration in the act as will meet the real or supposed constitutional difficulty. This delay on the part of the Supreme Court need not be regarded by the friends of the park improvement as30 in any way injurious or detrimental. It has given to the improvement Commissioners ample opportunity to consult with the property holders and tax-payers of the city, from whom they have obtained much valuable information and many important suggestions. The result of the labors and investigations of the Commissioners during the year, fully satisfies them of the practicability of carrying out, by gradual progress, all the improvements of the park, within the sum limited by law for that purpose. And from an intimate knowledge of the ground, and a careful study of the whole subject of laying them out and of improving them, they are fully convinced of the great capabilities and superior advantages of the designated location for a park or pleasure-ground, worthy of the city of Brooklyn--the third city, in point of population, in the Union--and if not holding the same relation to other cities for the variety and beauty of its public and private edifices, yet, for the intelligence, morality and enterprise of its citizens, and for its remarkable healthfulness, it challenges a parallel with any city of equal population in the world. To preserve this high distinction, and to perpetuate and increase its attractions as a city of private residences, is one of the objects contemplated by the establishment of the park. Already a population of three hundred thousand demands space for exercise and recreation. How much more, when the population of the city has doubled, will a 31 provision of this nature to be required, to furnish to all the constant means of peaceful and healthful enjoyment, and to aid in the cultivation of cheerful obedience to law, and the general promotion of good order among its citizens. The Commissioners need hardly say that, in the prosecution of their duties, their constant aim will be to meet the reasonable wishes of the citizens of Brooklyn who projected this great and beneficent enterprise. They will only add, that any delay in appropriating the lands must necessarily result in an increased expenditure to the city. The purchase of an entire area may now be made at reasonable rates, and in view of the rapidly increasing value of suburban property, the outlay may be regarded as an advantageous investment. The Commissioners have incurred no other expenditures during the year, than such as resulted from the employment of the Topographical Engineer. A vacancy in the Board, occasioned by the resignation of Thomas H. Rodman, was filled by the appointment of Thomas McElrath. All which is respectfully submitted, JAS. S. T. STRANAHAN, E. W. FISKE, R. H. THOMPSON, THOMAS G. TALMAGE, STEPHEN HAYNES, CORNELIUS J. SPRAGUE, THOMAS McELRATH, Commissioners. Prospect Park. View from the Reservoir Looking East. ENDICOTT & CO LITH 59 BEEKMAN ST N.Y.Prospect Park. Report of Egbert L. Viele, Esq. Brooklyn, Jan. 15th, 1861. To the Commissioners for the Improvement of Prospect Park: Gentlemen - I beg leave to submit herewith my Report upon the Topography and Improvement of Prospect Park, together with the accompanying Maps and Drawings. Very respectfully, Your obedient servant, Egbert L. Viele.Report. Topographical Description. The elevated ridge which is the distinguishing feature in the topography of the western portion of Long Island, and which, from the depressed character of the adjacent lands, commands a very extensive tract of country, possesses in its entire extent no other point from which the eye can embrace so wide a field of marine and inland scenery, as that division of which has been selected for and devoted to the purposes of public recreation, and known as the "Prospect Park of Brooklyn." The boundaries of the park, as defined by the Act of the State Legislature, passed April 17th, 1860, are as follows: Beginning at the intersection of Warren street and Washington avenue; thence running southerly along Washington avenue, to the City line at Montgomery street; thence southwesterly, in a straight line to a point one thousand feet easterly in a straight line from the intersection of Ninth street with the City line; thence to the intersection of the City line and Ninth street; thence northwesterly along Ninth street to Tenth avenue; thence northerly along Tenth avenue to the northerly side of Third street; thence northwesterly along Third street to Ninth avenue; thence northerly along36 Ninth avenue to Flatbush avenue; thence along Flatbush avenue to Vanderbilt avenue; thence along Vanderbilt avenue to Warren street; thence easterly along Warren street to Washington avenue, at the place of beginning. The space bounded by these lines is as diversified in surface and vegetation as any spot, containing the same area, can possibly be. Nearly in the centre lies the new Distributing Reservoir, from which a panoramic view is obtained of the cities of New York and Brooklyn, the inner and outer harbors, with their fleets of ships and steamers, a large portion of New Jersey, Staten Island and Long Island, with the Atlantic ocean beyond, stretching far away in the distance. Within the park itself, a succession of beautifully wooded hills and broad green meadows, interrupted here and there by a natural pond of water, offers features of attraction which require but little aid from art to fit it for all the purposes of health and recreation, to which it is to be devoted. Nearly one-half the area is wooded with trees of large growth, many of them noble specimens of the oak, maple, hickory, dog-wood, chestnut, and other varieties, securing the immediate benefit of shaded drives. A fine level space of sufficient extent and almost ready for a parade-ground, and sheltered valleys where every description of plants and trees may be successfully cultivated, complete the advantages of a site so judiciously and providently selected. The most elevated point within the enclosure is the crest of the escarpment which surrounds the new Distributing Reservoir; this is two hundred feet above the level of the sea, and not only overlooks the entire area of the park, but commands the finest view which can be obtained from the grounds. The ridge upon 37 which it is situated forms the axis of the park, extending through the entire length, and terminating in a gradual slope at the northern extremity. A valley on the east of this ridge extends to the easterly side of the park, and a valley on the westerly side is succeeded by a low range of wooded hills, which form the western boundary. Flatbush avenue, one hundred feet in width, runs diagonally through the park, dividing it into two portions, which might be regarded as a serious blemish to the beauty of the finished park, were it not for the fact that the peculiarity of its location obviates the necessity of any other transverse road to accommodate the traffic between the city and suburbs; thus, securing the uninterrupted possession of the remainder of the grounds for park purposes. The northwesterly boundary along Washington avenue, is perhaps defective, inasmuch as that avenue does not cross the city blocks at a right angle, and would thus prevent the lots on that portion of the park from having a square front. The extension of the park to Classon or to Franklin avenue, or to a new avenue between those two, would obviate this very serious objection, while at the same time the topographical character of the ground in that direction is such as would add materially to the beauty of the interior design, as well as to the exterior view. Any extension of the area in that direction could readily be counterbalanced, if desirable, by the retrocession of the northerly boundary from Warren to Baltic street. As this matter has been laid before the Commissioners by a Committee representing a large number of property owners, I have deemed it proper to exhibit the proposed change on the accompanying plan of the park.38 Historical Associations. In addition to its interesting topographical features, these grounds are consecrated by historic associations, which should be a strong argument for preserving them in their original character. In the very heart of the park there is a quiet dell, which no one can enter without a feeling of pleasure, called forth by its sylvan beauty. Tranquil as it now appears, this spot was once the scene of a desperate and bloody conflict, which, in its intrepid valor, may well rank among the most gallant deeds enacted by the American army, during the struggle for independence. Four hundred men, composing the Maryland and Delaware battalions, under General Sullican, and forming the centre of the little army which had been stationed on the heights to prevent the passage of the British upon New York, defended this pass, under a galling fire of artillery, from sunrise to twelve o'clock on the memorable 27th of August, 1776; and never would have yielded their ground, though it should have become a new Thermopolyae, had they not been surrounded and attacked in the rear by the enemy, who had turned the left wing of the American position. "Hemmed in and entrapped between the British and Hessians, and driven from one to the other, the Americans fought bravely and desperately; some were cut down and trampled by the cavalry, others bayonetted without mercy by the Hessians; some rallied in groups, and made a brief stand with their rifles, from rocks or behind trees. The whole pass was a scene of carnage, resounding with the clash of arms, the tramp of horses, 39 the volleying of fire-arms, and the cries of the combatants. We give the words of one who mingled in the fight, and whom we have heard speak with horror of the sanguinary fury with which the Hessians plied the bayonet. At length some of the Americans, by a desperate effort, cut their way through the host of foes, and effected their retreat, fighting as they went; others took refuge among the woods and fastnesses of the hills, but a great part were either killed or taken prisoners."* Let then this spot, so consecrated by the blood of patriots, be preserved, if for no other reason than that in recalling the memories of a glorious past, it may incite new hopes for a more glorious future. Plan of Improvement. In laying down a plan for the improvement and embellishment of the area which has been described, it seems barely necessary to say that the natural topographical features should be the basis of that improvement. For, laying aside the question of the greater expense which any other method would incur, the infringement upon good taste, and upon that regard for the beauties of nature possessed by every cultivated mind, which would result from a display of artificial constructions, would defeat the primary object of the park as a rural resort, where the people of all classes, escaping from the glare, and glitter, and turmoil of the city, might find relief for the mind, and physical recreation - a park, under such circumstances, becoming a * Irving's Life of Washington.40 mere place where the excitements of the town were continued in another form, both alike destructive of that repose of the mind so essential to the health of the body. Besides, architectural constructions are too often matters of fashion, as we see in the constant destruction of well built edifices, to make room for a later style of building; and, although our artificial erections may be copies of the most approved designs, pleasing to the eye in their freshness and novelty, they soon lose these, their chief merits, and in a few years, probably, are removed, to make way for the further conceits of some new aspirant for notice. While on the other hand nature in its beauty and variety never palls upon the senses! never fails to elicit our admiration; whether displaying its wild grandeur in the vast solitudes of the forest, or throwing its peaceful, clustering shadows, around the domestic altar; whether bursting the fasts of winter, it opens its buds in springtime, or yielding to the chilling blasts it scatters its autumn leaves--it conveys in all its phases and through all its changes no emotions which are not in harmony with the highest refinement of the soul. When, with the skillful hand of UNPERCEIVED ART, its blended beauties are made more harmonious by the cautious pruning of trees, the nice distribution of flowers and plants of tender growth, the introduction of the green slope of velvet lawn, and the silver glean of water, and then through public munificence all this is spread out in the heart of the busy city--at the feet of the weary toiler--it supplies a void in his existence and sets in operation the purest and most ennobling of external 41 influences, which gather strength for good as the mind becomes more refined and more appreciative in the contact. the substitution of art for nature in the improvement of public grounds had its origin in an age, when the beauties of nature were unknown and unfelt, and among a people whose worship of art was a national characteristic, and who regarded an artistic display as an essential accompaniment of imperial grandeur. A later and higher degree of civilization has developed that love for the real beauties of nature which has stamped itself upon the English character, which is modifying the old system pursued in France, and which is gaining such rapid progress in this country. The overthrow of the ancient ideas was not accomplished without an effort, and not until some of the finest minds of Great Britain had been enlisted in the cause, and had shown the folly of one system and the beauties of the other. To return to the old method now, would be to abandon all progress and to substitute the obsolete for the true. If the ancient style should become the orthodox, it will be the death blow of rural improvement in this country on the score of expense alone, since the very nature of the system is to know no limit in expenditure. One construction begets another, until nature is obliterated and art becomes supreme--rural simplicity gives place to extravagant pretensions, and we find too late that we have destroyed the very thing we sought to create. Since then the dictates of good taste and of economy prescribe that the natural features of the surface should 642 be the basis of any plan of improvement; the next step is the adaptation of those features to the purposes of a pleasure ground for the people. And here, again, I cannot resist the reflection that true taste in any art consists more in adapting tried expedients to peculiar circumstances, than in that inordinate thirst after novelty--the characteristic of uncultivated minds. The rules which govern the improvement and embellishment of ground are as well defined as those which regulate the duties of any other profession or occupation; and an innovation upon these rules, instead of being an indication of genius, shows rather the absence of it, and the want of a correct knowledge of the subject. It is the way in which these rules are applied to the varieties of surface, not the exhibition of absurd novelties, which gives that variety in the landscape, which we look for in a skillfully improved park. Among these rules are the following: First, studiously to conceal every appearance of art, however expensive, by which the scenery is improved; secondly, carefully to disguise the real boundary, however large or small the area; thirdly, to hide the natural defects and to display the natural beauties to the utmost advantage; fourthly, to obtain from the most favorable points the greatest possible extent of view, and to conceal al objects, which limit or obstruct the view; fifthly, by so blending all the parts, that while the beauties of each are distinctly visible, there are no abrupt contrasts painful to the eye, and destroying the symmetry of the whole; thus securing that unity and harmony so essential to the perfection of the design. 43 The boundary may be successfully disguised by an irregular belt of trees along the exterior line, and the view as a general thing being limited by this exterior line, it follows that its extent is diminished as we approach the centre, since instead of having one broad view, with the necessary distance to complete the landscape, we divide the view in two, and have an incomplete one on each side. Hence, the avenue of communication which is intended to develop the principal features of the park, should be located as near to the exterior line as the character of the ground and other circumstances will admit. An additional reason for which is found in the greater extent of drive which is thereby secured--an important consideration where the area is limited, as in this case. These general principles, modified by the the character of the ground and the recognized necessity of adapting the park to the wants and pleasures of all classes of the community, have determined the outline of the plan which accompanies this report. The entrances have been selected at the corner of Flatbush and Vanderbilt avenues, at the corner of Ninth avenue and Third street, at the corner of Washington avenue and Warren street, at the corner of Classon and Washington avenues, at the southeastern angle, and at the intersection of Flatbush avenue with the easterly line, as being the most ready points of access from the city. Should the park be extended as is proposed, there would be no alteration of the design, excepting in the improved location of the roads and walks in the northeasterly portion of the grounds. I have considered the main entrance to the park to be44 located at the corner of Flatbush and Vanderbilt avenues, the former being a broad diagonal avenue, passing through the densely populated portion of the city, and intersecting several other principal avenues and many principal streets, would naturally be the route selected by many citizens to reach the park. From the principal entrance, the main drive takes a northerly direction, penetrating at once into the seclusion of the grounds. To the left is the excluding belt of trees, which it alternately enters and skirts. On the right, a succession of wooded hills, separated by picturesque valleys, rise, until they culminate at Mount Prospect, the highest elevation in the park. This last point is concealed by judicious planting, until by a gradual and almost imperceptible ascent, the road reaches the summit, when the extensive landscape bursts upon the view. Here a broad esplanade affords the room for a reasonable number of vehicles to remain, without interruption to those which are passing. The road here divides to the east and west; the later crosses Flatbush avenue, by a simple but substantial viaduct, and skirting the western boundary reaches "The Parade" at First street, disclosing in its route a fine interior view. It may be objected that a military display destroys, in a measure, the needed seclusion of a park; but, happily, the topography of the site selected is such as to confine the spectacle to its immediate locality; while to exclude so large a portion of the public from the advantages to be derived from the park, would be to defeat one of its leading objects. This same ground ay of course be used for all kinds of out of door sports. AIndicott & Co. Print, 59 Beekman St. N.Y. Prospect Park Interior View - The Lake, From Redoubt HillFRITZ MEYER DEL. PROSPECT PARK. INTERIOR VIEW __ THE LAKE FROM REDOUBT HILL 45 space sufficient for all these purposes is provided; and the green, level lawn will, in itself, add much to the general beauty of the landscape. At the same time, the gentle eminences by which it is surrounded, will afford admirable positions for spectators. In the finished plan, I have no doubt that this will prove one of its most interesting and attractive features. At the southerly extremity of "The Parade," the road enters a wooded valley, where it meets the westerly entrance; thence sweeping around the re-entering angle at Third street, it continues its course through the beautifully wooded westerly border, until it de'bouches at "The Lake" -- a fine sheet of water, the sources of supply of which, from the interior of the grounds, it is believed will prove unfailing. Crossing the head of "The Lake" by a rustic bridge, the road descends into the easterly valley -- a slightly undulating plane, partly wooded and partly lawn -- where it is proposed to locate "The Botanical Garden." Its position, sheltered from the north and with a southern exposure, together with its well drained alluvial soil, admirably adapt it for this purpose. The beauty and utility of such a feature within the park cannot be questioned. Whether the improved cultivation and careful development of indigenous and exotic tress and plants shall be placed in the hands of an independent association of citizens, like the Horticultural Society, the space being set apart for this purpose, or whether this shall form one of the duties of the Commissioners, is a question not germain to this report to discuss. I earnestly hope, however, that in one way or the other, this desideratum may be accomplished. It cannot fail46 to prove of great value and importance to many, while it will assuredly be a matter of interest to all. Leaving "The Botanical Garden," the road enters "The Forest," and passing under Flatbush avenue into "The Glen," where, if in the plantation the evergreen should be made to prevail, there will be produced a variety and novelty, if not a grandeur, especially in the winter season, exhibiting the finest possible effect. From "The Glen" the road ascends to the esplanade, or continues on the circuit to the main entrance. An intersecting road from "The Lake" and "The Forest" passes through "The Battle Pass" and meets the main drive at "The Parade." A side road for equestrians, and a walk for pedestrians, accompany the main drive. Certain minor walks and other details are shown on the plan, but these of course are incidental and subordinate to the leading features of improvement. Rustic seats and arbors, where interior views or shaded retreats shall indicate, winding paths through wooded dells of which there are a number, miniature lakes where the topography and supply of water will permit--all these follow in the progress of the improvement. "The Plan," as sketched, is believed to be consistent with the character and situation of the ground, to contain every feature which it is desirable to provide within the area, and to require for its execution a sum much below the value of the results attained. Flatbush Avenue. --This Avenue, as has been stated, runs diagonally through the park, and is excluded from its limits, being reserved as a means of transmit to the 47 suburbs. It may nevertheless be made to form a striking feature in the general design of improvement. Its peculiar location is such that it opens a view through Brooklyn, of a portion of the harbor--and in the other direction, through Flatbush, of the ocean. by planting a double row of trees on each side, it will form a fine promenade, while the trees will soon hide from view the disagreeable accompaniments of a traffic road. If the cobble-stone pavement with which it is now paved could be exchanged for a smoother material, it would have the effect to diminish the noise, which, from the character of the travel over it, would be inseparable from the use of this kind of pavement. Enclosure. The necessity of preserving from mutilation the fine growth of trees now existing, and of affording an opportunity for developing the strength of the soil, requires that the park should at once be enclosed with a substantial fence of some kind. There are a large quantity of boulders which might be prepared for a stone wall; but the time that would be required to remove them from their beds in the earth, and the expense attending their removal to the exterior line, would be such as to render such an application of them objectionable. I think, therefore, that a strong picket fence, well secured by battens, would be the best under the circumstances. This would have the further advantage, that at any point where the progress of the work required it, a portion could be temporarily removed and readily replaced. Such a fence would be the most economical, and if sub-48 sequently a more substantial enclosure should be decided upon, the material would always be of use. Drainage. The necessity for the thorough drainage of the entire area of the park is very apparent. The peculiar character of its geological formation, renders its successful drainage an interesting and perhaps a difficult problem. The deposits are composed of strata of sand, clay, gravel and pebbles, in very irregular succession, and showing little parallelism or uniformity; in many places the clay strata being very much distorted. The result of all being a series of rounded hills, some of pure sand, some of sand and clay, and others of pebbles and boulders mixed with clay. In some instances channels seem to have been formed by regular currents of water, while in others deep valley occur without any approximation to regularity, unless their tendency to a bowl-shape be so constructed. They valleys have no outlets and the water that falls into them either sinks through the soil or collects so as to form pond holes. All of the depressions have been connected by a series of levels which will enable me to lay down a system of drainage which, while effective in removing the surplus water from the soil will, it is believed, afford a sufficient supply to enable its introduction with marked effect in the general landscape. Besides the removal of the water which is palpably evident in the form of deposits, thorough drainage, comprehends 49 the carrying off as rapidly as possible, after it has fallen, all the water upon the surface which is not absolutely necessary to the soil. A very small portion of the annual rain-fall is absorbed by the soil or is requisite as a constituent of vegetable life. All the moisture that remains beyond this required quantity is not only useless, but it is absolutely injurious to fertility, and must be removed to insure the proper growth of vegetation. Many interesting facts have been developed by experience even in this country, although a limited amount of attention has, been given to the subject, going to show not only its value in an economic sense, but also its importance in a sanitary point of view. In England, where thorough drainage has been reduced to a science, it has elicited in its gradual progress much lively discussion and given birth to advocates of different systems; but the great difference of climate, topography, and geological formation between this country and England precludes the blind adoption by us of any system, no matter how successful it may have been proved to be there. For our own guidance we must look first to the character, the quantity and sources of supply of the water which we wish to remove--knowing this, the topography of the ground and the character of the soil will determine the best course to be adopted in removing it. Of the water on the park a portion flow from the adjoining lands, a quantity is developed in local springs, and some of it is in stagnant deposits of rain water. From these sources a large portion of the soil is saturated, cold and sour. The immediate effect of this water in the soil 750 upon vegetation is, that the soil being stiffened to such an extent the roots of the plants are unable to penetrate it and are thus stifled in their growth, or it is so cold that the roots are discouraged from extending themselves sufficiently to obtain and afford the proper nourishment to the plants. By the evaporation which is constantly going on the heat of the surface is reduced, especially in spring and autumn, thus shortening materially the period of vegetation. It sours the soil, producing a rank, unhealthy vegetation. It occupies the soil to the exclusion of air, thus depriving the roots of the most important accessory to vegetation. It excludes the rain water which contains the elements of fertility. It causes surface wasting and the consequent formation of gullies and fissures. It causes the exhalation from the soil of miasmatic odors, which taint the atmosphere and have a deleterious effect upon health. On the other hand, the result of thorough drainage will be to cause the pulverization of the soil by removing the source of adhesion, and thus facilitating the mechanical extension of the roots and their consequent development. It elevates the temperature of the soil by allowing the free passage of warm rain water, which at the same time deposits the elements of fertility extracted by it from the atmosphere, thus increasing the resources of vegetation. It increases the power of absorption, which enables the soil to support vegetation in the absence of regular rains. It facilitates the passage of air to the roots, supplying the proper amount of oxygen necessary to them. It deepens the soil, giving the roots of trees a firmer hold, and removing them farther from 51 the effects of the sun and rendering them less liable to freeze in winter. It lengthens the season of vegetation. It prevents surface washing, by allowing the rain-water to descend through the soil at once. It renders the surface dry at all seasons, thus excluding the possibility of miasma. For these reasons, I do not hesitate to recommend as the first step in the work of improvement, the THOROUGH DRAINAGE of the entire area of the park. We have now to determine the character of the artificial drains which, in connection with the water courses, shall put the ground in a condition to be used for the purposes for which it is intended. Numerous methods have been resorted to with stones, planks, brushwood and open drains, as temporary expedients; but experience has shown that the only effectual, and in the end the most economical method, is that of using porous tile drains. If properly laid, they thoroughly extract the surplus water from the soil, and form no impediment to vegetation. There are three kinds of these tiles--the cylindrical, the horse-shoe, and the sole-tile--the latter being the most effective in its results, and most readily adapted to all circumstances of soil. They are made of different sizes, from two to six inches in diameter, and about a foot in length. The location size, distance apart, and depth of drains, has formed a most fruitful subject of discussion in agricultural journals, and whenever the subject has been referred to at agricultural conventions, and meetings of farmers' clubs. As a matter of course, much reliable52 information, as well as much that is unimportant, has been made public in this way. But the only conclusion that can be arrived at, is, that as all soils differ in their mineral constituents, so do they differ in their retentive powers; and that while Elkington's system of deep drainage would apply best to one, and Smith's or the Deanston system of shallow drainage would apply better to another, there are still innumerable cases where both would be rejected as inapplicable. Therefore, that course will prove to be the most practical which is based upon a knowledge of the character of the soil in each particular locality. Location of Drains. The circumstances which develop themselves as the work progresses, will go far to determine the precise location of the drains. As a general rule, the principal drains should follow the lowest depressions, the branches running directly down the slopes. Where the ground is nearly level, they should oblique towards the main drain; and where the ground descends from all points towards a common centre, it would be judicious to run a drain around the edge of the slope to intercept the flow connecting this through the branches with the main drain. Size of Drains. The size of the drains is governed by the probable amount of water which much be carried off. As the volume of water increased by means of the lateral branches, the size of the drains will require to be increased 53 Where it is found that the water accumulating, or to accumulate from the different branches, would be greater than could be discharged through the largest sized tiles, a double or even triple row may be laid together in the same trench. Depth of Drains. The depth of the drains is the most important point connected with the subject, and one which will require the exercise of the most careful judgement. The first care should be to secure a proper outlet, at whatever depth it may be necessary to go to obtain it. To this point there must be a continuous descent of at least one foot in eight hundred, uninterrupted by any depressions, since these would cause an accumulation of deposits, which would in time choke the drains. The earth in the Prospect Park consists, first, of a few inches of soil, then a layer of clay, varying in thickness, sometimes alternate layers of clay and sand, beneath which is hardpan or drift. In the larger depressions, there is sometimes quick-sand beneath this, and scattered through the drift an innumerable quantity of boulders, which defy the precise location of drains, except on the ground itself. As a general rule, the main drains should be from three to four feet below the surface, and the lateral drains from two feet six inches to three feet. An increase of depth adds largely to the expense, especially in the hard-pan, where it will cost almost as much to keep the picks sharp as the labor is worth, and in the end adding, perhaps, no benefit to the ground. Still, no question of economy should prevent the drainage being thoroughly accomplished. 54 The drain should be laid below the frost, and must be below the reach of the sub-soil plow or trenching tools. The fact that a large quantity of soil and fertilizing matter will be added to the present soil, which is rather worthless in its character, will govern somewhat the depth beneath the present surface. Distance between Drains. There exists a positive relation between the depth of drains and their distance apart--the tenacity of the soil being the governing principle. The more retentive soils require the drains to be nearer the surface and nearer together, say from fifteen to thirty feet, while in porous soils the drains should be deeper, and may be further apart, say from twenty to sixty feet. The thorough working or trenching of the ground will obviate the necessity of placing the drains as near to each other as would be required to remove immediately the water now present in the soil. When this, which now occupies the ground so universally, is removed, that which falls afterward would find in the soil, rendered porous by being worked, a ready outlet through these drains, although they would have less immediate effect upon the ground. The leading principles which have been enumerated, have been followed out in the construction of the plan of drainage. It is not deemed essential to enter into the details of digging the trenches. If not done by contract, the lines of drains should be laid out, and the gangs so divided that each man shall work with the certain tools--one with a spade for the top soil, another with a 55 pick, and another with a shovel, to throw out the loosened earth; beginning at the lower end, and each following the other, deepening the ditch layer by layer, until it has the required depth; the relative expertness of the men deciding which tools they shall use. Trial drains should be run at each separate locality, to ascertain the depth at which the water oozes from the ground into the ditches, thus determining the depth of the drains. It is probably that, in some instances, there will be required small brick cylindrical drains to withstand the rush of water at certain seasons of the year--the effect of which will be lessened as the portion of the city adjoining the park, is built upon. Upon the plan which has bene prepared has been traced the principal streams, with the connections of artificial drains deemed necessary to the thorough drainage of the ground. The positions of these drains will be governed by circumstances; but the general system, as laid down, will remain essentially the same. At some points the drains will be further apart; at others, perhaps, nearer together. It is believed, however, that the scheme covers the maximum amount of expense that will be required for this purpose. Whether the work should be done by contract or day's labor, could be very well decided by letting a small portion of the ground by contract, as an experiment, while a similar portion is undertaken by day's work; the result will soon determine the relative cost of each. Any attempt to arrive at a calculation is any other way would be absurd.56 The number of tiles required, as estimated by the plan, will be -- 2 inch, 146,300, costing (delivered at the dock), $2,194 50 3 " 83,450, " " " " 1,919 35 4 " 30,450, " " " " 1,431 15 5 " 6,350, " " " " 444 50 6 " 12,400, " " " " 1,190 40 Total,...........................$7,179 90 It is possible that a contract can be made to make and lay the tiles, and dig and re-fill the trenches, at the following rates: 2 inch, 8,867 rods, ............. $9,457 77 3 " 5,058 " ............... 7,552 77 4 " .. 1,845 " ............... 3,813 94 5 " .. 385 " ............... 1,087 87 6 " .. 752 " ............... 2,675 39 Total,.........................$24,587 74 To which, adding $2,500 for the brick drains which will be requird, and $1,250 for the construction of the proper outlets, would make the probable total cost of the thorough drainage of the park $28,337.74. As this work should be commenced at once, I would recommend that early steps be taken to place the tiles of the ground, when the work may be done by contract, or day's work, as shall be deemed best. 57 MANURING To insure that fertility which is absolutely essential to the proper development of vegetation, it is necessary that a sufficient quantity of fertilizing matter be added to the soil. The soil of the Prospect Park contains an excess of clay, and this clay contains an excess of moisture the consequence of which is, that in damp weather it is formed into a tenacious paste, from which the water will neither evaporate nor drain off. In dry weather it bakes, becoming an almost solid substance, through which the roots cannot penetrate. In very hot, or very cold weather, it cracks open, either breaking the roots or exposing them. It attracts mechanically the nutritive juices essential to vegetation and does not part with them to the plants. This kind of soil forms, however, a superior basis for improvement, since, when once thoroughly manured and broken up, it retains its fertility for a long time. Therefore, nothing is required but correct management, to render this the best possible soil for a park. It is of the utmost importance that this branch of the improvements be clearly understood, and properly attended to in the beginning, since it will be impossible to improve its fertility from year to year, as is done with the ground which is constantly undergoing the process of fructification for agricultural purposes. The greensward, which will constitute the principal feature of the park, the chief element of whose beauty and value consists in its being firm and compact, cannot be disturbed by the plow or 858 the spade, to add new fertilizing power to the soil, without destroying it altogether. It is for this reason that we should closely study the constituent qualities of the soil, to know precisely what is absent, that is essential, and what should be added to increase its fertility. In truth, we should aim to attain at once the highest degree of fertility of which the soil is capable. Manure on some soils is unnecessary; on others, indispensable. Soils vary from great fertility to absolute barrenness; and the process of manuring is the artificial application of substances to soils, or their incorporation therewith, in order to increase their productiveness. The application of manures must be regulated accordingly, by a proper knowledge of the soil which is to be fertilized. Chemical analysis has been the means of facilitating this inquiry. Its success has been such, that the most barren wilderness could be rendered fertile. The only question necessary to be discussed, therefore, when such a restoration is required, is the simple one of expense. There are two theories of manures--the humus and the atmospheric; the first being that of Saussure, the last of Liebig. The humus theory regards "vegetable matter of soil and manures as merely applying inorganic matter, in a fluid form, to the roots of plants." The atmospheric theory considers "nutriment to be furnished to plants, and manurial action maintained, only by means of substances which either originally possess, or have eventually assumed an inorganic form." Whichever theory we assume, the practice is the same. We must first discover the ingredients of a fertile soil; secondly, we must analyze the soil we have to 59 fertilize; thirdly, we must supply, in the unfertile, the ingredients which it lacks, in order to become the same as the fertile. A perfect soil is composed of many ingredients, such as organic matter, silica, alumina, magnesia, lime, oxide or iron, potash, carbonic acid, etc., etc. Consequently, if potash is wanting, potash must be supplied; if magnesia is wanting, magnesia must be supplied, etc. Organic manner is a sine qua non of fertility, but if more than fifty per cent. be contained in a soil, it becomes sour, and requires manuring. In a cold climate, color should not be forgotten, as a dark soil will absorb heat better than a light one. Plowed fields loose their covering of snow sooner than meadows. In manuring, therefore, care should be taken that the soil assume a dark appearance. Organic matter administers food to plants through their roots; consequently, land which has been long cultivated, and scantily manured, becomes poor, through the absorption of organic matter. Organic matter disappears in two ways: First.--By sustaining plants, as aforesaid. Second.--BY decomposition through exposure to the atmosphere; therefore, it must be artificially supplied, or the land grows poor. The best way, when land runs down, is to cultivate crops to be plowed under, such as clover, buckwheat, etc. The different soils which appear on the earth's surface may be generally classified into three kinds, with their mixtures. They are--60 The sandstone; much of which composes poor soil, although many sandstone soils are very good. The limestone, as a general rule, very good. Clay. - This soil is impervious to moisture, but usually f good quality; and, by proper skill, may be made most valuable for agricultural purposes. The soil must be prepared when laboring under difficulties of a local nature. There are three kinds of manure, viz: the vegetable, the animal, the mineral. The Vegetable. - There are many of this kind, some few of which are subjoined. These manures are very important, since, although they are not as energetic, they are certainly cheaper than others. Clover, buckwheat, etc., etc., turned upside down, make a cheap and effective manure. Seaweed is also very serviceable, when easily got. In England, rape dust is used as a manure. This is a powerful manure, and one easily portable, that should claim attention. The Animal. - This comprises the blood, flesh, bones, hair, horns and excrement of animals. It is more powerful than vegetable manure, containing more nitrogen. Animals that have died from disease, made into a compost, form a manure equal to guano. They are decidedly the best manure, when attainable. {{page break}} 61 The brain of animals, woolen rags, the waste from wool mills, are considered in England as very valuable for manuring. Bones are also excellent. Of excrements, horse-dung is the beset, containing most nitrogen; hog-dung is next; cow-dung is last, its enriching powers being lost on the milk of that animal. In collecting excrements, care should be taken that the liquid is gathered in a pit or tank. If left there long, it is apt to ferment, and lose its nitrogen in the form of ammonia. In such case a little sulphuric acid and a few pounds of plaster of paris should be put in. Manure should be protected from the sun and rain. Horse manure, especially, should be immediately covered, and mixed with other manures, or some absorbent earth. Bird manure (such as guano) is the best. Pigeon dung and that of ducks, geese, turkeys, etc., are very valuable. Fish manures are good when they are to be had. Fish manure decomposes so quickly, that it ought immediately to be plowed under, or made into a well covered compost heap. The Mineral. - Lime. - The best practice is to apply lime in small quantities. Lime is applied in three states, quick lime, slaked lime, mild lime, gypsum, or plaster of paris. This manure produces a most beneficial effect, when applied as a top-dressing on pastures and meadows. During a drought, it seems by its power of attracting moisture, to aid materially in sustaining the plant. It is best applied in damp weather, and the quantity per acre is usually not large. The composition formed by62 the dissolution of common salt in the water, used for slaking quick-lime, is a very powerful manure. All saline manures are very energetic. They fail, however, to produce a beneficial effect, if applied in a dry season. The best time is just before or after rain. Wood, or coal ashes, though hurtful to trees, are useful as a top-dressing for grass. Soot is an excellent manure, giving a beautiful dark green color to grass. Composts are also no small portion of manurial studies. Mould is one of the principal ingredients of a compost. Its carriage, however, is laborious, and the compost should be made, consequently, if possible, on the spot where proper soil is to be found. Other ingredients, such as sawdust, spent tanner's bark, lime, refuse from the farm, etc., must be used in the compost. In fact, there is not a single refuse article on a farm but which may be used as an ingredient. There are various kinds of composts, viz: Peat, turf, and lime shells. The turf is wheeled to the side of a bog, and left there for some weeks until all the water drops out. One cart load of lime to twenty-seven loads of turf is mixed, and the mass then becomes greasy. Peat turf and farm-yaard dung, with a sprinkling of lime; lime an black mould; rape cake and mould; broken cake sprinkled on while the earth is turned. There ensues a brisk fermentation; after that has nearly subsided, apply it. To these may be added privy-tributes, pigeons' and fouls' dung, sawdust, and farm-yard dung. 63 Manure composed of horse-dung is peculiarly beneficial to moist, cold, sterile, clayey soils, the faults of which it corrects, while, at the same time, the soil checks the too violent action of the manure. If placed in the ground before decomposition is completely effected, it produces a very rapid effect, greatly accelerating the growth of plants, through the heat which is developed. The only soils in which manure composed chiefly of horse dung is at all durable, are those of a moist and tenacious nature. When the dung is to be used by itself, it must be carried to soils of this nature, as soon as its first stage of fermentation has commenced, and there buried. It ameliorates the land by its mechanical action, rendering the soil more loose and light by its continual fermentation and the head which it engenders. Upon the whole, it would seem that the best fertilizer that can be obtained for the park is fresh stable manure, (excepting that used for planting trees, which should be well rotted, as too great fermentation or head would injure the roots,) which should be spread while the process of trenching is going on, and thoroughly incorporated with the soil. It is very essential to divide and scatter the dung well; there must, therefore, be no lack of laborers for this purpose, and an intelligent man should be employed to follow the spreaders, and to separate any lumps of manure which they may have neglected. While a too abundant use of manure is sometimes as detrimental as beneficial, yet on heavy clay land, like that of the Prospect Park, a larger portion of manure must be used at a time, because it can bear it64 without risk, while a smaller quantity, instead of producing an effect upon it, will probably be retarded in its fermentation, and will consequently remain in the state in which it was placed in the ground. Manure from the stables is estimated by the load, and can be purchased at fifty cents per load. The quantity required on the park cannot be less than twenty-five thousand loads, which, at the above-named price, will make the total estimate of its cost, delivered $12,500, to which, add mixing, carting and spreading, $4,000--making total cost, $16,500. Trenching. Trenching, or the operation of opening the land to a greater depth than usual, by means of trench plows, spades, or other proper instruments, is requisite under certain circumstances, in order to prepare for manuring. Trenching must be carried on in various ways according to circumstances. The simplest way is by the spade. Three feet is the depth for trees, two for ordinary purposes. Trenching is servicable in dry weather, as the heat rarely, if ever, affects the soil below a certain depth. Care should be taken, however, in trenching, not to throw a poorer over a richer soil; as great damage has been occasioned by such mistakes. Trenching costs much at first, but ultimately pays. It has been known to repay the labor as much as a thousand per cent. In trenching the site of an old plantation, the ground should be marked out in sections of about thirty feet in breadth. Under these circumstances it is best that three men 65 should work together rather than singly, as one aids the others if trees are to be extricated. In trenching very strong ground, the foot-pick is found most efficient. Iron levers may be used if needed, and the larger rocks in boulders blasted. Ground should be trenched before drained, if the land to be improved has been the site of a plantation. Trenching may be done at any season. The dry, warm days of summer have been found more preferable by some. The soil being prepared, the next thing is to understand what manures are best and least expensive. The cost of trenching the ground in the manner prescribed will be $100 per acre, but a great portion of the trenching can be done with a sub-soil plow; and a great portion of the park being wooded, would still further diminish the cost. There being about one hundred acres on the park which will require trenching, the total cost of this work will be less than $7,000. Planting. The planting of the ground necessarily preceded by drainage and the fertilization of the soil, is also so dependent for effect upon all the other improvements, that it should be almost the last step in the progress of the work. The very large portion already wooded will obviate in a great measure the expense which would be otherwise incurred in supplying trees, essential to the completion of the landscape. The trees already in the grounds will require very judicious treatment, not only 966 to bring them to a normal degree of perfection, but to open the necessary views through them. A very bad practice resorted to by the neighboring residents for a long time--that of gathering the fallen leaves in autumn for making compost--has deprived the soil of a large amount of the essential ingredients of fertility, and the trees of the food necessary to their very existence. This will have to be remedied immediately by incorporating manure and vegetable mould with their soil and around their roots. All of the planting which it is proposed should be done at this time, is around the border. This may consist of every variety of trees and shrubs, forming of them a nursery of young trees around the exterior line and along the sides of Flatbush avenue, which, in the progress of their growth and development, may be transplanted to the points where effect is required. Upon the proper conduct of this portion of the work depends the artistic character of the scheme. The method pursued in planting may mar the beauty of an otherwise perfect plan, and the closest study will be required to maintain the unity and harmony of the design. By a judicious selection of trees, and by their arrangement into groups with regard to their size, shape and color, we shall be able not only to preserve, but to heighten the character of the scenes which the ever varying topography calls into existence. This must be a work of time. No person can appreciate this fact more than a true artist and close observer of nature. Trees have their individuality as strongly marked as men or animals; and to say that one tree would produce anything like the same effect in a certain locality that another would, is to deny the existence of this individuality. It becomes necessary 67 then, not only to know the lineaments I may say of every species, but to know the precise outline of the landscape from all its points of view. Where its effect is to be heightened by planting upon this outline, the various species of trees in their maturity should be sketched in turn, on paper, and in the mind on the ground, before the grouping or planting is undertaken. In this way alone can we achieve success or avoid error. I say the trees in their maturity--I mean when they have arrived at that point in their growth when their characteristics are fully developed; and they must be planted for that development, no matter what may be their effect upon the landscape when they are first put into the ground. The desire for immediate effect is the stumbling block of rural improvement, and every effort should be made to avoid it. Trees are the first features in a landscape, because the most necessary to it, and they are among nature's noblest objects. It is, therefore, important, when planted singly or blended in masses, that their distinguishing character should be preserved. Those who wish to catch the eye by effect, generally avoid trees, especially as principal features, choosing large objects, such as bridges, terraces, etc., which, besides the advantage of requiring less artistic knowledge and study, are also for the same reasons more generally understood and noticed by others. Trees, however excellent and beautiful, if they have not superadded the beauty of effect, will attract no notice from observers of this class, and with such it is no matter how execrable may be the execution of the objects themselves!68 A few large sized trees may be transplanted to produce immediate effect, but the great bulk of the planting must necessarily be from the nurseries on the ground; and in this connection, it is proper to state, that the most judicious course would be to import from Europe the seedling plants, which, by careful cultivation in the grounds of the park, will soon outstrip the larger, but much more expensive trees, which are purchased from American nurseries. The greater portion of these trees are imported from Europe, and there appears to be no reason for paying the large increase in price over that of importation, while we have the ground in which they may increase in size while gradually adding to the beauty of the park. The same trees may be imported from $10 to $12 per thousand, which, after being here two or three years, our nurserymen charge from $300 to $500 per thousand for. By preparing the ground along the exterior line from fifty to one hundred feet for a nursery, and stocking it with imported trees, they would be large enough to transplant, when the ground in the progress of improement is ready to receive them. Roads, Walks and Drives. There is very great responsibility attendant upon the proper construction of the roads and walks, and their judicious location. An error in this respect cannot be discovered until the work is completed, and any alteration of the route or of the manner of construction is accompanied with great expense, not to speak of the delay consequent upon such a course. Therefore, the location, grade, shape and material to be used should be 69 carefully considered. The conditions to be fulfilled in the construction of a perfect roadway, are, an easy grade, a well drained and smooth surface, a firm, dry road-bed, and durable materials. The cost will be governed by the character of the materials used, and in this connection it is proper to take into consideration the fact that there is lying upon the surface and distributed through the drift of a very large quantity of boulders, chiefly composed of Diorite--a species of trap or basaltic rock transported from a distance during the drift period--the time that a greater portion of the soil of Long Island was transported where it now lies. It possesses both hardness and tenacity, essential qualities for a durable road material; but its excessive hardness renders it difficult to break into small pieces, and therefore perhaps too expensive to be used--much will depend upon the cost of breaking it up. There is also found in the drift a large quantity of other stone, which, though not equal to the former in hardness or tenacity, yet possesses these qualities to a sufficient degree not to warrant their being rejected as road material. These stones have gone through the same process of attrition which has rounded the edges and smoothed the surfaces of the former, and they were submerged for the same period in that flood of water without disintegration. To the eye, no more effect has been produced on one than on the other. If they have been able thus to withstand the effects of the elements and of attrition, they will answer to a certain extent the purpose for which we require them; in fact, if there were no harder stone, we should consider this very good material. The same quality of stone to which we have referred, may be obtained already broken into the70 suitable size, from the quarries on the North River. The relative cost of each would decide between them. Applying the Material to the Road-Bed. In referring to this subject, Professor MAHAN states: Broken-Stone Road-Covering.--The ordinary road-covering for common roads, in use in this country and Europe, is formed of a coating of stone broken into small fragments, which is laid either upon the natural soil, or upon a paved bottoming of small irregular blocks of stone. In England, these two systems have their respective partizans; the one claiming the superiority for road-coverings of stone broken into small fragments, a method brought into vogue some years since by McAdam, from whom these roads have been termed macadamized; the other being the plan pursued by Mr. Telford in the great national roads constructed in Great Britain within about the same period. "The subject of road-making has within the last few years excited renewed interest and discussion among Engineers in France; the conclusion drawn from experience, there generally adopted is, that a covering alone of stone broken into small fragments is sufficient under the heaviest traffic and most frequented roads. Some of the French engineers recommend, in very yielding, clayey soils, that either a paved bottoming, after Telford's method, be resorted to, or that the soil be well compressed at the surface before placing the road-covering. "The paved bottom road-covering on Telford's plan is formed by excavating the surface of the ground to a 71 suitable depth, and preparing the form for the pavement with the precautions as for a common pavement. Blocks of stone of an irregular pyramidal shape are selected for the pavement, which, for a road-way thirty feet in width, should be seven inches thick for the centre of the road, and three inches thick at the sides. The base of each should not measure more than five inches, and the top not less than four inches. "The bocks are set by the hand, with great care, as closely in contact at their bases as practicable; and blocks of a suitable size are selected to give the surface of the pavement a slightly convex shape from the centre outwards. The spaces between the blocks are filled with clippings of stone, compactly set with a small hammer. "A layer of broken stone, four inches thick, is laid over this pavement, for a width of nine feet, on each side of the centre; no fragment of this layer should measure over two-and-a-half inches in any direction. A layer of broken stone of smaller dimensions, or of clean, coarse gravel, is spread over the wings to the same depth as the centre layer. "The road-covering thus prepared, is thrown open to vehicles until the upper layer has become perfectly compact, care having been taken to fill in the ruts with fresh stone, in order to obtain a uniform surface. A second layer, about two inches in depth, is then laid over the centre of the road-way; and the wings receive also a layer of new material laid on to a sufficient thickness to make the outside of the road-way nine inches lower72 than the centre, by giving a slight convexity to the surface from the centre outwards. A coating of clean coarse gravel, one inch and a half thick, termed a binding, is spread over the surface, and the road-covering is then ready to be thrown open to traveling. "In forming a road-covering of broken stone alone, the bed for the covering is arranged in the same manner as for the paved bottoming; a layer of the stone, four inches in thickness, is carefully spread over the bed, and the road is thrown open to vehicles, care being taken to fill the ruts and preserve the surface in a uniform state until the layer has become compact; successive layers are laid on and treated in the same manner as the first, until the covering has received a thickness of about twelve inches in the centre, with the ordinary convexity at the surface. "Where good gravel can be procured, the road- covering may be made of this material, which should be well screened and all pebbles found in it over two and a-half inches in a diameter should be broken into fragments of not greater dimensions than these. A firm, level form having been prepared, a layer of gravel, four inches in thickness, is laid on, and, when this has become compact from the travel, successive layers of about three inches in thickness are laid on and treated like the first, until the covering has received a thickness of sixteen inches in the centre and the ordinary convexity. "As has been already stated, the French Civil Engineers do not regard a paved bottoming as essential for 73 broken-stone road-coverings, except in cases of a very heavy traffic, or where the substratum of the road is of a very yielding character. They also give less thickness to the road-covering than the English engineers of Telford's school deem necessary; allowing not more than six to eight inches to road-coverings for light traffic, and about ten inches only to the heaviest traffic. "If the soil upon which the road-covering is to be placed is not dry and firm, they compress it by rolling, which is done by passing over it several times an iron cylinder about six feet in diameter and four feet in length, the weight of which can be increased, by additional weights, from six thousand to about twenty thousand pounds. The road material is placed upon the bed, when well compressed and leveled, in layers of about four inches, each layer being compressed by passing the cylinder several times over it before a new one is laid on. If the operation of rolling is performed in dry weather, the layer of stone is watered, and some add a thin layer of clean sand, from four to eight tenths of an inch in thickness, over each layer before it is rolled, for the purpose of consolidating the surface of the layer, by filling the voids between the broken-stone fragments. After the surface has ben well consolidated by rolling, the road is thrown open for travel, and all ruts and other displacement of the stone on the surface are carefully repaired, by adding fresh material, and leveling the ridges by ramming. "Great importance is attached by the French engineers to the use of the iron cylinder for compressing the materials of a new road, and to minute attention to 1074 to daily repairs. It is stated that by the use of the cylinder the road is presented at once in a good traveling condition; the wear of the materials is less than by the old method of gradually consolidating them by the travel; the cost of repairs during the first years is diminished; it gives to the road-covering a more uniform thickness, and admits of its being thinner than in the usual method. "Materials and Repairs. - The material for broken- stone roads should be hard and durable. For the bottom layer a soft stone, or a mixture of hard and soft may be used, but on the surface none but the hardest stone will withstand the action of the wheels. The stone should be carefully broken into fragments of as nearly cubical a form as possible, and be cleansed from dirt and all very small fragments. The broken stone should be kept in depots at convenient points along the line of the road for repairs. "Too great attention cannot be bestowed upon keeping the road surface free from an accumulation of mud and even of dust. It should be constantly cleaned by scraping and sweeping. The repairs should be daily made by adding fresh material upon all points where hollows or ruts commence to form. It is recommended by some that, when fresh material is added, the surface on which it is spread should be broken with a pick to the depth of half an inch to an inch, and the fresh material be well settled by ramming, a small quantity of clean sand being added to make the stone pack better. When not daily repaired by persons whose sole business 75 it is to keep the road in good order, general repairs should be made in the months of October and April, by removing all accumulations of mud, cleaning out the side channels and other drains, and adding fresh material where requisite. "The importance of keeping the road surface at all times free from an accumulation of mud and dust, and of preserving the surface in a uniform state of evenness, by the daily addition of fresh material wherever the wear is sufficient to call for it, cannot be too strongly insisted upon. Without this constant supervision, the best constructed road will, in a short time, be unfit for travel, and will it the weakest may at all times be kept in a tolerable fair state." Details of Constructing Roadways. 1. All the surface soil should be removed to the depth of one foot on the whole line and width of the road, and deposited along the line. 2. All roots and other vegetable matter should be excavated, and wholly removed from the roadway, and, together with logs, brush and wood, be burned, or removed from the park. 3. All deposits of decomposed vegetable matter, or light spongy soils, should be excavated to a proper depth, and deposited on the line of the road. 4. That portion of all water courses or drainage streams, which crosses the line of the road, should be76 excavated to their firm beds, and properly covered with dry stone culverts. 5. All earth and soil, other than surface soil, which may be above the established grade, should be excavated to that grade. 6. The roadway should be properly shaped with a slope of one inch to twenty feet both ways, from the axis of the roadway. 7. The side-walks should be formed of dry subsoil, to be elevated not more than nine inches from the bottom of the side channels, and to have a pitch of three inches towards the side channels. 8. The surface of the roadway and side-walks should be well rolled with a heavy roller, until a smooth, compact surface, is formed. 9. Upon the road-bed thus formed, a coating of broken stone, from two to three inches in diameter, should be spread to the depth of four inches, and rolled with a heavy roller, until the whole becomes a compact mass; after which another coating of the same stone, and of the same depth should be added, and rolled as before. And afterwards, another layer four inches in depth, of hard, tough stone, should be added, and well rolled. 10. The side-walks should be covered with a coating of sharp, clean gravel, to a uniform depth of three inches, and then rolled with a heavy roller; after which, a second coating of three inches to be added, then rolled, until a firm, smooth surface, is formed. 77 Where it is necessary to raise the roadway above the be formed to within two feet of the established grade, upon which the road-bed should be formed of dry subsoil. In all side cuttings, a proper slope of earth should be given to the exterior side of the road. Estimated Cost of Improvements. Among the arguments used in opposition to an extensive civic improvement of this character, are: The large original cost of the ground, the cost of putting it into a suitable condition for use, and the cost of maintaining it after it is laid out. And it is contended by some, that the total outlay under these three heads is not warranted by any results which may be attained. Experience in England, France, and this country, thus far, has proved that the increased value of the adjacent lands, has more than balanced the outlay by the increased amount derived from regular taxation upon the property. And in regard to the cost of improvement, it is a mistaken idea--unhappily become too prevalent--that embellishment of ground in the hands of public officers is necessarily a very expensive matter: while, on the contrary, if the rules laid down in this report be followed-- that of adhering closely to nature in every step of improvement --there is no reason why this public work cannot be completed at the same rate of expenditure, which would govern a private citizen in improving his own78 property--due allowance, of course, being made for the thoroughness and stability of the work. In regard to the preservation of the grounds after completion, a comparatively small sum will be sufficient, if judiciously expended. The following estimates of the cost of the entire improvement is submitted as a maximum sum, which in various ways may be reduced, if thought expedient, during the progress of the work: Drainage................................$22,000 Manure.................................. 24,000 Trenching...............................11,000 Roads..................................... 75,000 Walks..................................... 12,000 Ponds...................................... 5,000 Leveling and Esplanade...... 38,000 Enclosure.............................. 18,000 Viaduct................................... 17,000 Sub-roadway under Flatbush avenue....... 6,000 Planting................................ 24,000 Gateways, Lodges, and Contingencies..... 48,000 Total............................$300,000 Conclusion. The basis upon which the forgoing estimate has been founded, and from which the general conclusions have been drawn, are: 1st, A triangulation of the entire area of the park, thus locating and defining its general topographical features; 2d, The instrumental traversing of 79 all defined lines; 3d, The instrumental location of all water deposits, and connection of the same by a system of levels; and 4th, A careful and thorough examination and study for several months of all the natural features in outline and detail. In the conduct of the work, I have been assisted by the following gentlemen: G. S. BACHUS, Esq., C. E. MR. STEVENSON TOWLE, C. E. MR. THOMAS LAURIER, C. E., of Brooklyn MR. W. C. HAWKESWORTH, City Surveyor, of Brooklyn. MR. HAMILTON EWEN, City Surveyor, of Brooklyn. MR. JOHN CRUMLY, C. E. MR. FREDERICK RAWOLLE, B. S. To these gentlemen I am, considering the peculiar circumstances through which the work has been prosecuted, under much obligation. In the daily prosecution of my labors, I have been more and more convinced of the fitness and adaptability of the ground to the purposes proposed. Of its necessity I have no doubt, nor am I less certain that its economic execution can be secured by strict adherence to well-established rules. That the City of Brooklyn may secure, and its inhabitants may long enjoy this great public blessing, is my most heartfelt wish. Respectfully submitted, EGBERT L. VIELE. Brooklyn, Jan. 15th, 1861.80 Appendix. A. Extract from "An Act to provide for the Opening of Washington Park, on Fort Greene, in the City of Brooklyn," passed April 27, 1847, referred to in Section 4 of the Act establishing Prospect Park. § 1. There shall be appointed by the Superior Court of the city of New York, three discreet and competent persons, being citizens of the United States, as Commissioners to perform the duties hereinafter prescribed. The Mayor and Common Council of the city of Brooklyn shall apply for the appointment of such Commissioners within two months from the passage of this act, and shall cause a notice to be published in at least two of the newspapers printed in the said city, of such intended application, for ten days prior thereto. If the said Mayor and Common Council shall not make such application within the time aforesaid, any of the parties whose lands are comprised within the bounds of the square or park, hereinafter mentioned, may make such application on the like notice. B. Part of Section 5 of the Washington Park Act, referred to in Section 10 of the Prospect Park Act. § 5. Upon the presentation of the said report to the Superior Court of the city of New York, for confirmation, the said Court shall, by rule or order, after hearing any matter which may be alleged against the same, either confirm the said report or refer the same to the same Commissioners for revisal or correction, or to the new Commissioners to be appointed for revisal or correction, or to new Commissioners to be appointed by the said Court, to reconsider the subject matter thereof; and the said Commissioners, to whom the said report shall be referred, shall return the same report corrected and revised, or a new report, to be made by them in the premises, to the said Court without unnecessary delay; and the same on being so returned shall be confirmed, or again referred by the said Court, in manner aforesaid as right and justice shall require; upon the like notice, to be given either by the said Mayor and Common Council, or by any of the said parties interested; and so from time to time, until a report shall be made or returned in the premises, which the said Court shall confirm.Prospect Park, sketch showing Triangulation & Levelling. Egbert L. Viele Topg Engineer.PLAN FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF PROSPECT PARK BROOKLYN Edbert L. Viele Topg. Engineer ENDICOTT & CO. 59 BEEMAN ST. N.Y. 000280SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF PROSPECT PARK. 1862. COMMISSIONERS. J. S. T. STRANAHAN, THOMAS G. TALMADGE, THOS. McELRATH, STEPHEN HAYNES, EDWARDS W. FISKE, THOMAS H. RODMAN, C. J. SPRAGUE, ABM. B. BAYLIS, CONKLIN BRUSH, RICHARD H. THOMPSON, JOSEPH A. PERRY. PRESIDENT. J. S. T. STRANAHAN. SECRETARY. RICHARD H. THOMPSON. SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF PROSPECT PARK. TO THE COMMON COUNCIL OF TILE CITY OF BROOKLYN: In conformity with the provisions of the law, the Board of Commissioners of Prospect Park herewith submit their Second Annual Report. In the first report, which the Commissioners had the honor to submit to your honorable body in the month of January, 1861, allusion was made to the probable necessity of some additional legislation, especially in reference to the mode of appointing Commissioners of Estimate and Assessment. In presenting this matter to the Legislature, other alterations and improvements in the law were suggested, which resulted in the passage of an amended act, which, while it was entirely satisfactory to the Commissioners, rendered the law likewise satisfactory to a portion of our fellow- citizens, who discovered in the old law some objectionable features. An increase in the number of the Commissioners from seven to eleven, giving to this Board additional strength and efficiency, was among the important amendments embraced in this act. The 14th section of the Act of 1861 authorizes the Commissioners of Estimate and Assessment to employ an 4 Attorney and Surveyor, and fixes the per diem compensation of the Commissioners, but fails in the opinion of the Commissioners of Assessment to point out or provide the manner of payment of these officers. Unless it shall be deemed necessary to remedy this supposed accidental omission, no necessity exists for any further legislation. The expenses incurred for the surveys, for the maps and reports of the Engineer, for Counsel fees, and for a temporary Watchman or Superintendent of the park grounds, amount in the whole to about the sum of three thousand dollars. The whole of this amount remains unpaid. No other expenses whatever have been incurred, nor any other debt contracted. While the Commissioners have been careful to comply with all the requirements of the law—by the due organization of their Board, by the observance of all necessary duties imposed upon them as Commissioners, and by vigilantly guarding the rights of the public in the grants contained in the acts relating to the park—they do not consider themselves as having faltered in their duty to the public in not making any perceptible progress since their last report, in the actual development of their plans. The year 1861 was not a propitious year for carrying forward such improvements as are contemplated in the establishment of the Prospect Park. The commerce of the country suspended; the industry of the nation checked, and the hearts of the people crushed by a wicked attempt to destroy the benign government under which they lived and prospered, all public improvements became necessarily paralyzed. The Commissioners therefore make no apology for not pushing forward this greatest and noblest of Brooklyn enterprises during such a period. When the gloom which now spreads over our land shall have been dispersed, and when peace and prosperity shall awaken to 5 new life the now repressed energies of our beautiful city, the Commissioners will not be found tardy in the performance of their duties, nor fail to meet the expectations of those who have confided to them this important trust. The Commissioners do not think it probable that the action of the Commissioners of Estimate and Assessment will be sufficiently advanced to require any further expenditure by this Board during the present year, unless, indeed, it should be found necessary to employ a watchman to protect the trees and shrubbery from depredation. It is gratifying to observe that the public taste in reference to city parks continues to force its claims upon public authorities elsewhere than in New York and Brooklyn. The city of Baltimore has taken initiatory steps for a park, which will do credit to the Monumental City. But while the great Central Park of New York, costing its millions of dollars, will, perhaps, in all time hold its superiority over any other which may be conceived or executed as a mere work of art, and while other cities may exhibit parks, ample in their extent and creditable for the good taste of their plans, the Prospect Park of the city of Brooklyn must always be conceded as the great natural park of the country ; presenting the most majestic views of land and ocean, with panoramic changes more varied and beautiful than can be found within the boundaries of any city on this continent. Dated January, 1862. Respectfully submitted, J. S. T. STRANAHAN, President Board of Com'rs of Prospect Park. R. H. THOMPSON, Secretary. THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF PROSPECT PARK. To the Common Council of the City of Brooklyn: The Board of Commissioners of Prospect Park have the honor, herewith, to submit to your honorable body their Third Annual Report: The Commissioners of Estimate and Assessment have made very considerable progress, during the year, in their complicated and responsible duties. They have brought to their work experience, skill and ability, and there is every reason to believe that the result of their labors will challenge the assent and confidence of all parties interested. The present appears to be a peculiarly favorable period for making the payments to the landowners, to whom awards may be made by the Commissioners of Estimate. The bonds of the city of Brooklyn are now selling at a very high premium, and in order that the city may have the benefit of the existing advance in these securities, it is desirable that the Commissioners bring their labors to a close as speedily as may be consistent with the nature of the business confided to them will admit. Careful attention has been paid during the year to the preservation of the valuable trees and shrubbery within the park boundaries, and the Commissioners take pleasure in reporting that2 fewer attempts have been made at depredations on the property than during either of the previous years. Since the last report, no expenses whatever have been incurred by these Commissioners, nor is it probable that any farther expenditure will be made by them until the Commissioners of Estimate and Assessment shall have substantially closed their estimates. Dated January, 1863. All which is respectfully submitted, J.S.T. STRANAHAN, President Board of Com'rs of Prospect Park. R.H. THOMPSON, Secretary. FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF PROSPECT PARK. To the Common Council of the City of Brooklyn: The Board of Commissioners of Prospect Park herewith respectfully submit their Fourth Annual Report: During the year 1863 they have performed no active duties connected with the contemplated improvement of the Park grounds. Until the report of the Commissioners to estimate the value of the lands taken is finally completed and confirmed, this Board cannot fairly enter upon their legitimate duties. The report of the said Commissioners to estimate the value of the lands taken is finally completed and confirmed, this Board cannot fairly enter upon their legitimate duties. The report of the said Commissioners was made in the month of December last, and is now on file in the County Clerk's Office. So soon as this report is confirmed, the Board will organize in such a manner as to give to it the utmost efficiency, and the work of laying out and improving the Park will be prosecuted as rapidly as may be consistent with economy, and with such prudent caution as may be deemed safe in the adoption of measures and plans. 2 No expenses have been incurred by the Commission during the past year. Dated January, 1864. J. S. T. STRANAHAN, President Board of Com'rs of Prospect Park. R. H. THOMPSON, Secretary. FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF PROSPECT PARK 1865. COMMISSIONERS. J. S. T. STRANAHAN, E. W. FISKE, CONKLIN BRUSH, THOS. McELRATH, C. J. SPRAGUE, TEUNIS J. BERGEN, A. A. LOW. JOHN H. PRENTICE, ABM. B. BAYLIS, STEPHEN HAYNES, S. L. HUSTED, WALTER S. GRIFFITH. PRESIDENT. J. S. T. STRANAHAN. SECRETARY. WALTER S. GRIFFITH. COUNSEL. JOHN N. TAYLOR.FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF PROSPECT PARK. To the Common Council of the City of Brooklyn: The Board of Commissioners of Prospect Park respectfully submit to your honorable body their Fifth Annual Report, regretting that circumstances beyond their control have interfered with a more ample development of the important object of their appointment, than they are now able to present. A former report of the Board intimated to the Common Council that it could not actively enter upon the discharge of its duties until after the report of the Commissioners of Estimate and Assessment had been completed, and that such report had been delayed by a litigation growing out of the application to appoint the said Commissioners. This report was subsequently filed in the Office of the County Clerk, but before any proceedings could be taken for its confirmation, it was deemed necessary to suspend further action until an application could be made to the Legislature to correct certain informalities in the act, so that the final confirmation of their report did not take place until October, 1864. The lands embraced in their report extend over a space of nearly three hundred and twenty (320) acres, and the4 compensation awarded therefor amounts to one million, three hundred and fifty-seven thousand, six hundred and six dollars ($1,357,606). Measures were promptly taken by his Honor, the Mayor, and by the Comptroller, to raise the money required for the payment of these awards, and payments began to be made in the month of December following. More than three-fourths of the whole amount awarded to the proprietors has already been paid, but the difficulty of raising money at this particular juncture of public affairs has again delayed the period when the Board can take that entire control of the land which is necessary for laying out and improving the Park. The Board hopes to obviate one cause of the delay by an application to the Legislature, at its present session, to authorize immediate action on the land, thus removing a restriction of no real value to the owners, and which now only serves to protract the commencement of operations, the importance of which cannot be over-estimated. For these reasons the Board can scarcely yet be said to have entered upon any of the more active duties contemplated by its appointment, no has it, consequently, been able to lay out an entire plan of improvement. For although the property, as the awards are being paid, is gradually coming into the possession of the Board, it is only as a whole that any plan of improvement can be judiciously carried out. A considerable portion of the Park property is found to be encumbered with small - many of them dilapidated - buildings, which the Board has concluded to sell. But there are several good dwelling-houses, which may be advantageously rented until the ground on which they stand shall be required for the purposes of improvement. {{page break}} 5 Among the small houses referred to, quite a large number are occupied by mere trespassers on the land, who are being quietly removed, and very soon the entire premises will have been cleared of all objectionable features, and fully prepared for the entrance of the landscape gardener. But notwithstanding the action of the Board has been thus limited, the subject of improvement has occupied much of its attention, and the Board will be prepared to adopt a general plan of improvement as soon as circumstances will permit. One of the prominent features of any plan that may be adopted, must necessarily be a suitable approach to the main entrance, which the Board hope to render especially attractive. The subject of approaches is of much more importance than has been generally supposed, and if left unstudied now, might require to be settled at some future time at great expense. The Board is studious to avoid difficulties that have occurred in London and Paris, and other Continental cities, where costly improvements have been frequently destroyed in order to give place to tardily comprehended improvements, which a more prudent foresight could have easily and cheaply arranged at the outset. The Board has deemed this matter of sufficient importance to make application to the Legislature for permission to take in several additional acres of land on the westerly side of Flatbush avenue, near its junction with the Ninth avenue, for the purpose of giving a more elegant and symmetrical approach to this entrance, than can now be procured form the present contracted and angular arrangement of those avenues. No expense has been incurred during the past year, except for legal advice, and for the employment of a Park Keeper during a portion of the time. In conclusion, the Board assures the Common Council, that no effort shall be wanting on its part to make Prospect6 Park, as speedily and as economically as possible, an honor to our city, and a source of health and of pleasure to its inhabitants. Dated January, 1865. All of which is respectfully submitted, J.S.T. STRANAHAN, President Board of Com'rs of Prospect Park. WALTER S. GRIFFITH, Secretary. SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF PROSPECT PARK, BROOKLYN. JANUARY, 1866. BROOKLYN: 1. VAN ANDEN'S PRINT, EAGLE BUILDINGS, 30 & 32 FULTON STREET. 1866.BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF PROSPECT PARK. JAMES S. T. STRANAHAN, CONKLIN BRUSH, WALTER S. GRIFFITH, JOHN H. PRENTICE, EDWARDS W. FISKE, TEUNIS J. BERGEN, ABIEL A. LOW, SEYMOUR L. HUSTED, ABRAHAM B. BAYLIS, THOMAS McELRATH, STEPHEN HAYNES, CORNELIUS J. SPRAGUE. President. JAMES S. T. STRANAHAN. Secretary. WALTER S. GRIFFITH Superintendent and Counsel. JOHN N. TAYLOR.REPORT. To the Common Council of the City of Brooklyn: The Board of Commissioners of Prospect Park, by its previous Reports, could do little more than to present a dry detail of the litigation which, in connection with the financial pressure of the times, had prevented it from making any very definite progress in the important work committed to its charge; and to advise the legislation which appeared to be necessary to enable it to proceed satisfactorily, and with a reasonable assurance that it would ultimately meet the obvious demands of the city in regard thereto. The views of the Board, in this respect, having been adopted by the Legislature, at its last session, and the fearful strife which desolated the land and crippled its resources, being happily terminated, the time for more active measures arrived, and the Board proceeded to make the preliminary arrangements which were necessary for entering upon the long delayed work of providing and opening a suitable place of recreation for our citizens. For this purpose, a topographical survey of the ground originally fixed upon, as a site for the park and its vicinity, was made under the direction of Mr. Benjamin D. Frost and a competent corps of assistants. A general plan of laying out and improving the grounds has also been prepared by Messrs. Olmsted & Vaux, landscape architects of acknowledged taste and skill, and is now, together with an extended report, presented by those gentlemen, herewith submitted for your consideration. The plan has been prepared in its present measurably complete form, because the Commissioners have found it impracticable to arrive at a thoroughly intelligent understanding in regard to the subject of boundaries, without such a development of the whole scheme as is embodied in this design and report. With the information now before them, they feel confident, not only that an important modification of the outlines originally fixed upon for the park is required,6 but that they are in a position to satisfy their constituents that, although the proposed change involves a considerable enlargement of the ground, yet the increased amount of accommodation, and the highly picturesque views, which are thus secured, will be in a much larger ratio than the increase of area, and is therefore justifiable on economical as well as upon esthetic principles. The grand features of the plan are simple and easily comprehended; but the Commissioners wish to direct attention particularly to three regions of distinct character embodied in it, in each of which, it will be observed, the suggestions of the natural condition of the land are proposed to be developed. They are, first, a region of open meadow, with large trees standing singly and in groups; second, a hilly district, with groves and shrubbery; and third, a lake district, containing a fine sheet of water, with picturesque shores and islands. These being the landscape characteristics, the first gives room for extensive play grounds, the second offers shaded rambles and broad views, and the third presents good opportunities for skating and rowing. Besides these, there are minor intermediate and exterior portions of the grounds which are devoted to zoological gardens and other special purposes. The different parts are connected with each other, and are brought advantageously into use and under observation by a carefully adjusted system of rides, drives and rambles. The existing natural features of the charming locality are everywhere accepted and made available, and the artificial constructions necessary for the convenient accommodation of the public, are as inconspicuous and inexpensive as possible, consistently with permanency and good taste. The Commissioners are satisfied that the plan now submitted ought not to be changed in any manner which would materially affect the new boundaries, and that it cannot again be altered without serious disadvantage. Nor do they believe that the enlarged area, in view of the other changes suggested by the Report, will essentially increase the cost of the park. The propose, therefore, at an early day, to take such action in the premises, as will effect the contemplated change of boundary: and they confidently anticipate a speedy completion of the entire improvement for the use of the public. The Commissioners have now no doubt that the park will soon become a favorite resort for all classes of our community, enabling thousands to enjoy pure air, with healthful exercise, at all seasons of the year; while its magnificentREPORT OF THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS. To the Board of Commissioners of Prospect Park, Brooklyn: GENTLEMEN: We have been instructed to lay before you at this time such plans, accompanied by information and advice, as would aid you in a final review of the boundaries of the park proposed to be formed under your government. The study herewith submitted has been prepared for this purpose, and though not designed to be full or accurate in all details, is intended to be complete in those respects which are essential to an understanding of the advantages to be gained by such changes of the boundaries as we would recommend to be secured, before a plan of construction is definitively settled upon. We proceed to show what these change are, and why they are considered desirable. In selecting a site for a park, it is evidently important that such natural advantages should be secured as are found in well grown woods, an agreeable variety of surface and fair prospects both of distant and local scope. It is true, that a site may be deficient in any of these characteristics, and yet, with time enough and money enough, be convertible, by well directed labor, into a park of varied and attractive scenery. If, however, such conditions as are most desirable to be added, should have been already provided by nature in the immediate vicinity of a site, it would be felt, on the one hand, to be an extravagance to repeat them by artificial means 212 upon it; while, on the other, the disadvantage of its being without them would be greater, because more obvious. Moreover, there are two possible misfortunes of a site, which is no period of time, and by no expenditure of labor, can ever be remedied. These are, inadequate dimensions, and an inconvenient shape. Our first duty has been to examine the site to which you have asked our attention, with reference to the several conditions we have thus indicated; that is to say, with reference to-- 1. Convenience of its shape. 2. Amplitude of its dimensions. 3. Its topographical conditions, and the surrounding circumstances, in relation to which the value of its topographical conditions must in part be estimated. The fact which first claims attention is the complete bisection of the site by a broad and conspicuous thoroughfare, much used for ordinary and indispensable public travel, between Brooklyn and an important suburb, that connects it with a large district of agricultural country. It is obvious that this division must seriously interfere with the impressions of amplitude and continuous extent, that the general dimensions of the ground assigned for a park would otherwise convey. To establish convenient communication between the two parts would involve a considerable outlay in bridge construction, which would not be called for if the public highway skirted the ground instead of traversing it. A thoroughfare crossing the park might be a useful and even necessary adjunct, if it were so situated that it served to connect two districts of the city that were likely in future to be closely built up, and that would otherwise be widely separated. Such, however, is not the case in the present instance, and a glance at the map of Brooklyn is sufficient to show that the line of travel, accommodated by the park section of Flatbush avenue, could be diverted, without much inconvenience, to Warren street and Washington avenue. If cros-roads for business purposes are required at all, it is in a direction nearly at right angles to Flatbush avenue. The city, however, is so laid out, that no real necessity is apparent for any merely traffic-roads across the property. Proceeding to consider the two main divisions of the site separately, the Reservoir is found to encroach so seriously on the smaller section east of Flatbush avenue, that it is in effect subdivided again into two portions of very insignificant dimensions for park purposes. The formation of the ground is, moreover, of a character that would 13 make its improvement very expensive, and when the best possible had been done, it would always present a cramped, contracted and unsatisfactory appearance. For these reasons, we think it our duty to advise, that so much of the site as lies east of Flatbush avenue should be abandoned for park purposes. The great reduction which we have thus suggested in the dimensions of the park site, as originally provided, would oblige you either to be content with a much smaller park than has hitherto been contemplated, or to determine on an extension of its original boundaries in some other direction. As the number and value of the health and pleasure-giving circumstances possible in any park must of course be limited by its size, the question of size may be thought to depend on the restrictions fixed in regard to the number of these circumstances; and it may perhaps be thought, that a large park has advantages over a small one only in the greater number and the greater variety, of the pleasures which it offers. But it would be a serious mistake to entertain any such idea, as will be evident to any one who will ask himself: Is there any pleasure which all persons find at all times in every park, and if so, what does that pleasure depend upon? The answer unquestionably must be--That there is such a pleasure, common, constant and universal to all parks, and that it results from the feeling of relief experienced by those entering them, on escaping from the cramped, confined and controlling circumstances of the streets of the town; in other words, a sense of enlarged freedom is to all, at all times, the most certain and the most valuable gratification afforded by a park. The scenery which favors this gratification is, therefore, more desirable to be secured than any other, and the various topographical conditions and circumstances of a site thus, in reality, become important very much in the proportion by which they gives the means of increasing the general impression of undefined limit. The degree of this impression, which will be found in any particular park, must unquestionably depend very much upon the manner in which it is laid out; that is to say, on the manner in which the original topographical conditions are turned to account by designers; but as no degree of art can make the back yard of a town house seem unlimited, and as no art at all is required to make a prairie of some hundred square miles seem unlimited to a man set down in the midst of it, it is obvious that a certain distance between the points of resort within the park, and its exterior limits,14 is necessary, in order to allow the fence or wall that would otherwise definitely establish the position of the boundary to be obscured by planting, if nothing more; and that therefore, until all other necessary requirements are provided for, it will not be entirely practicable to determine where the boundary lines of the park may be established, with a true economy of space. We have first then to determine what accommodations are desirable to be secured within the park, and next how these shall be situated with reference to one another, and to exterior topographical circumstances. Our conclusions will depend first upon our understanding of the purposes which any town park should be designed to fulfill that is to say, of the general principles to be observed, and secondly upon our estimate of the number and the special character of the people who are to use the particular park in question. With regard to the latter point, we need only remark that we regard Brooklyn as an integral part of what to-day is the metropolis of the nation, and in the future will be the centre of exchanges for the world, and the park in Brooklyn, as part of a system of grounds, of which the Central Park is a single feature, designed for the recreation of the whole people of the metropolis and their customers and guests from all parts of the world for centuries to come. With regard, however, to the purpose which town arks in general should be intended and prepared to fulfil, this being a matter upon which little has ever been said or written, and upon which very different ideas prevail, and inasmuch as a clear understanding upon it must be had before a fair judgment can be formed of any plan for a town park, we propose to indicate the views which we have adopted, and out of which our plan has grown. The word park has different significations, but that in which we are now interested has grown out of its application centuries ago, simply to hunting grounds; the choicest lands for hunting grounds being those in which the beasts of the chase were most happy, and consequently most abundant, sites were chosen for them, in which it was easy for animals to turn from rich herbage to clear water, from warm sunlight to cool shade; that is to say, by preference, ranges of well-watered dale-land, broken by open groves and dotted with spreading trees, undulating in surface, but not rugged." Gay parties of pleasure occasionally met in these parks, and when these meetings occurred the enjoyment otherwise obtained in them was found to be {{page break}} 15 increased. Hence, instead of mere hunting lodges and hovels for game keepers, extensive buildings and other accommodations, having frequently a festive character, were after a time provided within their enclosures. Then it was found that people took pleasure in them without regard to the attractions of the chase, or of conversation, and this pleasure was perceived to be, in some degree, related to their scenery, and in some degree to the peculiar manner of association which occurred in them; and this was also found to be independent of intellectual gifts, tranquilizing and restorative to the powers most tasked in ordinary social duties, and stimulating only in a healthy and recreative way to the imagination. Hence, after a time, parks began to be regarded and to be maintained with reference, more than any thing else, to the convenient accommodation of numbers of people, desirous of moving for recreation among scenes that should be gratifying to their taste or imagination. In the present century, not only have the old parks been thus maintained, but many new parks have been formed with these purposes exclusively in view, especially within and adjoining considerable towns, and it is upon our knowledge of these latter that our simplest conception of a town park is founded. It is from experience in these that all our ideas of parks must spring. This experience shows that the great advantage which a town finds in a park, lies in the addition to the health, strength and morality which comes from it to its people, an advantage which is not only in itself very great and positive but which as certainly results in an increase of material wealth as good harvests or active commerce. And the reason is obvious: all wealth is the result of labor, and every man's individual wealth is, on the whole, increased by the labor of every other in the community, supposing it to be wisely and honestly applied; but as there cannot be the slightest use of the will, of choice between two actions or two words, nor the slightest exercise of skill of any kind, without the expenditure of force, it follows that, without recuperation and recreation of force , the power of each individual to labor wisely and honestly is soon lost, and that, without the recuperation of force, the power of each individual to add to the wealth of the community is, as a necessary consequence, also soon lost. But to this process of recuperation a condition is necessary, known since the days of AEsop, as the unbending of the faculties which have been tasked, and this unbending of the faculties we find16 is impossible, except by the occupation of the imagination with objects and reflections of a quite different character from those which are associated with their bent condition. To secure such a diversion of the imagination, the best possible stimulus is found to be the presentation of a class of objects to the perceptive organs, which shall be as agreeable as possible to the taste, and at the same time entirely different from the objects connecting with those occupations by which the faculties have been tasked. And this is what is found by townspeople in a park. If now we ask further, what the qualities of a park are which fit it to meet this requirement? we find two circumstances, common to all parks, in distinction from other places in towns, namely, scenery offering the most agreeable contrast to that of the rest of the town, and opportunity for people to come together for the single purpose of enjoyment, unembarassed by the limitations with which they are surrounded at home, or in the pursuit of their daily avocations, or of such amusements as are elsewhere offered. It may be observed, that these two purposes are not quite compatible one with the other; for that scenery which would afford the most marked contrast with the streets of a town, would be of a kind characterized in nature by the absence, or, at least, the marked subordination of human influences. Yet, in a park, the largest provision is required for the human presence. Men must come together, and must be seen coming together, in carriages, on horseback and on foot, and in the concourse of animated life which will thus be formed, must in itself be made, if possible, an attractive and diverting spectacle. How can these opposing requirements be harmonized? Perfectly harmonized they cannot be, and, because they cannot be, success in realizing either must be limited. Yet, by a careful adjustment of parts, and by accommodating the means necessary to the effecting of one purpose to those necessary to the effecting of the other, both may be accomplished in a degree which experience shows is satisfactory. In the endeavor to accommodate the requirements of the one purpose to those of the other, a perfectly equal compromise, at all points is not essential. On the contrary, it is desirable that each should be carried out at some point in high degree and if the natural topography is varied, it will not be difficult to select points suitable for doing this. 17 It is, however, necessary, to a satisfactory result that what is wholly incompatible with one purpose and at the same time not absolutely necessary to the other should be everywhere rigidly avoided and excluded. For instance, a railroad station, a manufactory with chimnies and steam engines, advertising displays, wagons for commercial traffic, fast driving, gambling booths, a market place, though all of these may be seen in some town parks, are clearly there by mistake and want of proper consideration. We may add that whatever the numbers to be accommodated, it is incompatible with the rural character required in a park, that anything like the embarrassing turmoil, confusion and discordant din, common to the crowded streets of the town should be necessarily encountered within it, while it is equally evident that no regard for scenery should be allowed to prevent the assemblage and movement of great crowds within the park--of crowds much greater than occur anywhere else in the town. To admit of this, and at the same time maintain anything of a rural, natural, tranquilizing and poetic character, in the scenery, the driving room, riding room, walking room, sitting room, skating, sailing and playing room, must be not only liberally designed, but must be studied and adapted to all the natural circumstances of the site with the greatest care. To illustrate the practical application of these views, we will take one of the many classes of arrangements for the accommodation of the movements of the public through a park: The drive, or carriage way, and consider what is required in it. A drive must be so prepared that those using it shall be called upon for the least possible exercise of judgment as to the course to be pursued, the least possible anxiety or exercise of skill in regard to collisions or interruptions with reference to objects animate or inanimate, and that they shall, as far as possible, be free from the disturbance of noise and jar. To secure these negative qualities, the course of the road must be simple; abrupt turns must be avoided, steep grades that would task the horses or suggest that idea must not be encountered. The possibility of the road becoming miry must be securely guarded against; its surface must also be smooth and be composed of compact material. These being the first and essential engineering considerations, it is necessary, secondly, that they should be secured in a manner 2 18 which shall be compatible with the presentation of that which is agreeable to the eye in the surrounding circumstances; that is to say, the drive must either run through beautiful scenery already existing or to be formed, and for this purpose it may be desirable at any point to deviate from the line which an engineer would be bound to choose as that which would best meet the first class of requirements. It must also be remembered that although the drive can hardly be expected in itself to add to the beauty of the scenery, it must always be more or less in view as part of it, and it should therefore be artistically designed so as to interfere as little as possible with the views, and to present at all points agreeable and harmonious lines to the eye. Moreover, as it is desirable that at some point in the course of a drive through every park, there should be an opportunity for those in carriages to see others and be seen by others, some portion of the ground, which by development of natural suggestions cannot be readily made very attractive to the eye, should be chosen for that purpose. And here it will be proper that the application of art to inanimate nature, as in architectural objects, and by festive decorations of the outlines of the drive itself, should distinctly invite attention, and aid to produce a general suggestion of sympathy with human gaiety and playfulness. It is unnecessary to show here how the same general principles need to be regarded in the rides, the walks, the seats, the playing grounds, the skating fields, the place of refreshment, and in whatever other accommodations are proposed to be occupied by those who use the park. We would only remind you that no park has yet been made for the people of a large civilized town which has not been much more used than its designers had anticipated; and that all danger of damage, misuse and wasteful destruction of public property practically amounts to nothing, except as it results from insufficient extent of the means of communication and of rest within the park, or from an appearance of slovenliness, or want of completeness and finish in its arrangements for gratifying the eye, which adjoin these accommodations. The general principles in regard to scenery, which have governed us in our study, remain to be indicated; and inasmuch as some misapprehension in our judgement generally prevails concerning the 19 province of art in the formation of scenery, and especially of scenery in the natural style, we propose to briefly express our views upon that subject. A mere imitation of nature, however successful, is not art, and the purpose of imitate nature, or to produce an effect which shall seem to be natural and interesting, is not sufficient for the duty before us. A scene in nature is made up of various parts; each part has its individual character and its possible ideal. It is unlikely that accident should bring together the best possible ideals of each separate part, merely considering them as isolated facts, and it is still more unlikely that accident should group a number of these possible ideals in such a way that not only one or two but that all should be harmoniously related one to the other. It is evident, however, that an attempt to accomplish this artificially is not impossible, and that a proper study of the circumstances relating to the perfect development of each particular detail will at least enable the designer to reckon surely on a certain success of a high character in that detail, and a comprehensive bringing together of the results of his study in regard to the harmonious relations of one, two or more details may enable him to discover the law of harmonious relation between multitudinous details; and if he can discover it, there is nothing to prevent him from putting it into practice. The result would be a work of art, and the combination of the art thus defined, with the art of architecture in the production of landscape compositions, is what we denominate landscape architecture. The first process in the application of this art upon any given site, is the formation of a judgment upon the capabilities and the limitations of that site, with reference to the artistic purpose. It is obviously impossible, for instance, to produce in the vicinity of Brooklyn such scenery as will affect the mind as it is affected by the Alps or the Sierras, on the one hand, or by the luxuriant vegetation of a tropical swamp on the other. Moreover, there are certain kinds of scenery which experience shows to be most satisfactory within a town park, which require an extensive aggregation of their elements. It will be readily seen, for instance, that if all the wood, water and turf, within a certain area of ground, were distributed in patches, strips and pools, however, extensive as a whole, and however varied in detail it might seem to those who should thoroughly explore all its20 parts, there would be no part which would not seem confined, there could be no large open single scene, and no such impression or effect on the mind would be produced as there would be, if all the water were collected in one lake, all the trees in one grove, all the strips of grass in one broad meadow. Such aggregations, and consequently the degree of the impression intended to be produced by them, must be limited by consideration for two other purposes: the purpose of variety of interest, and the purpose to make all the scenery available to the satisfaction of the public by ways of communication. Other limitations upon the artistic purpose, again, are imposed by conditions of soil and exposure, by rock and springs. How far each of these can be overcome, as by blasting, draining, grading, screening, manuring and other processes, has to be studied with care, and the artistic purposes of the plan must be affected in every part and particular by the conclusions arrived at. In the case before us, it is obvious that we should attempt nothing which is incompatible with, or inappropriate to, comparatively slight variations of surface, and a climate of considerable rigor. On the other hand, there are no protruding ledges of rock, no swamps difficult of drainage, and there is no especial bleakness, or danger to trees from violent winds, to be apprehended. It is under similar conditions to these that we find in nature that class of scenery, already referred to, as the original and typical scenery of parks or hunting grounds, and which is termed pastoral. It consists of combinations of trees, standing singly or in groups, and casting their shadows over broad stretches of turf, or repeating their beauty by reflection upon the calm surface of pools, and the predominant associations are in the highest degree tranquilizing and grateful, as expressed by the Hebrew poet: "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside the still waters." We know of no other landscape effects that can be commanded, within the limitations fixed by the conditions of this site, which experience shows to be more desirable in a town park than these. This being the case, no other should be sought for or retained, if, by discarding them, we can the better secure these. Only so far then as we can, without sacrificing any thing that will contribute to the highest practicable ideal of pastoral scenery, should we endeavor to secure any degree of those other ideals, of which the best types are found under widely dissimilar circumstances. Although we cannot hav wi d mountain defiles, for instance, on22 shall be pardoned for referring to a portion of the Central Park, New York, where somewhat similar conditions formerly existed, and where our views have been adopted and realized. Entering by the turn to the right, at the Merchant's Gate, in a few moments the visitor's eye falls upon the open space called the Cricket Ground, where originally was a small swamp, enlarged at great expense in the construction of the park, in order to meet a similar artistic purpose to that above explained, by the removal of several large ledges of rock, and now occupied by an unbroken meadow, which extends before the observer to a distance of nearly a thousand feet. Here is a suggestion of freedom and repose, which must in itself be refreshing and tranquilizing to the visitor coming from the confinement and bustle of crowded streets. But this is not all. The observer, resting for a moment to enjoy the scene, which he is induced to do by the arrangement of the planting, cannot but hope for still greater space than is obvious before him, and this hope is encouraged, first, by the fact that, though bodies of rock and foliage to the right and left obstruct his direct vision, no limit is seen to the extension of the meadow in a lateral direction; while beyond the low shrubs, which form an undefined border to it in front, there are no trees or other impediments to vision for a distance of half a mile or more, and the only distinct object is the wooded knoll of Vista Rock, nearly a mile away, upon the summit of which it is an important point in the design, not yet realized, to erect a slight artificial structure, for the purpose of catching the eye, and the better holding it in this direction. The imagination of the visitor is thus led instinctively to form the idea that a broad expanse is opening before him, and the more surely to accomplish this, a glimpse of a slope of turf beyond the border of shrubs in the middle distance has been secured. As the visitor proceeds, this idea is strengthened, and the hope which springs from it in a considerable degree satisfied, if not actually realized, first by a view of those parts of the Cricket Ground which lie to the right and left of his previous field of vision, afterward by the broad expanse of turf on either side and before him, which comes into view as he emerges from the plantations at or near the marble archway. The carrying out of this most important purpose in the scenery of the Central Park, owing to the rocky and heterogeneous character of the original surface, involved much more labor, and a larger expenditure, than any other landscape feature of that undertaking. 23 For the same reason that induced us to recommend that expenditure to the Commissioners of the Central Park, we feel dissatisfied with the limits of the space we are now regarding. It is evident at a glance, however, that if we do not restrict ourselves to the artificial boundary formerly fixed upon for the park, this space may readily be more than doubled in extent without encroaching upon any considerable natural elevation, and at a very moderate expense. Thus our second requirement would be met. In addition to the special artistic advantage which the acquisition of this ground would secure, there are two other very important considerations in favor of obtaining it: First, such an addition is almost indispensable to a proper provision of playing grounds, there being no space of moderately level ground, not occupied by groves of trees of much value, sufficient for this purpose, upon the territory now controlled by your Commission; second, its acquisition will enable us to make a very great improvement upon any general plan of drives, rides and walks, which would otherwise be practicable, and in these and other ways, to which we shall hereafter allude, it will greatly lessen the danger of overcrowding the park. Next to groves and greensward, a sheet of water is the most important element in the character of the scenery which we desire to realize. We find no place suited to the formation of such a feature of sufficient extent within the limits of the site now held by your Commission. At a short distance beyond them, there is, however, a broad plain, overlooked on the park side by the highest ground in the vicinity, from the top of which there is a prospect to the southward, which includes a large sweep of the ocean, the Highlands of Navesink, Sandy Hook, and all the outer harbor of New York. The formation of a lake on the low ground referred to, in such a manner that this elevation would be reflected upon its surface, would add such an unquestionable advantage to the landscape attractions of the park, that we should feel obliged to take the same course with reference to it as we have done in regard to the previously proposed extension of the limits of the site, even if no other considerations favored it. The great value of a park lake in this climate, however, for skating, and the attractiveness of the spectacle which crowds of skaters afford to others, added to its value for the recreation of rowing, afford additional inducements of no small consequence in favor of this course. With the further addition, which24 we therefore advise, it will be practicable to form a sheet of water having more than twice the accommodation for skaters of that in the Central Park. The Central Park lake, though many objected to it originally as larger than necessary for any artistic purpose, while it occupied space which might be otherwise used to advantage, is already found much too small for the comfortable accommodation of those who are prepared to use it, and many turn from it, in consequence, to those small ponds where the payment of an admission fee secures greater space to individual skaters. If this is now the case, the need of very much larger skating space will be a very pressing one in the future, as population increases. We cannot doubt that a sheet of ice in Brooklyn, equally near to the present centre of population of the metropolis, and more than twice as large as that in the Central park, would soon attract a larger number of persons than have ever yet resorted to the latter. This number has on several occasions been above one hundred thousand in a day and five hundred thousand in a week. If we consider that the opportunity afforded for this recreation would be worth in the acquisition of health and vigor to the whole body of citizens an amount equal to a dime for each visitor, it wil be evident that the whole cost of purchasing the land in view, and of constructing the lake, might be defrayed by the use which be made of it in a single season. Supposing the more hilly land to be covered by plantations, and a green-sward to be formed upon the open ground which we have described, and the low plain to be mainly occupied by a lake, we have the three grand elements of pastural landscape for which we were seeking. What remains consists of limited strips of surface, generally stony and somewhat rough, and may be left to be treated incidentally, as before explained. To the important features of the greensward, the wood, the lake and the hill, the roads and walks must be accommodated in such a way as to give the visitor the best advantage, consistent with ease and comfort, for enjoying whatever charm they may be made to possess. Before refereeing particularly to the system of communications, however, it will be best to speak of certain other detached arrangements. Besides the green, our study provides three places, each adapted to the assemblage of large numbers of people, and for their remaining together for some time at rest. 25 The first of these we designate the Look-out. The circumstances which make a special arrangement for the accommodation of an assemblage at this point desirable are, 1st, the view which is obtained here, and nowhere else in the park, of the outer harbor, the distant mountain range so of New Jersey and the ocean offing; 2d, the peculiar advantages which the elevation offers for the enjoyment in hot weather of the sea breeze; 3d, the interest of hte local scenery, which it is our intention should be quite different from that of any other part of the park; and 4th, The bird's-eye view which will be presented of military evolutions, if the projected parade-ground should be formed south of the park. We propose to form here a terraced platform, one hundred feet in length, with seats and awnings, connected by a broad terrace walk and staircase with an oval court for carriages, three hundred feet long and one hundred and fifty wide. On the west side of the platform, provision is made for a small low building, designed for the special accommodation of women and children, and at which they may obtain some simple refreshment. This building is also intended to serve the purpose of shutting off the view westwardly from the lookout platform, as this would otherwise detract from the effect obtained in other directions. All the principal walks of the park tend to lead the visitor from whatever entrance he starts, to finally reach the lookout, though he may visit every other part of the park, and yet avoid this if he prefers. From the lookout, broad walks lead across the park to the east end of the lake, where, at a point commanding the largest water view, together with a rich opening meadow landscape, backed by the highest elevation of the park, pinnacled with evergreens, arrangements for open-air concerts are proposed. The orchestra will be situated upon an island in a bay of the lake, so that it can be seen from three sides. On the main land, within a distance of two hundred and twenty-five yards of this island--at which distance the music of a well appointed band can be perfectly appreciated--standing room is provided for horses and carriages in a circular space about five hundred feet in diameter and, in an oval space at a higher elevation, three hundred feet long and one hundred and seventy-five feet wide, while directly in front, at a distance varying form one hundred to five hundred feet, a space is provided, to be occupied by shaded seats, sufficient for over ten thousand people. Provision is made for the rapid dispersion of the audience, however26 large it may be, on foot, in carriages, and on horseback; also for checking the movement of carriages within the circular space, during the performance of music. Midway between the lookout concourse and the music concourse, and with approaches for footmen and carriages from both, a series of terraces and arcades is provided, within which there will be room for a large restaurant. These look out upon the lake, and the floor of the lower arcade will be nearly on a level with the surface of the lake, so that it can be readily entered from the ice in winter or from boats in summer. The upper terrace is five hundred feet in length by sixty feet in width, and the remaining floor space of the structure one hundred and seventy-five by two hundred feet. The arches are intended to be the principal architectural feature of the park. There are four sylvan features of considerable importance in the plan. First, upon the green, the meadow, and the slopes of the upper lake, a display of the finest American forest trees, standing singly and in open groups, so as to admit of the amplest development of individuals, which will be further encouraged by the best attainable conditions of soil and situation. Second, in the central portions of the park, an open grove of forest trees, in which visitors may ramble in the shade without impediment of underwood, and without danger of doing harm to anything through carelessness or any ordinary selfish impulse. Third, a collection, arranged in the natural way, of the more delicate shrubs and trees, especially evergreens, both coniferous and of the class denominated in England American plants, such as Rhododendrons, Kalmias, Azalias and Andromedas: these would be situated on the interior slopes of the Lookout and the Friend's Hill, and in the valley between them, where, from the peculiar circumstances of exposure and protection they will be likely to thrive. Fourth, picturesque groups of evergreens and deciduous trees and shrubs on the shore of the lake. A portion of the green, nearest the Flatbush railroad and the 27 refectory, and where the surrounding road and walks are at the greatest distance from the centre, is proposed to be fitted to be used for a ball playing ground, by the children of the public schools and others. We should advise that the whole of the green, upon special occasions at least, if not at all times, should be open to all persons on foot, as a common. If the ground is properly prepared, there is no danger that the beauty of the turf would be seriously impaired, except perhaps immediately after heavy rains, at which time it would seldom occur that the park would be greatly crowded with visitors. If this is done, and the interior groves also thrown open to pedestrians, through their whole extent between the bridle road and the green, we consider that the danger that the walks and resting places would be overcrowded so as to force or sorely tempt visitors to go upon ground where they would really injure the elements of the scenery, or create disturbance, embarrassment and waste, would be very small. The tract of broken ground, near the Ninth avenue, now partly occupied by gardens and residences, the features of which are quite varied, but rather diminutive for desirable park effects, we propose should be held in reserve for zoological collections, and, as it may properly be placed under the control of a special corporations, and, as it may properly be placed under the control of a special corporation for this purpose, we refrain at this time from suggesting in what manner it should be laid out. This subject will be recurred to. The narrow sheltered strip of meadow, on the opposite side of the park, we propose to enclose with a sufficient iron paling and make use of as a pasture ground for deer, antelopes, gazelles, and such other grazing animals as can be satisfactorily herded together in summer upon it. In regard to the water needed for the lake, we are informed that sufficient may be spared from the general supply already brought to the city by the Nassau Water Works. We recommend, however, that arrangements be had in view, not only for securing an independent supply, but also for keeping up a constant circulation, by 28 pumping the water from the lake to the spring on the west side of the Friend's Hill, so that it may always be flowing from that point in a natural stream. The pump for this purpose would be worked by steam, in connection with the kitchen of the refectory. The stream furnished by the spring is intended to take first the character of a series of pools, overhung on the one side by the trees upon the north side of the Friend's Hill, and margined on the other by banks of turf. It would then assume more of the usual character of a small mountain stream, taking a very irregular course, with numerous small rapids, shoots and eddies, among rocks and ferns, until it emerged from the shadow of the wood upon a grassy slope; thence it would flow more quietly until, after falling over a body of rock, in connection with a foot bridge on the side of the park opposite that on which it started, it would assume the appearance of a small river with high and shaded banks and at length, passing the refectory and music concourse in two reaches, empty into the eastern bay of the lake. Here, on the north shore would be a low flat meadow with a few large trees and small thickets of bushes overhanging the water. In the coves would be beds of pond lillies and other aquatic plants, and, on the shores near them, flags, cat-tails, bulrushes and the like. This arrangement would give opportunity for every variety of water scenery which is practicable within the space of the park, with any moderate supply of water. The natural outlet for the surplus water of the park would be in a southerly direction, and a plan of drainage may be adopted that will be more simple and less expensive than would usually be practicable upon a site of this extent, having such a considerable variety of surface. The more important features of scenery and of local accommodations for various purposes, having been thus pointed out, we now turn to the several ways of communication by which they are connected and related to one another. The drive, commencing with a width of sixty (60) feet, at the centre of the north or principal entrance to the park, is carried in a southerly direction for some little distance, but diverges slightly to the east, so as to accommodate itself to some high ground in the neighborhood. It there branches to the southeast and southwest, 29 and becomes a part of the circuit drive, which is proposed to be of an average width of forty (40) feet. The arrangement of the lines and curves, at the junction, is such that carriages coming into the park will continue to proceed for a few hundred feet in a southeasterly direction, after reaching the circuit drive, and will thus be fairly started on the road that it is intended they should follow, for, although the formation of the ground naturally suggests this treatment of the lines, we should, under any circumstances, have made an effort to arrange the plan in some such way as is indicated in the design, because the southeasterly branch leads more directly into the heart of the park. It commands, moreover, from a point very near the entrance, a view in the direction of the length of what is now an unplanted stretch of ground, but which is treated in the design as open lawn or meadow, dotted with trees, it being the intention to reduce the height of a low, narrow ridge that crosses this piece of ground, so that its real extent may be fairly seen from the drive. Continuing on the course already indicated, the road soon curves to the right, and ascends to a point from which it is proposed to obtain an extensive view, in a westerly direction, over the great green of the park. From this point, the road descends into the wooded defile where an old wayside inn now stands, marking the ground held by the Continental forces in an engagement during the battle of Long Island, at which point it will be practicable in perfecting the plan of the park to provide for some architectural memento of that important struggle. Passing through the defile, a view is obtained over a pretty glade of turf to the left, intended to be used as a grazing ground for deer, and bounded on the opposite side by the thick coppice-wood which already effectually conceals the Flatbush avenue. Keeping to the right of the deer paddock, the drive continues to pass through the woods, but presently divides into two somewhat narrower branches, by which means full advantage is taken of the already existing opportunities for shade, and the standing trees are less interfered with than would otherwise be necessary, and then, reuniting, continues to run in a southerly direction, till it approaches the proposed Franklin avenue boundary line. At this point it divides again, and one branch enlarges almost directly into the open space previously described as the music concourse The other branch or main line of drive, after passing the two entrances to the concourse, is carried round the head of the lake, and along the shore30 in a westerly direction, till it approaches the proposed Coney Island road boundary. It then curves to the northward, still following the shore of the lake, until it reaches the west side of the lookout hill. Although there is nothing interesting in the natural scenery of this stretch, the bank of the lake will be made so artificially, and there will be very agreeable views across the water, the north shore being the most picturesque part of the park. This is intended to be used more particularly as the promenade or common course of the park. The drive is consequently laid out of unusual width, and the bridle road, together with a broad walk, is carried in close connection with it. The western foot of the look-out hill is one of the most important points of the whole line of drive. It is very desirable that the road should retain its circuit character, and continue on in a northerly direction when the hill is reached, as the whole lake has by this time been seen, the social or gregarious disposition is supposed to have been satisfied, and a considerable change is therefore needed in the landscape effect. The way in which we propose that this shall be managed will be readily understood by an examination of the plan; and, although the contour lines of the strip of ground proposed to be added in this immediate neighborhood will need to be somewhat modified, the object in view is really so essential to the development of the whole design, that its successful accomplishment will justify any reasonable expenditure that it may be necessary to incur for the sake of securing it. The main drive continues, therefore, in a westerly direction, leaving the Friends' Hill to the northward, and afterwards opening directly upon and keeping in view the most purely rural, and at the same time the most expanded and extended, view within the park. On approaching the Ninth avenue boundary, it curves to the east round the green, enters the western woods, divides again into two branches, and, after reuniting, passes on for some distance, still in the midst of groves, until, after passing along the side of the meadow stretch that was viewed in the direction of its length, at the commencement of the drive, it reaches the starting point near the main entrance. In addition to the circuit drive thus described, a cross road is introduced about the middle of the park, from which will be obtained a fine open out-look towards the country beyond the southern boundary. A loop from this interior road leads to the refectory and across a bridge, over an arm of the lake, to a car- 31 riage concourse of smaller size than the one already described, which it is proposed to construct on somewhat elevated ground, overlooking the lake and the music stand. A branch from this cross-road is proposed to lead up the slopes on the side of the look-out hill, to the open area on the upper level, which will command a view of the ocean. The connections with the various entrances are proposed to be made as shown on the plan, and the whole length of drive thus provided for is about five miles and a half. The bridle road is so laid out on the plan, that by increasing the size of some archways needed for other purposes, it may, if desired, be kept distinct from the carriage road and the footpaths through the whole length of its circuit. It follows generally the line of the main road, sometimes in immediate connection with it, and sometimes passing along at a considerable distance from it. The whole length of the bridle road laid out on the plan is about four miles. The drive and the bridle road being thus arranged for, the system of walks proposed by the plan will next require to be described. It is very important to the comfort of pedestrians, that they should be able to proceed into the park from the entrances that will be chiefly used, without having to cross over the circuit drive or bridle road, and that, when once fairly in among the trees and grass stretches, they should be able to ramble over the whole extent of the property with as much apparent freedom as if the whole park had been intended solely for their enjoyment. There are two points in the design which may be said to be central points, so far as the walk system is concerned: the summit level of the look-out hill overlooking the ocean, and the large open air hall of reception shown on the plan, near the principal carriage concourse already described. All the leading lines will be found to tend in these directions, and the intermediate walks are designed to give variety and intricacy, without interfering with this general intention of the design. From the main entrance two walks are proposed to start. One passes near the north-eastern boundary, and leads to the reservoir bridge over Flatbush avenue; it then continues in a southerly direction, skirting the deer paddock, and terminates at the music concourse. A branch of this walk passes under the carriage road, near the main entrance, and opens directly on to the meadow stretch which forms the northern division of the great green. The walk passes around this meadow, and crossing the green commands a full view of its whole extent; then through32 the woods into a ravine by the side of the brook and by an arched passage under the carriage road to the lawn-like open ground north of the lookout hill; then again through the woods till it meets the line, already described, which leads to the music concourse. The second walk that starts from the main entrance passes in a rather more westerly direction. It has the same general tendency as the walks above mentioned, and leads the look-out and to the music concourse. A walk extends all around the lake and around the green, and a system of walks is introduced to connect the music concourse and the look-out with the refectory; but it is not necessary to describe all these walks in detail. From the principal entrance at the junction of Flatbush and Ninth avenues, from the entrance at the corner of Fifteenth street and Ninth avenue, from the foot entrance at the junction of Sixteenth street and the Coney Island road, and from the entrance from Flatbush avenue, near the Willink property, is it proposed to have walks, leading to the principal points of interest, that will not be interfered with by the carriage road. From the other two entrances, surface cross-walks are proposed, as it would be difficult, on account of the embankment that will necessary to retain the waters of the lake, to adopt the plan used elsewhere. Outside the exterior drives and walks, such extent of ground only is needed as is necessary to enable us, by planting and otherwise, to shut out of view that which would be inharmonious with and counteractive to our design. This extent we find in all cases, without carrying the boundary beyond the nearest street line, as laid down on the city map, and except at the two points where the ground, which might otherwise seem to be more than is required to ebable us to plant out the boundary, is occupied by the zoological groudns and the deer paddock before described, it will be found that the amount of ground taken into the park, beyond what is absolutely necessary for this purpose, is nowhere equal to the depth of an ordinary lot. Practically there will not be a foot of ground within the boundary the use of which will not add to the interest of the park and its value to the citizens. At one point, the boundary is kept a long distance within the nearest street line. This is where the orchards 33 and villa gardens, the east of the drive, near the music concourse, admit of a narrower margin than would otherwise answer. The fronts of these valuable grounds near the park are not likely to be built upon before its border trees will have become well grown, nor until a street has been opened along the boundary line. Any buildings then likely to be erected here will consequently be placed at such a distance as not to be conspicuous from the park, while the arrangement enables the city to avoid the purchase of any land having special value from its association with highly improved residences. By adopting the line of Franklin Avenue for the boundary on the south, about half the space between an observer standing on Lookout Hill and the horizon, will seem to be occupied by the lake and the park. This effect will of course be merely an optical one, but a visit to the site will show at once that it will be all-sufficient to divert the attention of the visitor from the land occupied for agricultural purposes, and will serve to render the sea view more attractive. This advantage will be considerably increased, if the ground immediately beyond Franklin avenue should be appropriated for a parade ground, or any other public purpose which will prevent it from being occupied by tall buildings. A nearer boundary than Franklin avenue would probably fail to realize the effect desired in this particular. It is proposed to widen Vanderbilt avenue to one hundred feet, as far as the limits of the property at present owned by commissioners; also to widen Ninth avenue to one hundred feet, as far as the limits of the park are proposed to extend; also to widen Fifteenth street, the Coney Island road and Franklin avenue, as shown on the plan, wherever they connect with the proposed boundary lines. In all these cases, the additional width is proposed to be added on the side of the road next to the park, leaving the lines on the opposite of the road as already laid down on the city map. On the additional ground thus obtained, it is proposed to construct a thirty-feet sidewalk, shaded by a double row of trees, so that an ample gas-lighted and umbrageous promenade will be offered to the public in the immediate vicinity of the park, after the gates are closed at night. The comparatively close planting of these avenue trees will moreover help shut out the houses that will be built on the opposite side of the street from the view of the visitors who may be interior of the park. 3 34 In conclusion, we wish to offer a few suggestions with regard to the management of some parts of the ground outside of the park boundaries. Although, for the reasons given, at the beginning of this report, we think it is desirable that the section of the site, as originally established, lying east Flatbush avenue, should be abandoned as a part of the park, it does not follow that the lines laid down on the city map, before the project of a park in this vicinity had been suggested, should be re-adopted, and considerable advantages may be obtained, in our judgment, by adjusting them with reference to the park. We have indicated on our study the manner in which this may be done. It will be seen that while the streets north of the reservoir follow the old lines, those south of it are set out at right angles to Flatbush avenue, instead of diagonally as formerly; and as Grand and Classon avenues cannot cross the park, they are stopped at Washington avenue. This district, if re-arranged in the manner suggested, will most probably be occupied to a considerable extent by residences of a first-class character, and as the blocks will be sixty feet more than the usual width, it will be easy in execution, if thought be desirable, to subdivide the property in such a way that, while on one street the lots will be of ordinary length, on the other they will be so much longer that ample room will be provided for stables that will have a convenient lane access between the two. An open place or square is suggested at the junction of Grand and Washington avenues, and Washington avenue is proposed to be widened ten feet along the whole length of the property now owned by the Commissioners. A design is also shown for a possible future improvement opposite the park gate, in the vicinity of the present Willink property, so that Franklin avenue may be included in our general scheme for the arrangement of the approaches to this important entrance. As there is a fine distant view from the top of the reservoir, and as this structure belongs inalienably to the city, we also propose to reserve some of the ground about it so as to be able to flank it with agreeable groups of trees, and to connect it by means of a light foot-bridge over Flatbush avenue with the walks of the park, as indicated on our study. The formation of the ground is suitable for the purpose and the fine view to be obtained from the upper level of the reservoir can thus be associated with the attractions of the park. 35 In addition to the principal entrance, provision is made for gates to the park on Flatbush avenue, near the Willink property; on Franklin avenue, near the southeast corner of the proposed boundaries; at the junction of Franklin avenue, with the Coney Island road; at the junction of Sixteenth street and the Coney Island road, and form the junction of Ninth avenue and Fifteenth street. Another entrance is indicated on the Ninth avenue, opposite Third street, which can either lead into the park or connect simply with the zoological garden, as may be ultimately determined. Improvements are suggested, in connection with three of these entrances, which seem to be necessary, for the purpose of securing easy and agreeable approaches; and the advantage proposed to be gained in each case will be so readily understood, by reference to the plan, that we deem further explanations in regard to this part of the design unnecessary. Although the ground now held by your commission, east of Flatbush avenue, does not appear to us desirable to be retained for the purpose for which it has been assigned, it will nevertheless be an advantage to the park, if a small section of it, abutting on Flatbush avenue and facing the park, remains in the possession of the city. We therefore desire to offer a suggestion as to the use to which it may be appropriated. It is undesirable that any duties or responsibilities should be assumed by legislative bodies that can be equally well undertaken bu citizens, either individually or associated in their private capacity. The exact limit of judicious legislation in this way cannot however be defined, and while there are many public responsibilities that clearly cannot be assumed by individual citizens, and many more that can, there are some few that are of an intermediate character, and that requires special consideration. It is generally conceded that a system of popular education is an essential part of a republican government, for instance, but it is by no means determined what means of education should be secured to all, and to what extent the public can be taxed, with reasonable assurance of a saving to the tax payers through a reduction of taxes for courts, police, prisons and poorhouses, and the general cheapening of th necessaries of life b the increase capacity for productive labor of 36 the whole community which may be obtained through the improvement of the educational system. It is very desirable therefore that plans should, if possible, be adopted by our municipal bodies, which will admit of strict construction, and at the same time be no bar to the progressive improvement of our methods of education. At present, book learning and education are generally considered correlative terms, but the conviction is evidently fast gaining ground in the public mind, which has long been established with those who have given the most thorough consideration to the subject, that, although the ordinary chances of observation may be sufficient to make many branches of knowledge which are inculcated in books sufficiently intelligible, there are others, progress in which is of special value with reference to the enlargement of the mind and the development of healthy inclinations and habits, which cannot be pursued with much advantage in this second-hand way. Hence, it may be anticipated that the common-school system of a large city will, sooner or later, be generally considered incomplete, unless ample opportunity is found within it for the direct exercise by every student of his perceptive faculties, in regard to a large class of objects not likely to come under his ordinary observation. The idea of education, it must be confessed by all, unquestionably culminates in the development of the reflective faculties, but the reflective faculties - which are secondary - can never, it is obvious, be healthily exercised if the perceptive faculties, which are primary - are neglected and starved. The question therefore is pertinent, even at present, whether the city, without absolutely assuming the whole expense and the whole control of undertakings for this end, may not wisely offer some encouragement to associations voluntarily formed by citizens for the purpose. Having some such views in mind as these, when we were preparing the design of Central Park, we advocated the retention of the building near the Fifth avenue and Fifty-ninth street entrance, formerly used as an arsenal, simply because it would probably, if retained, be found to be of sufficient value to be converted into the nucleus of a museum, and although it was very inconveniently located for any such purpose, taking the proposed landscape effects of the park into consideration, we felt that the opportunity was one that ought not to be lost. Our {{page break}} 37 suggestion was adopted by the Commissioners, and the Historical Society has since asked for and obtained possession from them of this site and this building with the understanding that it is to be improved and converted into a public museum at the expense of the society. This illustration is presented with no purpose of favoring the introduction of large structures of this character within the limits of a public park, but rather to show that they ought in some way to be provided for in season. The suggestion we have to make in this case is that the stretch of ground abutting on Flatbush avenue, marked R. R., and now in the possession of the Commissioners, should be distinctly set apart for such purposes as we have indicated. If this suggestion is accepted, the lots fronting towards the park on this part of Flatbush avenue, will probably, in course of time, be occupied by handsome buildings, the objects of which will in some way be connected with the educational system of the city, but which will not be erected or owned by it, the terms on which the different sites would be given being such as to secure a share of control in the management of each institution, sufficient to ensure to the city an adequate return for the value of the land it parts with. It will be observed that we have indicated the commencement of a road leading out of the west side of the circle, in connection with the southern entrance to the park. We have done so from a conviction, that a shaded pleasure drive in extension of that of the park, and free from the embarrassments which will inevitably be associated with a road partially occupied by a line of railway, and which is also used as a trotting course for fast horses, will soon be demanded by the frequenters of the park. Such a road, whatever may be the character of the country through which it passes, should be in itself of a picturesque character. It should, therefore, be neither very straight nor very level, and should be bordered by a small belt of trees and shrubbery. We have made no special survey with reference to the course which should be followed by such a road, but the first objective point in view would unquestionably be the ocean beach, and this might very properly be its terminus. It has occured to us, however,38 that either from some point a little further east on the beach, thus made accessible by carriages from the park, or from a point more directly in connection with the park drives, a similar road may be demanded in the future which shall be carried through the rich country lying back of Brooklyn, until it can be turned, without striking through any densely occupied ground, so as to approach the East River, and finally reach the shore at or near Ravenswood. From this point, either by ferry or high bridges, it may be thrown over the two narrow straits into which the East River is divided in this neighborhood, and connection may thus be had with one of the broad streets leading directly into the Central Park, and thus with the system of somewhat similar sylvan roads leading northward, now being planned by the Commissioners of the Central Park. Such an arrangement would enable a carriage to be driven on the half of a summer's day, through the most interesting parts both of the cities of Brooklyn and New York, through their most attractive and characteristic suburbs, and through both their great parks; having a long stretch of the noble Hudson, with the Palisades in the middle distance and the Shawangunk range of mountains in the back-ground, in view at one end, and the broad Atlantic with its foaming breakers rolling on the beach, at the other. The whole might be taken in a circuit without twice crossing the same ground, and would form a grand municipal promenade, hardly surpassed in the world either for extent or continuity of interest. This suggestion forms no part of our plan and may seem premature, but there can be but little danger of too extended a prevision with reference to future improvements which may grow out of so important a work as that upon which your Commission is engaged, and we have, therefore, in the preparation of the design herewith submitted endeavored, as far as possible, to arrange for a proper connection with any undertakings of the character indicated which may hereafter be found to be required. Respectfully, OLMSTED, VAUX & CO., Landscape Architects. JANUARY 24th, 1866. PRELIMINARY NEW [?] DESIGN FOR PROSPECT PARK [?] CITY OF BROOKLYNTHE BATTLE PASS IN 1866. SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF PROSPECT PARK, BROOKLYN. JANUARY, 1867 BROOKLYN: I. VAN ANDEN'S PRINT, EAGLE BUILDINGS, 30 & 32 FULTON STREET. 1867.BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF PROSPECT PARK. JAMES S. T. STRANAHAN, ABIEL A. LOW, CONKLIN BRUSH, SEYMOUR L. HUSTED, WALTER S. GRIFFITH, ABRAHAM B. BAYLIS, JOHN H. PRENTICE, THOMAS McELRATH, EDWARDS W. FISKE, STEPHEN HAYNES TEUNIS J. BERGEN, CORENELIUS J. SPRAGUE President. JAMES S. T. STRANAHAN. Secretary. WALTER S. GRIFFITH. Comptroller and Counsel. JOHN N. TAYLOR. Landscape Architects and Superintendents. OLMSTED, VAUX & CO. Engineer in Charge. JOSEPH P. DAVIS. Assistant Engineers in Charge. JOHN BOGART, JOHN Y. CULYER.STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. JOHN H. PRENTICE, WALTER S. GRIFFITH, SEYMOUR L. HUSTED, STEPHEN HAYNES, ABRIEL A. LOW, EDWARDS W. FISKE. FINANCE COMMITTEE ABRAHAM B, BAYLIS, TEUNIS J. BERGEN, CORNELIUS J. SPRAGUE, EDWARDS W. FISKE, STEPHEN HAYES. AUDITING COMMITTEE WALTER S. GRIFFITH, JOHN H. PRENTICE, THOMAS McELRATH. REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF PROSPECT PARK. To the Honorable the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Brooklyn: The Commissioners of Prospect Park respectfully submit to the Common Council of the city this report of their proceedings for the year 1866. Their last report presented for the consideration of the Common Council, and of the City at large, a general plan for laying out and improving the grounds selected for the Park, with an explanation of the design, at considerable length, prepared by Messrs. Olmsted, Vaux & Co., the landscape architects, employed by the board. The plan also set forth the normal condition of the Park district, diversified by its broad meadows, its well wooded hills and its picturesque sheets of water; and exhibited its remarkable adaptability to the useful and beneficent purposes for which it is intended. It was accompanied by a photographic exhibit of the manner in which it was proposed to develop its landscape effects, and to open its rides, drives, and rambles; and suggested the locations suitable for its zoological and other gardens; its rivulets, lakes and plantations. Without passing definitely upon the design thus presented, and having in fact no other interest in the matter than such as they hold in common with their fellow citizens, the Commissioners caused it to be printed and extensively distributed throughout the city, and waited a response from their constituents, whose taste and judgment they felt bound to respect. The result fully realized the 6 most sanguine anticipations of the Commissioners, who had the satisfaction of receiving through an intelligent public press, as well as, by the general voice of the people, a hearty approval of the design which has been thus offered for criticism. No material objection was made to any of its prominent features, although valuable suggestions were made, which the Commissioners have since gladly availed themselves of; but the main question had been put, and affirmatively decided, by an overwhelming majority. The tired citizen had here evidently found, his beau-ideal of recreation and refreshment; and hopeful invalid, his coveted supply of balmy air; the successful man of business, his quiet afternoon drive; and the artist, the speedy gratification of his taste for the picturesque. Even the landed proprietor found in it an immense addition to the value of his surrounding acres; the economist, an opportunity of increasing the taxable property of the city, and the consequent reduction of individual taxation; while all classes saw clearly the honor and the eclat which must inevitably result to our city from the consummation of so noble an enterprise. The popular judgment was so obviously in unison with their own opinion, as well as with that of their professional advisers, that the Commissioners felt assured that the scheme thus adopted was just what the occasion required, and they at once took measures to carry it forward to a full completion, with all the powers entrusted to them. One portion of the plan, it will be remembered, required an important change in the outlines originally fixed upon for the boundaries of the Park, involving a considerable enlargement of the premises, both south and west. The dotted lines on the progress map annexed to this report, will show the extension made, and to be made, in these directions beyond the original Park limits. Application was accordingly made to the Legislature to authorize the proposed change, and a grant of about two hundred and fifty acres of very desirable land was obtained. Commissioners for valuing the same, and for awarding to the owners any damages they may sustain by reason of the entry of the city thereupon, were appointed by the Supreme Court, and have now nearly completed their proceedings. The Commissioners, however, failed to obtain a portion of the land referred to, consisting of twelve blocks of land between Ninth and Tenth avenues, extending from Third to Fifteenth streets. A glance at the map will confirm the suggestions made in the report 7 of our landscape architects in relation thereto, and will also show how essential this section of land is, to the integrity of the Park plan. The failure referred to, was owing mainly to a reluctance on the part of the Legislature to involve the city in the expense of the purchase of this piece of property, unless the necessity of its acquisition was clearly apparent, at a time when the credit of the city bonds had not fully recovered from the shock temporarily sustained by the pressure of an immense war debt. The consummation of this purchase was consequently deferred to a more favorable opportunity, being reserved for the action of a subsequent Legislature. Mature reflection has confirmed the deliberate judgment of the Commissioners as to the eminent propriety, if not the actual necessity, of making this addition to the Park. Nor do they perceive that the financial objections exists any longer. They are satisfied in fact, that good economy requires that no further time should be lost in its acquisition, and they therefore propose to renew at the present session of the Legislature the application for permission to annex the land in question. The Legislature, it is understood, has placed the parade ground, which was recently provided for the military of Kings County, at the expense of the County, under the care and management of the Commissioners of the Park, and Commissioners appointed by the Supreme Court are now engaged in estimating the value of the property. The land selected for the purpose consists of forty acres admirably adapted for military displays, and lies immediately adjoining the Park, on the south. A parade will show to great advantage from the adjacent hills in the Park, and will add much to its attraction; while the land itself, by judicious management, can, not only be tastefully laid out and planted, but will virtually add a new section to Park territory. Several interesting relics have recently been developed upon the Revolutionary battle-field, which constitutes a portion of the Park. Mingled balls and bones are frequently turned up by the workmen, marking the spot where once the tide of battle surged. The little bluff on the east, commanding the Flatbush and old Port roads at their junction in the Valley Grove, was the site of a small two-gun battery, which enfiladed the former road, up which the Hessians marched to assault Sullivan's lines on the memorable morning of the 27th of August, 1776, and from which they more than once recoiled in dismay. A few rods in front of this battery, and almost in the 8 centre of the Flatbush road, stood the Dongan Oak--a famous landmark--which was felled on that morning to obstruct the passage of the enemy between the hills. This location will be easily recognized, as the roadway immediately in front of the old Valley Grove Tavern, leading southerly into Flatbush. The battle pass, with the site of the redoubt, will be carefully preserved and distinctly marked for the veneration of future generations. Soon after the organization of the present Board, the attention of the Commissioners was drawn, to the extravagant expenditures that frequently attended proceedings to perfect the title to land taken for public purposes. They found that the fees and expenses of Commissioners of Estimate and Assessment were entirely unchecked by any legislative enactment, and they determined to correct the evil as far as possible. For this purpose they caused a provision to be inserted in the act of 1865, which reserved to themselves the selection and the consequent adjustment of compensation, of the clerks, surveyors, and attorney to examine titles, necessary for the use of such Commissioners; and also required them to have their fees and expenses taxed by the Supreme Court. This taxation can now be done only after giving ten days' notice of the application therefore in two of our public prints; thus giving every taxpayer in the city an opportunity of appearing before the court on the taxation, and stating his objections thereto. A provision was also inserted in the act dispensing with the services of the City Counsel, who had usually acted for Commissioners of Estimate and Assessment on the presentation of their report for confirmation, and who finally certified to the City Comptroller for payment, their awards for damages, after confirmation. These duties were by the same act devolved upon the counsel to this Board, who being a salaried officer, now performs the service without additional charge. A similar provision was inserted in the act of 1866, under which the Commissioners of Estimate and Assessment, appointed to value the recent additions to the Park, are now acting, and the result has already been, the saving of many thousands of dollars to the city. Immediately after the adoption of the plan of improvement, arrangements were made for active operations upon the Park. The Board had previously distributed its general administrative duties among three standing committees. To the first, it entrusted the duty of supervising its finances, of providing from time to time the means required for the prosecution of the work, and of report- THE BATTLE PASS IN 1776.9 ing monthly to the Board the exact condition of its finances. To the second, was committed the general management of the work ordered by the Board, and the purchase and disposition of all property pertaining to the commission. While to the third, was allotted the task of auditing all bills and claims for services and materials, with the supervision of its books of account. The executive departments of the work were organized, by appointing a comptroller, who also acts as counsel to the Board; and by selecting the landscape architects, above referred to, as superintendents of the work, under the direction of the Executive Committee. The latter gentlemen were at the same time instructed to prepare the details of the plan which had been adopted, and to reorganize a working force sufficient for the execution of the plan. The Board also appointed Mr. Joseph P. Davis, of the Nassau Water Works, as Engineer in charge of operations on the Park, and Mr. John Bogart and Mr. John Y. Culyer, his principal Assistants. After any given measure has been discussed and determined upon by the Board, its execution is referred to the appropriate committee, which personally supervises the performance of the duty, by the department charged with the work. Purchases of tools and materials are made by agents selected with special reference to their experience in obtaining the article required, under the direction of the Executive Committee and the Superintendents. The market is canvassed for the lowest cash price--quality considered. The articles purchased, are weighed, counted or measured, and delivered at the Park office, where a full register is kept of everything received and given out for use on the Park; and the bills, after having been duly certified, are forwarded to the office of the Comptroller. No bills are paid without: First, a certificate of the Superintendent that they have been authorized by the Executive Committee to make the purchase: second, a certificate of the purchasing agent that he made the purchase under the direction of the Superintendents, at the prices named in the bill: third, a certificate of the officer charged with the safe keeping of the property of the commission, that the articles in question have been received in good condition, and that the bill has been compared with the register of bills kept in his office, and the extensions and footings examined and found correct: and, lastly, a certificate of the Comptroller that the expenditure has been authorized by a resolution of the Board10 of a particular date, specifying the same. The bills for the current month then pass to the Auditing Committee, which examines the same, and reports thereon to the Board at its next meeting, when if found correct, payment is ordered. After payment is ordered by the Board, checks are drawn by the President and Secretary, specifying the particular object for which they are drawn, payable to the order of the Comptroller, who endorses them over to the persons respectively entitled to receive the same, taking proper receipts therefor. The routine for the payment of salaries and the pay-rolls of engineers and laborers is quite similar to that for the payment of bills, except that the disbursement of the money is made by or under the direction of the Comptroller. These formalities tend to establish a strict personal accountability for every item of debt incurred on Park account, while they guard against useless or improvident expenditure. As to the amount of work performed thus far, the Commissioners beg to refer to the report of the Superintendents, which accompanies this report, and to the map thereto annexed, delineating its progress. In general, however, it may be stated that their efforts have been directed mainly to the drainage of the grounds; to the grading of the Plaza or principal entrance; to the opening of the principal drives from the Plaza towards the Coney Island road, and to the collection of trees and shrubbery for future use. The actual progress made in these operations will be readily seen upon the map referred to, and by reference to the detailed statements in the reports of the respective engineers in charge. An abstract of all the returns of labor made to the Comptrollers' office by the Superintendents, will show the actual amount of labor bestowed upon the Park since the work began; the number of men employed, varying from time to time, averaging, however, about 642 numerically, but in actual force 451 men for the whole time. The abstract is annexed, showing the dates of several returns, the whole time made upon each, the highest number of men reported, together with the average force employed at the date of each return. Annexed to this report will also be found a copy of an ordinance, which the Board adopted soon after the organization of the working force, for its better regulation and government. Its penalty was made to conform, to the existing law which established the Park, 11 but does not interfere with additional or other punishment, for offences committed on the Park, in violation of municipal or State laws. Late on the evening of the 4th of December, a fire broke out in the engineer's office, near the entrance to the Park, which, owing to the prevalence of a gale of wind blowing at the time, and to the difficulty experienced by the fire department of the city in procuring a sufficient supply of water in that remote district, quickly destroyed the entire premises. The cause of the fire was quite accidental, but the activity and energy of the engineer in charge and his associates, preserved all the working plans, field notes and valuable papers, including the returns of time and accounts kept with the laborers, which had been deposited in the iron safe. The pecuniary loss amounted to about six thousand dollars, but no interruption to the progress of the work was occasioned by the fire. A financial statement of all the receipts and expenditures of the Commission during the past year will be found annexed to this report, showing the whole outlay, during that time, to have been, one hundred and ninety-five thousand seven hundred and one dollars and ten cents. The whole is respectfully submitted. Dated January 26th, 1867. J. S. T. STRANAHAN, PRESIDENT. WALTER S. GRIFFITH, SECRETARY.Park Ordinance, No. 1. The Commissioners of Prospect Park, in the City of Brooklyn, do ordain as follows: Article I. -- All persons are forbidden, 1. To take or carry away any sod, clay, turf, stone, sand, gravel, leaves, muck, peat, wood, or anything whatever belonging to the Park, from any part of the land embraced within the boundaries of the Park; 2. To climb upon, or in any way cut, injure or deface any tree, shrub, building, fence or other erection within the Park; 3. To turn cattle, horses, goats, swine, or poultry of any description upon to the Park; 4. To carry firearms, or to throw stones or other missiles within the Park; 5. To hinder or in any manner delay or interfere with men employed upon the Park; 6. To expose any article or thing for sale, or engage in any picnic or game upon the Park, except by permission derived from the Board of Commissioners; 7. To post or otherwise display any bill, notice, advertisement, or other paper or device upon any tree, structure or other erection within the Park, or upon any of its enclosures. Article II. -- Any person who shall violate or offend against any of the provisions of the foregoing article, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be punished on conviction, before any court of competent jurisdiction in the County of Kings, by a fine not exceeding fifty dollars, and in default of payment, by imprisonment not exceeding thirty days. Financial Statement of the Commissioners of Prospect Park To January 1st, 1867 Balanced on hand, December 31, 1865,...................................................................$8,796 10 The total receipts of the year ending December 31, 1866, are as follows: From the Treasurer of the City of Brooklyn, July 10, 1866,.....$100,000 00 " " " " " Oct. 8, 1866,..... 200,000 00 " Interest on deposits, Dec. 27,1866,..... 2,064 63 " Sale of old material,............................................................. 10 00 " " houses on Park,...................................................... 1,145 00 " Rent of " " ...................................................... 3,884 81 " Sale of drainage pipe,......................................................... 2,618 37 " Supervisors of Kings County for office fixtures ............. 500 00 ----------------------- $310,222 81 ------------------------ $319,018 91 REPORT OF THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS & SUPERINTENDENTS. To the President of the Board of Commissioners of Prospect Park, Brooklyn: SIR-- On the 29th of May last we were appointed by your Board Landscape Architects and Superintendents of the Park, and were requested to consider various portions of its design in detail with reference to an early commencement of the work of construction. On the 16th of June we were instructed to organize, as soon as possible, with the sanction of the Executive Committee, a practical system of operations under which the work might be proceeded with at suitable points during the remainder of the season. The necessary preliminaries having been settled, a small body of laborers was set at work on the 1st of July, since which time the force has been engaged in developing such leading features of the plan as it was practicable from time to time to take up. Our preliminary study contemplated the addition to the Park domain, of the tract between Third and Fifteenth streets and Ninth and Tenth avenues; but as this section was not included in the enlargement provided for by legislative enactment last winter, the satisfactory development of the plan on the ground has been somewhat interfered with. All the lines in the neighborhood of the Litchfield property have had to be stopped short, or so arranged that they would apply to the scheme of roads as originally designed, in case that ground should be acquired within a reasonable time, 2 18 and also admit, without readjustment, of adaptation to the present contracted boundary line, if this course should be found absolutely necessary. In accordance with instructions received at the outset, we studied the road lines that would have to be followed in the event of the present boundaries being adhered to, but the result was entirely unsatisfactory; and we feel so well assured that it is to the public interest that the ground under discussion should be included in the Park limits, that we think it our duty again, at this time, to urge the proposition on your attention, so that before Spring, if possible, the necessary legislation may be obtained, and all doubts dispelled in reference to the ultimate engineering lines of the main circuit drive. The territory to the south and west, appropriated to the Park by the Legislature of last winter, not being yet in the actual possession of your Commission, operations have been necessarily restricted to a limited section at the north end. A portion of the carriage drive and of the bridle road has been laid out and sub-graded, and the extent of the work thus done is set forth in the annexed progress map. Although the lines originally suggested in the preliminary study have been somewhat varied in execution, no serious modifications have yet resulted from the preparation of the plan in detail upon the working surveys. It has, however, been found practicable to amplify the system of drives passing through the woods south of the Old Battle Pass, and we have thus been able to effect a reduction in width of the separate branches without lessening the actual accommodation. By this means greater advantage is obtained from the shade offered by existing trees than would be possible if the full width of forty feet were everywhere adhered to. A central fountain basin, 160 feet in diameter, has been added to the plan of the Plaza, which forms part of the principal entrance. The main outlines of this portion of the design have been accurately adjusted, and the necessary changes of grade are now in process of execution. In the preliminary study, the northerly section of the Plaza was left open, but further study has led us to recommend that it should be enclosed and planted to correspond with the arrangements adopted on the east and west sides, and that a considerable stretch of ground, which is suitable for the purpose, should be treated as an extension of the sidewalks leading in the directions of Flatbush and Vanderbilt avenues to the Park. The space thus appropriated will be in a very conspicuous and central position, and is sufficiently extensive to admit of its being used for open air public meetings, that would be out of place if held either in the crowded thoroughfares of the city or within the limits of the Park proper. The plan of the Plaza, as now arranged, contemplates the erection, at some future time, of important 19 monumental design on the right and left of the principal entrance to the Park. If one of these sites should be selected for the proposed statue of President Lincoln, it is hoped that the other would be reserved for a statue of Washington. In the preliminary study, a small portion of ground attached to the reservoir site, on the east side of Flatbush avenue, was proposed to be improved, and a foot bridge was planned to connect the reservoir with the main Park. This portion of the design, in accordance with our instructions, has not been included in any operations that have been commenced, but we have taken the opportunity to give further study to the subject; and the modified plan, sometime since submitted for your consideration, and now appended to this report, embodies the latest suggestions that we have to offer in regard to this district. It proposes that the area to be improved shall be somewhat extended so as to make provision for an agreeable promenade to be entered directly from Washington avenue, the position of the proposed foot bridge being changed, so that it now takes a prominent place in the arrangement of the new approach. In our preliminary study we proposed that Vanderbilt avenue should be widened to 100 feet, so far as the property of the Commissioners extended, the object being to improve, as far as possible, the approach from the city in this direction. It will be seen, however, by reference to the map of Brooklyn, that within a few blocks of the Park an awkward crook occurs in Vanderbilt avenue, and that the avoidance of this, by an extension in a straight line to Clinton avenue, would be very expensive. As moreover, horse railroads will probably be laid, sooner or later, on both Vanderbilt and Ninth avenues, neither of these thoroughfares will, when the city is built up, be entirely desirable routes for a large concourse of pleasure vehicles. Taking all these circumstances into consideration, we have been desirous to lay before you some suggestion for an improvement in this portion of the general design that would be acceptable in its character, and not too costly for practical application. Clinton avenue, which is eighty feet wide, would undoubtedly form a very agreeable approach to the Park. It is at present entirely blocked up at its point of intersection with Atlantic avenue, but an examination of the intervening district shows that it might, by judicious arrangement, be extended in a nearly direct line to the Warren street boundary of the Park property, without passing through any ground now occupied by valuable buildings. We have, therefore, made a fresh study, which we herewith lay before you, of an arrangement of street lines within the district now under your20 control, northeast of the Plaza, so as to include the suggested extension of Clinton avenue in our general scheme of approaches to the principal gateway of the Park. It will be observed on an examination of the modified plan that the whole design is now more symmetrical than it was as originally presented, the junction of Clinton avenue, with the Plaza on one side, as proposed, corresponding with the junction of Douglas street, with the Plaza on the other side--as now laid down on the city map. It will also be noticed that, after crossing Underhill avenue, Butler, Douglas and Degraw streets are now arranged to approach the Park on lines more direct than those indicated on the preliminary study submitted for consideration last year. It would undoubtedly add much to the value of the Park if it could be reached, by citizens living at a distance, through liberally conceived approaches which were, in all their extent, convenient and pleasant to walk, ride or drive in. But the value of the property which would have to be acquired by the CIty, and of that which would necessarily be destroyed in forming an improvement of this character through any part of the region west and north of Prospect Hill, is now so great that no scheme for the purpose would be likely to meet with favor. It is, however, not too late to consider whether routes approaching the Park and connecting its drives with other points, in which your constituents will have special interest, may not be laid out beyond that part of the city in which the value of land is already so great as to make such undertakings formidable. In our preliminary report we suggested routes leading from the southwestern part of the Park toward Fort Hamilton and Coney Island. We have since observed that an avenue likely to be, at no distant day, quite as useful as either of these, might be formed between the eastern gate of the Park and the high land about the Ridgewood reservoir, following the present city line. When the streets now planned in this vicinity shall have been once opened, it will be impossible to lay out a spacious and attractive roadway leading in this direction without destroying very valuable property. During the next two or three years, however, it would probably be found practicable to make such local modifications in the general street system as would leave it no less convenient than at present, and yet would allow of the introduction of a broad boulevard, shaded by agreeable plantations and adapted for use as a pleasure drive, ride and walk. The route suggested would make frequent curves and considerable inequalities of surface desirable, and this circumstance would operate to prevent its general use for any other purpose than for pleasure travel and access to the buildings by which it would be lined. 21 Even if it should not be thought expedient to undertake such an improvement immediately, the ground might be secured and the city map modified with reference to its construction in the future. It would practically extend the Park to the rear of Williamsburgh, and, at a comparatively low price, would add much more to its real utility than any equal area of land that could now be secured on its immediate border. Up to this time, those who have built expensive houses in the districts which lie much to the eastward of the present centre of population of the city, have evidently been led to do so because the opportunity has here been offered to lay out villa residences on a liberal scale, which is not elsewhere practicable within the city limits or on New York island, within equal distance of Wall street. It is, doubtless, for the interest of the city of Brooklyn that such men should not be driven beyond its limits, and that others of similar tastes should be attracted to build within them, an object which would be greatly aided by the opening of spacious and agreeable suburban thoroughfares, especially if these were so designed as to practically secure the advantages of proximity to the Park to all who should live near them. The various duties of superintendence of work on the Park are, for the sake of convenience, divided into two classes, each supervised by an assistant engineer, and both comprehended in the more general responsibility of the engineer in charge. The first includes the duties of the topographical survey, the elaboration of the designs in working drawings and details of measurement in exact correspondence with the date furnished by the topographical survey; the transference of the designs in this form to the ground in such ways as may be required to enable the workmen to understand each his respective part in the constructive labor; and such a supervision of the working force as is necessary to secure the intended result in all particulars, together with the measurements, calculations and records, upon which our knowledge is assured of the degree of economy, with which the work is proceeding. The second includes the adjustment of the force to the various duties required to be performed by recruiting, by transfers, and by discharges; the discipline of the force by cautions, reproofs, suspensions and discharges; the detail of time-keeping and the precautions used to prevent fraud and disorder. Mr. John Bogart, civil engineer, is in immediate charge of so much of the organization as relates to the first of these departments; Mr. J. Y. Culyer, civil engineer, of so much as relates to the other. Mr. J. P. Davis, civil engineer, has a general executive charge over all, and is also looked to for the solution of problems arising on the work, which22 belong strictly to his special professional responsibility. His report, with those of his assistance, is herewith appended. We have every reason to be satisfied with the manner in which we have hitherto been aided in the study of our task, and with which our instructions have been carried out; and if thought desirable, are prepared to enlarge the scale of operations upon the ground in the Spring, with entire confidence, based upon the experience we have now had, in the ability and zeal with which we shall be sustained, not only by the gentlemen whom we have named, but by all who are engaged in the service of your Board. Respectfully, OLMSTED, VAUX & CO., landscape Architects and Superintendents. OFFICE OF DESIGN AND SUPERINTENDENCE, January 1st, 1867. __________ REPORT OF ENGINEER IN CHARGE. ENGINEER'S OFFICE, PROSPECT PARK, January 1st, 1867. MESSRS. OLMSTED, VAUX & CO., Landscape Architects and Superintendents: GENTLEMEN--- The accompanying reports of Mr. Bogart and Mr. Culyer, together with the annexed maps, give full information relative to the progress that has been made in the surveys and construction of the Park, the condition of the materials and tools on hand, and the organization and discipline of the labor force. It will be seen by reference to the progress map that the topographical survey of the original surface is not yet complete. This work will be pushed forward as vigorously as the other duties of the assistants, connected more immediately with actual construction, will permit, and it is hoped that the necessary data will be collected and recorded upon the map before the opening of work in the Spring. The labor force has been chiefly employed in grading and in collecting materials, such as soil, peat and stone, for future use. The price of excavation has varied from 12 cents to $1 20 per cubic yard, depending upon its character, its final distribution, and the length of haul. 23 The force employed exclusively upon earth excavation has cost $106,600, of which 43 per cent, has been paid to cart gangs and 57 per cent to barrow gangs. The average cost of excavating, moving and disposing of material of all kinds, since the commencement of work in June up to the present date, has been nearly five cents less than the average up to the 1st of September. The average haul has been greater since the 1st of September than before, but there has been a less proportion of difficult excavation, such s of clay, for deep sewer trenches, &c. The reduction of the average cost is in part due to this last fact, but chiefly to the better discipline of the labor force. Such sewers have been laid as were required to conduct away the water from the surfaces being graded. It is not advisable to determine the details of the system of sewerage until the grades of a larger surface are definitely established. Owing to the peculiar conformation of the ground selected for the Park, giving as it does, deep valleys or hollows with no natural outlets, the cost of drainage will necessarily be large, both in trenching for sewers and in shaping the ground for proper surface drainage. Several thousand feet of roads and paths have been sub-graded, but no portion has yet been surfaced with road metal. A force, however, is now being organized for breaking and preparing the stone for that purpose. In the upper portion of the Park, in order to lessen the amount of excavation, the roads have been graded for short distances as steep as one in twenty-five. Still, owing to the comparatively low grade of Flatbush avenue, from which it was necessary to start, and to the elevation of the Park ground opposite the reservoir--owing also to the very rough condition of the adjoining ground, caused in part by the excavation made for clay used in the construction of the reservoir--the expense for grading has necessarily been large. On the west side the amount of excavation has been still further increased by the existence of a peat bog over which the drive passes. To secure a good foundation, this peat has been taken out, and its place supplied by material taken from a broad, low hill that obstructed the view over a considerable portion of the Park, from near the entrance. In the general management of the matters entrusted to my charge, I have been very efficiently aided by Mr. Bogart and Mr. Culyer, in their respective departments. Respectfully submitted. JOS. P. DAVIS, Engineer in Charge.24 PARK COMMISSIONERS, CITY OF BROOKLYN. ENGINEER'S OFFICE, January 1st, 1867. } Jos. P. DAVIS, ESQ., Engineer in Charge: SIR-- The following is a statement of the progress and amount of work done upon the Park, from the beginning of operations in June 1866, up to January 1, 1867: THE TOPOGRAPHICAL SURVEY. A careful topographical survey of the Park grounds being commenced, several base lines were measured at suitable intervals, and from these a rectangular system has been established, extending over the whole area. With this as a base, levels have been taken, and from the data thus obtained, topographical maps constructed, exhibiting accurately the variations of surface by means of contour lines, drawn at intervals, to show each foot of elevation. This work is complete for a large portion of the Park. The area, the topography of which has been finished, is shown upon the accompanying map, where contour lines are drawn, representing variations of ten feet in elevation. The rectangular division of the surface of the Park is also used as the basis for the survey and location of the drives, bridle roads, walks and drainage systems, and is of great assistance to the engineers in giving working grades for shaping ground and in making up estimates of work proposed or finished. GRADING OF DRIVES, BRIDLE ROADS, WALKS AND MEADOWS. The construction force has been mainly engaged in making the necessary excavation and filling for grading the Plaza exterior to the main entrance, at junction of Flatbush and Ninth avenues, the drives, bridle roads and walks running from the entrance into the Park and the meadow surfaces at the northern portion of the grounds. The whole area, which has been worked over, is about sixty-one acres. Of this, about twenty-eight acres have been brought so sub-grade, requiring only the addition of soil to bring that portion to the proposed final surface. The location and extent of the area worked over, are shown upon the progress map by line shading. Seven thousand eight hundred lineal feet, or about one and a half miles of drives, have been laid out and worked, of which five thousand seven 25 hundred lineal feet have been brought to sub-grade, ready for the road metal. The larger portion of this is the eastern branch of the main circuit drive, extending from the entrance of the Park to the high land near Flatbush avenue; thence through the wooded defile, past the deer paddock, and by several branches through the woods. A small portion of the western branch of the circuit drive has been also graded. One thousand three hundred and seventy-five feet of bridle road and one thousand eight hundred and seventy-five feet of walks have been graded. The respective lengths and widths of these drives, bridle roads and walks, are shown in the annexed table. Their lines, as far as worked, are also shown upon the progress map. DRIVES BROUGHT TO SUB-GRADE. 50 feet wide .......... 275 lineal feet. 46 " " .......... 1,725 " " 40 " " .......... 2,700 " " 30 " " .......... 450 " " 23 " " .......... 550 " " Total length of drives brought to sub-grades .......... 5,700 " " BRIDLE ROADS BROUGHT TO SUB-GRADE. 20 feet wide.......... 750 lineal feet. 14 " " .......... 225 " " 8 " " .......... 400 " " Total bridle roads brought to sub-grade .......... 1,375 " " WALKS BROUGHTTO SUB-GRADE. 16 feet wide .......... 1,400 lineal feet. 12 " " .......... 475 " " Total length of walks brought to sub-grade .......... 1,875 " " DRAINAGE LINES. The main lines of pipes for the drainage of the district already worked over, have been laid, the dimensions and respective lengths of which are shown in the following table. A quantity of stone drain has also been laid at points where such drainage was considered desirable and sufficient. PIPE SEWER LAID. 15 inch vitrified pipe.......... 1,851 lineal feet. 12 " " " .......... 2,018 " " 2 1/2 " " .......... 555 " " 6 " cement " .......... 142 " " Total pipe laid .......... 4,566 " " 26 MATERIAL MOVED. The total amount of material moved from the commencement of operations up to January 1st, 1867, is shown in the following summary statement: Excavation for grading drives, bridle roads, walks and meadows .... 85,181 cubic yds. For plaza .......... 46,591 " " For sewers and drains .......... 13,899 " " Soil excavated and piled for future use .......... 65,200 " " Peat " " " " .......... 24,143 " " Clay " " " " ..........5,906 " " Stone " " " " .......... 17,443 " " Miscellaneous excavation for test pits, etc., etc.......... 494 " " Total material moved .......... 258,857 " " SETTING OUT TREES AND SHRUBS. There have been set out about 14,000 trees and shrubs in the two nurseries, and several thousand young trees and shrubs have been transplanted at points where work has been in progress. THE ENGINEER CORPS. The present organization of the Engineer Corps is as follows: For Field Work--Three assistant engineers, two surveyors, two levelers, four rodmen, and sixteen chainmen and axemen. For Office Work--One principal and two assistant draughtsmen, and one office assistant in charge of estimates and accounts of cost. Respectfully submitted. JOHN BOGART, Assistant Engineer in Charge. BROOKLYN PARK COMMISSION, OFFICE OF DESIGN AND SUPERINTENDENCE, January 1st, 1867} J. P. DAVID, ESQ., Engineer in Charge: DEAR SIR-- In the following report you will find a statement and summary of general facts and statistics compiled from the accounts and records of the force kept at his office. ORGANIZATION. The force is arranged in gangs of from twenty to fifty men. Over each gang is placed a foreman, and, when necessary, an assistant foreman; the whole being under the management and active supervision of a general foreman. 27 The method of keeping and returning the time of the men is as follows: Each foreman is provided with two time-books, with the names of his men written therein, and so ruled and headed that at roll call he has only to make a check mark opposite the name of each man present; or, if the man comes or leaves at irregular hours, the foreman marks the hour in the proper column, headed "came" or "left." There are three roll calls each day. In calling the roll, the men are required to form a line, and, as each man's name is called by the foreman, he steps out, and is identified by the assistant foreman; or, if the gang has no assistant foreman, by a man selected for the purpose, who response "right;" or, if the man called is not present, he answers "absent." At the last roll call for the day, the foreman states aloud, as each man's name is called, the number of hours' work with which he is credited for the day. The time-books are collected by messengers from this office, when the computation of hours worked is made up, and the books re-distributed each day. The office is thus charged with the sole responsibility of all required computations, the foreman's record being a mere tally mark. The foremen, at the end of each pay term (of two weeks) are required to make an affidavit to the correctness of their returns. When the weather prevents work, and on holidays, foremen and assistant foremen are required to report (unless specially excused) to their general foreman, within thirty minutes after the usual time for commencing work, and if their services are not required, they then report at the office, where the time made by their men for the previous day, is taken. They are then dismissed for the day. The time of foremen, assistants, and men in gangs, is all returned by the hour. The whole laboring force is paid every two weeks. DISCIPLINE. It is the duty of all officers of the Park and of foremen to report daily all cases of neglect of duty, inefficiency or insubordination, for which, after investigation at the office of the Engineer in Charge, the offenders are reprimanded, suspended temporarily from duty, or discharged. Minor offences, when a suspension of less than one day is required, are generally acted upon by the foreman without reference to the office. The number of men discharged under discipline has been one hundred and seventy-five. Men who have been absent from work three days cannot resume their places without a written restoration from the office, which is only given28 when a sufficient cause is shown for absence, accompanied by a certificate of previous good conduct from their foreman. Owing to the standard of requirement established, many men who have obtained employment, and who were, to all appearance, possessed of fair qualifications as laborers, after a few days' trial have found the duty demanded of them too severe, and have voluntarily left. Consequently, although the largest number of men employed at any time has but little exceeded seven hundred, the names of many more than that number appear on the rolls. THE WATCH. To prevent pilfering, and to guard against the injury of the Commission's property in all respects, watchmen have been employed, the number on duty varying according to the conditions of the property exposed, and other circumstances, from eight to sixteen. Eight men are employed exclusively for watch duty, including the head watchman; others are drawn temporarily, as required, from the laboring force. SUPPLIES. When tools and materials arrive at the Park, they are at once inspected, compared with the accompanying invoice, and, if found to correspond, and to be satisfactory in all respects, a receipt is given for them, and they are added to the stock. Ordinarily, the inspection is made by the tool clerk; but, in special cases, by the heads of the branches of the work for which the material is particularly designed, the head carpenter examining the lumber, etc. Tools and materials required by foremen in the ordinary prosecution of the work, are supplied on their individual requisition. Supplies so furnished are charged directly to the foreman. An inventory of the stock held by each foreman is taken every two weeks, and compared with the tool clerk's account, and the foreman is charged with the value of any deficiency, the amount being deducted from his wages. Lumber, timber, bricks, and other materials used in construction, are issued on an order from a responsible officer of the Park only, and are charged directly to the branch of the work in which they are to be used. An accurate account of their disposition is kept by one of the Assistant Engineers. Respectfully submitted. JNO. Y. CULYER, Assistant Engineer in Charge.DESIGN FOR PROSPECT PARK AS PROPOSED TO BE LAID OUT FOR THE CITY OF BROOKLYN. OLMSTED VAUX & CO. LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS 110 BROADWAY N.Y. 1866.MAP SHOWING PROGRESS OF WORK UPON THE PARK UP TO JANUARY 1ST 1867.View from a point near the Carriage Concourse, north of the site for Music Stand, showing sites of Lake, refectory and lookout. EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF PROSPECT PARK, BROOKLYN. JANUARY, 1868 BROOKLYN: I. VAN ANDEN'S PRINT, EAGLE BUILDINGS, 30 & 32 FULTON STREET. 1868.BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF PROSPECT PARK JAMES S. T. STRANAHAN, ABIEL A. LOW, WALTER S. GRIFFITH, SEYMOUR L. HUSTED, JOHN H. PRENTICE, ABRAHAM B. BAYLIS EDWARDS W. FISKE, THOMAS McELRATH, TEUNIS J. BERGEN, STEPHEN HAYNES, CORNELIUS J. SPRAGUE. President. JAMES S. T. STRANAHAN Secretary WALTER S. GRIFFITH Comptroller and Counsel. JOHN N. TAYLOR. Landscape Architects and Superintendents. OLMSTED, VAUX & CO. Engineer in Charge. CHARLES C. MARTIN. Assistant Engineer in Charge. JOHN BOGART, JOHN Y. CULYER. STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. JOHN H. PRENTICE, WALTER S. GRIFFITH, SEYMOUR L. HUSTED, STEPHEN HAYNES, ABIEL A. LOW, EDWARDS W. FISKE. FINANCE COMMITTEE. ABRAHAM B. BAYLIS, TEUNIS J. BERGEN, CORNELIUS J. SPRAGUE, EDWARDS W. FISKE, STEPHEN HAYNES. AUDITING COMMITTEE. WALTER S. GRIFFITH, JOHN H. PRENTICE THOMAS McELRATH. REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF PROSPECT PARK. To the Honorable, the Mayor and Common Council of the City of Brooklyn: The Commissioners of Prospect Park present this report of their proceedings, for the year 1867, to the honorable, the Mayor and Common Council of the City of Brooklyn; trusting, that the result of the operations which they are about to detail, will prove satisfactory to the Common Council, as well as to our citizens in general. With a full appreciation of the great responsibility of the trust committed to them, they are still cheered by the reflection, that while they are laboring to secure to their fellow citizens the advantages of a beautiful and healthful pleasure ground, which must soon prove as conspicuous for its moral, as for its material effects upon our city they are, at the same time, strengthening that great bond of social sympathy, which should universally pervade a great commercial community, if we would have a sure guarantee of its permanence and success. Their last Annual Report informed the Common Council of the intention of the Commissioners to apply to the Legislature, for authority to annex twelve blocks of ground, at the northwesterly angle of the Park, as being, in their judgment, indispensably necessary to the completion of the6 plan in that direction. The reasons for this acquisition were then stated, and need not be here repeated; they are, in fact, sufficiently obvious from a mere glance at the Park Map. But it may now be said, that the progress of construction on the western drive is entirely arrested, and cannot be resumed without encroaching, to a ruinous extent, upon the beautiful meadow south of it, which forms one of the most attractive features of the design. The Commissioners cannot believe that the people of Brooklyn will ever consent to so serious a mutilation of the plan, as is implied by such a course of procedure; and they therefore propose to suggest these considerations to the Legislature, at its coming session, trusting that their renewed application will meet with a more favorable response than has hitherto attended their efforts in this behalf. When this addition shall have been made to the park area, it will, in their judgment, be sufficiently extended on the western side of Flatbush Avenue, for all useful or ornamental purposes, and will contain over five hundred acres of land, or, if the Parade Ground is to be included in the estimate, as it is already in the general design, about five hundred and fifty acres, conveniently located, and easily manipulated, and now rapidly approaching completion, under the plastic hand of the landscape Architects, employed by the Board. No plan for the improvement of that portion of the Park lying east of the Avenue has yet been suggested, which is entirely satisfactory to the Board; but the subject has received, and will continue to receive their studious consideration. In all adaptations of land, to public use, they have kept steadily in view what they believed to be the requirements of a rapidly growing city, of greatly diversified tastes, pursuits and habits; while they have not been unmindful of the expense of maintaining a large pleasure ground, after 7 its completion, in that high degree of order and of neatness, which are indispensably necessary to the accomplishment of its best purposes. The laying out of this portion of the Park, divided as it is by a large public reservoir, and isolated from the rest of the Park by a broad thoroughfare, presents a serious difficulty in harmonizing these discordant features, with the general Park design, adverted to in a former report. But the Commissioners are now able to state that extensive plans of public improvement, bearing directly upon this section of the Park, and having for their object a system of more ample and convenient approaches thereto, are in progress, and will probably lead to an early and satisfactory solution of this problem. No specific duty, in regard to making provision for suitable approaches to the Park, was included in the direct responsibilities of the Commission; but as it was quite evident, from the outset, that a necessity for some adequate discussion of the public requirements in this respect, would sooner or later arise, and as it seemed equally clear that no other representative body would take the initiative, in making the requisite suggestions, it was deemed best that the subject should receive the attention of the Board. In the arrangements made for professional aid, it was accordingly understood that test surveys having reference to this question of approaches, should be prepared, from time to time, in accordance with such suggestions as might be given by the Commissioners. In the appended report of our landscape Architects will be found the latest results of this examination. So far as the project, which is therein outlined, has been submitted to the parties more immediately interested, in the south-eastern approach, it has been received with general approval; but the Commissioners do not propose to take any decided action in the matter until the public judgment upon its merits shall have been8 sufficiently developed, to enable them to act with entire confidence therein. In immediate connection with the subject of approaches to the Park, arises the question of laying out streets and avenues over that extensive tract of land which lies southerly from and beyond the limits of the Park, and which must, at no distant day, become the abode of a vast multitude of people. The importance of attending to this matter at this time, is the more obvious, from the fact that this tract will soon form a portion of our City, and hence the necessity of projecting its streets and avenues in such a manner as to connect them with our own, consistently with public convenience, and with due regard to the promotion of the public health. It is of no less importance to our neighbors, that the mistakes and confusion should be avoided which are necessarily incident to the laying out of the suburbs of a large town by individuals, who do not usually act in concert, or with any comprehensive consideration of their common interests. When a plan shall have been prepared, with the advantages of a thorough study of all the topographical conditions of the district, and of its general relations to the City, on the one side, and to the adjoining country on the other, and with a due consideration of the various requirements which may be expected to arise, as its population increases; and such plan shall have been made a public record, owners of property will of course, conform their transfers of land an the erection of houses, to the line of streets and avenues there laid down, while the corporate authorities will be thereby guided in the opening, working and grading of streets and avenues, and the introduction of water and sewage thereon. The Commissioners, cannot therefore, withhold the expression of their unqualified approval of the project of a law, which they are informed will engage the attent- 9 tion of the Legislature at its coming session, to provide for the laying out of streets, avenues and public places, throughout the County of Kings, outside of the City of Brooklyn. Since the last Report of the Board, operations on the Park have steadily progressed. Commencing the year with a moderate force, it has been gradually increased as the season would permit. Proceedings to acquire title to about two hundred acres of land, which were authorized to be taken by the law of 1866, having been completed, the Commissioners entered upon the land and organized an additional force of laborers to operate thereon. An abstract of all the returns of the laboring force made to the Comptroller during the year 1867; will be found appended to this report, showing the whole force engaged, as well as its general distribution among the different departments of labor, at the expiration of every two weeks. The extent of ground which has been under treatment, and on which more or less progress towards completion has been made, is a little over two hundred and fifty acres. For the drainage and water supply of this ground, over twelve miles of pipe have been laid, at depths varying from three to twenty-three feet. The Improvement of fifty-seven acres of the surface, besides that assigned for roads, walks, and waters, has been fully completed. Nineteen thousand feet in length of carriage and bridle road have been advanced in construction, of which over six thousand feet have been finished. The construction of over seventeen thousand feet in length of walk has been advanced, and about five thousand feet of it concluded. Excavation has been commenced for the Ponds over a surface of more than fifty acres, and the work is complete over about six acres. About twenty thousand cubic yards of masonry, twenty-four thousand feet of curb stone, and seventy-one thousand feet of Belgian Pavement 10 have been laid, and seven hundred thousand cubic yards of materials of all kinds moved during the last year. These few statements will in some degree suggest the ex- tent, and variety of the subjects which have occupied the attention of the Commissioners during the past year; but for a more detailed and exact explanation of these several operations, the Common Council is respectfully referred to the accompanying maps and reports of our employees. The prosecution of these extensive operations has necessarily required the purchase of a large and varied supply of material, the greater portion of which has already been made use of. But the rollers, derricks, trucks, and other tools and instruments of construction, and of engineering, are still on hand and in good condition for any work that may be required of them for years to come. Large quantities of stable manure, night soil, lime, phosphates, and other fertilizers have been collected and composted with extensive beds of muck, found on the Park, and now form rich and valuable deposits from which constant drafts are made for planting trees and shrubs, and enriching the soil for turf. Many fine trees, found upon the ground have been transplanted to more conspicuous positions, and more will follow. Over seventy-three thousand trees and shrubs have been set out upon the Plaza mounds and walks, and upon the finished slopes and meadows, and the Park Nurseries now contain an excellent stock of about fifty thousand carefully selected and greatly varied trees and plants. An abstract of the financial statement of the Board, which is hereto also annexed, will show the expenditures of the commission, for the year, amounting to nine hundred and seventy-three thousand, nine hundred and three dollars, and sixty cents. The largest item, it will be observed, is for {{page break}} 11 actual labor bestowed upon the ground; while the materials of construction, tools and other instruments, necessary for the use of a large force, come next in importance. The trees, manures, water and drainage pipe, with the Belgian and other pavements, seem to be large items, but they are no part of the current expenses, and as soon as the stock shall have been completed, need not be repeated. In the consideration of the expenditures of the year, it should not be forgotten, that the price of labor and material has been very largely increased within a short time; that a considerable portion of the outlay was for the tools and machinery, required to set large forces in motion, many of them of an expensive and permanent character; that long lines of drainage and water pipe were to be buried out of sight, to secure the removal of unwholesome moisture, and the proper distribution of water; and that large supplies of trees for the nurseries, of fertilizers for the ground, of brick, stone, lime, and cement, for the bridges and culverts, of iron and steel for the construction and repair of tools and machinery, of timber and hardware, of hydrants and of castings, with an immense variety of other materials and supplies, must be kept in store for future, as well as for immediate use. The Commissioners believe that the large preliminary outlay which has been made, will prove to be good economy, and will admit of the continued employment of as large a force of men, as heretofore, capable of producing much larger results in the coming year, at a greatly diminished expense. In October last, carriages were admitted to a portion of the main eastern drive, which had just then been finished, and visitors have thronged the grounds since that time. From the visitor's register, kept on the park, it appears that no less than 24,748 single horse carriages, 17,341 two horse vehicles, 9,766 equestrians, and 52,242 pedestrians,12 have passed into the Park, within the period of a little over two months last part. So large a number of visitors at this early stage of our enterprise, the genuine pleasure manifested in the appearance of all, and the quiet and orderly behavior exhibited by the miscellaneous multitude who throng the Park almost "from early dawn to dewy eve," show unmistakably, not only how welcome all such breathing spots are to our pent up population, but also their decidedly educational tendency, as well aesthetically as by the suggestion and inculcation of habits of good order and propriety among the people at large. Who, after this, can doubt the utility of our noble Park, or question the duty incumbent on society, of creating and maintaining such plans of public improvement, as minister to the amusement, the morals, and the health of the masses. Or who shall deny the policy of developing and extending all such opportunities of innocent and intellectual recreation, as the most effective rivals of the ale house and the gambling table. As the boundaries of the Park were enlarged, and the number of persons employed upon it were increased, it became more difficult to preserve order, and to protect the tools and materials scattered over the grounds, many of which must necessarily be left out at night. Other Parks also, were put under the charge of the Commissioners, requiring protection, and the main Park was about to be thrown open to the public. For these reasons, police duty as it had formerly been discharged, by ordinary watchmen, was found to be inadequate to the requirements made and about to be made upon it. It became necessary therefore, to organize a new force of Park keepers, for the protection of property, and the preservation of order. An efficient body of men has accordingly been selected and uniformed, and they are now being carefully drilled and instructed in their duties. They are reinforced by the gardeners, 13 from time to time, as occasion may required; and the men who are engaged in the details of gardening during the morning, are required to serve, if necessary, as an auxiliary police in the afternoon and evening, when the grounds are thronged with visitors. In the discharge of duty, they are instructed to assist visitors, with such information, advice, and guidance, as may be required, to enable them to see and to use the Park, to the best advantage; to direct the course to be taken by carriages; to prevent the interruption of communication by crowds, in any part of the Park; and to guard visitors against such dangers as may occur, from blasts, runaways, pickpockets, going upon weak ice, or the like. The rules and regulations established by the Board, and which are directed to be observed by all persons who shall visit the Park, will be found appended to this report. They have been carefully framed, with a view of imposing the least possible restraint upon personal liberty, which is consistent with the safety and freedom of others. It has often been a reproach to our country, that collections of works of art, and exhibitions for instruction and amusement, cannot be thrown open to the public without danger of injury. If any ground for such reproach really exists, the Commissioners think it can be removed only by greater liberality, in admitting the people freely, to such establishments. By thus teaching them that they are themselves the parties most deeply interested in their preservation, and that it must be the interest of the public, to protect that which is intended for the public advantage. If we seek to win the regard of others, we must show a regard for them ourselves: and if we seek to wean them from debasing pursuits and brutalizing pleasures, we can only hope to do so, by opening freely to them new sources of rational enjoyment. There is also another consideration which has had its14 influence upon the minds of the Commissioners, but which is not usually adverted to, in estimating the motives of action of the visitors at our American Parks and in the adjustment of the degree of restraint, which it is necessary to impose upon them. It is the remembrance of that self gratulatory and independent feeling of our tax-payers, that they hold their privileges as no chary favor or deputed permission, but as a legal right, purchased from their own resources, to be freely transmitted to their posterity, subject only, to the necessary and comparatively trifling expense of culture and supervision. The Commissioners, would here direct the attention of the Common Council to some statistics connected with the cost of the Park and of its improvements, which they think, will, at this time be found both interesting and instructive. The land originally taken, cost the City on the 15th day of June, 1864, when the report of the Commissioners on valuation was confirmed by the Supreme Court, The sum of . . . . $1,357,606 27 The first addition thereto on 4th Feb., 1866 158,558 41 And the recent addition on 27th May, 1867 752,745 02 Whole cost of land taken for the Park, $2,268,909 70 The cost of improvements as appears from the financial statements appended to this, and to previous annual reports, is . . $1,169,604 70 Making the entire cost of the Park to date, $3,438,514 40 exclusive of a small amount paid for interest. Payment of the first of these acquisitions was met by an issue of City Bonds, bearing an interest of six per cent., and having ninety years to run. The residue of the amount was raised by sales of seven per cent. bonds, payable in forty-five years. None of these bonds have been disposed of by 15 the City at less than their par value, and some of the seven per cents. have sold at a premium. The interest payable semi-annually, is raised by annual tax on the first twelve and the twentieth wards of the City. And for the payment of the entire debt, both principal and interest, the whole Park domain, with its improvements are specifically pledged. A sinking fund is also provided by law, consisting partly of an annual tax on said wards, running on to the maturity of the bonds, and partly of an assessment for benefit on the property adjacent to the Park. This assessment has not yet been laid, but will doubtless realize a large sum of money, and will begin to be collected as soon as it shall have been properly apportioned by the Commissioners appointed for the purpose, by means of an annual tax, to be levied in installments for twenty years successively in the locality specially benefited. This equitable adjustment of the Park Debt between those wards at whose instance the Park was projected, and the owners of property particularly benefited by the improvement, has not only proved wise and practical, but bids fair to realize the most sanguine expectations of its projectors. Soon after work commenced on the Park, the price of lots rose rapidly in the neighborhood; and recent sales continue to show an increasing value. The assessed value of real estate in the eighth ward, exclusive of the amount assessed for buildings has increased over thirty per cent. during the last year. While the increased value of the real estate of the eighth and ninth wards being the two wards immediately contiguous to the Park, has for the same time amounted to nearly two-thirds of the increased value of the entire City. A similar increase from the same cause, though not to the same extent, is perceptible in the twentieth ward, which comes next in respect to its contiguity16 to the Park, and doubtless exists in several of the other wards, particularly in the tenth. The records of the Board of City Assessors show that the assessed value of real estate in the year 1864, was In the 8th Ward . . . . . $4,913,274 " 9th Ward . . . . . 7,966,471 " 20th Ward . . . . . . 7,069,650 Total in the three Wards . . . . $19,949,395 The same records for the year 1867, show the assessed value Of the 8th Ward to be . . . . $7,983,200 " 9th Ward . . . . 10,743,797 " 20th Ward . . . . . 8,705,090 Total in the three Wards . . . $27,432,087 Making an increased valuation in the three wards since active operations commenced on the Park of $7,482,692. The additional tax which was raised from this increased valuation for the year 1867, was $280,692, while the annual interest on the whole Park debt as it now stands, is $229,219; showing an increased annual revenue to the city from these three wards alone, over and above the annual interest of the Park debt of $51,385. Our citizens will draw their own inferences from these facts; but in view of the large improvement which has already taken place, and of the additional considerations, that these values must soon be greatly increased, by costly buildings about to be erected, and that other splendid improvements tending directly to the development of the many advantages of a residence in the vicinity of the Park, have been projected, and are now in progress, under the auspices of gentlemen of taste and wealth; the Commis-FOR EVER FREE LINCOLN MONUMENT. 17 sioners cannot doubt, that the City's increased revenue from the enhanced value given to its taxable property, from Park enterprise, will not only enable it to maintain the Park with ease, in a high degree of culture, but will insure the payment of the debt incurred, and to be incurred, for its construction, long before its maturity; and that, too, with a continually diminished burthen upon its tax-payers. The Board has the pleasure to announce, that the War Fund Committee of Kings County, has presented the City with a Bronze Statue of the late President Lincoln, to be erected in the Park, as soon as a suitable place can be prepared for its reception. This beautiful work of art, designed and executed by our late townsman, H. K. Brown, the distinguished sculptor, is the result of a dollar subscription, set on foot among our citizens, by the patriotic Committee above mentioned, soon after the decease of the subject of its commemoration, and may therefore be truly called the People's Monument. The Statue is nine feet high, and embodies the true ideal of the late President, the head and shoulders being modelled from a bust taken from life; a correct delineation of its other peculiarities having been secured, by the vivid recollection, which a personal intimacy with the deceased afforded to the artist. A cloak, such as Mr. Lincoln frequently wore, is thrown loosely over the shoulders, falling to the knees, giving dignity and elegance to the figure; the left hand holds an open scroll, on which is written the immortal Proclamation of Emancipation, the finger of the right hand pointing to the words "shall be forever free." It will be erected upon a pedestal of granite fifteen feet high, to be located on the public platform in the Plaza, near the fountain, and will be ornamented on the two sides with the Eagle, one of them bearing the Coat of Arms of the City, and on the 218 other two sides, with wreaths to represent the Army and Navy; all in bronze with suitable inscriptions. Our City may feel a just pride in the accomplishment of this beautiful tribute to the memory of Abraham Lincoln, for of all the multitudinous monuments and statues pro- posed to be erected to his memory at the time of his death, this is believed to be the first that has been executed. The Legislature at its last session, at the request of the Common Council, placed four of the smaller Parks of Brooklyn under the charge of this Board; but the season had advanced so rapidly before the Commissioners found themselves in possession, that little more could be done than to devise a plan of improvement, which should render them more useful and creditable to the City, than they had here- tofore been. Surveys were accordingly made, and topo- graphical maps constructed, preparatory to the work of remodeling their designs; but as the law under which the Commissioners are acting did not seem to authorize such changes of plan as were desirable, they were compelled to postpone the further prosecution of the work, until a revi- sion of the law could be procured. A detail from the Park force of Keepers was however assigned to them, which has succeeded in preserving quiet and good order thereon. At Carrol Park no proper provision had been made for the escape of surface water, which consequently overflowed the walks at every storm. An inlet basin was therefore constructed, at the lowest point of the ground, and connect- ed with the street sewer, which will hereafter form part of the more compete system of drainage which is required for this Park. The fence of this Park has been thoroughly re- paired and painted, and its gas lamps renewed. Some repairs have also been made in connection with the 19 City Park, but no significant examination has yet been given to the subject of its general plan of improvement. It is quite evident, however, that the study to be made in refer- ence to its improvement, will require to be of a somewhat special character. Its near proximity to Washington Park, which, from its greater size and central position, must always offer a more attractive place of resort to the neighborhood, and to a great extent supersede the City Park as a pleasure ground, presents the question, whether it is desirable or proper to devote that amount of expense and labor to its improvement, which will be found necessary to render it suit- able for the purposes of a public Park. A variety of suggestions have been made to the Commis- sioners, respecting this property, among others, that if turned to good business account, it would greatly increase the value of the taxable property of the City, and that its central position, and its nearness to the water, render it a fit location for a general market. These suggestions are not without force, but the Commissioners are not at liberty to take any decided action thereon, and therefore respectfully submit them to the consideration of their fellow citizens, before making any recommendation in regard to the further im- provement or final disposition of this portion of the lands entrusted to their care. The peculiar location and unsatisfactory condition of Washington Park, demanded, and have received, a more particular consideration. A plan for its improvement has been prepared by our landscape Architects, which, with their report thereon, will be found appended to this report. The Commissioners think it will be perused with as much satisfaction by our citizens, generally, as it has been by the Board. The report will speak for itself; but the Commis- sioners take this opportunity of directing attention more particularly to a feature of the design, which was sug-20 gested by a resolution of the Common Council, requesting that a suitable vault should be prepared, for the reception of the remains of the Prison Ship Martyrs, preliminary to the erection of a monument to their memory. They have, it will be seen, accordingly provided for the construction of a suitable vault, which shall furnish a permanent resting place for the remains of those martyrs to civil liberty, whose memories will ever be enshrined in the hearts of their countrymen; and they trust that the ultimate object of the resolution, will in due time be accomplished, by the erection of a monumental structure, which, while it pays just tribute to the honored dead, cannot fail to be creditable to our City, as well as ornamental to the beautiful Park in which it is proposed to be erected. The cherished remains, having then found their long sought asylum, will, under the protection of a grateful country, at length rest in peace. Dated January 14th, 1868. JAMES S. T. STRANAHAN, PRESIDENT. WALTER S. GRIFFITH, SECRETARY. JOHN N. TAYLOR, COMPTROLLER. AN ABSTRACT OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF PROSPECT PARK, FOR THE YEAR 1867. The total receipts on account of Prospect Park during the year 1867, were: Balance of Cash in Bank, 1st of January . . . . . $123,317.81 From the Treasurer of the City . . . . . $1,100,000.00 " Rents of houses on the Park . . . . . 6,002.92 " Sales of old houses . . . . . 650.00 " Sales of wood, grass and old material . . . . . 1,703.51 " Interest on bank balances . . . . . 6,431.64 [sub-total] 1,114,788.07 Total . . . . . $1,238,105.88 The total expenditures for the same time were: Paid Salaries, comptroller, Superintendent, Landscape Architects and Engineers . . . . . 24,958.28 Paid surveyors, Draftsmen and Assistants . . . . . 46,715.83 " Laborers, Keepers, Mechanics, horses and carts . . . . . 683,810.93 Paid materials of Construction, Tools and Instruments . . . . . 141,317.93 Paid Stationery, printing, drawing materials, &c . . . . . 5,579.18 Paid Fitting up offices, furniture, rent and repairs . . . . . 3,131.37 Paid Trees, plants and shrubs . . . . . 12,838.37 " Manure and other fertilizers . . . . . 10,273.34 " Water pipe and hydrants . . . . . 12,764.36 " Drainage pipe . . . . . 16,752.52 " Belgian and other pavements . . . . . 15,761.46 [sub-total] 973,903.60 Balance to the credit of Prospect Park account, Dec. 31st, 1867 . . . . . 264,202.28 [total of expenditures and credit] $1,238,105.8822 The total receipts on account of Washington, Carrol, City, and City Hall Parks were: From the Treasurer of the city . . . $70,000 00 " Interest on bank balances . . . 657 41 --------- 70,657 41 The total expenditures on the same Parks were: For Washington Park... $1,851 86 " Carrol Park... 1,810 56 " City Park... 558 44 4, 220 86 --------- " Balance to the credit of the said Parks... 66,436 55 --------- $70,657 41 --------- RECAPITULATION Balance of Cash on 1st January, 1867.... $ 123,317 81 Received on account of Prospect Park....1,114,788 07 " " " other City Parks. 70,657 41 1,308,763 29 --------- Expended on account of Prospect Park........ $973,903 60 " " " " other City Parks. 4,220 86 978,124 46 --------- Balance of Cash, 31st Dec., 1867......... 330,638 83 --------- $1,308,763 29 John N. Taylor, Comptroller. PARK ORDINANCE No. 2. An Ordinance for the better Government of the Public Parks, now under the control of the Commissioners of Prospect Park. Passed August 1st, 1867. The Commissioners of Prospect Park, in the City of Brooklyn, by virtue of the authority conferred upon them by the Act of the Legislature under which they were appointed, and the several acts amendatory thereof do order and direct as follows: 1. The Superintendents, under the direction of the Executive Committee of the Board, are hereby authorized and directed to assign to police service so many and such men as shall, from time to time, be found necessary for the proper management and good government of the several Parks now under charge of the said Commissioners. 2. The station houses of the said force, wherever they shall be located, may be used as places of temporary detention for persons who may be arrested upon either of the said Parks. 3. A suitable badge and uniform shall be provided for each person so to be employed or appointed, and shall be displayed by him at all times when engaged in the discharge of police duty. 4. Whenever any person so employed or appointed, shall display his badge upon either of the said Parks, in the discharge of his duty, he shall, for all purposes of maintaining order and enforcing the rules, regulations, and ordinances of the Park Commissioners, be invested with all the powers and authority conferred upon members of the police force of the Metropolitan Police District, by an act entitled "An act to establish a Metropolitan Police District and to provide for the management thereof, passed April 15th, 1857," and the several acts amendatory thereof.24 RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PUBLIC PARKS OF BROOKLYN. The Commissioners of Prospect Park, in the City of Brooklyn, do make and publish the following Rules and Regulations to be observed by all persons who visit the Public Parks in said city: 1. The Parks will be open to the public daily, except when special occasion may require either of them to be closed, and will continue open from sunrise to 10 o’clock in the evening during the months of June, July, August, and September, and from sunrise to 9 o’clock in the evening during the other months of the year. The City Hall Park will remain open at all times. 2. No person, unless he is employed by the Board of Commissioners, will be permitted to enter or remain in or upon any of the Parks except when they are open, as above provided. Nor shall any person enter or leave any of said Parks except by the usual gateways, nor climb upon, or in any manner cut, injure, or deface any tree, shrub, plant, grass, or turf, or any fence or other erection thereon. 3. No person shall make use of any loud, threatening, abusive or indecent language; nor throw stones or other missiles; nor play upon any musical instrument; nor post any bill, notice, or other device upon any tree or structure; nor do any obscene or indecent act whatever upon or within any of said Parks. 4. No cattle, horses, goats, swine, or poultry of any description will be allowed within said Parks; nor any dog, unless led by a suitable chain or cord not exceeding six feet in length; nor shall any person expose anything for sale thereon, unless by special permission from the Commissioners. 5. No person shall fire or discharge any gun, pistol, squib, torpedo rocket, or other fireworks whatever in or upon any of said Parks; nor shall any military or target company or any civic or other procession march or parade thereon, unless by special permission from said Commissioners. 6. The above Rules and Regulations apply to all Parks under the control of the Commissioners, and extend to the sidewalks adjacent to said Parks. 7. The drives of Prospect Park will be open to the use of the public, solely for pleasure riding or driving. Animals to be used upon them, must be well broken, and constantly held in such control, that they may be easily and quickly turned or stopped. They will not be allowed to move at a rate of speed, which shall cause danger or reasonable anxiety to others; nor 25 under any circumstances at more than eight miles an hour. The park keepers will be held responsible, for such regulation of the speed of animals passing under their observation, as the general safety and convenience of those using the drives may require. And when in the judgement of a keeper, any animal is moving too rapidly, and the keeper shall intimate this by a gesture, it shall be the duty of the rider or driver of such animal, immediately to moderate its speed. And no animal or vehicle, will at any time be allowed to stand upon the rides or drives, to the inconvenience of travel thereon. 8. No horse or vehicle of any description, will be allowed upon any part of said Park, except upon the rides, drives, concourses, or other places appropriated for horses and carriages; nor will any vehicle, drawn by any animal, be allowed upon any foot-walk or ride in said Park. 9. No hackney coach, carriages, or other vehicles for hire, shall stand anywhere within said Park, for the purpose of taking up passengers other than those which shall have been carried by it to said Park; nor shall any person upon said Park solicit or invite passengers. 10. No omnibus or express-wagon, either with or without passengers, nor any cart, dray, wagon, or other vehicle carrying goods, merchandise, manure or other articles, or which shall be ordinarily used for such purposes, shall be allowed upon any part of said Park, except upon such roads as may be specially provided for the purpose. 11. No person shall bathe, or take fish, or send or throw any animal or thing, in or upon any of the waters of said Park, or in any manner disturb or annoy any water-fowl, singing or other bird, deer, or other animal appertaining to said Park; nor shall any boat or vessel be placed upon said waters, except by special permission from the said Commissioner. And no skating or sledding will be allowed thereon, unless the officer in charge shall consider the ice to be in a suitable condition for that purpose. 12. For any violation of these rules and regulations, the offender will be liable to be summarily ejected from the premises, and to such punishment as the law directs.AN ABSTRACT OF THE RETURNS OF LABOR, MADE TO THE COMPTROLLER AT THE EXPIRATION OF EVERY TWO WEEKS DURING THE YEAR 1867. DATE. Asst. Gen. Foremen. Inspectors. Foremen. Assistant Foremen. Laborers. Horses and Carts. Teams. Stable Gang. Stone Breakers. Blasters and Drillers. Stone Cutters. Brick Layers and Masons. Pavers. Pipe Layers. Mech. Engineers. Steam Eng. Tenders. Carpenters. Painters. Blacksmiths. Master Gardeners. Watchmen. Head Keepers. Ward Keepers. Keepers. Sub-Keepers. Auxil'y Sub-Keepers. Tool Clerk & Asst. Clerks in Disbursing Office. Messenger. Bell Ringer. Total Force. Total Time Made. Days. H Average Time Made. D H Average Force. January 12..15 9 450 116 11 1 7 11 7 1 17 2 2 1 1 653 5276 9 8 1 439 " 26.. 17 9 490 125 12 1 7 11 6 1 19 2 2 1 1 706 4635 9 6 6 396 February 9.. 17 9 443 111 14 2 29 14 11 10 1 17 2 2 1 1 686 5359 9 7 8 446 " 23.. 17 9 353 153 12 3 30 14 11 9 1 16 2 2 1 1 636 4536 0 7 2 378 March 9..17 9 448 82 12 4 19 8 11 11 1 16 2 2 1 1 646 3793 1 5 9 316 " 23.. 14 7 219 3 11 4 29 12 13 10 1 17 2 2 1 1 318 2268 1 6 6 189 April 6.. 18 11 418 177 19 4 26 13 13 10 1 17 2 2 1 1 735 5031 4 6 9 419 " 20.. 19 16 727 222 21 4 18 15 1 12 9 1 19 2 2 1 1 1094 8938 7 8 0 744 May 4.. 1 22 17 838 229 26 4 17 10 1 1 17 10 2 17 2 3 1 1 1220 10132 7 8 8 844 " 18.. 1 25 20 852 186 26 4 16 8 2 3 1 1 18 11 5 26 2 3 1 1 1214 9558 1 7 9 796 June 1.. 1 25 21 695 212 25 4 18 7 3 5 1 1 17 8 9 29 2 3 1 1 1090 9182 5 8 4 765 " 15.. 2 29 24 845 213 27 5 20 7 4 5 1 1 17 11 9 34 2 3 1 1 1263 11836 2 9 4 986 " 29.. 2 30 26 872 216 28 5 29 10 2 5 1 1 22 3 11 9 36 2 3 1 1 1308 10182 1 7 7 848 July 13.. 4 2 32 31 1057 241 37 5 18 9 2 5 1 1 29 3 6 9 35 2 3 1 1 1536 12231 5 8 2 1018 " 27.. 4 2 34 36 1204 275 35 6 21 5 2 7 1 1 42 3 8 9 36 2 3 1 1 1746 14324 1 8 2 1194 August 10.. 4 2 34 35 1134 291 37 6 21 8 6 6 6 1 1 42 3 8 9 36 2 3 1 1 1699 13971 2 8 2 1172 " 24.. 4 2 37 36 1071 262 65 5 20 7 15 12 7 1 2 49 3 9 9 35 2 3 1 1 1651 12879 0 7 8 1075 Sept 7.. 4 2 36 37 1140 255 37 7 22 7 15 25 15 7 1 2 39 3 11 12 2 4 8 31 2 3 1 1 1731 17023 5 9 8 1498 " 21.. 4 2 37 35 1225 263 40 7 22 6 42 37 15 2 1 2 39 3 11 11 2 4 8 26 2 3 1 1 1853 18815 2 10 2 1568 October 5.. 4 2 39 37 1401 285 39 5 19 7 50 46 16 7 1 2 38 3 12 13 2 4 8 31 2 3 1 1 2082 18610 7 9 1 1550 " 19.. 4 3 39 39 1395 320 36 6 24 7 60 40 15 5 1 2 33 3 12 13 2 4 8 35 2 3 1 1 2121 20040 9 9 5 1670 Novem'r 2.. 4 3 39 37 1525 262 50 6 18 5 70 26 8 4 1 2 35 3 13 13 2 4 8 34 20 2 3 1 1 2200 20822 5 9 7 1735 " 16.. 4 3 37 38 1407 319 23 6 20 5 50 30 8 4 1 2 39 3 13 14 2 4 8 34 20 2 3 1 1 2103 19900 2 9 5 1653 " 30.. 4 2 38 38 1251 331 53 5 16 8 48 21 13 5 1 2 32 3 13 13 1 2 4 8 37 28 2 3 1 1 1985 17685 5 8 9 1474 Decem'r 14.. 4 1 39 34 1318 325 73 5 16 8 17 19 11 5 1 2 27 3 11 13 1 2 4 8 37 22 2 3 1 1 2015 15220 8 7 6 1268 " 28.. 4 1 35 20 789 265 57 5 17 8 11 12 9 5 1 2 26 3 10 14 1 2 4 8 36 20 2 3 1 1 1353 11232 7 8 4 936DESIGN FOR PROSPECT PAI AS PROPOSED TO BE LAID OUT FOR THE CITY OF BROOK OLMSTED VAUX & CO LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS 110 BROADWAy N.Y. 1868.DESIGN FOR PROSPECT PARK AS PROPOSED TO BE LAID OUT FOR THE CITY OF BROOKLYN. OLMSTED VAUX & CO LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS 110 BROADWAY N.Y. 1868.DETAILED REPORTS OF DESIGN, SUPERINTENDENCE AND CONSTRUCTION. HEADS OF DETAILED REPORTS. PROSPECT PARK. Development of the Design. Public use of the Park. THE PARK-WAY. Approaches and Connections. Relations of the Park to the street arrangements of the City. Elements of ordinary street arrangements. Why ordinary arrangements are inadequate to public requirements. Historical development of existing street arrangements--First stage. Second stage of street arrangements. Third stage of street arrangements. Erroneous view of the necessary disadvantages of town life. Evils of town life have diminished as towns have grown larger. Reason for anticipating an accelerated enlargement of metropolitan towns. Conditions under which the evils of large towns have diminished. Change in habits of citizens affecting structural requirements of towns. Separation of business and domestic life. Recreative requirements and distance of suburbs. Change in the character of vehicles. Inadequate domestic access to suburbs and Parks. New arrangements demanded by existing requirements. The position of Brooklyn. The opportunity of Brooklyn. How the opportunity may be misused, and how availed of. Influence of the Park on the value of property. How the advantages of vicinity to a Park may be extended.28 Example of a fourth stage of street arrangements. The Park-way--a fifth stage. Practicable future extensions of the Park-way. Plan of the Park-way neighborhood. Advantages of the Park-way likely to be secured to Brooklyn, exclusively. METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION. Plaza. ROads. Archways. Culvert Arch. Walks. Pools. Agricultural Drainage. Water Supply. PROGRESS OF SURVEYS, PLANS AND CONSTRUCTION. The Topographical Survey. Development of the Plan. Progress of Construction. Drives. Bridle Roads. Walks. Drainage. Water Distribution. Area of Operations. Masonry. Amount of Stone Brooklyn. Material Moved. The Smaller City Parks. Exterior Work. The Engineer Corps. ORGANIZATION, SUPERINTENDENCE AND SUPPLIES. Force Employed. Organization of Labor Force. DIscipline. Keepers and the Public Use of the Park. Supplies. REPORT OF THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS AND SUPERINTENDENTS. To the President of the Board of Commissioners of Prospect Park, Brooklyn: SIR:--In our Annual Report of last year, we described the organization which had been made under instructions from your Board for carrying out the design of the Park upon the ground. This organization remains to the present time, essentially unchanged. In June last, Mr. J.P. Davis having resigned the position, Mr. C. C. Martin was appointed to the office of Engineer in Charge. DEVELOPMENT OF THE DESIGN. During the year it has been found practicable to carry forward the design for the Park without intermission, although at many points the works, which it would have been most desirable to press to completion, have been suspended in consequence of the uncertainties in regard to boundary lines that still continue to embarrass operations. So much of the land required for the Park as lies to the south of that upon which work was last year commenced, came into the actual possession of the Commissioners during the month of June last, and active operations were at once extended over a large part of the new territory. A portion of the road system in this section of the ground has been developed, the carriage concourse proposed in our original design to be construction on Briar Hill has been subgraded and the ground in the vicinity of this concourse has been partially shaped. It was found practicable in execution to enlarge the area of this feature of the design, and the dimensions have been somewhat increased, it being evident that the position was one that would offer special attractions to visitors in carriages. On the east side of the Park, north of the deer-paddock, the design as it stood last year has been so far modified in execution as to admit of the introduction of a series of arrangements adapted especially to meet the wants of children. The plan as approved, and now well advanced in execution, contemplates suitable accommodations for running sports and30 for playing various games, it also includes croquet grounds, a pond for the sailing of toy boats, and a maze. In other respects but little variation has been made in the outline of the design from our first study. CONSTRUCTION. You will find appended a full account of the progress of the methods used, and of the means and materials employed, which has been prepared by Mr. Martin and his principal aids, Mr. Bogart and Mr. Culyer. Two arch-ways have been partially constructed during the year, and work has been commenced upon several other architectural features, our studies for which have been approved by the Board. The development in detail of Mr. E. C. Miller, who has fulfilled the duties of Assistant Architect since the beginning of July last. PUBLIC USE OF THE PARK. It was found necessary in the spring to close the country roads by which the public had previously crossed the Park territory, but on the 20th of October, a portion of the drive at the east side was so far completed that, by making temporary connections with old roads, a thoroughfare for carriages across the Park was again opened. At the same time regulations for the conduct of visitors and for the management of the work with reference to the convenience of a permanent body of Park-keepers, conjointly with a body of gardeners, according to a plan which had some time before been adopted by the Board. Although the short piece of good road opened at this time was accessible with difficulty, and the grounds through which it passed were in a quite unfinished condition it was immediately resorted to by visitors in large numbers. Besides those in carriages, many came on horse-back, and although no walks had been opened, many more on foot. A tabular statement of the number of each class prepared from the returns of the gate-keepers is given by Mr. Culyer. The fact is noted that a considerable portion of the visitors evidently did not come merely from motives of curiosity, but after their first visit, repeatedly returned. During all the remainder of the season, indeed, not a few resorted to the Park as a daily habit, of whom some came from the more distant parts of the town. Considering the extreme inconvenience with which the Park is at present reached and the very limited attractions which as yet it offers this circumstance is a gratifying indication of the value which it will hereafter possess. 31 THE PARK WAY--APPROACHES AND CONNECTIONS. The unsatisfactory character of the approaches to the Park has been recognized by your Board, from the outset of its undertaking, as calculated to seriously detract from the value of the service which it would otherwise be able to render the city, and it has accordingly been an incidental part of our duty to devise means of improvement. To do so it has been necessary that we should extend our field of study beyond the territory under your jurisdiction. Our first suggestion led, through the subsequent action of your Board, to the special appropriation of the ground necessary for the formation of the Plaza, and to the establishment fo the several circular spaces by which amplitude, symmetry, and dignity of character was sought to be secured on the street side of each of the Park gates. Through the promptness of the necessary legislative action, and of the subsequent proceedings in regard to the Plaza, a very great advantage was gained at a comparatively small cost for the necessary land, much of the adjoining ground having since been sold in the open market at rates indicating an advance of several hundred per cent, upon the prices paid by the city. In our Preliminary Report, accompanying the first study of the plan of the Park, without making any definite recommendations, we suggested the leading features of a general scheme of routes of approach to and extension from the Park, through the suburbs, in which the sanitary recreative and domestic requirements of that portion of the people of the city living at the greatest distances from the Park should be especially provided for. In our Annual Report of last year portions of this project were somewhat more distinctly outlined, and the economical advantages were pointed out of preparing and adopting plans for the purpose well in advance of the public demand, which it was intended to anticipate, and while land properly situated might yet be selected in the suburbs of such moderate value that no private interests of much importance would be found to stand in antagonism in this respect to those of the public. RELATIONS OF THE PARK TO THE STREET ARRANGEMENTS OF THE CITY. Your Board having brought these suggestions before the public they have during the last year attracted considerable attention. One of the minor recommendations has been already taken up by a body of citizens and an organized effort to carry it out is understood to be in progress. Under your instructions a topographical survey has also been made of a section of the ground to which the larger scheme applies, being that lying immediately east of the Park and extending from it to the city line, and a study has been prepared, also under your instructions32 -tions [instructions] and which is herewith presented, for a revision of a part of the present city map of this ground with a view to the introduction of the suggested improvement. The period seems to have arrived, therefore, for a full and comprehensive inquiry as to the manner in which the scheme would, if carried out, affect the substantial and permanent interests of the citizens of Brooklyn and of the metropolis at large. The project in its full conception is a large one, and it is at once conceded that it does not follow but anticipates the demand of the public; that it assumes an extension of the city of Brooklyn and a degree of wealth, taste, and refinement, to be likely to exist among its citizens which has not hitherto been definitely had in view, and that it is even based upon the presumption that the present street system, not only of Brooklyn but of other large towns, has serious defects for which, sooner or later, if these towns should continue to advance in wealth, remedies must be devised, the cost of which will be extravagantly increased by a ling delay in the determination of their outlines. ELEMENTS OF ORDINARY STREET ARRANGEMENTS. What is here referred to under the designation of our present street system, is essentially comprised in the two series of thoroughfares extending in straight lines to as great a distance within a town as is found practicable, one series crossing the other at right angles, or as nearly so as can be conveniently arranged. Each of the thoroughfares of this system consists of a way in the center, which is paved with reference solely to sustaining the transportation upon wheels of the heaviest merchandise, of a gutter on each side of this wheel-way, having occasional communication with underground channels for carrying off water, and a curb which restricts the passage of wheels from a raised way for the travel of persons on foot, the surface of which, to avoid their sinking in the mud, is commonly covered with flags or brick. This is the system which is almost universally kept in view, not only in the enlargement of our older towns, but in the setting out of new; such, for instance, as are just being projected along the line of the Pacific Railroad. If modifications are admitted, it is because they are enforced by some special local conditions which are deemed, by those responsible for the arrangement, to be unfortunate. The reason for this is probably found chiefly in the fact, that it is a plan which is readily put on paper, easily comprehended, and easily staked out; it makes the office of an Engineer or Surveyor at the outset almost a sinecure, as far as the exercise of professional ability is concerned, and facilitates the operations of land speculators. 33 Its apparent simplicity on paper is often fallacious, and leads either to unnecessary taxation or to great permanent inconvenience. It is obviously incomplete, and wholly unsuited to the loading and unloading of goods which require storage, but, where it can be well carried out, offers very great advantages for the transportation of merchandise between distant points. It is also well adapted to equalize the advantages of different parts of a town, and thus avoid obstructions to improvement which mercenary jealousies might otherwise interpose. In our judgment, advantages such as these have hitherto been pursued far too exclusively, but, as the presumption is always strong against any considerable innovation upon arrangements which have been long associated with the general conditions of prosperity and progress of all civilized communities, we desire, before giving reasons for this conviction, first, to remove any reasonable prejudice against the introduction of the entirely new elements into the street plan of Brooklyn, which we shall have to propose, by showing under what conditions of society and with reference to what very crude public requirements, compared with those which now exist, our present street arrangements have been devised. WHY ORDINARY ARRANGEMENTS ARE INADEQUATE TO PUBLIC REQUIREMENTS. At present, large towns grow up because of the facilities they offer mankind for a voluntary exchange of service, in the form of merchandise; but nearly all the older European towns of importance, from which we have received the fashion of our present street arrangements, were formed either to strengthen or to resist a purpose involving the destruction of life and the plunder of merchandise. They were thus planned originally for objects wholly different from those now reckoned important by the towns which occupy the same sites, and an examination of the slow, struggling process by which they have been adapted to the present requirements of their people, may help us to account for some of the evils under which even here, in our large American towns, we are now suffering. HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF EXISTING STREET ARRANGEMENTS, FIRST STAGE. They were at the outset, in most cases, entrenched camps, in which a few huts were first built, with no thought of permanence, and still less with thought for the common convenience of their future citizens. The wealth of their founders consisted chiefly in cattle, and in the servants 334 who were employed in herding and guarding these cattle, and the trails carelessly formed among the scattered huts within the entrenchments often became permanent foot-ways which, in some cases, were subsequently improved in essentially the same manner as the sidewalks of our streets now are, by the laying upon them of a series of flat stones, so that walkers need not sink in the mud. If the ground was hilly, and the grades of the paths steep, stairs were sometimes made by laying thicker slabs of stone across them. Convenience of communication on foot was, of course, the sole object of such improvements. If, in these early times, any highways were more regularly laid out, it was simply with reference to defence. For example, although two nearly straight and comparatively broad-ways were early formed in Paris, so that reinforcements could be rapidly transferred from one gate to another when either should be suddenly attacked, no other passages were left among the houses which would admit of the introduction of wheeled traffic; nor in all the improvements which afterwards occurred, as the city advanced in population and wealth, were any of the original pathways widened and graded sufficiently for this purpose until long after America had been discovered, and the invention of printing and of fire-arms had introduced a new era of social progress. The labor required for the construction of permanent town walls, and the advantage of being able to keep every part of them closely manned during an attack, made it desirable that they should not be unnecessarily extended. To admit of a separate domiciliation of families within them, therefore, the greatest practicable compactness in the arrangement of dwelling-houses soon became imperative. As families increased, the demand for additional house-room was first met by encroachments upon the passages which had been left between the original structures, and by adding upper stories, and extending these outward so as to overhang the street. Before this process had reached an extreme point, however, the town would begin to outgrow its walls, and habitations in the suburbs would occur, of two classes: first, those formed by poor herdsmen and others who, when no enemy was known to be near at hand, could safely sleep in a temporary shelter, calculating to take their chance in the town when danger came; and, second, those formed by princes, and other men of wealth and power, who could afford to build strongholds for the protection of their families and personal retainers, but who, in times of war, yet needed to be in close vicinity to the larger fighting forces of the town. Neither the castle nor the hovel being placed with any reference to the enlargement of the town, or to public convenience in any way, streets were formed through the suburbs, as they became denser, in much the same way as they had been in the original settlement; then, as the walls were extended, 35 the military consideration again operated to enforce the idea of compactness in every possible way. The government of these towns also, however its forms varied, was always essentially a military despotism of the most direct and stringent character, under which the life, property, health and comfort of the great body of their people were matters, at best, of very subordinate consideration. Thus the policy, the custom and the fashion was established in the roots of our present form of society of regarding the wants of a town, and planning to meet them, as if its population were a garrison, to be housed in a barrack, with only such halls and passages in it, from door to door, as would be necessary to turn it in, to sleep and feed, and turn it out, to get its rations. It naturally fell out that when at length the general advance of society, in other respects, made it no longer necessary that a man should build a castle, and control, as personal property, the services of a numerous body of fighting men, in order to live with some degree of safety in a house of his own, apart from others, all the principal towns declined for a time in wealth and population, because of the number of opulent citizens who abandoned their old residences, and moved, with servants and tenants, to make new settlements in the country. The excessive suppression of personal independence and individual inclinations which had before been required in town-life caused a strong reactionary ambition to possess each prosperous citizen to relieve himself as much as possible from dependence upon the duties to society in general, and it became his aim to separate himself from all the human race except such part as would treat him with deference. To secure greater seclusion and at the same time opportunity for the only forms of out-door recreation, which the rich, after the days of jousts and tournaments, were accustomed to engage in, all those who could command favor at Court, sought grants of land abounding in the larger game, and planted their houses in the midst of enclosures called parks, which not only kept neighbors at a distance, but served as nurseries for objects of the chase. The habits of the wealthy, under these circumstances, though often gross and arrogant, and sometimes recklessly extravagant, were far from luxurious, according to modern notions, and as, in order to realize as fully as possible the dream of independence, every country gentleman had his private chaplain, surgeon, farrier, tailor, weaver and spinner, raised his own wool, malt, barley and breadstuffs, killed his own beef, mutton and venison, and brewed his own ale, he was able to despise commerce and to avoid towns. The little finery his household36 coveted was accordingly brought to his door on pack-mules by traveling merchants. The vocation of a merchant, in its large, modern sense, was hardly known, and the trade of even the most considerable towns was, in all respects, very restricted. Thus the old foot-way streets still served all necessary requirements tolerably well. As the advance of civilization continued, however, this disinclination to the exchange of services, of course, gave way; demands became more varied, and men of all classes were forced to take their place in the general organization of society in communities. In process of time the enlargement of popular freedom, the spread of knowledge by books, the abatement of religious persecutions, the voyages of circumnavigators, and finally the opening of America, India and the gold coast of Africa to European commerce, so fed the mercantile inclinations, that an entirely new class of towns, centres of manufacturing and of trade, grew upon the sites of the old ones. To these the wealthy and powerful were drawn, no longer for protection, but for the enjoyment of the luxuries which they found in them, while the more enterprising of the lower classes crowded into them to "seek their fotrune." SECOND STATE OF STREET ARRANGEMENTS. Wagons gradually took the place of pack-trains in the distribution of goods through the country, and, as one man could manage a heavy load, when it was once showed, as well as a light one, the wagons were made very large and strong, and required the employment of many horses. In comparatively few town-streets could two of these wheeled merchantmen, with the enormous hamper they carried on each side, pass each other. The seats and hucksteries of slight wood-work with which the streets had been lined were swept away; but, as the population rapidly increased, while the house accommodation was so limited that its density, in the city of London, for instance, was probably three times as great as at present, any attempt to further widen the streets for the convenience of the wagoners had to encounter the strongest resistance from the house-holders. Thus, without any material enlargement, the character of the streets was much changed. They frequently became quite unfit to walk in, the more so because they were used as the common place of deposit for all manner of rubbish and filth thrown out of the houses which was not systematically removed from them. Although London then occupied not a fiftieth part of the ground which it does not, and green fields remained which had been carefully preserved for the practice of archery within a comparatively short dis- 37 tance of its central parts, to which the inhabitants much resorted for fresh air on summer evenings; although the river still ran clear, and there was much pleasure-boating upon it, the greater part of the inhabitants were so much confined in dark, ill-ventilated and noisome quarters that they were literally decimated by disease as often as once in every two years, while at intervals fearful epidemics raged, at which times the mortality was much greater. During one of these, four thousand deaths occurred in a single night, and many streets were completely depopulated. All who could by any means do so, fled from the town, so that in a short time its population was reduced more than fifty per cent. It had not yet filled up after this calamity, when a fire occurred which raged unchecked during four days, and destroyed the houses and places of business of two hundred thousand of the citizens. Its progress was at length stayed by the widening of the streets across which it would have advanced if the buildings which lined them had not been removed by the military. Five-sixths of the area occupied by the old city was still covered with smoking embers when the most distinguished architect of the age seized the opportunity to urge a project for laying out the street system of a new town upon the same site. The most novel feature of this plan was the introduction of certain main channel streets, ninety feet wide, in which several wagons could be driven abreast upon straight courses from one end of the city to the other. It was also proposed that there should be a series of parallel and intersecting streets sixty feet wide, with intermediate lanes of thirty feet. The enormous advantages of such a system of streets over any others then in use in the large towns of Europe were readily demonstrated; it obtained the approval of the king himself, and would have been adopted but for the incredible shortsightedness of the merchants and real estate owners. These obstinately refused to give themselves any concern about the sacrifice of general inconvenience or the future advantages to their city, which it was shown that a disregard of Wren's suggestions would involve, but proceeded at once, as fast as possible, without any concert of action, to build anew, each man for himself, upon the ruins of his old warehouse. There can be little question, that had the property-owners, at this time, been wise enough to act as a body in reference to their common interests, and to have allowed Wren to devise and carry out a complete street system, intelligently adapted to the requirements which he would have been certain to anticipate; as well as those which were already pressing, it would have relieved the city of London of an incalculable expenditure which has since been required to mend its street arrangements; would have greatly lessened the weight of taxation, which soon afterwards rose to be higher than in any other town in the kingdom, 38 and would have saved millions of people from the misery of poverty and disease. Although in a very few years after the rebuilding of the city, its commerce advanced so much as to greatly aggravate the inconveniencies under which street communication had been previously carried on, the difficulties were allowed to grow greater and greater for fully a century more before anything was done calculated to essentially alleviate them. They seem to have been fully realized and to have been constantly deplored, nor were efforts of a certain kind wanting to remedy them: the direction of these efforts, however, shows how strongly a traditional standard of street convenience yet confused the judgement even of the most advanced. A town being still thought of as a collection of buildings all placed as closely as possible to one centre was also regarded as a place of necessarily inconvenient confinement, and therefore, of crowding, hustling and turbulence. An enlargement of the population of a town could only aggravate all the special troubles and dangers to which those living in it were subject, add to the number of its idle, thriftless, criminal and dangerous classes, and invite disease, disorder and treasonable tumults. As, therefore, to amplify the street arrangements or otherwise enlarge the public accommodations for trade or residence, would be to increase its attractions, the true policy was generally assumed to be in the other direction. In London, not only its own Corporation followed this policy, but Parliament and the Sovereign systematically did the same. Once, for instance a proclamation was issued, to forbid under heavy penalties the erection of any houses, except such as should be suitable for the residence of the gentry, within three miles of the town; another followed which interdicted householders from enlarging the accommodations for strangers within the town; another enjoined all persons who had houses in the country to quit the town within three weeks, while constant efforts were made to ship off those who had none to Ireland, Virginia, or Jamiaca. In spite of all, new houses were built on the sides of the old country roads, the suburban villages grew larger and larger till at length they were all one town with London and the population became twice as great and the commerce much more than twice as great as at the time of the great fire. Even when at last plans of real improvement began to be entertained it was no thought of resisting the increase of disease, pauperism and crime, by other means than fencing it out, that produced the change, but mainly the intolerable hindrance to commerce of the old fashioned arrangements. Though some refused to see it and still protested against the plans of improvements as wholly unnecessary, hazardous, reckless, and extravagant, and denounced those who urged them, as 39 unprincipled speculators or visionary enthusiasts, the merchants generally could no longer avoid the conviction that their prosperity was seriously checked by inadequacy of the thoroughfares of the town for the duty required of them. Parliament was therefore induced in the latter part of the last century, to authorize a series of measures which gradually brought about in the course of fifty years, larger and more important changes than had occurred before during many centuries. As the definite aim of these charges was to get rid of certain inconveniences which had previously been classed among the necessary evils of large towns and as the measure with reference to which the purpose of their design was limited in thus clearly established it is evident that before we can realize the degree in which they were likely to approach the ultimatum of civilized requirement we need to know more exactly what the inconveniences in question amounted to. It appears then that the imperfect pavements, never having been adequately revised since the days of hand-barrow and pack-horse transportation, were constantly being misplaced and the ground worn into deep ruts by the crushing weight of the wheels; the slops and offal matters thrown out of the houses were combined with the dung of the horses and the mud to make a tenacious puddle through which the people on foot had to drag their way in constant apprehension of being run down or crushed against the wall. In the principal streets strong posts were planted at intervals behind which active men were accustomed to dodge for safety as the wagons came upon them. Coaches had been introduced in the time of Elizabeth, but though simple, strong and rudely hung vehicles, they were considered to be very dangerous in the streets and their use within the town was for some time forbidden. Sedan chairs for all ordinary purposes superseded them and for a long time had been in common use by all except the poorer classes upon every occasion of going into the streets. When George the Third went in the state coach to open Parliament, the streets through which he passed were previously prepared by laying faggots in the ruts to make the motion easier. There was little or no sewerage or covered drainage, and heavy storms formed gullies of the ruts and often flooded the cellars destroying a great deal of merchandise. This was the condition in which after several hundred years, the town had been left by the transformation of the passages, first occurring between the huts of the entrenched camp of a tribe of barbarians, from the serviceable foot way of the early middle ages to the unserviceable wagon ways of the generation but one before the last.40 THIRD STAGE OF STREET ARRANGEMENTS. To remedy its evils, in the construction of new streets, and the. reconstruction of old, the original passage for people on foot was restored, but it was now split through the middle and set back with the house fronts on each side so as to admit of the introduction of a special roadway for horses and wheels, at a lower level. A curb was placed to guard the foot way from the wheels; gutters were used to collect the liquid and floating filth, and sewers were construction which abled the streams thus. formed to be taken out of the streets before they became so large as to flood the sidewalks. At the same time an effort was made to so straighten and connect some of the streets that goods could be taken from one quarter of the town to another by direct courses, and without the necessity of doubling the horse-power at certain points in order to overcome the natural elevations of the ground. Thus, just one hundred years after Wren's suggestions were rejected by the merchants, their grandsons began to make lame efforts to secure some small measure of the convenience which his plan had offered them. A few of the latter improvements had been adopted in other towns at somewhat earlier period than in London. In the plans of St. Petersburg and of Philadelphia, for instance, directness and unusual amplitude of road-way had been studied, and some of the free cities of Germany had, at an earlier date, possessed moderately broad and well-paved streets, but the exceptions do not affect the conclusion which we desire to enforce. To fully understand the reason of this long neglect to make any wise preparation for the enlargement of population which it would seem must surely have been anticipated, we need to consider that while a rapid advance was all the time occurring from the state of things when a town was intended to be governed with little direct regard for the interests of any but a very few of its occupants, at the same time direct responsibility for the care of its interests was being diffused and held for shorter intervals, and was, consequently, less and less felt, as a motive to ingenuity and energy, by any one of the several individuals who partook in it. The theory and form of town government changed more slowly than the character and modes of life of those who were called upon to administer it, but an adherence to the antiquated forms was only calculated to make a personal duty, with reference to the actual new. conditions to make a personal duty, with reference to the actual new conditions of the people, less easily realized and less effectively operative. What is everybody's business is nobody's, and although of late years experts, with professional training in special 41 branches, are not infrequently engaged by municipal bodies to study particular requirements of the people, and invest means to satisfy them, still, as a general rule, improvements have come in most cities, when they have come at all, chiefly through the influence of individual energy, interested in behalf of special mercantile or speculative enterprises, by which the supineness of the elected and paid representatives of the common interests of the citizens has been overborne. ERRONEOUS VIEW OF THE NECESSARY DISADVANTAGES OF TOWN LIFE. What is of more consequence, however, not merely that we may avoid injustice to our ancestors, but that we may realize the changes. which have occurred in the standard of requirement, with reference to which the merits of a street system are now t o be judged, is the fact that when these improvements were devised, it was still pardonable to take for granted that the larger the population of a town should be allowed to become, the greater would be the inconvenience and danger to which all who ventured to live in it would necessarily be subject, the more they would be exposed to epidemic diseases, the feebler, more sickly, and shorter their lives would be; the greater would be the danger of sweeping conflagrations; the larger the proportion of mendicants and criminals, and the more formidable, desperate and dangerous the mobs. EVILS OF TOWN-LIFE HAVE DIMINISHED AS TOWNS HAVE GROWN LARGER. We now know that these assumptions were entirely fallacious, for, as a matter of fact, towns have gone on increasing, until there are many in Europe which are several times larger than the largest of the Middle Ages, and in the largest. the amount of disease is not more than half as great as it formerly was; the chance of living to old age is much more than twice as great; epidemics are less frequent, less malignant and more controllable; sweeping fires are less common, less devastating and are much sooner got under; ruffian are much better held in check; mobs are less frequently formed, are less dangerous, and, when they arise, are suppressed more quickly and with less bloodshed; there is a smaller proportion of the population given over to vice and crime and a vastly larger proportion of well-educated, orderly, industrious and well-to-do citizens. These things are true, in the main, not of one town alone, but of every considerable town, from Turkey on the one s side to China on the other, and the larger each town has grown, the greater, on an average, has been the gain. Even in Mahomedan Cairo, chiefly through42 the action of French engineers, the length of life of each inhabitant has, on an average, been doubled. The question, then, very naturally occurs: What are the causes and conditions of this amelioration? and can it be expected to continue? REASON FOR ANTICIPATING AN ACCELERATED ENLARGEMENT OF METROPOLITAN TOWNS. If the enormous advance in the population of great towns which has been characteristic of our period of civilization, is due mainly to the increase of facilities for communication, transportation and exchange throughout the world, as there is every reason to believe that it is, we can but anticipate, in the immediate future, a still more rapid movement in the same direction. We are not extending railroads over this continent at the rate of more than fifteen hundred miles a year, and before our next President takes his seat, we shall have applied an amount of labor which is represented by the enormous sum of two thousand millions of dollars, to this work, most of it preparatory, and more than half of it directed to opening up of new lands to profitable cultivation. The productive capacity of the country thus laid open, and the demand upon commerce of its people, has scarcely yet begun to be manifested. We have but half made our first road to the Pacific, and we have only within a year begun to extend our steam navigation to Japan and China, where the demands upon civilized commerce of a frugal and industrious population, much larger than that of all Christendom, yet remain to be developed. We are ourselves but just awake to the value of the electric telegraph in lessening the risks of trade on a large scale, and giving it order and system. Thus, we seem to be just preparing to enter upon a new chapter of commercial and social progress, in which a comprehension of the advantages that arise from combination and co-operation will be the rule among merchants, and not, as heretofore, the exception. CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH THE EVILS OF LARGE TOWNS HAVE DIMINISHED. The rapid enlargement of great towns which has hitherto occurred, must then be regarded as merely a premonition of the vastly greater enlargement that is to come. We see, therefore, how imperative, with reference to the interests of our race, is this question, whether as the enlargement of towns goes on the law of improvement is such that we may reasonably hope that life in them will continue to grow better, more orderly, more healthy? One thing seems to be certain, that the gain hitherto can be justly ascribed in very small 43 part to direct action on the part of those responsible for the good management of the common interests of their several populations. Neither humanity nor the progress of invention and discovery, nor the advancement of science has had much to do with it. It can not even, in any great degree, be ascribed to the direct action of the law of supply and demand. Shall we say, then, that it has depended on causes wholly beyond the exercise of human judgment, and that we may leave the future to take care of itself, as our fathers did? We are by no means justified in adopting such a conclusion, for, if we can not yet trace wholly to their causes, all the advantages we possess over our predecessors, we are able to reach the conviction, beyond all reasonable doubt, that at least, the larger share of the immunity from the visits of the plague and other forms of pestilence, and from sweeping fires, and the larger part of the improved general health and increased length of life which civilized towns have lately enjoyed is due to the abandonment of the old-fashioned compact way of building towns, and the gradual adoption of a custom of laying them out with much larger spaces open to the sun-light and fresh air; a custom the introduction of which was due to no intelligent anticipation of such results. Evidence of this is found in the fact that the differing proportions between the dying and the living, the sick and the well, which are found to exist between towns where most of the people still live on narrow streets, and those in which the later fashions have been generally adopted; and between parts of the same town which are most crowded and those which are more open, are to this day nearly as great as between modern and ancient towns. For instance, in Liverpool, the constant influx of new-comers of a very poor and ignorant class from the other side of the Irish Channel, and the consequent demand for house-room, and the resulting value of the poor, old buildings which line the narrow streets, has, till recently, caused the progress of improvement to be much slower than in the much larger town of London, so that, while the average population of Liverpool is about 140,000 to the square mile, that of London is but 50,000; the average age at death in Liverpool is seventeen, and that in London, twenty-six. In the city of Brooklyn the number of deaths for each thousand of population hat occurred this last year in the closer built parts, was twice as large as in those where the streets are wider and there are many gardens. Comparisons of this kind have been made in such number, and the data for them have been drawn from such a large variety of localities in which the condition of health in all other respects have been different, that no man charged, however temporarily and under whatever limitations, with municipal responsibilities, can be pardoned for ignoring 44 the fact that the most serious drawback to the prosperity of town communities has always been dependent on conditions (quite unnecessary to exist in the present day) which have led to stagnation of air and excessive deprivation of sun-light. Again, the fact that with every respiration of every living being a quantity is formed of a certain gas, which, if not dissipated, renders the air of any locality at first debilitating, after a time sickening, and at last deadly; and the fact that this gas is rapidly absorbed, and the atmosphere relieved of it by the action of leaves of trees, grass and herbs, was quite unknown to those who established the models which have been more or less distinctly followed in the present street arrangements of our great towns. It is most of all important, however, that we should remember that they were not as yet awake to the fact that large towns are a necessary result of an extensive intercourse between people possessing one class of the resources of wealth and prosperity and those possessing other classes, and that with each increase of the field of commerce certain large towns must grow larger, and consequently, that it is the duty of each generation living in these towns to give some consideration, in its plans, to the requirements of a larger body of people than it has itself to deal with directly. CHANGE IN THE HABITS OF CITIZENS AFFECTING THE STRUCTURAL REQUIREMENTS OF TOWNS. If, again, we consider the changes in the structure of towns which have occurred through the private action of individual citizens we shall find that they indicate the rise of a strong tide of requirements, the drift of which will either have to be fairly recognized in the public work of the present generation or it will, at no distant day, surely compel a revision of what is now done that will involve a large sacrifice of property. SEPARATION OF BUSINESS AND DOMESTIC LIFE. In the last century comparatively few towns-people occupied dwellings distinctly separate from their place of business. A large majority of the citizens of Paris, London and of New York do so to-day, and the tendency to divisions of the town corresponding to this change of habits must rapidly increase with their further enlargement, because of the greater distance which will exist between their different parts. The reason is obvious: a business man, during his working-hours, has no occasion for domestic luxuries, but needs to have access to certain of his co-workers in the shortest practicable time, and with the smallest practicable expenditure of effort. He wants to be near a bank, for instance, 45 or near the Corn Exchange, or near the Stock Exchange, or to shipping, or to a certain class of shops or manufactories. On the other hand, when not engaged in business, he has no occasion to be near his working place, but demands arrangements of a wholly different character. Families require to settle in certain localities in sufficient numbers to support those establishments which minister to their social and other wants, and yet are not willing to accept the conditions of town-life which were formerly deemed imperative, and which, in the business quarters, are yet, perhaps, in some degree, imperative, but demand as much of the luxuries of free air, space and abundant vegetation as, without loss of town-privileges, they can be enabled to secure. Those parts of a town which are to any considerable extent occupied by the great agencies of commerce, or which, for any reason, are especially fitted for their occupation, are therefore sure to be more and more exclusively given up to them, and, although we can not anticipate all the subdivisions of a rapidly increasing town with confidence, we may safely assume that the general division of all the parts of every considerable town under the two great classifications of commercial and domestic, which began in the great European towns in the last century, will not only continue, but will become more and more distant. It can hardly be thought probable that street arrangements perfectly well adapted in all respects to the purposes to be served in one of these divisions are the very best in every particular that it would be possible to devise for those of the other. RECREATIVE REQUIREMENTS AND DISTANCE OF SUBURBS. Another chance in the habits of towns-people which also grows out of the greatly enlarged area already occupied by large towns, results from the fact that, owing to the great distances of the suburbs from the central parts, the great body of the inhabitants cannot so easily as formerly stroll out into the country in search of fresh air, quietness, and recreation. At the same time there is no doubt that the more intense intellectual activity, which prevails equally in the library, the work shop, and the counting-room, makes tranquilizing recreation more essential to continued health and strength than until lately it generally has been. Civilized men while they are gaining ground against certain acute forms of disease are growing more and more subject to other and more insiduous enemies to their health and happiness and against these the remedy and preventive can not be found in medicine or in athletic recreations but only in sunlight and such forms of gentle exercise as are calculated to equalize the circulation and relieve the brain. 46 CHANGE IN THE CHARACTER OF VEHICLES. Still another important change or class of change in the habits of the people of towns may be referred to the much greater elaboration which has recently occurred in the division of labor and the consequent more perfect adaptation to the various purposes of life of many instruments in general use. A more striking illustration of this will not readily be found than is afforded by the light, elegant, easy carriages which have lately been seen in such numbers in your Park. When our present fashions of streets was introduced sedan chairs were yet, as we have shown, in general use for taking the air or making visits to neighbors. The few wheeled vehicles employed by the wealthy were exceedingly heavy and clumsy and adapted only to slow travel on rough roads, a speed of five miles an hour by what was called the "flying coach," being a matter for boasting. Now we have multifarious styles of vehicles in each of which a large number of different hands has been in geniously directed to provide in all their several parts for the comfort- pleasure, and health with which they may be used. For the sake of elegance, as well as comfort and ease of draft, they are made extremely light and are supplied with pliant springs. They are consequently quite unfit to be used in streets adapted to the heavy wagons employed in commercial traffic, and can only be fully enjoyed in roads expressly prepared for them. In parks such roads are provided in connection with other arrangements for the health of the people. INADEQUATE DOMESTIC ACCESS TO SUBURBS AND PARKS. The parks are no more accessible than the suburbs, however, from those quarters of the town occupied domestically, except by means of streets formed in precisely the same manner as those which pass through the quarters devoted to the heaviest commercial traffic. During the periods of transit, therefore, from house to house and between the houses and the Park there is little pleasure to be had in driving. Riding also, through the ordinary streets, is often not only far from pleasant, but, unless it is very slowly and carefully done, is hazardous to life and limb. Consequently much less enjoyment of the Park is possible to those who live at a distance than to those who live near it and its value to the population at large is correspondingly restricted. The difficulties of reaching the Park on foot for those who might enjoy and be benefited by the walk, are at the season of the year when it would otherwise be most attractive, even greater, for they must follow the heated flags and bear the reflected as well as the direct rays of the sun. 47 But we cannot expect, even if this obligation were overcome, that all the inhabitants of a large town would go so far as the Park every day, or so often as it is desirable that they should take an agreeable stroll in the fresh air. On the other hand we cannot say that the transportation of merchandise should be altogether interdicted in the domestic quarters of a town, as it is in a park, and as it now is through certain streets of London and Paris during most hours of the day. On the contrary it is evidently desirable that every dwelling house should be accessible by means of suitable paved streets to heavy wheeled vehicles. NEW ARRANGEMENTS DEMANDED BY EXISTING REQUIREMENTS. It will be observed that each of the changes which we have examined points clearly towards the conclusion that the present street arrangements of every large town will at no very distant day require, not to be set aside, but to be supplanted, by a series of ways designed with express reference to the pleasure with which they may be used for walking, riding, and the driving of carriages; for rest, recreation, refreshment, and social intercourse, and that these ways must be so arranged that they will be conveniently accessible from every dwelling house and allow its occupants to pass from it to distant parts of the town, as, for instance, when they want to go to a park, without the necessity of travelling for any considerable distance through streets no more convenient for the purpose than our streets of the better class now are. We may refuse to make timely provisions for such provisions in our suburbs, and we may by our refusal add prodigiously to the difficulty and the cost of their final introduction but it is no more probable, if great towns continue to grow greater, that such requirements as we have pointed out will not eventually be provided for than it was two hundred years ago that the obvious defects of the then existing street arrangements would continue to be permanently endured rather than that property should be destroyed which existed in the buildings by their sides. THE POSITION OF BROOKLYN. If we now take the case of Brooklyn we shall find that all the reasons for an advance upon the standards of the street arrangements of the last century which apply to great towns in general, are applicable to her special situation with particular emphasis. With reference to general commerce, Brooklyn must be considered as a division merely of the port of New York. The city of New York is, in regard to building space, in the condition of a walled town. Brooklyn is New York outside the walls. 48 The length of suitable shore for shipping purposes which the city of New York possesses is limited. Many operations of commerce cannot be carried on in the northern parts of the island. It may be reckoned upon as certain that the centre of the commercial arrangements of the port will be in the lower part of New York island. It may be also reckoned upon as certain that everywhere, within a limited distance back from its shores, all the ground will be required for commercial purposes. The amount of land enclosed by this commercial border remaining to be devoted to purposes of habitation will then be comparatively small and will be at a considerable distance north of the commercial centre, probably not nearer on average than the upper part of the Central Park which is more than seven miles from the present Custom House. On each side of it, north, south, east, and west, will be warehouses and manufacturing and trading establishments, and, at a little greater distance, wharves and shipping. The habitable part of New York island will then necessarily be built up with great compactness and will in every part be intersected with streets offering direct communication for the transportation of merchandise between one part of its commercial quarter and another. If now, again, we look on the Long Island side of the port we find a line of shore ten miles in length which is also adapted to the requirements of shipping. It may be assumed that the land along this shore will be wanted, as well as that along the shore of New York island and for an equal distance back from the water, for mercantile and manufacturing purposes. Supposing that the district thus occupied shall, after a time, reach as far back as the corresponding district on New York island; in the rear of it (and still at a distance from the commercial centre of the port, not half as great on an average as the Central Park), we find a stretch of ground generally elevated, the higher parts being at an average distance of more than a mile from any point to which merchandise can be brought by water. East of this elevation the ground slopes to the shore, not of a harbor or navigable river, but of the ocean itself. A shore in the highest degree attractive to those seeking recreation or health but offering no advantages for shipping, manufacturing or mercantile purposes. At present this slope is occupied chiefly by country seats, and the habitations of gardeners and farmers, and only through the most perverse neglect of the landowners of their own interests is it likely to be built upon for other purposes. THE OPPORTUNITY OF BROOKLYN. Here, then, there is ample room for an extension of the habitation part of the metropolis upon a plan fully adapted to the most intelligent re- 49 quirements of modern town life. A large part of the elevated land which has been referred to lies not more than half as far from the commercial centre as the habitation district of New York island, the ground is better formed with reference to sanitary considerations; it is open to the sea breezes and lies in full view of the ocean; it can never be enclosed on all sides by commerce as the habitable part of New York island soon will be; and, its immediate back country being bounded by the sea, the commercial traffic through it is always likely to be light and will be easily provided for in a few special channels. Thus it seems set apart and guarded by nature as a place for the tranquil habitation of those whom the business of the world requires should reside within convenient access of the waters of New York harbor. It does not follow, however, that it will be so occupied. In the drift of the population of towns it is generally found that natural advantages alone go for but little, and except in the part controlled by your Commission no other arguments as yet exist with reference to the convenience, health, and pleasure of residents upon this land than such as would have been formed if it were desired to invite to it nothing but factories, ship yards, or the warehouses and offices of merchants. One or two streets were laid out through it some years ago with an avowed intention of being especially adapted to residences; they were so designed however, as to offer every advantage to commercial transportation and consequently for shops and factories but, except in mere width, without intelligent regard to the alleged purpose in view. They are nevertheless adapted to serve as important purpose in concentrating such commercial traffic as must pass through their neighborhoods and in furnishing sites for shops and public buildings which will in any case be needed to meet local requirements. Upon the manner in which there are good grounds for confidence that the elevated district which has been indicated will be occupied in the future, depends the valuation which can justly and sagaciously be now placed upon it, and upon this valuation mainly depends the financial prosperity of the city of Brooklyn. HOW THE OPPORTUNITY MAY BE MISUSED AND HOW AVAILED OF. It would be a perfectly simple problem to cause this land to be given up in a few years almost exclusively to shanties, stables, breweries, distilleries, and swine-yards, and eventually to make the greater part of it a district corresponding, in the larger metropolis which is hereafter to exist on the shores of New York harbor, to that which the Five Points has been in the comparatively small town we have known. The means by which it may be made a more suitable and attractive 4 50 place of domestic residence than it is possible that any other point of the metropolis ever will be, are equally within command. INFLUENCE OF THE PARK ON THE VALUE OF PROPERTY. The effect of what has already been done, under the direction of your Commission, has been to more than quadruple the value of a certain portion of this land, and we have thus an expression of the most simple character, in regard to the commercial estimate which, at this period in the history of towns, is placed upon the circumstance of convenient access from a residence to a public pleasure-ground, and upon the sanitary and social advantages of a habitation thus situated. The advance in value, in this case, is quite marked at a distance of a mile, and this local advantage has certainly not been attended by any falling back in the value of other land in Brooklyn. If we analyze the conditions of this change in value, we shall find that it is not altogether, or even in any large degree, dependent upon mere vicinity to the sylvan and rural attractions of the Park, but in very large part, in the first place, upon the degree in which these attractions can be approached with security from the common annoyances of the streets, and with pleasure in the approach itself. If, for instance, the greater part of the Park were long and narrow in form, other things being equal, the demand for building sites, fronting on this portion of it, would not, probably, be appreciably less than for those fronting on the broader parts. Secondly, the advance in value will be found to be largely dependent on the advantages of having near a residence, a place where, without reference to the sylvan attractions found in a large park, driving, riding, and walking can be conveniently pursued in association with pleasant people, and without the liability of encountering the unpleasant sights and sounds which must generally accompany those who seek rest, recreation or pleasure in the common streets. There are other things to be valued in a Park besides these, but these are the main positive advantages which would make the value of a residence, if upon the Park, much greater than if at a distance from it. HOW THE ADVANTAGE OF VICINITY TO A PARK MAY BE EXTENDED. So far, then, as it is practicable, without an enlargement of the Park in its full breadth and compass, to extend its attractions in these especial respects, so far is it also practicable to enlarge the district within which land will have a correspondingly increased attraction for domestic residences. The further the process can be carried, the more will Brooklyn, as a whole, become desirable as a place of residence, the higher will be 51 the valuation of land, on an average, within the city, and the lighter will be the financial burden of the Corporation. EXAMPLE OF A FOURTH STAGE OF STREET ARRANGEMENTS. We come, then, to the question of the means by which such an extension can be accomplished. Although no perfect example can be referred to, there have been in Europe a few works by which a similar end, to a certain extent, has been reached. Of these, the most notable is the Avenue of the Empress, in Paris, which connects a palace and a pleasure-ground within the town, with a large park situated far out in the suburbs. This avenue, with its planted border, occupies so much ground (it is 429 feet in width) that it may be considered to constitute rather an intermediate pleasure-ground than a part of the general street system. It is lined with a series of detached villa residences, and building-lots facing upon it are much more valuable than those facing upon the Park. The celebrated Linden Avenue, at Berlin, leads likewise from a palace and palace grounds, to a great rural park on the opposite side of the town, through the very midst of which it passes. The finest private residences and hotels of the town, as well as many public buildings, such as Art Galleries and Museums, front upon it, and it is equally convenient for all the ordinary purposes of a street with any other. It nevertheless differs essentially from an ordinary business street, in that the process which we have described, by which wagon-ways were introduced into the old streets, has been carried one step further, the wagon-way having itself been divided as the foot-way formerly was, and a space of ground having been introduced, within which there is a shaded walk or mall, and a bridle-road, with strips of turf and trees. THE PARKWAY.--A FIFTH STAGE. The "Parkway" plan which we now propose advances still another step, the mall being divided into two parts to make room for a central road-way, prepared with express reference to pleasure-riding and driving, the ordinary paved, traffic road-ways, with their flagged sidewalks remaining still on the outside of the public mall for pedestrians, as in the Berlin example. The plan in this way provides for each of the several requirements which we have thus far examined, giving access for the purposes of ordinary traffic to all the houses that front upon it, offering a special road for driving and riding without turning commercial vehicles from the right of way, and furnishing ample public walks, with room for seats, and with borders of turf in which trees may52 grow of the most stately character. It would contain six rows of trees, and the space from house to house being two hundred and sixty feet, would constitute a perfect barrier to the progress of fire. PRACTICABLE FUTURE EXTENSIONS OF THE PARKWAY. With modifications to adapt it to variations of the topography and the connecting street arrangements, the plan should eventually be extended from the Park, in one direction, to Fort Hamilton, where ground for a small Marine Promenade should be secured, overlooking the Narrows and the Bay; and in the other to Ravenswood, where it should be connected by a bridge with one of the broad streets leading on the New York side to the Central Park. A branch should extend from it to the ocean beach at Coney Island, and other branches might lead out from it to any points at which it should appear that large dwelling quarters were likely to be formed, at such a distance from the main stem that access to it from them would otherwise be inconvenient. There are scarcely any houses at present standing on the general line indicated and it would pass nearly parallel to, and be everywhere within from fifteen to thirty minutes walk of the wharves of the East River. The distance between its extreme points would be about ten miles and the average distance of residences upon it from Wall Street would be about half the distance to the Central Park. Spacious and healthful accommodations for a population of 500,000 could be made within ten minutes walk of this Parkway. PLAN OF THE PARKWAY NEIGHBORHOOD. Our plan, it will be observed, covers more ground than is necessarily required to be taken for the purposes which have been indicated. The object of this is that in addition to providing for an enlargement of the Park advantages, throughout its whole extent, the Parkway may also constitute the centre of a continuous neighborhood of residences of a more than usually open, elegant, and healthy character. It is believed that such a neighborhood would not merely be more attractive, to the prosperous class generally, of the metropolis, than any which can be elsewhere formed within a much greater distance from the commercial centre, but that it will especially meet the requirements of an element in the community that is constantly growing larger and that is influenced by associations and natural tastes that unquestionably deserve to be fostered and encouraged. A typical case, for the sale of illustrating the class in view may be thus presented. A country boy receives a common school education, exhibits ability and at a comparatively 53 early age finds himself engaged in business in a provincial town; as his experience and capacity increase he seeks enlarged opportunities for the exercise of his powers and being of superior calibre ultimately finds himself drawn by an irresistible magnetic force to the commercial cities; here he succeeds in becoming wealthy by close attention to his speciality and the sharp country boy becomes the keen city man. Trees and grass are, however, wrought into the very texture and fibre of his constitution and without being aware of it he feels day by day that his life needs a suggestion of the old country flavor to make it palatable as well as profitable. This is one aspect of the natural phenomena with which we are now attempting to deal; no broad question of country life in comparison with city life is involved; it is confessedly a question of delicate adjustment, but we feel confident that whenever and wherever, in the vicinity of New York, this delicate adjustment is best attended to, and the real needs of these city-bred country boys are most judiciously considered, there they will certainly throng. We do not of course mean to argue that the tastes to which we have referred are limited solely to citizens whose early life has been passed in the country, but only that the existence of the special social element thus typified gives one of the many assurances that such a scheme as the proposed Parkway neighborhood would be successful, if judiciously carried out within the lines suggested, before the demand is more or less perfectly met in some other locality. It is clear that the house lots facing on the proposed Parkway would be desirable, and we assume that the most profitable arrangement would be to make them, say 100 feet wide, and of the full depth between two streets, convenient sites for stables being thus provided. The usual effect of such a plan of operations would be an occupation of the rear street of houses of inferior class, and it is with a view of avoiding any such unsatisfactory result that the design is extended over four blocks of ground. If the two outermost streets are widened to 100 feet and sidewalks shaded by double rows of trees introduced in connection with them, the house lots on these streets will be but little inferior to those immediately facing the Parkway, for they also will be of unusual depth and will be supplied with stable lots that can be entered from the street already mentioned, which should be made suitable for its special purpose, and with the idea that it is only to be occupied by such buildings as may be required in connection with the large lots which are intended to be arranged throughout back to back, with the stable street between them. Thus, so far as this arrangement should be extended, there would be a series of lots adapted to be occupied by detached villas each in the midst of a small private garden. This arrangement would offer the54 largest advantages possible to be secured in a town residence, and there is no good reason why they should not be of a permanent character. With the modern advantages for locomotion which would be available, the departure from the old-fashioned compactness of towns might be carried to this extent, in that part of them devoted to residences, without any serious inconvenience. The unwholesome fashion of packing dwelling-houses closely in blocks grew, as we have shown, out of the defensive requirements of old towns; it may possibly be necessary to continue it under certain circumstances, as, for the reasons already indicated, on the island of New York, but where there is no necessary boundary, either natural or artificial, to the space which is to be occupied by buildings, as is the case with Brooklyn, it is, to say the least, unwise to persist in arrangements which will permanently prevent any indulgence of this kind. Those who availed themselves of the opportunity here proposed to be offered would not benefit themselves alone, but the whole community. The Romans seem to have been wiser than we have been in this particular. Rich people were offered every facility for surrounding their houses with open garden spaces, and the larger part of the Eternal City was composed of what we should now term detached villas, while in no part was it permitted that a new house, even though intended for the residence of slaves, should be built within five feet of walls previously erected. How far it might be desirable for property-owners to extend the plan in the peculiar form suggested, is, of course, an open question, depending on the anticipated demand for lots of the size indicated, but it will be readily seen that as the proposed subdivisions are not of the ordinary contracted character, a comparatively small number of residents will suffice to fill up a considerable stretch of ground laid out in this way, and it is also evident that if, within a reasonable time, it should become certain that a specific number of blocks would be carried out on this plan, the lots included within the boundaries determined on would not require to be improved in regular succession, but would be selected with reference to slight, fancied advantages anywhere along the line, every purchaser feeling satisfied that the main question of good neighborhood had been settled on a satisfactory basis at the outset. ADVANTAGES OF THE PARKWAY LIKELY TO BE SECURED TO BROOKLYN EXCLUSIVELY. Having so fully described, in its principal aspects, the question of the desirability of developing, in Brooklyn, a plan of public improvement of the general character indicated, it may be proper for us to enquire whether the broad streets which are proposed to be opened on New 55 York island under the name of Boulevards during the next few years, are calculated to interfere with the probable success of such a scheme. While the Central Park was in its earlier stages of progress, a Commission was appointed to prepare a plan for laying out the upper end of New York island, and some years later this responsibility was transferred to the Central Park Commission, whose plan is published in their last annual report. The same document contains an elaborate discussion of the subject by Mr. A. H. Green, on the part of the Board, and as our professional relations with the Commissioners have not been extended over this department of their work, and we are not aware of their intention in regard to this improvement, except so far as it is set forth in the plan and public statement above mentioned, we make, for the purposes of this Report, the subjoined quotation, which sets forth clearly the limitations that are to be recognized in New York as controlling the designs of the Commissioners: "We occasionally, in some country city, see a wide street ornamented with umbrageous trees, having spaces of green interposed in its area, the portion used for travel being very limited. This arrangement is only possible where thronging population and crowding commerce are not at liberty to overlay and smother the laws that are made to secure the legitimate use of the public streets. "It would seem inexpedient, at any rate, until some better permanent administration of our streets is secured, to attempt these fanciful arrangements to any great extent in a commercial city, under our form of government." It is clear, therefore, that the Central Park Commissioners have no intention of carrying out, in New York, any such scheme as the "Parkway," and consequently, if, as we believe, the requirements that such a plan is designed to meet are already felt to exist in this community, Brooklyn can soon be made to offer some special advantages as a place of residence to that portion of our more wealthy and influential citizens, whose temperament, taste or education leads them to seek for a certain amount of rural satisfaction in connection with their city homes. although the plots of ground appropriated to the Brooklyn and Central Parks are entirely different in shape, while their landscape opportunities and general possibilities of design are equally dissimilar, a generic family resemblance will yet be found between the two pleasure- grounds simply because they are both called into existence to meet the same class of wants, in the same class of people, at the same Metropolitan centre. The Brooklyn Parkway, on the other hand, will, if executed, be a practical development of the ideas set forth in this Report, which seem56 to be particularly applicable to the city of Brooklyn, and which, as we have shown, are considered by those in authority to be unsuitable for development in the city of New York ; it will consequently have no such family resemblance to the New York Boulevards as exists between the two parks, and its attractions will, for a time, at any rate, be of a special and somewhat individual character. In pursuing the general question of approaches to the Park, in accordance with your instructions, we have thus been led to the examination of some other scarcely less important topics, and although the consideration of such problems as those we have adverted to can only come before your Commission in an indirect and incidental way, we have thought it best to lay the results of our study thus fully before you, because during the investigations and consultations of the past year it has become more and more evident that the early adoption of some such scheme as the "Parkway" would have the effect of adding very greatly to the advantages which your Commission is endeavoring to secure to the citizens of Brooklyn in the construction of the Park. Respectfully, OLMSTEAD, VAUX & CO., Landscape Architects and Superintendents. BROOKLYN, January 1st, 1868. CITY OF BROOKLYN. PLAN OF A PORTION OF PARK WAY AS PROPOSED TO BE LAID FROM THE EASTERN PART OF THE CITY TO THE PLAZA. Line of Houses. Line of Houses. 20 ft 30 ft 40 ft 30 ft 20 ft 225 ft. 7 in. DOUGLASS ST. 70 feet 255 ft. 7 inches. LANE. 35 ft. 225 ft. 7 in. DEGRAW ST. 70 feet 255 ft. 7 inches. Blocks are 255 feet 7 inches East of Perry Avenue. Line of Houses. SIDE WALK SIDE ROAD for the approach of vehicles to the adjoining Lots. WALK PARK WAY. WALK SIDE ROAD for the approach of vehicles to the adjoining Lots. Line of Houses 30 ft 12½ 25 7½ 20 7½ 55 ft 7½ 20 7½ 25 12½ 30 ft 225 ft. 7 in. PROPOSED PLAN. 70 feet. 255 ft. 7 inches. PRESENT PLAN. SACKET ST. Blocks are 262 feet West of Perry Avenue. LANE. 35 ft 225 ft. 7 in. 70 feet 255 ft. 7 inches. UNION ST. Line of Houses. CITY OF BROOKLYN. PLAN OF A PORTION OF PARK WAY AS PROPOSED TO BE LAID OUT FROM THE EASTERN PART OF THE CITY TO THE PLAZA. Line of Houses. Line of Houses. 20 ft 30 ft 40 ft 30 ft 20 ft 225 ft. 7 in. DOUGLASS ST. 70 feet 255 ft. 7 inches. LANE. 35 ft. 225 ft. 7 in. DEGRAW ST. 70 feet 255 ft. 7 inches. Blocks are 255 feet 7 inches East of Perry Avenue. Line of Houses. SIDE WALK SIDE ROAD for the approach of vehicles to the adjoining Lots. WALK PARK WAY. WALK SIDE ROAD for the approach of vehicles to the adjoining Lots. Line of Houses 30 ft 12½ 25 7½ 20 7½ 55 ft 7½ 20 7½ 25 12½ 30 ft 225 ft. 7 in. PROPOSED PLAN. 70 feet. 255 ft. 7 inches. PRESENT PLAN. SACKET ST. Blocks are 262 feet West of Perry Avenue. LANE. 35 ft 225 ft. 7 in. 70 feet 255 ft. 7 inches. UNION ST. Line of Houses. Line of Houses. 20 ft 30 ft 40 ft 30 ft 20 ft 70 feet PRESIDENT ST. Hayward, States & Koch, 171 Pearl St. cor Pine N.Y. REPORT OF C. C. MARTIN, ENGINEER IN CHARGE. PARK COMMISSION, CITY OF BROOKLYN, ENGINEER'S OFFICE, January 1st, 1868. } MESSRS. OLMSTED, VAUX & CO., Landscape Architects and Superintendents. GENTLEMEN:--In the following report will be found a general description of the work executed on the Park during the year 1867. Previous to the date of my appointment as Engineer in Charge in May last, the position was held by Mr. J. P. Davis with whom, before assuming its duties, I had such opportunity for consultation, as was necessary to enable me to comprehend the nature and extent of the work that had been carried on in the early part of the year. PLAZA. During the season the Plaza mounds have been completed, planted and enclosed with a temporary fence, nearly all of the curb has been set around the interior of the Plaza, and the grading has been done and a portion of the pavement laid. ROADS. During the season two distinct kinds of roads have been constructed, viz.: the Telford road and the rubble road. The preparation of the road bed, the drainage and the surfacing are the same for both. The road bed is prepared by bringing it to a sub-grade, twenty-seven inches below the finished grade. This is carefully shaped to correspond with the finished road and thoroughly rolled. Upon this road bed is placed a layer of the course and found on the Park, twelve inches in thickness, which is properly formed and rolled. Upon this is laid with care a course of Telford blocks, seven inches in depth; next is a layer of four inches of McAdam stone, and this is followed by three inches of Roa Hook gravel. The rubble road differs from the Telford mainly in the substitution of sound rubble stone in the place of the Telford blocks. As water and frost are the great destroyers of roads, one of the first requisites in the construction of a good road is to provide ample and effective drainage, both of the surface and the sub-structure. 58 To secure the proper sub-drainage, tiles are laid on the line of each gutter at a depth of three feet and six inches below the surface and are connected directly with the silt basins. To ensure the speedy removal of surface water, a crown of from six to nine inches, depending upon its width, is given to the roadway. The gutters were constructed two feet in width, three inches in depth and made of the very best quality of paving brick laid on edge and well bedded in cement mortar. At suitable intervals along the gutters, silt basins were place, having grated inlets through which the surface water enters and thence passes into the general drainage system. The Telford blocks were obtained from the boulders which abound on the Park and furnish a very superior material. The blocks are somewhat regular in form, being from four to seven inches in width, from five to nine inches in length, and about seven inches in depth. They are generally broken slightly, wedge-shaped; and are laid with the broadest base downward. Wedge-shaped cavities are thus formed in the upper surfaces; these are filled with spalls which are well rammed, forming a close and comparitively smooth surface to receive the McAdam stone. Suitable McAdam stone is found in great abundance on the Park. The stones were broken by a Blake's patent stone breaker, which readily breaks to any required size, from forty to sixty cubic yards per day. The broken stone in falling from the machine, passes over screens which remove the dust and finely broken stone, leaving the balance quite clean and of uniform size. The size generally used is from one and a half to two and a half inches in the largest diameter. The gravel used for the final surfacing of the road is obtained from Roa Hook on the Hudson River, and is of a very superior quality, being of uniform hardness and free from dirt. The sand and gravel for the sub-structure of the roads, gutters, &c., is obtained in great quantities on the Park. ARCHWAYS. But two archways have been commenced this season. One near the main entrance, and the other in the east wood. In making the excavation for the foundation of the first mentioned structure, a tenacious clay satured with water was found, which was entirely unsuited for a stable foundation. 59 The excavation was carried below the line of permanent saturation, and foundation piles driven from eight to sixteen feet before reaching a firm substratum. The piles were sawed off about fifteen inches above the bottom of the excavation and the spaces between, and for one foot outside of them, was filled with cement concrete and well rammed. Longitudinal timbers twelve inches square were placed on the tops of the piles and were secured to them by iron bolts seven-eights of an inch square, and seventeen inches long. Upon these, at right angles to them, were placed other timbers of the same size, which were notched down so as to interlock with those first laid. These timbers were all completely imbedded in cement concrete. Upon these timbers, planks six inches thick were laid so as to leave alternate spaces equal in width to the plank. These spaces were filled with concrete. The timber work is all placed at such depth as to ensure its durability; being below the line of permanent saturation. Upon this sub-structure the large stones of the foundation masonry were laid. The balance of the foundation to within one foot of the grade of the walk is constructed with large blocks of gneiss rock laid in cement. The face stones above the walk to the springing line of the arch are of Hudson River "mountain graywacke." Work was suspended at this point for the season. The archway in the east wood is designed to carry a carriage and bridle road over a walk. The facings are of Ohio and Belleville sand stone alternating, and the interior arch is of common hard brick. This is to be lined with panel work in wood. In excavating for foundation of this archway a coarse compact gravel was found, and the excavation was carried only three feet below the grade of the walk. A layer of concrete one foot in thickness was laid, and upon this the masonry commenced. The masonry of this structure was completed late in the season. The wood work is not yet complete. To render this archway impervious to moisture, great care was taken to fill all the joints well with mortar, then a coating of cement mortar was smoothly and evenly laid over the entire outside of the arch and walls. When this had become hard, two coats of asphalt were applied; next to this on the vertical walls, a layer of clay puddle one foot in thickness was placed. This extended upon the inclined backing of the arch and was reduced in thickness to a thin edge at the top. Outside of the 60 layer of clay was carried up a dry rubble stone wall, about one foot thick, and outside of this, the earth filling. At the base of this rubble wall, which extends one foot below the grade of the walk, there was laid a tile drain connecting with silt basins at either end of the bridge. The last layer of asphalt on the crown of the arch overlaps the thin edge of the puddle wall, and thus carries all water which reaches it outside of the puddle, and directly into the dry wall, whence it finds its way into the drain without coming in contact with the masonry. CULVERT ARCH. In addition to the above masonry a culvert arch has been constructed in connection with the deer paddock pool, and is located between it and the Battle Pass pool. The foundation is of cement concrete one foot in thickness. The interior work is constructed of gneiss rock and is coursed rubble masonry. The facing is of Ohio and Belleville sand stone. WALKS. For gravel walks the sub-grade was fixed at twelve inches below the finished grade; the surface at sub-grade was made to conform accurately to the finished cross-section and grade of the walk and thoroughly rolled. Upon this sub-grade seven inches of rubble stone were laid, upon this, two and a half inches of coarse park gravel, and this was followed by one and a half inches of finer park gravel. The depth of stone and gravel at this stage of the construction was ten and one-half inches. The remaining one and a half inches has been, on the walks already constructed, formed of screenings from the McAdam stone. A large portion of the walks finished this season have been surfaced to a depth of three inches with tar concrete; the sub-structure being the same as for gravel walks. Two kinds of concrete have been used, one known as the Burlew Patent, in which boiled pine tar is used, and the other the Scrimshaw Patent, in which raw coal tar is used. The concrete is prepared by mixing these tars with gravel or fine broken stone, coal ashes, &c. In laying this material any required form is readily given to the walks and gutters. Drain tiles of two inches internal diameter were laid under all walks requiring it, at a depth of three feet six inches, and were connected with the walk silt-basins. 61 Also, along the centre line of the walks and generally in the same trench with the tile, were laid glazed vitrified pipe which form a part of the general drainage system of the Park. At proper intervals under the walk gutters, silt-basins were located to receive the surface drainage and conduct it through branch pipes into the general drainage system. POOLS. Two pools have been completed each with a depth of three feet of water. The Play-ground pool is situated in a natural depression, and is approached by winding walks with rustic steps. The Battle Pass pool lies at the foot of a steep declivity, and is shaded by natural forest trees. The soil has been removed from the greater part of the site of the proposed lake and reserved for future use, and several thousand yards of excavation have been made. The northern part of the lake has been nearly completed and about five acres prepared temporarily for a skating pond. The supply of water for the pools and lake is at present obtained from the Park drainage, and the Nassau Water Department. AGRICULTURAL DRAINAGE. For all clayey or retentive soils a thorough system of tile drainage has been adopted, and as far as the grounds have been finished, has been carried out. The sizes of tiles have been carefully adapted to the work required of them. The quantity of water that will reach these drains, has been computed with an assumed maximum rainfall of two inches in an hour, and under the supposition that one half of that amount will reach the drains within twenty-four hours. Steps have been taken to inaugurate a series of observations upon the rainfall in connection with this system of tile drainage, from which it is expected that valuable information will be obtained in regard to the proportion of rainfall which reaches the tile in a given time. None but round pipe tile have been laid, and closely fitting collars have been used throughout for the smaller diameter, and even upon the three inch mains whenever they could be obtained. 62 The systems were arranged with mains, secondary mains and laterals. The mains were generally three inches in diameter, the secondary mains two inches, and the laterals one and a half inches. Generally the mains followed the principal depressions in the surface, the secondary mains, the minor depressions, and the laterals, were laid out at intervals varying from twenty-five to forty-five feet, depending upon the character of the soil, and were nearly at right angles to the secondaries. WATER SUPPLY. The water supply for the Park water pipe system is at present obtained from the Nassau Water Department. A sixteen inch main of this system connects with a twenty inch main of the city distribution at a point near Prospect Hill reservoir. This main has branches of various diameters, diverging to different parts of the Park. Hydrants are placed at convenient points along the drives for obtaining water for sprinkling the roads, walks, and for other purposes. The patent cement pipe, manufactured by the Patent Water and Gas Pipe Company, of Jersey City, has been adopted. It affords me great pleasure to acknowledge the very efficient assistance I have received from Mr. John Bogart and Mr. John Y. Culyer in their respective departments. The rapid and uninterrupted progress of the work this season has been facilitated alike by the promptness with which all necessary supplies and material have been furnished by Mr. Culyer, and by the intelligent energy displayed by Mr. Bogart, aided by his efficient corps of assistants, in laying out the work to be executed. A degree of interest in the work and a harmony of action has been exhibited throughout the whole Park organization which has been especially beneficial to the work and gratifying to myself. In the labor department, Mr. John Maguire, the General Foreman, has manifested an ability and energy fully equal to the arduous duties of his responsible position, and has performed them in a highly creditable and satisfactory manner. C. C. MARTIN, Engineer in Charge. MAP SHOWING PROGRESS OF THE WORKS INDICATED BELOW Up to January 1st 1868.REPORT OF JOHN BOGART, ASSISTANT ENGINEER IN CHARGE. PARK COMMISSION, CITY OF BROOKLYN, ENGINEER'S OFFICE, January 1st, 1868. } C. C. MARTIN, ESQ., Engineer in Charge. SIR:--I submit herewith a report of the progress of construction and the amount of work done upon the Park during the past year. THE TOPOGRAPHICAL SURVEY. This survey has been extended over the whole area of the Park west of Flatbush Avenue, and is now in progress upon the ground east of that avenue. The topographical maps have been completed for the area surveyed, being 468 acres. The most elevated point upon the Park is at the summit of Lookout Hill, and has a height of 185 6/10 feet above mean high water. The lowest point is at the junction of Franklin Avenue and the Coney Island Road, and is 53 7/10 feet above mean high water. This shows the extreme difference of elevation of surface within the Park to be 131 9/10 feet. DEVELOPMENT OF THE PLAN. Very careful study has been, and is constantly, given to the problem of developing the adopted design in a way which will produce the artistic effect required by the most economical arrangement and distribution of material. The grades and lines of the drives, bridle-roads and walks, the surfaces and inclinations of the slopes, meadows and concourses, the heights of the fillings and the depths of the excavations have been determined in accordance with this principle. Of course, this study is made in advance of the operations of the construction force. Working maps and profiles are prepared and estimates of quantities made, and every means practicable, under the peculiar conditions of landscape work, are taken to give to the work on the Park the benefit of the rules and experience of engineering science. Tabular statements of the work already done, accompanying this report, will, to a certain extent, suggest the breadth and variety of the subjects necessarily occupying the constant attention of the Engineers; 64 and these subjects will, on examination, be found to be of an extent and diversity seldom combined in one undertaking. PROGRESS OF CONSTRUCTION. During the year the whole area of the Plaza has been brought to the established sub-grade, and nearly one-half has been paved with stone block pavement. The Plaza walks have been constructed, but are not yet paved. Trees have been set out along the line of the interior walks. The mounds have been finished, seeded and planted. The exterior slopes of the Park have been formed along Flatbush Avenue, from the Plaza to the end of the Deer-Paddock, and along Ninth Avenue, from the Plaza to the vicinity of First Street--in all, a length of about 4,200 feet. The north open ground has been completed and seeded as far as the line of First Street, and the ground has been worked considerably farther into the Park, but is not yet finished. The ground in the woodland, in the vicinity of the East Wood Lanes, has been worked over and seeded. About 1 1/7 miles of the Eastern branch of the main Circuit Drive have been paved. The finished drive commences near the main entrance, and, passing between the North-open and the Children's Play Grounds, continues through the Battle Pass, and along the Deer Paddock. Branching at the East Wood Lanes, it extends, on the left, to the upper arm of the Lake, now prepared for skating, and on the right to a temporary junction with the Coney Island Road. The lines and grades have been established, and considerable work done upon the Brier Hill extension of this drive, through and beyond the Carriage Concourse, to the point where it will cross the proposed bridge over the arm of the Lake. Some work has also been done upon this drive beyond the location of the bridge. The Brier Hill concourse, as enlarged, has been finished, and is ready for paving. The drive connecting the main circuit with Flatbush Avenue at the Willink Entrance, has been graded, but has not yet received the road metal. A portion of the lower Carriage Concourse, and the whole of the great Pedestrian Concourse have been graded, the material obtained from the lake excavations being used for this purpose. These graded surfaces have been made serviceable as places of deposit for stone, top soil, and other material, hereafter to be used in that vicinity. The grading of the eastern Bridle Road has been extended through the woodland and ravine, to the point where, with the stream and 65 footpath, it is to pass under the central drive, and thence to where it meets the eastern drive opposite the Willink Entrance. None of the bridle road has yet been paved. A number of the walks in the Childrens' District have been finished, as has also most of the walk which leads to this district from the main entrance. The walk along the east side of the North-open has been finished for a length of 1,350 feet, and the line has been extended, and is ready for paving as far as the ravine. The walk has been graded from the Childrens' District, along the Deer Paddock, and through the archway under the drive to the Lake; also the walk connecting the Willink Gate with that last mentioned. The soil has been stripped from a large portion of the lake district and piled for future use. The arm of the Lake lying on the west side of Brier Hill has been excavated and puddled, and an area of about five acres has been made ready for skating this season. Considerable excavation has been made for the main lake at points where the force could be worked to the best advantage. It is proposed to establish the summer level of water in the lake at an elevation of 63 feet above mean high water, and to make the depth in summer, seven feet. The pools in the Childrens' District, and near Battle Pass, have been finished, and considerable work has been done for the Deer Paddock stream. Two archways have been commenced. That for the passage of the main eastern walk under the circuit Drive, near the main entrance, has been carried up to the level of the springing line of the arch. The masonry of the archway under the drive, near the present Skating Lake, has been completed, and the drive graded over the arch. A culvert arch, with one facade of rock-faced masonry, has been built at the outlet into the Deer Paddock of the stream from the small pool near Battle Pass. Excavations have been made, and foundation stone delivered, so that masonry can be commenced early in the coming spring for two other archways. 11 1/10 miles of vitrified pipes and tiles for drainage of roads and walks, for collecting surface water, and for the agricultural tile drainage of meadow-lands, have been laid, with proper inlets and basins. The details of this work are shown by the Drainage Map and Tabular statement accompanying this report. 7,121 lineal feet of wrought iron and cement pipe, for the water distribution, have been laid by contract. The location of the popes, hydrants, and stop-cocks, and the details of this work, are shown by the tabular statement and the accompanying Water Distribution Map. 5 66 A large amount of peat at the proposed location of the pools has been excavated. This peat, treated with proper chemical re-agents, and composted with different manures, will be of great value in the improvement of the park soil. Manures of different kinds have been procured during the year, the particulars in regard to which are given by Mr. Culyer in his report, and preparations have been made for having on hand, for future use, the fertilizing materials especially suitable to the requirements of the work. 7,374 trees and shrubs have been set out upon the Plaza mounds and walks, and upon the finished slopes and meadows. The following tables will exhibit a condensed statement of work done during the year:— DRIVES. Drives finished, 125 feet wide 500 lineal feet. " " 46 " " 875 " " " " 40 " " 2,550 " " " " 30 " " 1,500 " " " " 23 " " 600 " " Total length of drive finished 6,025 " " or, 1 1-7 miles. Drives in progress 150 feet wide 1,300 lineal feet. " " " 60 " " 250 " " " " " 50 " " 250 " " " " " 46 " " 700 " " " " " 40 " " 3,200 " " " " " 35 " " 1,360 " " " " " 23 " " 1,225 " " Total 8,285 " " or, 1 3-5 miles. BRIDLE ROADS. Bridle Roads in progress 20 feet wide 2,800 lineal feet. " " " " 16 " " 1,400 " " " " " " 8 " " 600 " " Total 4,800 " " WALKS. Walks finished 16 feet wide 3,400 lineal feet. " " 12 " " 725 " " " " 12 " " 550 " " " " 12 " " 200 " " Total 4,875 " " 67 Walks in progress 30 feet wide 1,367 lineal feet. " " " 20 " " 4,280 " " " " " 16 " " 8,900 " " " " " 12 " " 1,300 " " " " " 10 " " 700 " " Total 16,547 " " DRAINAGE. During 1867. Total to Jan. 1st, 1868 18 in Vitrified Pipe laid—lineal feet 589 589 15 " " " " " " 3,205 5,056 12 " " " " " " 3,772 5,790 10 " " " " " " 489 489 8 " " " " " " 3,338 3,338 7 " " " " " " 220 220 6 " " " " " " 5,409 5,409 5 " " " " " " 752 752 4 " " " " " " 767 767 2½ " " " " " " 120 675 6 " Cement " " " " 142 Total " " 18,661 23,227 Tile-pipe laid—3-inch 14,688 lineal feet. " " 2½ " 25 " " " " 2 " 14,498 " " " " 2½ " 5,880 " " Total 35,091 " " WATER DISTRIBUTION. Wrought Iron & Cement-pipe for Water distribution 16-inch 3,023 lineal feet. " " " " " 12 " 696 " " " " " " " 6 " 2,381½ " " " " " " " 4 " 1,020½ " " Total 7,121 " " Blow-offs and Branches 31 Stop-cocks 8 Hydrants 13 AREA OF OPERATIONS UP TO JANUARY 1ST, 1868. Area worked over up to January 1st, 1867 61 acres. " " " " " " 1868 254 " " " " during year 1867 193 " Area of surface finished—meadows and slopes 42 acres. " " " woodland 15 " Total 57 " Area of surface seeded 45 " THE SMALLER CITY PARKS. The smaller Parks in the City of Brooklyn having been placed under the care of the Commission during the year, surveys were made, and topographical maps constructed, as a basis for designs for their improvement. At Carroll Park, no proper provision had been made for the escape of surface water, which overflowed the walks at every storm. An inlet basin has, therefore, been built at the lowest point of the ground, and connected with the Smith Street sewer. This has been located with reference to a future more complete system of drainage. The fence of this Park has been painted, and the gas-lamps, which were unserviceable, have been renewed. The fence of the City Park has been repaired. Nothing in the way of construction has been done at the Washington or City Hall Parks. 69 A Survey of the Kings County Parade Ground, and the adjacent roads and streets, has been made, and a topographical map constructed. A careful test survey has been made of the lines for the proposed extension of Clinton Avenue from Atlantic Avenue to the Plaza. A topographical examination and preliminary survey have been made along the location of the proposed Parkway from the Plaza to the City Line. THE ENGINEER CORPS. The general organization of the Engineer Corps remains as at the time of the last Annual Report. The Assistant Engineers, Mr. Wilson Crosby, Mr. James C. Aldrich, and Mr. L. Y. Schermerhorn, have rendered careful and appreciative service upon the divisions of the work entrusted to them, and the other members of the corps have been constant and faithful in the discharge of their respective duties. Accompanying this report will be found a map, showing the general progress of the work; a map, showing the drainage system, as far as executed, and a map showing the water distribution now laid upon. Respectfully submitted, JOHN BOGART, Assistant Engineer in Charge. REPOIRT OF J. Y. CUYLER, ASSISTANT ENGINEER IN CHARGE. PARK COMMISSION, CITY OF BROOKLYN, } ENGINEER'S OFFICE, January 1st, 1868. } MMR. C. C. MARTIN, Engineer in Charge. DEAR SIR :- The following is a report of means and materials employed in the construction and maintenance of the Park, during the year 1867: FORCE EMPLOYED. The earlier part of the year 1867 was marked by an unusual prolongation of severe weather and continued frost, which was so far favorable to the advancement of the work, as it secured good roads and runs. This work mainly consisted in heavy earth excavation in the Plaza district, mucking and composting in the Pigeon Ground, and the general collection, assorting and preparing of stone, for roads, walks, &c. These operations gave employment to an average force, comprised of horses and carts, teams, stonebreakers and laborers, of about five hundred men, through the months of January, February and March. Active Spring operations were resumed, early in April, with a force of six hundred men, increased to one thousand at the close of the month. In the early part of the Summer, a large area of new ground coming under the jurisdiction of the Commission, the force was gradually and continuously increased, to meet the necessities of the developing work, in this newly acquired district. The following statement will show the average number of employed force during the several months of the year, together with a comparative table of force for a partial corresponding season of 1866 :- STATEMENT SHOWING THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF EMPLOYED FORCE FOR THE MONTHS AND YEARS NOTED. Year. Jan. Feb. Mar. April. May. June. July. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. 1866. Work com- men- ced on the 325 450 550 620 700 725 Park July 1866. 1867. 700 630 410 800 1,000 1,150 1,200 1,525 1,750 1,825 1,800 1,100 There were 289 working days for the year, giving an average of 24 days per month. 72 From the foregoing statement, it will be seen that the largest force employed, collectively, at any time during the season, was between eighteen and nineteen hundred men, although, owing to changes continually occurring, employment, for a period of from half a day to three days, was given to at least three thousand different individuals during the year. The scheme of organization remains substantially the same as last year, consisting in the division of the labor force into gangs of convenient size, each with a competent Foreman and Assistant; the whole being under the direct charge and supervision of a General Foreman, who is responsible for the efficiency of the force. He suggests all details, and transfers, and recommends promotions, removals, &c. The Foremen are responsible for the exact execution of the orders they receive from the General Foreman, and are required to make their men work industriously and effectively during all the time for which they give them credit in their time-books. When, therefore, from any cause, they cannot secure profitable labor, with good order, from any man, cart, or team, they must immediately withdraw him or it from the work, and so of the whole gang, or any part of it. To enable them to carry out these requirements, foremen are given the power of suspending any one, or any number, or all, of their men, team and carts, at any moment, and are required to report everyday in writing, (a convenient printed form being provided for the purpose), the amount of labor performed by all their men, together with the names of any whose work they are responsible, who fail to do the service required of them. This places the laborer in direct responsibility to the foreman under whose eye his work must be performed; and it is the foreman's fault, if he cannot control his men, and secure an efficient and industrious gang. Abuse of authority, on the foreman's part, is held in wholesome check by the fact, known to all the employees, (by a printed notice conspicuously posted on each tool cart on the Park), that redress for wrongs may be had by application at the Superintendent's Office on the Park. Calls for this purpose are made almost daily, when the work is in progress. In addition to the ordinary labor force, a large number of mechanics have been employed this year, consisting of stone-cutters, stone and brick masons, blacksmiths and carpenters. These were classified in gangs, and placed under the charge of a general foreman, having special qualifications for their supervision and the management of mechanical works. 73 DISCIPLINE. The following statement, being an abstract of the office record, will show the number of suspensions and discharges which have been made during the year: — DISCHARGES. Number of Foremen discharged for insubordination,............................... 1 Number of Foremen discharged for inefficiency,....................................... 1 Number of Assistant Foremen discharged for inefficiency,...................... 8 Number of Assistant Foremen discharged for other offenses,................ 2 Number of Laborers discharged for neglect of duty,................................. 75 Laborers and others discharged for inefficiency,..................................... ..300 SUSPENSIONS. Number of Foremen suspended for breach of discipline,......................... 6 Number of Assistant Foremen suspended for breach of discipline,........ 2 Number of Laborers, &c., suspended for breach of discipline,.............. 85 Discharges of foremen, assistants, laborers, &c., result mainly through their failing to meet the requirements demanded of them in their several capacities. The suspensions were of the disciplinary nature, for minor offenses. During the year one laborer has been promoted to the office of an Assistant Foreman. Seven Assistant Foremen have been promoted to the office of Foremen, and two Foremen have advanced to the rank of Assistant General Foreman. KEEPERS AND THE PUBLIC USE OF THE PARK. During the year the temporary watch force referred to in the report of 1866, has been enlarged and reorganized with reference to the use of the Park by the public. In addition to the ordinary patrol of the Park with a view to the enforcement of the ordinances of the Commission, guiding and instructing visitors, checking slight misconduct, and reporting accidents, disorder and irregularities occurring in any part of the Park, at any hour of the day or night, the force has also had the duty of guarding the large number of tools and supplies which are necessarily much exposed, especially during the intervals when the labor force is not at work. 74 This duty, though performed with commendable zeal, has not entirely prevented pilfering. The following is a list of arrests made: For stealing shrubbery..................................................1 " " lumber and tools......................................4 " Obstructing a Keeper in performance of duty.....1 Total..................................................................................6 The organization of the force during the latter part of the year has been as follows: 2 Head Keepers; 4 Ward Keepers; 8 Keepers. An auxiliary body of forty-eight men have also been employed, who have served a part of the time as garden workmen; five of the latter have been detailed to answer the inquiries of visitors at the Park gates, keep a record of visitors coming in, prevent the entrance if forbidden articles, to guard property in their immediate vicinity, and to give instructions to those bringing materials for use on the Park; six men have been employed in the care of smaller Parks. The following statement shows the number of visitors from Saturday, October 20th, on which day carriages were first admitted to a portion of the Park drive: SUMMARY OF VISITORS ON BROOKLYN PARK FROM OCTOBER 20 TO DECEMBER 31, 1867. The weather during the month of December was very unfavorable for out-door exercise. Estimating that four persons accompanied each two-horse vehicle, and two persons each one-horse vehicle, the total number of visitors for the period above noted was 180,868. The largest number of visitors on any one day, entered on Sunday, October 27th, viz., 14,906. 75 SUPPLIES. Appended will be found a table, showing, under six hundred heads, the various tools, materials and supplies of all kinds, for the genera; care and proper disposition of which I have been responsible, comprising all that have been purchased for the Park from the outset of the work. The Table also shows, under each head, the quantities received, issued and on hand, at this date; the deficiency under each head is likewise shown, most of which is due to the loss by fire, reported last year. While active operations are in progress, an amount of tools considerably in excess of the number of men employed is required to supply temporary deficiencies, occasioned by repairs and exchanges. The supply of Rollers, Derricks, Derrick-Gearing, Trucks, Wagons, Carts, &c., belonging to the Commission are generally in good condition, and all tools susceptible of repair are now being overhauled and made serviceable for work in the Spring. The following quantities of manure, night soil and fertilizing materials have been received: 1,195 two-horse loads of selected horse- manure, equivalent to about 3,346 cubic yards. About 3,654 cubic yards, or 1,305 two-horse loads have been received, under contract, from the several City Railroad stables. There have also been received: 2,462 Loads of Night Soil (used in composting). 136 Loads Disintegrated Bamboo fire. 328 1/2 Barrels of Fish offal. 20,000 pounds of Fish Guano. 35,114 pounds of Super-Phosphate of Lime. 16,011 bushels of Shell Lime. 1,755 bushels of Marl. The Park nurseries now contain the following stock: Deciduous Trees...........................13,402 Evergreen do.................................11,671 Shrubs............................................20,911 Besides which the Commission possesses a large quantity of rooted cuttings of shrubs. The employees co-operating with me in the several departments under my charge, have efficiently discharged the duties assigned them. Respectfully submitted, JOHN Y. CUYLER, Assistant Engineer in Charge.REPORT ACCOMPANYING A DESIGN FOR WASHINGTON PARK. To the President of the Board of Commissioners of Prospect Park, Brooklyn: SIR:—In accordance with your instructions, we have prepared, and herewith submit, a design for laying out the public square known as Fort Greene, or Washington Park. The ground to be improved—over thirty acres in extent—is in the heart of the city, and is mainly elevated above the adjoining land. The rise in parts is so considerable that the surrounding buildings are overlooked, and interesting views are commanded, extending far up the East River, and down the Lower Bay. We also, find, that even in the hottest weather of summer, and when the air in the adjoining streets is disagreeably close, a refreshing sea-breeze can often be enjoyed on the higher levels of Fort Greene. Owing to the advantages it thus offers of fine prospect and pure air, combined with extended and varied character of surface, the ground suggests a more complete and interesting arrangement of accommodations for popular recreation than can often be attempted in the public squares of large towns; and yet it is altogether too restricted to be properly laid out as a park. The general treatment which will be likely to give those who frequent the grounds, during the day, the greatest enjoyment, must be of a somewhat rural character; but it is undesirable, with reference to public morals and the general police of the city, that grounds laid out in this way should be left open after dark, or that they should be used for the assemblage of public meetings, the display of fireworks, or for other incidental purposes which bring together large crowds. Such public needs may be considered in the preparation of the general design, but they must not be confused with the objects which are to be had in view in the laying out of such portions of the ground as are to possess the character of a garden; for the requirements involved, being essentially dissimilar, can with no greater propriety be incorporated together in a ground intended for popular resort, than can the requirements of a lecture-room and a dormitory be incorporated together in a building which is to be used for educational purposes.78 Assuming that there is adequate space for the development of both ideas in this case, our first study has been to establish a division which shall give to each class the site which will be most convenient for it. For refreshing purity of air and beauty of prospect, the central part of the square is, beyond question, to be preferred. As a place for public assemblages, the lowest ground, in the angle between Myrtle avenue and Canton street, has the advantage of being readily accessible from the more densely populated parts of the city, and offers a sufficiently large area of surface that will require but little alteration to make it available. We accordingly set off, in this quarter, a space 370 feet in diameter, which will give easy standing-room for a mass meeting of thirty thousand persons. The whole of this ground will have a regular slope towards the north end, which furnishes a suitable location for the display of fireworks, and is provided in the center with a “rostrum” for public speakers, to which may be attached, if thought desirable, convenient accommodations for the seating of guests of the city, for bands of music, or for committees. Although the space is not large enough for the practice of military maneuvers, it will serve for the parade and drill of a regiment, and for a marching review of a division or larger body. It would, on any occasion of necessity, be a convenient and suitable position to place and hold in readiness for service a large or small body of troops. It has the advantage for this purpose of being in the immediate vicinity of the State Arsenal, and between it and the Jail and the City Hall; and as there is no other position in the city which could be thus occupied, without interrupting the common use of the streets, such a reservation may eventually prove to be one of importance. The whole space may be brilliantly lighted. There will be no fence or barrier of any kind between it and the streets on either side, and when occupied by public meetings, thousands of persons may pass in and out, without confusion or serious disturbance to the main body. The high ground in the interior of the Park, immediately opposite the rostrum, has been the scene of great historical events, and for many years has been used by the citizens of Brooklyn as a place for patriotic demonstrations. The sentiments and purposes which are thus associated with the site should, we think, be respected. We therefore propose to reestablish, in a more fitting manner, at this point, the feature of the “SALUTING GROUND,” and have laid out, in connection with it, a road for artillery, 20 feet in width, which will be entered from the gate nearest the Arsenal. 79 Through the liberal action of the Mayor and Common Council, with whom the idea originated, a tomb for the reception of the remains of the “Prison-Ship Martyrs” is included in the design, and we have been very desirous to give full emphasis to this important feature in the arrangement of the general scheme of improvement. The hill-side between the Saluting Ground and the exterior of the Meeting Ground seems to be the most appropriate position for the erection of the contemplated memorial, and we have, therefore, reserved at this central point a site amply adequate, not only for the structure itself, but for the approaches and other accessories that will require to be connected with a work of this character. The monument proposed to be placed over the tomb would thus be at a short distance from the Meeting Ground below, and would be inaccessible to those occupying it whenever the Park gates were closed; but it would be at all times a conspicuous object, and would be well calculated, in connection with the other circumstances to which we have alluded, to aid in establishing the real solemnity of the duty which meetings ostensibly held for political and patriotic purposes should always have in view. With the intention of securing to visitors an agreeable walk in the immediate vicinity of the square, when the gates of the enclosure are shut for the night, the adjoining sidewalks are proposed to beincreased in width to 30 feet, and to be planted with a double row of trees. Gates are provided at the various angles, and in the center of each side. Special prominence is given to the angular approaches, and they are enlarged and symmetrically planted with trees, so that they may present a more agreeable effect to visitors entering the Park, and also offer facilities for an easy turn in connection with the exterior sidewalks. The closure of Canton street, between Willoughby street and DeKalb avenue, being now made permanent by a special Act of the Legislature, one-half of the land that would have been taken up by the street is included within the present boundaries of Washington Park, while the other half belongs to the adjoining owners. The fence, as at present constructed, is carried on a line with the centre of Canton street; but this is a very undesirable arrangement, as it entirely spoils the two park entrances that should properly occur at the points where the public thoroughfare is interrupted. Under these circumstances, we have suggested, in our design, a modification of this boundary line which will allow of the introduction of symmetrically planned park gateways where they are needed, and at the same time80 offer such advantages to the adjoining owners, that no objection to the change is likely to be made by them. A large portion of the boundary fence would require, for constructive reasons, to be in the form of a retaining wall, and it would probably, therefore, be better to use a wall, in preference to an iron fence, for the other portion of the work; but this point is not one that requires immediate settlement. In the enclosed pleasure-ground, broad walks are, in the first place so laid out that the whole space is thoroughly traversed and turned to account. Lines of communication, tolerably direct, and of easy grade, are at the same time secured for those who may have occasion to cross the Park during the day. The general surface of the ground is very irregular, but it has been thought desirable to arrange for a nearly level lawn, of considerable extent, for boys; and for another lawn, of about the same dimensions, for the use of girls and children. The undulating ground is intended to be somewhat closely planted, and is proposed to be so laid out that it will offer a series of shady walks that will have an outlook over open grassy spaces at intervals. On the upper plateau, the sight is arranged for a "Vine-Covered Walk," of considerable extent, which would offer, in hot weather, a sufficient protection from the rays of the sun, even at noonday. The ground plan of this shelter is in the form of a cross, one arm of which connects with the Saluting Ground, another with a building to be set apart for the sale of refreshments; third with an "Observatory," of moderate elevation, to be erected on the site indicated on the plan; while the fourth commands the most interesting view over the city that can be obtained within the limits of the property. The present surface is intended to be so modified that the grades of the walks will be easy and natural over the whole territory. In the execution of the design, it will probably be found desirable to dispose of some surplus material outside the limits of the square; but the plan is so conceived that all the earth to be moved may be distributed over the surface of the property itself, if this should turn out in practice to be the more economical arrangement. Respectfully, OLMSTED, VAUX & CO., Landscape Architects. BROOKLYN, September 9th, 1867. DESIGN FOR LAYING OUT THE GROUNDS KNOWN AS FORT GREEN OR WASHINGTON PARK. Hayward, States'&Kock. 171 Pearl St. cor Pine N.Y. GROUNDS KNOWN AS FORT GREEN OR WASHINGTON PARK, IN THE CITY OF BROOKLYN. Hayward, States'&Kock, 171 Pearl St. cor Pine N.Y. OLMSTED. VAUX & CO LANDSCAPE ARCH'TS DEC. 9 1867. 110 BROADWAY N.Y. APPENDIX. At a meeting of the Commissioners on the 25th day of January, 1868, Mr. A. A. Low submitted the following report on the subject of a sale of Washington Park, which, on his motion, seconded by Mr. Bergen, was ordered to be published in connection with the Annual Report, as an Appendix, expressive of the views of such members of the Board as should sign it. SPECIAL REPORT. In the judgment of the undersigned, were the Park Commissioners free to deal with Washington Park according to their own judgment, of what the best interest of the City demands, they would return the money raised for the improvement of the Park to the City Treasury, stop all expenditures thereon, and initiate measures for a sale of the property by converting it into building lots. From the Maps on file in the Office of the Street Commissioner, it appears, that within the limits of this Park, as at present laid out, there were 435 lots and parts of lots facing upon the streets and avenues that intersected the Park, which streets and avenues were ordered to be closed. It is computed that if the whole plot were judiciously laid out and sold with suitable building covenants, and a satisfactory title given, this property would realize more than a million of dollars. If judiciously improved it is safe to assume, at the present cost of building, an expenditure when the whole tract is covered with the average number of buildings, of at least three millions of dollars. The probable saving to the City may be reckoned thus:-- Value of Washington Park if divided into lots and sold.......... $1,000,000 Cost of contemplated improvement if retained as a public Park......... 200,000 Direct saving.......... $1,200,000 The interest on this sum would be per annum..... 84,000 Tax on value of lots and improvements estimated together at......... 3,000,000 At three and one-half per cent. per annum....... 105,000 6 82 If this calculation is correct there will be a direct gain to the City of one million two hundred thousand dollars, and the public debt for the cost of Prospect Park will be diminished to this extent; while the taxes on property to be improved will in a few years be sufficient to pay the interest on one and a half millions more. The undersigned believe that in stopping any further outlay, realizing by sale the full value of the grounds for building purposes, and by the taxes on improvements that would speedily follow, the City would be benefitted to the extent of nearly three millions of dollars, and the question may very naturally be asked why the City should not thus be benefitted, or why the first Twelve Wards of the city should not be relieved to this extent of the burden which Prospect Park is bringing on a part of the city for the good of the whole? Three millions and a half of dollars have been already expended for land and improvements, and from present appearances several millions more will be required to carry out the projected plan of improvement. When Washington Park was laid out in 1848, no part of the cost was assessed for benefit on the surrounding territory, because the improvement was considered a public and not a local one. The cost apportioned to certain wards according to a supposed interest, in the improvement, has since been liquidated, by a general tax on the first twelve, and the twentieth wards of the city. In the event of a sale, a like distribution of a sum equal to the principal of the whole cost, might be deemed equitable. Washington Park has ceased to be a public necessity, being wholly superseded as a place of general resort, by Prospect Park; and it can never regain its importance, or be of any special value to the community at large. Nor will it be long needed for military exercises; special provision having been made for a parade ground adjoining Prospect Park. If public money is spent to adorn it, the public treasury will be used for the private advantage, or mainly so of those who live immediately around it, and who have never been assessed for benefit. But it is asserted by those who live in the neighborhood that the Park is not a benefit, but an injury; being the resort of the idle, the dissolute, and the depraved, to the exclusion of respectable citizens. If further expenditures are incurred and the grounds made more attractive, they will not be sacred to any better uses than hitherto, unless maintained at increased expense by a strong force of police, and thus kept free of vagabonds by day and by night. The bones of the martyrs of the Revolution, may with much propriety be transferred to a portion of Prospect Park, which lies near 83 to the Greenwood Cemetery, to some spot within sight of the statue to be erected in honor of the great martyr of our late civil war. For months past the Park Commissioners have had before them a plan for the improvement of Washington Park, the probable cost of which has been estimated at $200,000. If an iron fence is put around the ground according to the requirements of a recent law of the Legislature, the outlay will much exceed this sum; and the execution of the work has been kept in abeyance, because of a desire of some members of the Board that the sentiments of their fellow citizens should first be known on the subject; a statement of the foregoing facts and calculations is therefore briefly presented in this report for their consideration. BROOKLYN, January 28, 1868. A. A. LOW. T. J. BERGEN. A. B. BAYLIS. W. S. GRIFFITH.REPORT ACCOMPANYING A DESIGN FOR THE PARADE GROUND. To the President of the Board of Commissioners of Prospect Park, Brooklyn: SIR:--We herewith present a plan of improvement for the tract of land required to be prepared by your Commission for a Parade Ground. The plot contains forty acres, and is situated outside the limits of the Park on the south side of Franklin Avenue, and east of the Coney Island Plank Road; it is quadrangular in general form and is comparatively level, but is sufficiently inclined from the northeast to the southwest for good drainage fall. In respect to general lines of surface it is therefore well suited for the purpose to which it has been appropriated and will require comparatively little grading. On occasions of ceremony it will be generally desirable that the reviewing officer and staff, or personages to be honored, should pass through the Park and enter the Parade Ground from the circular vestibule or ante-park already laid out at its northwest angle. It will be convenient, therefore, that the reviewing point should be directly accessible and in full view from this entrance and we have arranged the design accordingly. It will then be desirable that the column of troops to be reviewed should enter the Parade Ground at the side opposite the reviewing point, and an entrance is prepared for this purpose in the design. A column, entering from the street by companies would then form at once into regimental lines and remain massed on the east side until required to march in review, when it would move in the usual manner along the north side, and return on the south side. Between the north and south sides, there is space sufficient for these movements but none to spare; we therefore assume that whenever a 86 street is opened on the south of the Parade Ground, it will be laid out entirely clear of the property now under control of your Commission. The reviewing officer would face east and occupy a position from which the whole field could be commanded at a glance, except the comparatively small space in his rear, which is proposed to be reserved for spectators. The boundary of the ground is here irregular and we have taken advantage of this peculiarity to set apart a site for such outbuildings as will, in all probability, be hereafter needed. As these buildings marked B on the plan should not come prominently into notice, and as it is undesirable to retain the present oblique line of the property as the western boundary of an otherwise rectangular field, we have arranged the space required for miscellaneous purposes in such a way that when viewed from any interior point the whole will appear a symmetrical quadrangle. A site for a building of moderate extent, is indicated on the extreme west and marked A on the plan; the first story of which might be partly open and furnish shelter from sun and rain for a large number of persons; in the second story accommodations could be arranged for the use of officers and invited guests. As a military parade always has interest for the public, and it is desirable for the sake of the military itself that it should receive attention, it is proper and just that some special provision should be made for the convenience of spectators, so that, without pushing or crowding for front places, or any disorder which would destroy their pleasure, a large concourse of persons may overlook the field. We therefore propose to appropriate a stretch of ground immediately in the rear of the position indicated for the reviewing officer, and marked CC on the plan, for the use of visitors, and to give its eastern face a good chance to see whatever may be going on; and as the Parade Ground itself will fall slightly towards this artificial bank, the advantages to be gained by this arrangement will be correspondingly increased. A large graveled area is shown on the plan at the west side, connected by roads on the north and south sides with a smaller graveled space on the east, the greater portion of the Parade Ground being included in one rectangular central plot of green sward. It is not proposed to reduce the ground available for military exercises by planting, but a belt of trees is indicated on the west and southwest border of the space to be occupied by visitors, for the purpose of offering protection from the afternoon sun. A continuous line of the American Elm is also proposed to be set out inside the boundary fence that 87 encloses the property, this tree being preferred because the natural angle of its branches adapts it to a situation where abundant clear space is wanted below the foliage. The plan we have thus presented is intended to be sufficiently comprehensive in its character to include all the more important requirements that naturally appertain to a Parade Ground, but in accordance with our instructions the design is so arranged that it can be carried out in several successive stages. Respectfully, OLMSTED, VAUX & CO., Landscape Architects.PLAN FOR THE PARADE GROU PROPOSED TO BE LAID OUT FOR KINGS C Hayward, States & Koch, 171 Pearl St. cor Pine N.Y. PLAN FOR THE PARADE GROUND OSED TO BE LAID OUT FOR KINGS COUNTY L. I. Hayward, States & Koch, 171 Pearl St. cor Pine N.Y. AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE IMPROVEMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF THE PUBLIC PARKS OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN. PASSED MAY 1ST, 1868. The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows: SECTION 1. The Commissioners of Prospect Park, in the City of Brooklyn, shall have full and exclusive power to lay out, regulate, improve and maintain, the Public Parks of the City of Brooklyn, and to govern, manage and direct the same, and the public use thereof; to make ordinances, rules and regulations for their proper management and government; to appoint such engineers, surveyors, clerks and other officers, and such police force as they may deem expedient, and to prescribe and define their respective duties and authority; to fix and regulate the compensation to be paid to the several persons so to be employed by them; to open, widen and grade the northerly side of Ninth Avenue, between Montgomery and Union street, and so much of Fifteenth street as was extended to meet the Coney Island Road, and laid down on the City Map, by an act entitled "An act to extend the boundaries of Prospect Park, in the City of Brooklyn," passed April 30th, 1866; to locate, erect and maintain fountains on the said Parks, or either of them, as well as upon the streets and avenues, which form the boundaries thereof, or intersect the same; to erect and maintain iron and other fences, around the said Park; to flag and reflag the sidewalks of said streets, roads or avenues, on the side which is adjacent to the said Parks, to increase the width thereof, and to set and reset curb and gutter stones, shade trees and lamp posts thereon; and to determine the particular location of any railroad track which is now or may be hereafter placed upon such road, street or avenue. They may also in the name of the City, or of the said Board of Commissioners, at their option, bring any action which they may deem proper, to recover damages for the breach of any agreement, express 2 or implied, relating to or growing out of the management or improvement of the said Parks; for penalties for the violation of any ordinance; or for injuries to personal or real property appertaining to the said Parks; or to recover the possession of any such property. The land taken (and set apart for a parade ground for the County of Kings), shall be the property of said County, as and for a Parade Ground; and shall be under the exclusive charge and management of the Commissioners of Prospect Park, in the City of Brooklyn, for the purposes of police and improvement as such parade ground.--An Act to provide a Parade Ground for the County of Kings, passed April 27, 1866. Sec. 7. The several pieces and parcels of ground, parks and squares in the City of Brooklyn, and the sidewalks, fences and trees adjacent thereto and being between any part of the same hereinafter mentioned, shall hereafter be under the care, management and control of the Commissioners of Prospect Park, as fully and completely as Prospect Park is or may hereafter to be under their control, care and management.--An Act in relation to Parks in the City of Brooklyn, passed May 9th, 1867. Sec. 1. The Parks and Squares aforesaid, are Washington Park, City Park, City Hall Park and Carrol Park.--Same Act. Sec. 2. The joint board of Aldermen and Supervisors of the City of Brooklyn shall annually cause to be levied and raised the requisite amount of moneys for carrying this act into effect and for the purposes thereof; and such money shall be promptly and regularly paid over to the said Park Commissioners for said purposes.--Same Act. Sec. 5. The Brooklyn Park Commissioners are hereby authorized to seize and impound any cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, geese, or other animals found running at large upon any of the Public Parks in the City of Brooklyn; to impose a penalty of not exceeding five dollars, with reasonable expenses, upon each animal so seized; and to enforce payment thereof in such manner as they shall by ordinance direct.-- Act of May 6th, 1868. § 2. Whenever the Board of Commissioners shall by resolution direct the streets or avenues specified in the preceding section of this act to be opened or widened, they shall fix a district of assessment beyond which the assessment for such opening or widening shall not extend. They shall then apply to the Supreme Court, at a special term thereof to be held in the second judicial district, upon a notice to be published for ten days successively in the corporation newspapers, for the appointment of three Commissioners to estimate the expense thereof, and the 3 amount of damages to be sustained by the owners of property, or other persons to be affected thereby, and to apportion and assess the same as hereinafter described, and the Court shall thereupon proceed to make such appointment. § 3. The Commissioners so to be appointed, shall, after having been duly sworn, proceed to estimate such expenses and damages; and after their report thereon shall have been confirmed by the said Court, they shall apportion and assess the same, upon the lands and premises benefitted by the said improvements within the district of assessment, to be fixed by the Park Commissioners, in the same manner as the Board of Assessors of the said city are by law directed to make similar assessments. And all laws now in force relative to the opening and widening of streets or avenues in the City of Brooklyn, subsequent to the appointment of Commissioners of estimate and the proceedings thereon, and the duties of the several persons to be employed therein, substituting the said Park Commissioners in place of the Common Council and Street Commissioner of said city, and substituting also the Commissioners of Estimate and Assessment in place of the Board of Assessors of the said city, and including the levy and collection of the assessments for such improvements and the lien thereof so far as they are not inconsistent with the provisions of this act, shall apply to and regulate all duties arising out of, or proceedings that may be had or taken under this act. But such proceedings shall continue to be under the direction of the said Park Commissioners, who shall act when required as the Common Council and Street Commissioner of said city would be required to act in relation thereto, and who shall employ an attorney and counsel and all such surveyors, clerk, appraisers, and other agents as may be required for the purpose of the said proceedings. § 4. The Commissioners of Prospect Park now in office shall continue to hold office for four years after the expiration of their present term of office, and until others are appointed in their places, and from and after the passage of this Act, the Mayor of Brooklyn shall be ex-officio a Commissioner of Prospect Park. They shall together constitute a Board of Commissioners to be hereafter known as "The Brooklyn Park Commission," a majority of whom, for the time being, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If any of the said Commissioners shall not reside in the City of Brooklyn, or shall neglect to attend the meetings of the Board, for three monthly meetings, consecutively, after having been duly notified of the time and place of meeting, his office shall be deemed to have been vacated; and after the present number of Commissioners shall for any reason have been reduced to eight, each succeeding vacancy shall be filled for the residue 4 of the term then vacant, by a majority of the ballots of the remaining members of the Board; and upon such ballotings it shall be no objection to a candidate that he has once been a member of the Board. § 5. The said Board shall, in the month of January, of every year, make and render to the Common Council of said city, a full report of their proceedings during the preceding year, with a detailed statement of their receipts and expenditures. And all ordinances or rules which they shall at any time adopt for the regulation, use and management of the said Parks, shall immediately thereafter be published for at least ten days, in two daily newspapers printed in said City. No member of the said Board shall receive any compensation for his services; and it shall be a misdemeanor punishable by fine and imprisonment, for any Commissioner to be in any way, directly or indirectly, interested in any contract for services to be rendered, or materials to be furnished for or on account of the said Parks, or either of them. None of the said Commissioners, nor any person, whether in the employ of said Commissioners or otherwise, shall have power to create any debt, obligation or liability, for or on account of the said Board, or the moneys or property under its control, except by the express authority of the Board, conferred at a meeting thereof, duly convened.-- (Act of May 2d, 1861--Sec. 24.) § 6. For the purpose of providing the means of laying out, constructing and improving Prospect Park, the Mayor, Comptroller, and City Clerk of the said City, are hereby authorized and required to create and issue, at such times and in such amounts as the said Commissioners shall, by resolution direct, the Bonds of the said City, payable within fifty years from the date thereof, and bearing an interest not exceeding seven per cent. per annum, payable semi-annually. The Bonds so to be issued not exceed three millions of dollars in amount, including the Bonds already issued for such purposes; and shall be sold by or under the direction of the said Comptroller, at not less than par, either at public or private sale; and the moneys to arise therefrom shall be called the Brooklyn Park Improvement Fund. All Bonds heretofore issued for the improvement of Prospect Park, shall contribute a portion of the same Fund; and all the provisions of the Act passed May second, eighteen hundred and sixty-one, entitled "An Act to lay out a Public Park and Parade Ground for the City of Brooklyn, and to alter the Commissioners' Map of said City, passed April seventeenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-one," which relates to the redemption of Bonds, and payment of awards, and improvements, and the creation and management of a sinking fund applicable thereto, shall 5 apply to and regulate all Bonds that may be issued for the purposes of the said Improvement Fund; and for the payment of all such Bonds, issued and to be issued, with the interest to accrue thereon, all lands within the boundaries of the said Park, are hereby specifically pledged. § 7. In case the said Commissioners shall at any time require money for immediate use, before it can be realized by a sale of Bonds, the said Comptroller, on the request of the said Commissioners, may pledge such Bonds for a temporary loan of money thereon. All money to be realized from sales or pledges of Bonds, shall be immediately deposited with the Treasurer of the said City, to the credit of the said Improvement Fund, and shall be held and used for the construction, improvement and maintenance of the said Park, and the adornment thereof. The said Board of Commissioners, through their President and Secretary, shall, from time to time, make drafts upon the said Comptroller, for such amounts as may be required for the prosecution of the Park business, after the same shall have been authorized by the Board; each of such drafts shall specify the object for which it is drawn, and the Treasurer shall pay the same, on the order of the Comptroller, countersigned by the Mayor and City Clerk. § 8. In order to provide for the maintenance and general improvement of said Parks, there shall be added to the general tax to be levied in said City, in each and every year, each sum of money, not exceeding one hundred thousand dollars, in any one year, as the said Board of Commissioners shall, from time to time, by resolution determine to be necessary for the proper maintenance, improvement and ornamentation of the said Parks. The Joint Board of Supervisors and Common Council of the City of Brooklyn, shall annually cause the amount so determined by the said Commissioners, to be raised and levied in like manner as other taxes are raised and levied in said City, and the same shall be promptly paid over to the said Park Commissioners for the purposes aforesaid. § 9. Real or personal property may be granted, conveyed, devised or bequeathed to the said City, for the improvement or ornamentation of the said Parks, or either of them, or for the establishment or maintenance within their limits, of museums, zoological or other gardens, collections of natural history, observatories or works of art, upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon by and between the grantors or donors thereof, and the said Board of Commissioners. But all property so to be granted, conveyed, devised or bequeathed, and the rents, issues and profits thereof, must be subject to the management and control of the said board, and may be improved and added to in its discretion, and shall be protected, preserved and arranged by the 6 said Board, for public use and enjoyment, under such rules and regulations as the said Board shall from time to time prescribe. Admissions to said gardens and museums may be either free to the public, or upon the payment of such sums of money as the Board may determine; and all income to be derived from such admissions, shall be applied to the improvement and maintenance of such gardens and museums, or of the said Parks. The Board may also agree for the management or maintenance of any of the said gardens or other institutions, with any society, incorporated or to be incorporated, under any law of this State, but such gardens or other institutions shall always remain subject to the control of the said Park Commissioners. § 10. This Act shall take effect immediately. AN ACT FOR THE FUTURE EXTENSION OF PROSPECT PARK IN THE CITY OF BROOKLYN. PASSED APRIL 24TH, 1868. The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows: SECTION 1. The Commissioners of Prospect Park in the City of Brooklyn, are hereby authorized for an in behalf of the said city, to acquire title to all those certain lots, pieces or parcels of land in said city, which, taken together, are described as follows: Beginning at the easterly corner of Ninth avenue and Third street and running thence south-westerly along Ninth avenue to a point between Fourteenth and Fifteenth street, which is upon the circumference of a circle of one hundred and fifty-four feet radius, of which the centre is at the intersection of the middle line of Ninth avenue with the middle line of Fifteenth ; thence westerly and again easterly following said circumference for more than three-fourths of said circle, to its intersection with the north-easterly side of Fifteenth street; thence south-easterly along said north-easterly side of Fifteenth street to the easterly corner of Tenth avenue and Fifteenth street; thence north-easterly along Tenth avenue and also along said park to the north-easterly side of Third street; and thence north-westerly along said street to Ninth avenue at the place of beginning. § 2. The lands described in the last preceding section of this act, are hereby declared to be a public place, and shall be deemed to have been taken by the City of Brooklyn, and to have been opened for public use, as an additional part of Prospect Park; and from and after the passage of this act the said lands shall be laid down on the Commissioner's Map of the said city as if the same had been originally laid down upon said map, and had been taken and declared open as a Park pursuant to the provisions of an act entitled "An act to revise and amend the several acts relating to the City of Brooklyn," passed April fourth, eighteen hundred and fifty. And all streets, avenues and highways intersecting the said lands or any part thereof, except Ninth avenue and Fifteenth street, are hereby closed and discontinued and are stricken from the said city map so far as they run through or intersect the said lands. 8 § 3. The said Commissioners may apply to the Supreme Court in the second judicial district at any special term thereof, upon a notice to be published ten days successively in two newspapers printed in the City of Brooklyn for the appointment of five commissioners of estimate and assessment, for the purposes of this act; and the Court shall thereupon proceed to their appointment as directed by an act passed May second, eighteen hundred and sixty-one, entitled "An act to amend an Act to lay out a Public Park and Parade Ground for the City of Brooklyn, and to alter the Commissioners' Map of said city," passed April seventeenth, eighteen hundred and sixty. § 4. The commissioners so to be appointed shall estimate the value of the lands and premises taken by this act, and the loss and damage to be sustained by the owners or other persons interested therein, in consequence of their relinquishing the same to the city. And after their report thereon shall have been confirmed by the said court, they shall apportion such part thereof, together with such part of the whole amount of awards and expenses heretofore taken and now constituting Prospect Park, as they may deem just and proper, upon any lands outside of the said park which they shall deem to be benefitted by the opening of the said park, in proportion to such benefit. One twentieth part of the amount thus apportioned, shall be annually assessed in each and every year, for twenty successive years, upon the lands respectively charged therewith, together with interest from the time of the confirmation of the report on assessment, to be computed from year to year, upon the respective amounts remaining unpaid, at the time of making such annual assessment; which interest shall be added to be said assessment and form part thereof. And the said assessments and interests shall be annually included in the taxes to be levied upon such lands, and shall be levied and collected in the same manner as other taxes upon real estate annually for twenty successive years. The proceeds of such collections, shall, immediately after their receipt, be paid over to the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund in the City of Brooklyn, to be applied to the redemption of all city bonds, issued and to be issued, for the payment of the purchase and improvement of lands taken for said park. But any person interested in the said lands or any of them, may at any time pay to the said commissioners of the sinking fund, the amount so to be assessed thereon with interest to the time of payment; and thereupon his said lands shall be discharged from the said assessment. § 5. The Commissioners of Estimate and Assessment heretofore appointed in pursuance of an act entitled "An act to extend the boundaries of Prospect Park in the City of Brooklyn," passed April thirtieth, 9 eighteen hundred and sixty-six, are hereby discharged from the performance of all further duties under that act; and all services, acts and duties which are thereby directed to be done and performed by the said commissioners, and which remain unperformed by them in relation to assessments for benefit or otherwise, are hereby devolved upon, and shall be performed (reference being had to the principles of assessment indicated in the last preceding section of this act) by the commissioners who are to be appointed under this act. The expenses, fees and compensation, which the said Commissioners and other persons employed under that act, may be entitled to receive thereupon shall be added to and paid as part of the general expenses incurred and to be incurred for the opening of the said Park; and the Comptroller and Treasurer of the said city are hereby directed to pay the same, after they shall have been adjusted and taxed, in the manner directed by the said last mentioned act, and after the same shall have been duly certified by the counsel of the Park Commissioners. And for the purpose of making such payments, so many and such an amount of additional park bonds as may be necessary, may be issued and sold by the said city authorities. § 6. The Commissioners of Estimate and Assessment who are to be appointed under this act shall, except so far as otherwise directed by this act, have the same powers, discharge the same duties, and be entitled to the same compensation, that are conferred by, or imposed upon, or allowed to, the Commissioners referred to in the act specified in the last preceding section of this act. But the Board of Commissioners of Prospect Park shall employ an attorney, clerk, appraisers and surveyor for the purposes of this act, whose compensation shall be included in the general expenses to be incurred under this act. And the awards for lands taken under this act shall be payable upon the certificate of the counsel of the said board. § 7. The payment of all damages to be awarded, as well as the general expenses to be incurred in pursuance of this act, shall become due and payable immediately after the confirmation of the said commissioners' reports thereon; but no expenses or compensation to persons who are to be employed under this act shall be allowed or paid, unless the same shall have been first duly taxed and certified as directed in the fifth section of this act. For the payment of the said awards and expenses, the bonds of the city shall, from time to time, be issued and sold in the manner directed by the act entitled "An act to extend the boundaries of Prospect Park, in the City of Brooklyn," passed April 30th, 1866. Such bonds shall bear a similar interest, and be paid in the same manner, and within a like period, as the bonds referred to in that act; and10 for the redemption thereof, the lands described in the first section of this act are hereby specifically pledged. § 8. The title to the lands described in the first section of this act shall, immediately after the confirmation of the said Commissioners' report upon valuation, vest forever, in fee simple, absolute, in the City of Brooklyn. And the said lands shall henceforth form a part of Prospect Park, and be under the exclusive management and control of the Board of Commissioners of Prospect Park, in the same manner and to the same extent as the other portions of the said Park now are, or may at any time be, under the management and control of the said Board. § 9. All the provisions of the several acts referred to in the third and fifth sections of this act, and of any act amendatory thereof, relating to the issue, use and sale of bonds, and the redemption and payment thereof, with the interest to accrue thereon, as well as in relation to the taking and paying for the lands and premises referred to in this act; and the duties, powers and authority of the Board of Commissioners of Prospect Park, as well as of the said Commissioners of Estimate and Assessment, and their appointment and proceedings, including the confirmation of their reports by the Supreme Court, which are not incompatible with the provisions of this act, shall apply to and regulate all bonds that may be issued, and all acts, proceedings, powers and authority that may be had, taken or exercised under or by virtue of this act. § 10. This act shall take effect immediately. AN ACT TO OPEN AND WIDEN PORTIONS OF SACKETT, DOUGLASS AND PRESIDENT STREETS, AND OTHERWISE ALTER THE COMMISSIONERS' MAP OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN. PASSED MAY 6TH, 1868. The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows: SECTION I. Sackett street, in the City of Brooklyn, is hereby widened from Washington Avenue easterly to the southerly limit or boundary line of the said City, to the width of two hundred and ten feet, and shall be opened to that width by adding seventy feet in width to each side of the said street, as now laid down on the Commissioners' Map of the said city. And President street and Douglass street are hereby also widened from New York Avenue easterly to the said City line, to the width of one hundred feet; and shall be opened to that width by adding fifteen feet in width to each side of the said several streets, as now laid down on the said map. § 2. So much of Degraw street as lies easterly from New York Avenue, and extends to the said City limits, is hereby narrowed to the width of thirty-five feet, by taking away thirty-five feet in width on the southerly side thereof; and so much of Union street as lies easterly from the said Avenue, and extends to said City limits, is hereby also narrowed to the width of thirty-five feet by taking away thirty-five feet in width from the northerly side thereof; which said southerly side of Degraw street, and northerly side of Union street, are hereby abandoned for street purposes, and shall be stricken from the said City Map. § 3. No buildings or other erections, except porches, piazzas, fences fountains, and statuary, shall remain or be at any time placed upon any of the lots, fronting upon either of the said streets, so to be widened, within thirty feet from the line or sides of the said several streets respectively. The intervening spaces of land on each side of the said several streets, shall be used for court yards only, and may be planted with trees and shrubbery, and otherwise ornamented, at the discretion of the respective owners or occupants thereof. And no building now12 standing, or that may be hereafter erected, on any lot fronting or to front, on either Union or Degraw streets so narrowed, shall ever be used for any purpose other than a stable, carriage house, conservatory for plants, or green house; but no livery or railway stable, or car house, shall at any time be erected, or maintained, upon any of the said lots. And at no time shall there be erected, established or carried on, in any manner whatever, upon any land to be effected by the said widenings, or either of then, any slaughter house, tallow chandlery, furnace, foundry, nail or other factory, or any manufactory for making starch, glue, varnish, vitriol, oil, or gas, or for tanning, dressing, repairing or keeping skins, hides, or leather, or any distillery, brewery, or sugar bakery, lime kiln, railway or other stable, or depot, or any other manufactory, trade, business or calling, which may be in any wise dangerous, noxious, or offensive, to the neighboring inhabitants. § 4. The Commissioners of Prospect Park are hereby directed to take proceedings, within sixty days after the passage of this Act, to open, grade, and otherwise improve the said several streets, described in the First and Second Sections of this Act. And for the purpose of determining the amount to be paid to the owners of the lands and tenements required to be taken for the purposes of the several changes and improvements contemplated by this Act, the said Park Commissioners shall cause application to be made to the Supreme Court, in the Second Judicial District, at a Special Term thereof, upon a notice to be personally served upon the Counsel of the said City, and to be also published ten days, successively, in the Corporation newspapers, for the appointment of three Commissioners to estimate the expense of such widenings and openings, and the amount of damages to be sustained by the owners of land, and all other persons to be affected thereby, and to apportion and assess the same, as hereinafter directed, and the Court shall thereupon proceed to make such appointment. § 5. Before any assessment for such widening or opening is made, the Commissioners of Prospect Park shall, by resolution, fix a district of assessment, beyond which the assessment therefor shall not extend. § 6. The Commissioners so to be appointed by the Court, shall, after having been duly sworn, proceed to estimate such expenses and damages; and in making the estimate, they shall include the damages, if any, to be sustained by any person or persons, for being so obliged to build back from the line or sides of any of the said several streets, or for being restricted in the use of the lots fronting on said streets, as specified in the Third Section of this Act; and after their report thereon shall have been confirmed by the said Court, they shall apportion and assess the amount thereof, in such manner as they shall deem just 13 and equitable, upon the lands and premises in their judgment benefitted by the improvement, within the district of assessment so to be limited, by the said Park Commissioners. § 7. All laws now in force relative to widening, opening and improving streets and avenues in the City of Brooklyn, subsequent to the appointment of Commissioners of Estimate, and the proceedings thereon, and the duties of the several persons to be employed therein, substituting the Commissioners of Prospect Park in the place of the Common Council, and also in the place of the Street Commissioner of said City, and substituting the said Commissioners of Estimate and Assessment, in place of the Board of Accessors of said City, so far as relates to the opening of streets and avenues, including also payment for the work, and the levy and collection of the assessments for such improvements, and the lien thereof, so far as they are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, shall apply to and regulate all proceedings that may be had or taken under this Act. But such proceedings shall continue to be, under the direction of the Commissioners of Prospect Park, who shall stand in the place of, and act when required, as the Common Council of the City, or the Street Commissioner thereof, would be required to act in the premises; and they shall employ an Attorney and Counsel, and all such Clerks, Surveyors, and other agents, as may be required for the purposes of this Act. § 8. The said Commissioners of Estimate and Assessment shall be allowed to make use of any maps on file in any of the public offices of the said City; and shall each receive five dollars a day for every day actually spent in the discharge of his duty. Which expenses and compensation, together with the room hire, stationary, and other necessary expenses of the said Commissioners, as well as the expenses and compensation of all other persons necessarily employed under the foregoing provisions of this Act, shall be included in the general expenses to be incurred herein. § 9. The streets specified in the First and Second Sections of this Act shall be laid out according to a plan to be devised or adopted by the said Park Commissioners. The said streets shall also be graded, paved, curbed and guttered, in such manner as the said Park Commissioners shall direct, and may be re-named, and planted with suitable shade trees, or otherwise improved in their discretion; and they may construct such roads and walks through the said streets, or any of them, and make use of such material of construction or pavements as they shall deem best. And Sackett street shall be graded, within one year after the confirmation of the report of Commissioners of Estimate and Assessment. 14 § 10. All expenses incident to the improvements specified in the Ninth Section of this Act, with the exception of so much thereof as shall appertain to one hundred and ten feet in width in the middle of Sackett street, after having been duly certified by the said Park Commissioners to the Board of Assessors of the City of Brooklyn, shall be by said Board apportioned and assessed as other local improvements are by law directed to be apportioned and assessed in the said City. The residue of the said expenses appertaining to the improvement of the said one hundred and ten feet in width, through the middle of Sackett street, shall also be apportioned and assessed upon the district of assessment, to be fixed by the said Park Commissioners, as directed in the Fifth and Sixth Sections of this Act; and the said assessments shall constitute liens upon the several parcels of property to be charged therewith, and shall be levied and collected in the same manner as other local assessments are levied and collected in the said city. § 11. After Sackett street shall have been opened so much thereof as lies eastward, of Prospect Park, shall be under the exclusive control and management of the said Park Commissioners; and they shall make and enforce proper rules and regulations for the public use thereof. And after it shall have been improved as hereinbefore directed, its subsequent maintenance shall be provided for in the same manner as the public parks, now under the charge of the said Park Commissioners, are provided for. § 12. This Act shall take effect immediately. AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR WIDENING THE CONEY ISLAND PLANK ROAD IN THE COUNTY OF KINGS, AND FOR THE SUBSEQUENT MANAGEMENT THEREOF. PASSED MAY 15TH, 1868. The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows: SECTION 1. It shall be lawful for the Commissioners of Prospect Park, in the City of Brooklyn, by resolution adopted at a legal meeting held by them, to order and direct the widening and extension of the Coney Island Plank Road in Kings County, or any part thereof, (but such widening not to exceed forty feet,) in such manner as they shall judge expedient; to fix a district or limit of assessment within which the property benefitted shall be assessed to defray the expense of such improvement, and to cause a proper survey and map of such proposed improvement and assessment district to be made. Previous notice of the time and place of such meeting, stating therein the intention of such Commissioners to take action under this Section, shall be published fourteen days, successively, in all the daily newspapers printed and published in the City of Brooklyn, and they shall hear parties interested at the time and place specified, and at any subsequent time or times to which the meetings shall be adjourned, in relation to the subject, and such adjournment are hereby authorized. § 2. The said Commissioners shall cause application to be made to the Supreme Court of the Second Judicial District, and said Court may select and appoint three disinterested persons, who shall be residents of said County, to estimate and assess the expense of said improvement, and the amount of damages, including the value of land taken, and benefits to be sustained and derived therefrom, by the owners of such lands and buildings, as may be affected thereby, and by the Coney Island Plant Road Company; which said persons, after being duly sworn before some officer authorized to administer oaths, faithfully to perform the duties devolved upon then, shall diligently proceed with the same; and after the completion of such estimate and assessment, shall make a de-16 tailed report thereof. Said report shall be at all times subject to review and correction, until the same shall be deposited with the said Commissioners of Prospect Park. Notice of the time and place of meeting for the purpose of hearing objections to said report, and for reviewing and correcting the same, shall be published fourteen days, successively, in all the daily newspapers printed and published in the City of Brooklyn, and they shall hear parties interested, at the time and place specified, and at any subsequent time or times, to which the meeting shall be adjourned, in relation to the subject, and such adjournments are hereby authorized. After hearing such objections and making such review, and the corrections, if any, of the said report, the same shall be deposited with the said Commissioners of Prospect Park, and not before. § 3. Upon said report being so deposited, it shall be the duty of said Commissioners of Prospect Park, to cause at least twenty days previous notice to be given by publication thereof, daily, in all the daily newspapers printed and published in the City of Brooklyn, that application will be made at a Special Term of the Supreme Court of the Second Judicial District, to be held in said County of Kings, at a time to be therein designated, to have the said report confirmed. Appeal may be taken from said report by service of notice on said Commissioners, at least six days before the time fixed for such application, setting forth the name of the objector, and a brief statement of the nature of the objections; and at the time of such application, such appeal shall be heard and decided by the Court, under such regulations as it shall prescribe for that purpose. The said Court shall have power to confirm, alter, amend or refer back, the said report, as may be deemed proper, and to make any further order in the premises, until the final confirmation thereof. § 4. After the final confirmation of the report, the same shall be filed in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Kings; and upon the payment of the awards to the parties entitled thereto, the said Commissioners of Prospect Park shall be authorized to cause such improvement to be made. Sixty days shall be allowed to owners of lands and premises within which to remove their fences and buildings and to widen and extend the said road on their respective premises; after which period the said Commissioners shall cause the said road to be widened and extended according to the plan adopted, in such parts thereof, where the same shall not already have been done. § 5. The said Commissioners of Prospect Park shall have power to appoint a Collector of the assessments for such improvement, who shall give bonds for the faithful performance of his duties, and shall pay over the moneys, when collected, to said Commissioners, who, upon the final 17 collection of such assessments, shall pay the awards to the persons entitled thereto; said Collector shall be entitled to a compensation of one per cent. on all sums that shall be paid to him, within four weeks after notice shall have been published in all of said newspapers of the time and place where such payments may be made, and at least one day in every week, for four successive weeks, after the completion of the publication of the said notice, shall be designated for that purpose. After the expiration of the said four weeks, he shall be entitled to a compensation of five per cent. on the money thereafter collected by him. Such compensation shall in either case be paid by the party assessed, over and above his assessment. § 6. The said Supreme Court shall have power to make such order as shall be found necessary in protecting the interests of minors and incompetent persons, who may be interested in said proceedings. § 7. All assessments made and confirmed as aforesaid, shall be a lien upon the lands and premises upon which the same shall have been laid; and such lands and premises shall be subject to sale therefor, if the same be not paid within sixty days from the time of such confirmation. The present existing provisions of law applicable to sales for assessments in the City of Brooklyn, to redemptions and leases therefor, and to the respective rights of the parties interested therein, shall apply to this Act, where not inconsistent therewith, except that where the duties are thereby imposed upon the Common Council of said City, they shall devolve upon the Commissioners of Prospect Park, and where imposed upon subordinate officers of the City, they shall be performed by persons specially appointed therefor by said Commissioners. § 8. The persons appointed under section two of this Act, to perform the duties therein specified, shall be severally entitled to three dollars per day, for the time they are actually employed, but not to exceed fifty days; and the said sum, with the Surveyor's compensation, and a compensation to Counsel not to exceed two hundred and fifty dollars, for services in aid of the persons so appointed under section two (all of which shall be taxed by one of the Justices of the Supreme Court in the Second Judicial District, after a notice of the time and place of taxation, published for ten days successively in said newspapers,) shall form a part of the expense of the improvement. § 9. This Act shall take effect immediately. Prospect Park, section of Plantings Scale 1/8 of an Inch to a FootPlantings Scale 1/8 of an Inch to a FootSection through centre of North Planting at Right Angles to Major Axis. section g. f. Scale 1/8 of an Inch to a Footon through centre of North Planting at Right Angles to Major Axis. section g. f. Scale 1/8 of an Inch to a FootPLAN SHOWING PROPOSED IMPROVEMENT IN THE NORTHERN APPROACH 10 PROSPECT PARK BROOKLYN [?] 1865 [?] VAUX AND WITHERS ARCHITECTS [?]142 8 TENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BROOKLYN PARK COMMISSIONERS JANUARY, 1870. BROOKLYN: EAGLE PRINT, 30 AND 32 FULTON STREET. 1870. LULLWOOD BRIDGE OLMSTED VAUX & CO LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS TENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BROOKLYN PARK COMMISSIONERS. JANUARY, 1870. BROOKLYN: EAGLE PRINT, 30 AND 32 FULTON STREET. 1870. THE BOARD OF BROOKLYN PARK COMMISSIONERS. 1869. JAMES S.T. STRANAHAN, ABIEL A. LOW, WALTER S. GRIFFITH, SEYMOUR L. HUSTED, JOHN H. PRENTICE, ABRAHAM B. BAYLIS, EDWARDS W. FISKE, STEPHEN HAYNES, WILLIAM MARSHALL, ISAAC VAN ANDEN, MARTIN KALBAFLEISCH, Ex-of. President, JAMES S. T. STRANAHAN. Secretary, JOHN H. PRENTICE. Comptroller and Counsel, JOHN N. TAYLOR. Landscape Architects and Superintendents, OLMSTED, VAUX & CO. Assistant Architect, EDWARD C. MILLER. Engineer in Charge, CHARLES C. MARTIN. Assistant Engineers in Charge, JOHN BOGART, JOHN Y. CULYER. STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: JOHN H. PRENTICE, WALTER S. GRIFFITH, SEYMOUR L. HUSTED, STEPHEN HAYNES, ISAAC VAN ANDEN, EDWARDS W. FISKE. FINANCE COMMITTEE: ABRAHAM B. BAYLIS, ABIEL A. LOW, MARTIN KALBFLEISCH, WILLIAM MARSHALL. AUDITING COMMITTEE: WALTER S. GRIFFITH, JOHN H. PRENTICE, ISAAC VAN ANDEN. REPORT OF THE BROOKLYN PARK COMMISSIONERS. To the Honorable Mayor and Common Council of the City of Brooklyn: THE Brooklyn Park Commissioners respectfully submit to the Common Council of the City this report of their proceedings for the year 1869, with a statement of their receipts and expenditures for the same period. Their last report referred to the proceedings of Commissioners who had been recently appointed by the Supreme Court to estimate the value of land added to Prospect Park at its Western angle, and suggested the hope, that their forthcoming report on damages, would be of such a character as to justify the Board in asking the Supreme Court to ratify and confirm the same. The report was soon afterwards present ed to the Board, and awarded to the owners of land the damages sustained by them, amounting in the whole to one million seven hundred and five thousand two hundred and forty-eight dollars and thirty-two cents. This amount, however, included the expense of the proceedings, together with the expense of the subsequent proceedings to assess property adjacent to the Park for special benefit; which yet remains to be done. Although the estimate 6 seemed large when compared with former prices, it was the result of a fair and impartial examination of the claims of the parties in interest, made by five of our most judicious and reliable citizens; and there was no question that the property had been greatly increased in value by its immediate contiguity to the Park, during the time that it acquisition had been unfortunately delayed by legislative inaction. The Board also considered the great importance, if not the absolute necessity of this addition to the Park, and did not therefore hesitate to accept the report of the Commissioners, and apply to the Court for its confirmation. The bonds authorized by law were at once issued by the City authorities, and met with a ready sale. The awards for land taken were promptly paid, and the Board forthwith entered into possession of the premises. In an artistic point of view this acquisition fully justifies the high expectations of its value originally entertained by the Board. And if we are to judge from the unqualified expressions of admiration with which the subsequent opening of the drive through these beautifully wooded and picturesque grounds has been greeted, the Board are well assured that public sentiment entirely approves of their action in this behalf. The same Commissioners are now rapidly proceeding with the assessment which the law directs them to make upon property specially benefitted by the opening of the Park. And the Board have reason to expect that when that Commission shall have finished their work, Park indebtedness will have been very largely diminished. It is but justice to the Assessment Commissioners to add that they are engaged in an arduous and important work; that their operations extend over a large district of country, and that they have been prevented by the terms of the law from commencing their labors until after the confirmation of the last report on land taken for Park extension. 7 The Commissioners were much pleased to find that the subject of laying out streets and avenues through the County of Kings, so as to conform, as nearly as may be practicable and judicious, to the streets and avenues of our City, to which subject they have repeatedly called the attention of the Common Council, was acted upon by the Legislature at its last session. The present Supervisors of the County towns, in conjunction with the President of the Board of Supervisors, were appointed a Board of Commissioners for the purpose of maturing a permanent plan of improvement. That Board have since appointed an experienced Surveyor to make the requisite examinations, and to prepare a map of the streets and avenues upon a plan suggested by them; and it is understood that the result of their labors will soon be submitted to public inspection. One of the most striking features of the new plan, bearing directly upon the interests of the Park, and of our City, will be found to be a noble avenue, two hundred and ten feet wide, stretching southerly from Prospect Park towards Coney Island, but terminating for the present at the newly established Fair Grounds. This avenue will form another grand approach to the Park, and is to be laid out under the liberal auspices of the owners of the land through which it passes, at their own expense, and has been placed under the control and management of the Park Commissioners. This splendid improvement is similar to that which was formerly suggested by the Board, on the line of Sackett street, as a suitable approach to the Park from the East, and will soon be thrown open to public use; and when properly regulated, planted with shade trees, and extended to the ocean, terminating in a broad terrace upon the beach, as it must eventually do, will form a most attractive seaside promenade and drive.8 The enterprise of our neighbors has also placed another fine improvement in the hands of the Park Commissioners; which consists in the widening of the Coney Island road to the width of one hundred feet; thereby opening up a direct avenue to the sea, and at the same time throwing open to the public another opportunity of selecting sites for suburban residence unequaled for beauty of situation, for salubrity of air, and for convenient access to business centers by any locality on the Island. By means of these and of other kindred improvements connected with Park extension, in which the Board have been engaged, land throughout the County of Kings has greatly increased in value, the taxable property in the rural districts having been nearly doubled during the last four years. While we rejoice with our friends in the country towns that they are the fortunate possessors of such valuable property, we heartily congratulate our citizens at large upon the splendid opportunities of improvement which are about to be thrown open to them. It is thus, in connection with those magnificent enterprises of bridging and of tunneling the East River, which have already engaged the attention of the Common Council, that the Board expect to realize those broad plans of public improvement which they have from time to time suggested by their annual reports and otherwise, as opportunity presented: and it is thus that they hope to establish for Brooklyn that reputation which she justly merits, of a highly favored quarter of the great metropolis of this Western world, possessing superior natural advantages in many respects over her more wealthy neighbor, but particularly as a healthful and desirable place of residence for her men of business. The success of our Park enterprise, now so generally admitted, is believed to have contributed largely to the pro- 9 duction of the increased values to which the Commissioners have referred. On reference to the assessment rolls of the City's property, they find that since the commencement of active operations on the Park, there has been added to her tax list the large amount of $77,232,410, the Board of Assessors having felt themselves justified by its very obvious increase, in adding 25 per cent. to the list of her taxable property for the year 1869. The amount of such property is now $196,624,110, while in the rural districts it is $11,808,933, making the total amount now standing on the Assessor's books, $208,433,043; nearly two-fifths thereof having been added since the period above referred to. It should be observed, also, in order to a proper appreciation of these facts, that a large portion of this increase, to wit: the sum of $32,820,059, has arisen in the Wards immediately surrounding the Park, including the town of Flatbush, thereby increasing the City's annual income nearly a million of dollars. The rapid increase of our population, as well as the number of houses built for their accommodation, fully sustains the action of the Assessors. During the time referred to, our City has trebled its former annual rate of house building, and she has actually erected nearly one-half more houses within the last three years than were built in the City of New York. That our territorial expansion corresponds therewith, appears from the many miles of new streets opened, graded and paved within the past year; while more than eight additional miles of re-pavement, having an improved surface which supersedes the old fashioned cobble stone pavement, has opened up several direct and easy approaches to the Park. The population of our City, also, according to the statistics of the past forty years, has been found to double in rather less than twelve years; the increase of New York being at about one-half thatfrom the low banks of the stream, but not following the smaller and more rapid turns. Between the two highways thus formed there would be a strip of lower ground with the stream running through it, generally two or three hundred feet wide, but adjusted according to the topography which, (the bed of the stream having been deepened at a few points, so as to save it from flooding and admit of drainage) might be laid out with a walk on each bank and other conveniences to make it suitable for public use as a pleasure ground. The curving boarder roads from which it would be overlooked, having been made of sufficient width and shaded by trees would serve as pleasure drives. A pleasant public ground of this character at Leipsic formed in and on the banks of an old fosse may be remembered If it should be desired to extend the scheme beyond the river South from Park Street, advantage may be taken of a feature which while it has great natural interest will also offer considerable difficulty to the extension of the street12 And the Commissioners here deem it worthy of notice in passing, that the map annexed to that report is the same design, without material alteration or addition, upon which the landscape architects of the Board have been working from the beginning of their operations, and upon which they still continue to work. Being satisfied with the favorable expression of public opinion thus obtained, the Commissioners applied to the Legislature for the additional territory required to carry out their enlarged plan of improvement, at the same time asking for authority to sell so much of the land on the east side of Flatbush Avenue as was not embraced in the plan, in order that they might have means to pay for what they proposed to annex on the other side. They obtained a portion of the land required, but, much to their regret, were refused the fifty acres referred to in a former part of this report, and which constituted one of the prominent features of their design. Their request for permission to sell was also denied, although it had received the approval of the Senate, and is believed to have influenced that body in the passage of the bill for Park extension, which was acted upon by them on the same day. After Park areas had been thus far extended, the Commissioners, hoping that the residue of the land required to carry out the improved plan would yet be conceded to them, deemed it expedient to commence the improvement. They began upon that part of the ground which was originally selected for a Park, and where their expenditures had been limited in amount: but it proved to be the most difficult, and consequently the most expensive to operate upon. Among other difficulties, it became necessary to accommodate the Park grades to those established for the surrounding streets of the City, which grades had recent- 13 ly been much reduced; and the transformation of the ground to meet these changes could only be accomplished at very considerable expense. The Commissioners however believe that the expenditure is not to be regretted; and they take this opportunity of expressing the opinion that the style and finish with which this as well as other Park improvements have been executed, have had much to do with the great increase in values to which they have above referred. It was not so much the fact that Brooklyn was to have a large Park, as it was the discovery that her Park was to possess an artistic beauty and finish equal to any Park extant, which was to sustain her in her competition with the Parks of other cities. The Commissioners have claimed for Brooklyn the advantage of being a more desirable place of residence in many respects than New York, and they think it can be readily shown that she possesses finer sites for city residences, in connection with the refined enjoyments of a Park, than can be found in that city. She has even now, under her own control, a district of country, east of Flatbush Avenue, in the highest degree attractive, and which, if properly improved, would open up another large district Southerly and Easterly therefrom, to the immense advantage of our City, both socially and financially. But in order to develop these advantages fully, they think it will be necessary to revise the whole street plan of this quarter of the City, while it is yet under easy municipal control, and to lay it out anew in such a way as will not only be much more convenient and useful to the public, than it would be under any other plan yet suggested, but must make it perfectly apparent that we have, in Brooklyn, in close connection with our Park, more desirable places of residence than can be found elsewhere in any city. The lower portion of the map which is annexed to this report will further explain this14 last suggestion of the Commissioners, while it also indicates the location and extent of land which they propose to sell. If sold, it would of course be with proper restrictions in regard to the character of the improvements to be made upon it, and with suitable reservations of streets and avenues. The Commissioners intend to reserve, besides the avenues which they propose to lay out with wide planted borders, and the Reservoir ground, with an ornamental garden around it, a body of land two hundred and sixty feet in depth fronting the Park, to be held by the City as a site for public buildings and institutions, as stated in their last annual report. They do not propose to interrupt, but to improve and amplify all the direct lines of communication through the district east of the Park, retaining for Park purposes every foot of land from which a view of the bay or of the sea can be had. But after making all these reservations, there will still remain a body of over one hundred acres of land, to be disposed of with such restrictions as will insure the erection upon it of strictly first class dwelling houses. A former report estimated the proceeds of such sale at two and a half millions of dollars; but the Commissioners are advised that their estimate was too low by at least half a million of dollars. If to this is added a million for its improvement when retained as a Park, which the experience of the Commissioners in dealing with ground of a similar character on the other side of the avenue, induces them to believe would be a fair estimate of the expense, the difference to the City between selling and retaining this land, will amount to at least four millions of dollars. But this is not all: for if we double the price of land as a fair representation of the value of the buildings which would probably be erected upon it, we shall add immensely to the taxable property 15 of our City, besides increasing her annual revenue by at least half a million of dollars. The general views upon the subject of a sale here presented, were more fully expressed by the President of this Commission, at a public discussion of the matter to which the Park Commissioners invited their fellow citizens last Spring, at the Court House: and they now append a copy of the statement then made, respectfully soliciting a candid consideration of the arguments therein contained. With regard to the ability of the City to make a good title to the land proposed to be sold, the Commissioners entertain no doubt. When this land was first taken and it became necessary to raise money for the payment of awards, City bonds were issued and put upon the market for sale. The chief security for these bonds consisted in a statutory lien upon the Park; and it was objected by capitalists that, for as much as the City had not the fee of the land, but took merely an easement similar to that by which a street is held, if the holder of the security should be compelled to realize, he could have no permanent possession of the land, since it would revert to the owner of the fee as soon as it ceased to be used for Park purposes. In this respect, the security was found to be inferior to that of the City's water bonds, where the entire property of the department, including reservoirs, pipes and hydrants, is pledged for payment. In order, therefore, to furnish a new credit for Park bonds, which should make them equal in this respect to the water bonds, an Act of the Legislature was passed in the Spring of 1865, authorizing proceedings to be taken for the purpose of transferring the ultimate fee of the land to the City. Such proceedings were accordingly had, the residuary interest of the owners was valued by Commissioners appointed by the Supreme Court, and payment made to the parties. This16 payment necessarily included the whole value of the inheritance, leaving nothing further to be paid to the owners, at any time or under any circumstances. It was the full market value of the land at the time, and no objection was ever made to such valuations by the parties in interest. The validity of a similar Act of the Legislature was fully sustained by the Court of Appeals, in this State, in the case of Haywards Executors, against the City of New York, (7, N. Y. R., 486,) where a portion of the Almshouse grounds, which the City had taken for public purposes, was sold under such circumstances. The Court held, in that case, not only that the Legislature had power to authorize a municipal corporation, to acquire a fee simple title to the lands of private persons required for public purposes, upon the payment of a just compensation, to be fixed by Commissioners appointed by the Court; but that when so acquired, no reversionary estate or interest remained in the former proprietors. It held, furthermore, that if the public exigencies required the subsequent conversion of lands thus acquired to some other purpose than that for which they were originally taken, they might be so converted and sold without any accountability to the former proprietors. And this decision appears to the Commissioners to be manifestly equitable and just: for, if when the particular object for which the land was taken had ceased to exist, it should by any operation of law be allowed to return to the owners, they having received full compensation for their relinquishment of it to the public use, it must necessarily follow that they would not only have their land again, but its price also. No one, we think, will fail to see the iniquity of such an extraordinary result as is here suggested. The owners, then, having received payment in full, and the fee of the land being absolutely vested in the City, the 17 Commissioners are satisfied that, if the Legislature concur in a sale, there can be no difficulty in making title. There is, of course, no longer any other outstanding interest, unless it be that of the bondholders; and their interest will be effectually protected by placing the whole proceeds of sale in the hands of the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, for the redemption of their bonds. As part of the history of our proceedings during the year, we are here obliged to refer to a proposition made to the Board, on the part of some gentlemen residing in the Ninth and Twentieth Wards of the City, to enter into a contract with them for the improvement of this portion of Park land. Their proposal, with the report of the Committee to whom the matter was referred, is appended to this report, and fully explains the reasons of the Board in declining to enter into such a contract. The Commissioners cannot take leave of this subject without again expressing their thorough conviction of the propriety, if not the necessity, in view of the City's extended financial obligations, of making a fresh disposition of the land on the east side of the Avenue, so that it may be laid out and sold under their direction, in a way which they think will not only benefit the Park, by giving it proper approaches from the North and East, but will, at the same time, add largely to the value of property in its vicinity, and establish the secular character of this whole quarter of the city upon an entirely new basis. During the past season, the work of construction has gone forward upon all the Parks under the control of the Commissioners, with as much rapidity as was practicable, and they respectfully refer to the reports of their landscape Architects and Engineers, which are hereto annexed, for a 2 18 full detail of the various operations in which they have been engaged. The whole area under treatment, thus far, is 352 acres in Prospect Park, and 30 acres on Washington Park. 255 acres of the former Park, consisting of woodland shrubbery and meadow, with the interviewing roads, walks and waters, are now complete. The finished drives extend over a space of five miles in length, and the bridge parts an equal distance. Of finished walks, we have other five miles, with four additional miles in progress. And the construction of the whole design, with a slight exception, may now be said to be complete east of a line drawn through the middle of the Park. Work is more or less advanced over the entire residue of the Park, and the greater part of it can, in the opinion of the landscape architects, be readily placed in a condition suitable for public use, in the course of another season. RUSTIC BUILDING NEAR THE ENTRANCE. 19 One of the most interesting incidents of the year's progress has been the completion of the great well and waterworks connected therewith. A full description of this fine specimen of engineering skill, and of the very satisfactory results which have been obtained, will be found in the able report of Mr. Martin, the Engineer-in-Chief. The Board have now no doubt that the supply of pure spring water from this source will be amply sufficient to keep the extensive ornamental waters of this Park in a good healthy condition, independent of any other supply. The work on Washington Park has been diligently prosecuted, and its interior improvement is now so nearly complete as to justify the erection of the stone wall which is now engaging the attention of the architects, and will speedily enclose this popular resort. A tasteful design for the vault to be erected in this Park, for the reception of the remains of the Prison Ship Martyrs, has been prepared and is under advisement by the Board. The matter will continue to receive that degree of consideration which it so just deserves. Tompkins Park, which is laid out in a rapidly growing quarter of the City, was recently placed under the charge of the Board; but no provision seems to have been made for its improvement; and the Commissioners have consequently been unable to do anything further than to protect the property from depredation. They trust, however, that authority will be given by the present Legislature, to raise money sufficient to improve this Park in a style corresponding with the other small Parks of Brooklyn. The Parade Ground is now in complete order, and has during the last season witnessed some of the finest displays20 of our citizen soldiery ever exhibited in Kings County. In addition to the trees planted and roads worked, a substantial shelter-house with suitable accommodations for the military on parade days, has been erected on the ground; the main building being forty feet square, with wings extended to the distance of sixty-four feet on each side. During the past year nothing of any importance has been done towards the improvement of the City Park. It is in fact, becoming every day more evident, as the superior attractions of Washington Park are being developed, that the City Park is not likely for some time to come to be used to any extent as a pleasure ground. When the population of that quarter of the City shall have crowded Washington Park beyond its capacity, and shall require greater Park facilities than are now afforded by its beautiful slopes and hills, or when our City's debt shall have been brought within such easy and reasonable proportions as shall cease to be a serious burden to our tax payers, the discussion of the best method of fitting up the City Park as a place of amusement may be resumed with advantage: but at present the Commissioners deem it unwise and impolitic to expend upon it that amount of money and of labor which would be required to render it at all suitable for such a purpose. It may be many years before the public accommodation will justify such an expenditure: but in the mean time the property may and should be put to some profitable use. Its advantages as a market site were set forth in a former report of these Commissioners, and need not here be repeated. Public opinion seems fully to have endorsed their recommendation to use it for the purposes of a general public market; and they hoped that some action of the 21 Common Council would ere this have resulted in the establishment of that much needed public accommodation. But no such movement having been made, they think they should no longer delay to act upon that requirement of the law which placed this Park under their supervision, and renders it obligatory upon them to suggest to the Legislature such further legislation in regard to all the Brooklyn Parks as they shall deem advisable. They intend, therefore, to lay the whole subject before the Legislature at its present session, and to suggest the use of this Park for a public market, until it shall be found expedient to resume its use as a Park, believing that an economical plan of improvement may be adopted, which will greatly enhance the value of the surrounding property, and be at the same time productive of a handsome revenue to the City, which may be devoted to the improvement and maintenance of the other City Parks, or used in liquidation of general Park indebtedness, as may be deemed most expedient. The unveiling of the Lincoln statue erected upon the Plaza of Prospect Park by the dollar subscriptions of our people under the management of the War Fund Committee of Kings County, formed an epoch in the history of our City, as well as of our Park, and gave occasion to an interesting display of taste and of patriotism. A. A. Low, Esq., officiated as the presiding officer, and delivered the opening address; after which the statue was duly presented by James P. Wallace, Esq., on behalf of the Committee, and was received by the President of this Commission in terms befitting the occasion. The several addresses made by these gentlemen will be found appended to this report; but the Commissioners regret that they are unable to include the admirable address of the Rev. Dr. R. S. Storrs, which was delivered at the same time in honor of the event. 22 EASTWOOD ARCH. A financial statement of the receipts and expenditures of the Commission for the current year forms part of this report, and is applicable to the construction of all the smaller City Parks, as well as of Prospect Park. It includes, also, a detail of the expenditures upon each Park, with the object of such expenditure. In addition thereto will be found a statement of the fund for the general maintenance of the Parks now under the charge of the Commissioners, which was levied in the tax of the previous year and placed in their hands for that purpose. The amount received on this account, it will be seen, was not sufficient to defray the expenses of the year, and the deficiency must be necessarily be made up temporarily from the maintenance fund of the year 1870. When the requisition for this fund was made upon the joint Board of Common Council and Supervisors, as authorized by the law of 1868, it was, of course, in advance 23 of the expenditure, and with an uncertainty as to the particular amount which would be required for the purpose, the Board having up to that time no specific data upon which to base their estimate. But experience has shown that their former estimate of the expense of maintaining the Parks was too low, and that for the future the amount which will be required to be raised for maintenance will not be less than the whole sum authorized by law to be expended on this account. It will be observed, also, that the fund for the construction of Prospect Park has now reached the limit assigned to it by the law of 1868, and as an application must be made to the Legislature for additional means with which to finish this Park, it may not be improper to glance at the history of past legislation, as connected therewith. The law of 1860, which organized the first Board of Commissioners and gave form and feature to the original Park enterprise of our City, directed that no plan for the improvement of the land thereby placed under their charge should be adopted or undertaken, of which the entire expense when funded would require for the payment of its annual interest a greater sum than $30,000 per annum. This amount was slightly modified by the amended Act of the next year, which limited the cost of improvement to $500,000, and was adapted to the simple and inexpensive style of improvement originally suggested for this Park. The restriction, of course, applied only to the comparatively small portions of land lying in the vicinity of Flatbush Avenue, as contemplated by the Act of 1860, and had no preference to the enlarged Park which was subsequently placed under the charge of the reorganized Board. In their first expenditures of money the Commissioners confined themselves to this amount so long as they were operating upon land within the original Park boundaries; but by the Act of 24 1866, which extended the Park area to very nearly its present dimensions--228 acres having been added--a new and entirely different style of improvement was adopted, requiring the expenditure of more money. The former restriction was accordingly removed and the Commissioners were authorized to expend such reasonable amounts for improvement as should be found necessary, and the City authorities were directed to issue bonds and furnish means upon the requisition of this Board, in the same manner as they had been directed to do under the former Act. This arrangement continued until 1868, when the improvement fund was limited to three millions of dollars, including the bonds which had been previously issued. This limit, as we have said, has now been reached; but a very considerable portion of the Park, including the fifty acres recently annexed, yet remains to be improved, and the Commissioners will be obliged to suspend further operations until the Legislature shall have provided means for its completion. As to the exact amount which will yet be required for this purpose, the Commissioners can make no very definite statement. A fine work of art, such as the regulation and embellishment of a Park of this description, cannot properly be executed by contract, but in the judgment of the Commissioners the amount required will not exceed two millions of dollars. Before closing their report it may not be uninteresting to the taxpayers of our City for the Commissioners to state the extent of the burden which Park enterprise now imposes upon our City. The amount awarded for land first purchased for Prospect Park, on the 15th of June, 1864, in- 25 cluding expenses, as appears from the official report filed in the County Clerk's Office, was . . $1,387,606 27 For the second purchase on the 5th Feb'y, 1866, . . . . . . . 158,558 40 For the third purchase on the 27th May, 1867, 752,745 02 And for the fourth and last purchase, on the 13th of April, 1869, . . . 1,705,248 32 Total, . . . $4,004,158, 01 From this deduct the amount awarded to the City for a strip of land, thirty feet wide, taken from the Park for the widening of Vanderbilt Avenue, and paid into the sinking fund to be applied in the redemption of Park bonds, . . . 28,509 60 and the present cost of all the land purchased will be . . . . $3,975,648 60 If to this we add the amount authorized to be expended for improvement, . . 3,000,000 00 the total indebtedness of the City at this time, on account of this Park, will be $6,975,648 41 But no solicitude need be felt by our citizens on the score of expense. In a merely pecuniary point of view, and without regard to the immense social and moral considerations involved in the possession and use of such a Park, the acquisition of the property is proving, as we have shown, a splendid investment for the City; and every dollar now expended upon it will add to its permanent value. This property has cost, say seven millions of dollars; but if sold to-day it would realize more than enough to pay the whole debt of the City; and long before the bonds issued for its purchase shall have matured, it will, in all probability, be 26 worth ten times its cost, besides giving an impetus to property in its neighborhood that will afford a tax more than sufficient to pay the interest on its cost, and liquidate the entire debt at maturity, without adding anything to the general taxation. Dated January 11th, 1870. JAS. S. T. STRANAHAN, PRESIDENT. JOHN H. PRENTICE, SECRETARY. JOHN N. TAYLOR, COMPTROLLER. AN ABSTRACT OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF THE BROOKLYN PARK COMMISSION, FOR THE YEAR 1869. CONSTRUCTION ACOUNT. The total receipts on account of PROSPECT PARK during the year 1869, were: Balance of cash in Bank, January 1st...... $40,223 78 Received from Treasurer of the City.......$740,000 00 " " Rents of houses in the Park 6,142 01 " " Sales of old houses........ 2,022 00 " " Wood, grass and old material 1,193 62 " " Interest on Bank balances... 5,519 91 " " Lost tools............... 2 40 " " Park Pound............ 568 00 " " Labor furnished Contractor.. 309 36 " " Parade Ground for improving Franklin Avenue..... ... 4,613 32 760,370 62 $800,594 40 The total expenditures on this Park for the same time were: Paid Salaries, Comptroller, Superintendent, Landscape Architect and Engineers $25,666 30 " Surveyors, Draughtsmen and Assistants ..................... 28,521 50 " Laborers, Mechanics, horses and carts 501,651 58 " Materials of construction, tools and instruments............... 162,871 52 " Stationary, printing and drawing materials .................... 4,527 24 " Fitting up offices, rent and repairs.... 3,385 04 " Trees, plants and shrubs.......... 7,099 15 " Manure and other fertilizers........ 1,031 18 " Water-pipe and hydrants.......... 15,532 51 " Drainage-pipe......................... 3,420 42 " Patent pavements................ 12,974 52 766,680 96 " Balance to credit of Prospect Park, December 31, 1869.................... 33,913 44 $800,594 40 28 The total receipts and expenditures on account of WASHINGTON, CARROLL, CITY HALL and CITY PARKS, were: Balance of cash, Jan. 1st.............................................. $46,973 47 Transferred from City Hall Park to maintenance.... 121 66 $47,095 13 THE TOTAL EXPENDITURES WERE, ON WASHINGTON PARK: Paid Surveyor and Assistants................. $3,937 28 Materials of construction and tools...... 6,309 95 Manure...................................................... 971 82 Drainage-pipe............................................ 908 30 Laborers, horses and carts..................... 33,397 36 Trees, plants and shrubs......................... 1,834 09 Patent pavements..................................... 4,048 01 $51,406 81 CARROLL PARK: Materials of construction and tools...... 280 52 Laborers, horses and carts.................... 311 24 Manure..................................................... 7 Trees and plants..................................... 64 54 663 30 CITY PARK: Laborers, horses and carts..................... 44 27 $52,114 38 PARADE GROUND: The total receipts on account of the PARADE GROUND, during the year 1869, were: Balance of cash in Bank, January 1st... $4,425 43 From City Treasurer................................. 13,630 00 $18,055 43 The TOTAL EXPENDITURES for the same time, were: Paid Surveyors and Assistants............................... $ 405 28 " Materials of construction................................ 2,788 71 " Keepers, Mechanics, Laborers and teams.... 4,510 69 " Regulating and grading Franklin Av................ 4,613 32 " On account of lodge and shelter..................... 6,500 00 $18,818 00 29 MAINTENANCE ACCOUNT. Received from the City for the maintenance of all the Parks........................................................................................ $68,400 00 Expended on the same Account; For Prospect Washington. Carroll. City. City Hall. 1. Roads $7,433 69 2. Walks 628 38 467 18 104 37 109 99 109 19 3. Structures 393 57 3 51 13 91 510 95 21 93 4. Plantations 16,660 96 1,947 61 214 13 48 36 231 37 5. Water 5,148 06 348 33 17 00 6. Drainage 1,254 89 34 84 8 10 1 48 7. Ice 1,951, 89 8. Tools 77 99 55 59 9. Keepers 42,962 29 2,115 74 1,028 17 342 21 10. General 2,927 90 15 18 23 87 6 70 Total $79,439 62 $4,987 98 $1,408 55 $1,011 51 $370 67 $87,218 33 Deficiency of maintenance for 1869 $18,818 33 EXPLANATION OF THE FOREGOING STATEMENT. 1. ROADS.—Under this head are included repairs of road beds, breaking stone for roads—gravel, or other surface dressing—rolling same, and repairing and cleaning silt basins, used on roads. 2. WALKS.—Includes similar items, so far as applicable to walks. 3. STRUCTURES.—Includes everything necessary to keep bridges, buildings, and all other structures in repair. 4. PLANTATIONS.—Includes the care, dressing and manuring of grass plants and trees, the rolling of lawns, and cutting, curing and removing of grass. 5. WATER.—Includes the care and cleaning of the ornamental waters of the Park. Expense of Ridgewood water, steam engine, and repairs of water-works, hydrants, pipes and fountains, and the distribution of water for drinking, and the sprinkling of roads, walks, and watering trees and plants.30 6. DRAINAGE.- Includes all expenses appertaining to the general system of sewers and basins, (except those used in roads and walks), and everything required for carrying off surface water. 7. ICE.- Includes the care of ice, cleaning, planing, and illuminating at night, with the erection of houses to accommodate the public during the winter. 8. TOOLS.- Includes the making and repairing of implements of all kinds used on the Park. 9. KEEPERS.- Includes wages and uniforms, and all other expenses incident to this department. 10. GENERAL.- For a class of expenditures not properly chargeable under any of the preceding heads. RECAPITULATION OF ALL THE EXPENDITURES OF THE BROOKLYN PARK COMMISSION. 1865. 1866. 1867. 1868. 1869. Total. Prospect Park.......$17,780 90 $195,701 $973,903 60 $1 078,645 12 $766,680 96 $3,032,711 68 Washington Park.....................................................1,851 86 73,835 0 9 51,406 81 127,093 76 Carroll Park...............................................................1,850 56 16,716 98 663 30 19,190 84 City Hall Park..........................................................................................1,343 03........................... 1,343 03 City Park.................................................................... 558 44 367 98 44 27 970 69 Maintenance........................................................................................................... 87,218 33 87,218 33 Parade Ground..................................................... 250 68 8,772 89 18,818 00 27,841 57 JOHN S. TAYLOR, Comptroller. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON THE OFFER OF EDMUND DRIGGS AND OTHERS TO IMPROVE THE LAND EAST OF FLATBUSH AVENUE. PROPOSAL To the Board of Commissioners of Prospect Park: GENTLEMEN:- During the recent meetings and investigations you and your engineers estimated the expense of improving the 137 acres of Prospect Park, lying East of Flatbush Avenue, at from $1,500,000 to $2,000,000. The undersigned believe the estimate to be exaggerated, and that such exaggeration may have a tendency to prejudice the public against the restoration and improvement of this portion of the Park lands. We therefore offer to lay out and improve this land not including fences or bridges, over, or tunnels under Flatbush Avenue, under the management and supervision of Genl. Egbert. Viele, or some equally competent engineer, and in accordance with the plan presented by him, for a sum not exceeding $625,000. Roads to connect with the present roads lying west of the Avenue, and will add over bridge of Flatbush Avenue, of elegant construction, and a tunnel under the Avenue for a further sum not exceeding $150,000. These sums are the extreme limit of expense, but we will fulfill our proposition for the actual cost of the work, we will furnish adequate security for the performance of our undertaking. This offer will be open to your acceptance until the first day of July 1869. Dated May 22d, 1869. Yours respectfully, EDMUND DRIGGS. J. W. HUNTER. CHARLES JONES. WM. W. GOODRICH. J. CARSON BREVOORT.32 REPORT. The Committee to whom was referred the communication of Messrs. Edmund Driggs, Jno. W. Hunter, Charles Jones, Wm. W. Goodrich and J. Carson Brevoort, under date of May 22d, 1869, by which they offer to improve so much of Prospect Park as lies East of Flatbush Avenue, at a cost of $775,000, under the engineering of Mr. Egbert L. Viele, or some equally competent engineer, according to a plan which was suggested by Mr. Viele, in 1860, respectfully report:-- That there seem to be many obvious reasons why the Board should not accept this proposal. In the first place it is to be executed under the supervision of gentlemen who have not yet been appointed Commissioners, and without regard to the fact that there is already a Board of Improvement Commissioners, who must continue to discharge their duties until their successors in office are appointed. Next, they in effect designate Mr. Viele as engineer; but the Board is not yet prepared, we think, to substitute him in place of the skillful and experienced engineers who are now in charge of Park improvement. And furthermore, they propose to improve the land according to Mr. Viele's plan--a plan which is not in harmony with the present Park design, and which has not been adopted by the Board nor approved of by the people. There are other serious objections to the proposition of these gentlemen. They evidently require too much money for the work they propose to do. The Board's estimate of the cost of improving the East side of the Park, as stated at the public meeting of citizens in April last, to which their communication refers, was one million of dollars, and not from one and a half to two millions, as stated in the proposal. It also included two bridges and the necessary fencing, with all such other equipments as are required for a place of public resort; while their estimate includes no fence, and only one bridge with a tunnel. If we add the cost of an enclosure with an additional bridge, their offer will be carried up from $775,000 to over a million. But while the Committee think the charge is too high, they are pleased to find in it a confirmation of our own estimate, that this improvement would cost over a million of dollars. The proposal, moreover, is premature. It has not yet been determined that the area of land now in the course of improvement on the 33 West side of the avenue, is not sufficiently extensive for a Park, or that it is not of convenient access to the masses for whose use it is designed. If so, then neither the necessity nor the expediency of improving the Eastern side in addition to the other, and of thereby permanently abstracting from our City's domain a large amount of taxable property is by any means certain. In the judgment of the Committee this improvement ought not to be made; and they believe the opinion of those who have to pay for public works--the taxpayers of Brooklyn--is decidedly against its being made. This Board has repeatedly expressed its opinion to the same effect, in its annual reports, giving the reasons therefor at length. In the address of the President at the public meeting above referred to, which was afterwards published in our local newspapers, it was stated that after retaining the Reservoir ground, with its beautiful prospect, and a very considerable area for the accommodation of public buildings and institutions, besides opening up a broad system of approaches to the Park, Eastward from Flatbush Avenue, the residue of the land on the same side could be sold for three millions of dollars; and that by saving another million which it would cost to improve this section as a Park, and adding it to the three millions for which the land could be sold, a saving of four millions of dollars would be effected, besides returning a large amount of property to the books of the tax collector. The Committee think that, with the present great burden of public debt and taxation resting upon our city, the saving of this large sum of money would be a sound and wise economy; and they believe that all thoughtful and prudent men, who are not biased by their ownership of a large real estate on the Eastern side of the Avenue, will concur in this opinion. The Committee cannot recommend the Board to fly in the face of an enlightened public judgment, by proceeding to do, upon the suggestion of a few interested persons, what would render the saving of these four millions impossible. There is, it is said, a diversity of opinion on this question of spending or of saving four millions. But those who differ, belong mainly to two classes of persons. One class own land in the vicinity of the proposed improvement, and think their land will be greatly enhanced in value by spending some millions of money to bring the Park to their doors. While we do not concur in the opinion, believing that even their interest will be better served by using this land for the erection of fine 3 34 residences than by retaining it for Park purposes, we can readily see why they should be so strenuous to have this money spent, and not saved. The other class is the large body of tax-paying citizens, who think that a great public Park ought to be constructed at the cost, and for the benefit of the whole city, and not for the benefit of a mere locality in its neighborhood. Incidentally the land in the vicinity of this Park has been greatly increased in value, from its proximity th[e]reto: but when those who have received this advantage insist upon charging another four million of dollars upon the tax-payers, in order that their large gains may be swelled to still larger proportions, those who have to pay object. They are willing to spend and to pay what the best interests of the city, as a whole, may require; but they are not willing to spend more than this for a local, as distinguished from a general, public advantage. For these reasons, some of which have been already more fully set forth in the published reports of the Board, the Committee recommend that the offer of Mr. Driggs and his associates be declined. Dated June 28th, 1869.DESIGN FOR PROSPECT PARK IN THE CITY OF BROOKLYN. OLMSTED, VAUX & CO. LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS, 110 BROADWAY, N.Y. 187035 ADDRESSES DELIVERED AT PROSPECT PARK, ON THE 21ST OF OCTOBER, 1869, ON THE OCCASION OF THE DEDICATION OF THE LINCOLN MONUMENT. MR. LOWE'S ADDRESS. Mr. Low said: FELLOW CITIZENS:--In the eventful year 1865, the "War Fund Committee of Brooklyn" resolved to signalize the close of their voluntary labors by erecting a monument to the memory of the lamented patriot and martyr, by handing down to posterity, in truthful outline, the form and features of the great man who had successfully guided the destinies of our country through its most perilous crisis--thus bringing art to the aid of history in immortalizing the name of Abraham Lincoln. It was at once determined to raise the necessary funds by a small but general subscription. An appeal, accordingly, was addressed to the people, and the people responded gladly. Circumstances favored the movement. A sentiment of gratitude, tempered by a feeling of the profoundest sorrow, wrought upon the hearts and will of all. The struggle for the nation's life was over. The flag of the Union everywhere waved in triumph, and the return of peace was hailed with universal delight. While transports of joy, and the cheers of the loyal, were resounding throughout the North, the death of the President was unexpectedly announced, and the shout of triumph was changed into a wail of mourning! The people wept! And now the lessons of the war were rehearsed anew. The provi- of God in the events of the war was in every mind and on gue. Memory recalled the time, less than five years before, an, in stature like unto Saul, was summoned from an obscure ife, to fill the highest office in the gift of the people. ular vote had been cast amid forebodings of evil, and the to witness their worst realizations. The President elect he head of the Army and Navy, and a few of all the people appointed leader. The foes of the Union were exultant. ily followed the inauguration; and at the close of the war36 a name so lately unknown had become illustration in the annals of our country. The fame thereof had spread throughout all the nations of the world; and when tidings of Abraham Lincoln's death went forth, words of confidence and eulogy came back from courts and kingdoms in such measures as to fill a capacious volume. The compilation forms a priceless treasure in the Department of State of Capitol of the Nation. And thus it came to pass that as, in the earlier days of the Republic, God raised up Washington to be, as he was justly styled, "the Father of his Country," so, in these later days, God raised up Lincoln to be our country's deliverer. Washington gave to the States of the Union independence and a standing among the nations. Lincoln put down a formidable rebellion, turned away the curse of slavery, and left the States united and free. Lincoln was the Providential man of our own time, and to perpetuate his memory is our grateful duty; to raise a statue to the honor of his name is a just tribute of affection to the worth and wisdom of the lamented patriot, who died, as he had lived, for his country! We thus manifest our gratitude to God for His gift of a life so precious. The delay which has occurred is not to be misunderstood as a manifesting a want of zeal on the part of the Committee who have had the work in charge. It was early committed to one of your gifted townsmen, was long since perfected, and has been waiting the convenience of the Park Commissioners, under whose direction the pedestal has been prepared on which the statue is henceforth to stand. It seemed to be most fitting and proper that on this spot, destined ere long to be the centre of a vast city, this monument should be erected; that all our citizens who gather from time to time in this Plaza, and look upon the form and features of this central figure, may be led to pond- example of the great original; to recall, with gratitude, the - did, and the impress he made on his age and generation; - beneath this statue, before entering upon paths of pleasure - ing to our view, the vow may be renewed by all faithfully t- and loyally to uphold the union and the Government est- our Fathers. Let us hope that, as the waters which supply the foun- side, whose source is far distant, are made to flow out and {{page break}} 37 every house and home in our city, so there will go forth from this spot, hallowed by precious thoughts and memories, an influence that shall animate and strengthen all hearts; that this influence may descend from generation to generation, advancing whatever is worthy of emulation in the past or present. And so our work of to-day shall be blest. From the lips of another you will presently be called to contemplate the influence exerted upon our own age by the life and death of him whose virtues we seek to commemorate - whose loss we cease not to deplore. The same voice, always welcome to our ears, was heard not long since in glowing eulogy at the funeral obsequies of the departed. We have come here to-day by invitation of the War Fund Committee, to take part in the consummation of this long cherished purpose, to celebrate with appropriate ceremonies the unveiling of the statue of our late lamented President, Abraham Lincoln. The President of the United States, the Governor of the State of New York, the Mayor and Common Council of our city, Judges of the respective courts, officers of the army and navy, soldier and sailors who shared in the perils and in the glories of the war, and all who contributed to the erection of this monument, have been asked to be present, to witness the transfer of this gift of the people to this city of their pride, and, on the part of the Park Commissioners, to whose charge it is to be committed, the acceptance of this sacred trust. Permit me, in concluding these introductory remarks, to associate with the rich memories of this hour, and of this occasion, the ever memorable words uttered by Mr. Lincoln at the close of his second inaugural - the last, I believe, publicly addressed by him to the American people. They will endure longer than bronze, however imperishable it seems. What better inscription can be put upon this monument? "With malice towards none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and orphans, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations."38 MR. WALLACE'S PRESENTATION ADDRESS. MR. CHAIRMAN, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: - I have the honor on this occasion to represent a two-fold constituency. First. About thirteen thousand citizens of Brooklyn, without distinction of creed or political faith, men, women and children, who for the love they bore a great and good man made up a contribution to honor his memory. From the laborer on the highway, from the workshop, from the counting-room and store, from the stately mansion of the wealthy, and from the scanty apartment of the industrious poor, wherever reverence or love for Abraham Lincoln thrilled the heart, or wherever was destination or horror at the dreadful deed which so suddenly terminated his useful life, thence came the little drops into the treasury, a name with every dollar, and a dollar for every name. Noble men! noble women! Names fragrant to the memory, worthy to be preserved - and they have been preserved in the archives of the Historical Society, that all who come after may know to whom belong the honor of building up this monument to Abraham Lincoln. My second constituency is a body of prominent patriotic citizens, who banded together during the war, and contributed freely of their time, of their influence, and of their means in support of the Government, whose praise is in every mouth, and who are known as the War Fund Committee of the City of Brooklyn. Under the auspices of the Committee, books were opened for subscription immediately after the assassination. Not more than one dollar was received from any person, that we might have pre-eminently a People's Monument; and the Committee bear testimony to the alacrity with which out citizens responded to the call. The Committee also bear testimony to the faithful management of their treasurer, who not only kept safe his whole trust, but so invested it as to make the $13,000 contributed earn $1,000 more, which sums together make the amount expended for this statue. The Committee also bear testimony to the liberality of our local press, which, without reward, except the consciousness of doing a good deed, used its mighty influence to fan the flame of patriotism, and encourage contributions to this noble object. {{page break}} 39 And especially the Committee bear testimony to the skill and ability of the sculptor, H. K. Brown, whose works of art adorn Greenwood and Union Square and the national Capitol at Washington, and many other places of lesser note, and who with long and patient labor has produced this bronze statue, which portrays the likeness and characteristics of our late and lamented President to such a degree as to excite the admiration and high satisfaction of our best critics. And now it becomes my duty - as it is my pleasure - in the name of the War Fund Committee, formally to request the Brooklyn Park Commissioners, of whom (to Mr. Stranahan), you, sir, are the honored President, to accept in perpetuity the custody of this statue of Abraham Lincoln, to love and cherish and protect during all the days of your authority. May it ever stand here, looking out over our fair city, where it will hold in review the millions who will visit this beautiful Park, and where our citizens, and the people of every name, as they come up those broad avenues, and look toward the rising sun, will ever be reminded of the pure, the noble, the patriotic Abraham Lincoln. May his life and character be a model to ourselves and to our children, and to all who would aspire to influence and position in our land. May the union of all the States, and universal liberty - which he loved and which was his highest earthly aim to preserve - ever be dear to the hearts of his countrymen, and may all the people of the East and the West, of the North and the South, feel themselves to be one people, with one common interest, only emulating each other by their love for the old flag, and for the whole country, and for the whole country's good. ----- MR. STRANAHAN'S ACCEPTANCE ON BEHALF OF THE PARK COMMISSION. GENTLEMEN OF THE WAR FUND COMMITTEE: - The Park Commissioners have selected in this, the main entrance to Prospect Park, three positions, as, in their judgment, affording appropriate localities for the erection of as many statues, as memorials of three of the eminent men whose lives are intimately identified with three great struggles in our county's history. In one of these position they hope to see a statue of George Washington, who on this ground fought his first battle in the war of the Revolution, and whose services as Commander-in-chief of the Revolutionary army, and subsequently as President of these40 United States, have not only entitled him to the nation's gratitude, but also secured for his name the enduring respect and veneration of mankind. In the second position they hope to see the statue of Andrew Jackson, distinguished among the illustrious heroes that appeared in the War 1812, not less distinguished as the Chief Magistrate of this Nation, and in both relations evincing a devotion to the unity, integrity and prosperity of his county, alike unquestioned and unquestionable. It remains for the generous promptings of public feeling to give reality to these ideas and hopes of the Park Commissioners. In respect to the third position, the events of this day and the ceremonies of this occasion, tell their own story. Soon after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, the popular heart glowed with an irrepressible desire to do honor to the memory of the lamented dead. Called to the Presidency amid circumstances of the greatest difficulty; confronted in the very outset of his career with the embarrassments, complications, and perils of an incipient civil war; contending, during the whole of his term of service, with one of the most formidable rebellions known in the history of nations; in these exigencies of peculiar trial conducting the Government with a discretion, perseverance, firmness, and patriotic devotion that proved him to be the man of the hour; re-elected for a second term by a grateful and appreciating people; living till the victories of the army and navy had brought the contrary to the verge of peace, and then falling too soon for the nation's good, Abraham Lincoln has wrought for himself a name, and gained a place in the affections of the American people more lasting than any memorial which it is in the power of art to devise. As one significant evidence of this fact, I point to that noble statue which has just been unveiled to the public, which you have now presented to the Park Commissioners as Brooklyn's tribute of gratitude to the honored dead, and which in their name I know have the pleasure to accept, pledging to you, and also to the citizens of Brooklyn, that they will endeavor to be faithful custodians of the sacred trust. Here let this monument stand, with the other two to which reference has been made, and which it is hoped will soon be erected, suggesting to the thousands who may hereafter seek the recreations of this Park, that nobleness of character, trueness of heart, and eminent service for the public good, are alike the best qualities of the citizen, and the surest guarantees for the permanent respect of the nation. {{page break}} 41 THE PARK BOUNDARIES. ----- SPEECH OF THE HONORABLE J. S. T. STRANAHAN, PRESIDENT OF THE BROOKLYN PARK COMMISSIONERS, AT A PUBLIC MEETING, CALLED FOR THE DISCUSSION OF THE QUESTION OF THE BOUNDARIES OF THE PARK, AT THE COURT HOUSE, ON THE 30TH MARCH, 1869. I do not know what may be the pleasure of the meeting, but I have conversed with a few gentlemen since I came into the room, and it seems that I am expected to make a statement on behalf of the Board, and perhaps in some degree on behalf of myself. I should make that statement at the very commencement - at the opening of the meeting. If there be no objection I will proceed to do so. We have met to consider a proposition for an act of the Legislature to change the boundaries of our Park. That we may take it up intelligently, I propose first to briefly state some of the more important facts in the history of the proceedings which have brought the proposition in question before us. In the year 1859 a demand was felt for legislation to secure public grounds in this city about equally for two objects; first for parks, secondly for the purpose of parades. Influenced by this demand the Legislature appointed a Commission, composed of highly respectable citizens, partly chosen to represent the park, and partly the military demand, who were charged with the duty of selecting suitable sites for each purpose. This Commission reported the following year, recommending ground to be taken for parks at five different localities. of the proposed parks two only need to be particularly referred to now. The more important one was proposed to be located in close connection with the two great cemeteries and the reservoir at Ridgewood. The ground recommended to be taken for it amounted to thirteen hundred acres. Another, about one-fifth as large, (two hundred and sixty-seven acres), was proposed to be located so as to include the reservoir at Prospect Hill. It will, perhaps, at this time not be at once apparent why those interested in the question should have been led at first to propose that the more important park for our city should be established at Ridgewood rather than at Prospect Hill. An explanation may be found in the fact42 that the military of the city had been accustomed to go to ground in that vicinity for drills and parades, and the attention of the military gentlemen in the Commission had thus been for some time directed toward it, and partly in the fact that it then appeared, comparatively, to better advantage as respects accessibility, than at present. Neither the railroad to Flatbush, nor any of the other railroads by which our Park is now to be reached, had then been constructed, while there were three railroads already to Ridgewood, and the same Commission recommended that Atlantic Avenue, which led toward it from the central parts of the city, should be at once widened and improved. A desire to interpose an obstacle to the extension of the cemeteries toward the Reservoir, also doubtless had some influence upon the judgment of the Commission. When, however, the proposition came to be discussed at Albany, it was found that some of the representatives of the Western District were strongly indisposed to commit the city to so large an undertaking; they urged that a park, however large and however fine it might be, situated at a point so far in the extreme east, could not fairly be regarded as the central Park of the city: that a considerable part of it was in fact out of the city, and not only out of the city but out of the county, and that the regulation of streets and other matters on one side of it could not be within the control of the county authorities. The close association of the cemeteries with a pleasure ground was felt to be objectionable, and finally it was said: "You propose to give the Eastern District a park five times as large as that you propose to give us, but you expect us to pay three-fourths of the cost of both undertakings." The last objection was unanswerable, and after much discussion it was agreed upon, as a compromise arrangement, that the great Ridgewood Park should be made a local enterprise exclusively of the Eastern District, and that the proposed park at Prospect Hill should be considered as an affair exclusively of the Western District. From this followed the arrangement under which the Eastern District is now exempt from taxation for the present Prospect Park. The members of the Legislature from the Eastern District, after consulting their constituents, concluded to defer the passage of the bill which had been drawn up with a view to form the great park at 43 Ridgewood, with the view of taking it up again the following years, but the war came, and it proved to be an indefinite postponement of that part of the original scheme. I have thus shown how the project of a park at Prospect Hill was gradually developed as an independent local undertaking. An act providing for the appointment of a Board of Estimate and Assessment, and also for appointing a Commission to lay out and manage the proposed park at Prospect Hill was passed in 1860. The Commission were unable to immediately take any active steps looking to the construction of the park, but deeming it important for the interests of the city that when they should make the first of the reports which they were required to present to the Common Council at the end of each year, they should be able to present the scheme in a form which would make it appear to the public as mature as possible, they decided that a survey and report suitable for publication should be at once undertaken. They appropriated fifteen hundred dollars for all the expenses of this survey and the report of the engineer, and obtained what was wanted for the immediate purpose in view, but it is hardly necessary to say that what was done at this time was of a purely preliminary character, and not at all what would have been required with reference to purposes of construction; certainly not with reference to the construction of the park which we now, five years afterward, have in hand, the boundaries of which are so different that nearly one half of it is quite outside of the ground covered by the engineer's report which we then obtained. The fact should here be mentioned, that the boundaries of the park established at Prospect Hill, by the Acts of the Legislature of 1860 and 1861 differed considerably from those recommended by the Commission appointed in 1859 to select the ground. The boundaries of the park recommended by the Commission did not extend so far toward Flatbush, and extended considerably farther to the westward, so as to take in half the blocks between Eighth avenue and Ninth, from Douglass to Third street. It was in part owing to my advice that the change was made, and I can perhaps answer as well as any one for the motives of it. The reason that I advocated the change, was that it appeared to me evident that the city might obtain, at the same cost, a much larger area of land suitable for a park. We did obtain by the exchange, and without any additional cost to the city, more than twice as much land on the Flatbush side as the Commission had proposed should be taken44 in on the South Brooklyn side, and that which we gained included the ground occupied by the series of roads and walks running though what we call the East Woods, and which during the last year was so much enjoyed by the public. After the passage of the Act to establish the park in 1860 an effort was made to still father revise its boundaries, and the engineer whom we employed to make the preliminary survey in his report seconded the proposal, suggesting that the ground between Warren and Baltic streets should be thrown out, and that the east boundary of the park should be shifted from Washington avenue to a new avenue proposed to be laid out between Classon and Franklin avenues. This would undoubtedly have enabled a great improvement to be made in the plan of the park as then contemplated east of Flatbush avenue, giving it the greater breadth which it so much needed, but the objection which was effectively urged against it was the serious inconvenience which would result from the closing of Washington avenue. I have thus viewed the principal facts in the preliminary history of our enterprise. At this time nothing had been absolutely decided, for the act of the Legislature, providing for a park at Prospect Hill, which was passed, as I have said, in 1860, proved to be defective. The work of legislation was accordingly done over again in 1861, when the Park Commission was definitely established, and the acquisition by the city of the land I have preferred to was first legally provided for. It was no, however, until midsummer of 1864 that the Board of Estimate and Assessment completed their business, and we obtained possession of the land. We were then in the midst of the war, and even if we had obtained our land sooner it is doubtful if we should have set to work upon it. During these three years we had not, however, been merely lying still. The friends of the thirteen-hundred-acre-park scheme at Ridgewood has gradually abandoned their intention. Other parts of the original scheme had been dropped or modified. The military were beginning to look at the vicinity of Prospect Hill for their parade ground. The general subject of providing our city with parks had been much thought about, deliberated upon and debated by our Commission. We had obtained information about parks in other cities, abroad and at home; the influence they had exerted upon the cities which possessed them, and what it was in them that their influence depended upon. We had watched the Central Park rapidly advancing toward completion, {{page break}} 45 and had gained experience of its great popularity, and of the influence it was destined to exert. Indeed, we in Brooklyn were already feeling the consequence of its construction in a manner not at all satisfactory to us. Not only had we been brought to understand the whole subject of our duties better, but during those years - those long, those everlasting years - from 1861 to 1864, there had been great changes. Our city had been changing, and in all its change we saw a tendency becoming manifest which gave some of us much anxiety. I speak of a tendency which we then saw toward results which we could not help anticipating with disquietude. Let us look at the facts, however, as they are patent to us to-day, and you will better understand what it was that we then saw or thought we saw. During the last two years nearly one-half more houses have been built in Brooklyn than in New York. New York in 1867 built two thousand eight hundred and eighty houses. Brooklyn three thousand six hundred and fifty-nine. New York in 1868 built two thousand one hundred and twelve houses; Brooklyn three thousand three hundred and seven. It is certain that our population is increasing more rapidly than that of New York, and unless New York shall absorb the eastern towns of Westchester County, our city must be expected to gain yearly until it shall become the larger of the two. The question with which we are most concerned is, then, not so much the amount of population which we are to have in the future, as its character and its capacity. By character I mean especially its ability to meet its monied obligations, and thus bring down the per centage of its taxation. It is never desirable that classes should be separated in the way they were tending to separate here five years ago; it is never desirable that the rich should so draw themselves apart in distinct communities or quarters as to throw upon the poor an overwhelming share of the burdens of carrying on the necessary expenses of their local government. You are aware of the terrible suffering which has occurred this year in the Eastern suburbs of London from this cause; and also in some of the suburbs of Paris, where a complain was lately made, that in a district containing 25,000 inhabitants there was not a single resident rich enough to be called on for charitable aid to those in complete destitution. By the construction of the Central Park, New York placed us for a time at special disadvantage in the competition for securing taxable capital. She had done so before when she had brought in the Croton,46 and to restore our advantage we had then been compelled, after waiting as long as we could, to undertake our Water Works. If we had not constructed them when we did what would Brooklyn be now? Simply a poor suburb of New York. In the same way we were stimulated, after New York had made it necessary, to build the Academy of Music. In one thing only have we yet shown ourselves able to exercise the forecast needful t the proper development of the advantages of our city without waiting for a ruinous disadvantage in competition to be established. In one thing we are about to strike out first and foremost, and long before the much talked of railroad from the Battery to the upper part of New York and to Westchester is made, I trust we shall have the advantage of our bridge. But to go back to the Park Commission in 1864. At no time in the history of the two cities has the tendency appeared to be so strongly established toward a state of things in which the capitalists of the county living at its Metropolis should have their residences in the City of New York, while their clerks and workmen only had houses in Brooklyn, with the inevitable consequence that the profit of the labor represented by our population should be mainly enjoyed outside our limits, and that our taxable property should be of hopelessly inferior character. The question which was pressed upon us was, therefore, simply this: whether any plan of improvement could be devised and undertaken which would be adequate to attract and hold among us a large share of that class of citizens which it was necessary should be attracted, if we were to avoid throwing upon our people of moderate means, and upon the poor, an excessive and crushing burden of taxation. If not it was certainly very questionable whether we could afford to enter upon any plan the carrying out of which would involve the City in a considerable expenditure. In short if we could not settle this point satisfactorily, it was doubtful, to say the least, whether the City could afford a park at all. Considerations of this character weighted upon us much more in 1864 than in 1860 when the Park at Ridgewood of 1,300 acres was still on our hands. They forced us to proceed deliberately and cautiously. First of all, we took the precaution of giving a fresh and more complete examination to the question of boundaries, approaches and entrances; a question properly antecedent to the question of a plan of {{page break}} 47 interior improvement, and for this purpose we called Mr. Vaux, one of the designers of Central Park, to our assistance. We knew that the want of consideration of this question at the outset had already been a source of difficulty and of great expense to the Commissioners of the Central Park, and that they were even then debating propositions for acquiring land to improve their entrances, which had enormously increased in value since their work commenced. Our review of the question led us to fix upon one point as especially suitable for a principal entrance to the Park, ad induced us to apply to the Legislature at once for the provision of so much additional land as was necessary to form what is now known as the Plaza. Had the Central Park Commission exercised the same forecast, in regard to the comparatively contracted vestibules which they are now about to lay out at their principal entrances, it would have saved at least a million dollars of their expenditure. Turning then to the general question of boundaries, we had convinced ourselves that the ground we had, was not all that was wanted in respect to extent or opportunity for improvement, with reference to the problem before us. But, although we obtained a report which very clearly demonstrated in what direction we should look for an enlargement of our borders, we determined before recommending the acquisition of any new territory, that we would have a complete and well-matured proposition to lay before the community. We therefore next employed Messrs. Olmsted & Vaux, to design a general plan, taking another year for its preparation, and for our deliberation upon it. When at length we were satisfied that we had matured a plan, adequate to the purpose we had in view, we printed our design, with a report very fully setting forth its character, and circulated it diligently among our fellow citizens, inviting, through the newspapers and otherwise, their judgment upon it. Being satisfied with the general expression of public opinion thus obtained, we then went to the legislature and asked for the additional territory required to carry out the plan. We at the same time asked for power to sell the land not covered by our plan on the East side of Flatbush Avenue, so that we might have money to pay for the additional land when we needed to carry out our design. The power to buy the largest part of what we wanted was given us, but although our request for permission to sell was backed by three thousand petitioners, and the bill for the purpose passed the Senate, it failed to receive the assent of the Assembly, and its discussion was postponed.48 Still the larger part of the necessary land was provided for, and we were now prepared to commence active operations with an increasing confidence that out scheme was a sound one, and that as it became better understood, it would prove more and more acceptable, and eventually would be fully carried out. We at once, then set about the improvement of a part of our ground, with a clear foreknowledge that the result would be taken by the public as a sample of what Brooklyn was going to have in the way of a park. We began upon that part of our ground most difficult and most expensive to improve - that part where, in order to accommodate our grades to those already established in the streets, it was necessary to make the greatest changes. The Flatbush avenue grade had just been sunk 12 feet below its previous level. The ground we had to operate upon was in part a quagmire, and elsewhere consisted largely of a tough indurated clay, packed with stone and requiring to be moved by the crow and pick. The whole district of our earlier operations was indeed a desert of the most disagreeable character, rugged, treeless, mutilated, and lying bare to the avenues, presenting a general resemblance to the unimproved ground south of the Reservoir. We took hold of it first, because it was the most difficult, and because we knew that in removing difficulties we should be removing doubts. Now, this ground appears to the visitor who drives over it for the first time, as if it were exactly in the shape that is most desirable; it connects perfectly with the avenue, the boundaries are hidden directly the park is entered, good sized trees are growing over hill and dale, the meadow spaces are broad and ample, and it really seems as if nature had kindly adapted this particular spot for its special purpose. It has undoubtedly been transformed from what it was to what it is at great cost, as an approach to ground of a totally different and much more attractive and easily treated character. It does not, however, follow that we can recommend the city to undertake a similar labor on the other side of the avenue, merely to improve disconnected patches of land that have no relation to the main scheme, which was based on the idea of balancing the difficulties of ground on the part of the park nearest the city, by the introduction of a large stretch of cheaper and more easily improved flat land at the other extremity. We may here observe in regard to the changes of boundary which have been made since the action of the Commission appointed to select a site in 1859, that so much of the park as has been taken from the Town of Flatbush, being an area of 228 acres or nearly one-half of all, {{page break}} 49 cost Five Hundred and Forty-three Thousand. The upper portion, taken from within the boundaries of Brooklyn, containing 350 acres, cost two million seven hundred and ten thousand dollars. That is to say for each dollar spent the city has obtained between three and four times as much land where it has taken it on the Flatbush side, as it has, where it has taken it on the Brooklyn side; and the cheap land, on an average, is much better for park purposes, and involves very much less expense for improvement than that which has cost so much more. The great body of visitors will always enter at the Plaza. Once within the park it matters little where they travel. It was, and is, therefore, true economy to elongate and narrow the park toward the city, and to spread it out on the cheap land on the Flatbush side as we have done. But to return the main question - keep your mind fixed upon the end we had in view. With certain obvious natural advantages over New York, but as yet with confessedly less wealth and population, we wanted to guard against the danger, that Brooklyn would take the character of a second-rate suburb of New York; we wanted to aid in establishing for Brooklyn in the minds first of all of our own citizens, and afterwards throughout the country, the character of a first-rate quarter of the great metropolis. And who will say that we have not thus far done our part towards this end? Although our park is incomplete, only about 200 acres being as yet fairly improved, it is unquestionably the fact that it is talked of to-day all over the United States, by those whose opinion is of most value, as equal, and in many respects superior to Central Park - and what has been the consequence? It has been said by those who should know, that the day we opened the park saw a rise in value of the real estate of our city of ten millions of dollars. We submit then that so far we have served our city well. But we think that we can do more. We are convinced that the city, by a lucky chance, has the opportunity of gaining a still better reputation. We not only think that the impression can be established that Brooklyn offers places of residence as good in respect to park privileges as any in New York, but we also believe that an understanding can be established that the very finest sites for city residences, in connection with a noble park, need not be looked for in New York, they must be sought in Brooklyn. 450 It happens thus: New York was laid out years ago, when the price which great numbers of people are now willing to pay for luxurious residences, was not dreamed of, when five or six hundred dollars per year was considered, even by a wealthy merchant, to be a great rent to pay. Now, on the other hand, there are numbers of people to whom five or six hundred dollars a year, more or less, is felt to be of little consequence in the rent of a house, provided it be so much finer and more luxurious. In laying out the city this condition of things was not thought of: consequently, the people of New York, through the Central Park Commission, are now seeking to improve their plan in that part of the Island as yet far out of town, where streets have not been made, and where there is little building. About their park they cannot do this, though efforts are making in a small way. There is the East Side Association and the West Side Association, and numberless little rings of interested speculators who vainly try be forethought to control the character of some section or block in which they own lots, but no one of these appears to control property enough to do what is necessary to establish beyond contingency the success of a single comprehensive scheme. The recent rapid advance in value, of the property held compactly and managed shrewdly by the corporation of Columbia College, is an example of the advantage which may result from the power to control the character of improvements throughout a complete district, even when the street plan is out of the reach of improvement. In this case it has been made certain, that a considerable property will be occupied for a long series of years, exclusively, by a certain agreed on class of residences, but it is almost an isolated instance. It is too late to do anything of this kind in connection with Central Park. It is not too late for us. We still hold the opportunity of establishing a district which shall have throughout a character in the highest degree attractive. The possession by the City of Brooklyn at this juncture, of the 128 acres of fairly paid for land, on the east side of the park, thus puts in its hands the one additional lever that is needed to establish the balance of advantage between the two cities. What we want to do with this land then, is this. We want to thoroughly revise the whole street plan from beginning to end, and to lay t out anew in such a way as will not only be much more convenient and useful to the whole public, than it would under any other plan that has been proposed, but in such a way as will make it easy for us to show, every one who comes to the park, that we have in Brooklyn, sites in close connection with our park, better adapted for first class residen- {{column break}} 51 ces than can be found any where else. Then we propose to sell these lots, with certain provisoes in regard to the character of the improvements which shall be made upon them. We believe that if we are allowed to develop this idea unhampered, it will tend to the advancement of the reputation of Brooklyn as a place of residence, well nigh as much as the park itself, and will give it exactly the advantage that it needs in its struggle for its natural rights in this respect in competition with new York. We propose to reserve besides the avenues and about twenty-eight acres of ground for public use, the lands which include the Reservoir and the higher grounds adjacent. But after making these reservations for a public garden on the hill, and sites for public buildings and places, and after laying out the ample avenues which we propose to make, with their bordering plantations, there will still remain a body of over one hundred acres of land to be disposed of, with such restrictions as will insure the erection upon it, of strictly first-class dwelling houses. If we assume that these lots will command the price of twenty-five hundred dollars a piece, which is below the estimate generally put upon them, the sum which would be realized by the city from their sale, would be three millions of dollars. But we shall also save the expense of forming and maintaining the ground as a park; this we judge from our experience in dealing with the ground of a similar character on the other side of the avenue, would be about a million of dollars. Of course we include in this estimate the fencing and all the usual and necessary furniture and equipment of a convenient and agreeable place of crowded public resort. Add this million to the sum which we expect to receive from the sale of the ground we do not want, and it makes a difference to the city in favor of our plan of four millions of dollars. We reckon that this sum will pay the city subscription of three millions to the Bridge and the improvements at the Wallabout, which may cost one million. This, however, is not all. If we double the price of the land, for the value of buildings which would probably be erected on it, we should add, independently of the immense stimulus thereby given to the surrounding property, at least eight millions of dollars to the taxable property of our city, and enlarge its revenues by nearly half a million of dollars annually. We have very carefully considered the matter, and we express in these estimates our deliberate and well established convictions.52 The ability of the city to make a good title to this land is sometimes questioned by persons who are not familiar with the history of Park legislation. In 1864 when land was first taken for the park, and it became necessary to raise one million three hundred thousand dollars to pay the awards, city bonds were issued and put upon the market for sale. The main security for these bonds consisted in a statutory lien upon the park land. Our capitalists however objected to this security, that the city had not the fee but merely an easement in the land, similar to that by which a street is held, and that if the holder of the security should be obliged to realize he could have no permanent possession of the land, since it must necessarily revert to the owner of the fee as soon as it ceased to be used for park purposes, and that, in this respect the security was inferior to that of our water-bonds, wherein all the works, including reservoirs, pipes and hydrants, were pledged for payment. In order, therefore, to furnish a new credit for park bonds, which should make them equal to water bonds, an Act of the Legislature was passed in the Spring of 1865 authorizing proceedings to be taken for the purpose of transferring the ultimate fee to the city. Such proceedings were accordingly had, the residuary interests of the owners valued by Commissioners appointed by the Supreme Court, and payment made to the parties. The result showed that capitalists fully appreciated the additional security thus established for park bonds, since they immediately rose in the market, and feel to this day the effect of this salutary provision. The fee of the land having been acquired, the Commissioners feel assured (and they are sustained by the best legal authority), that if the Legislature concurs in a sale there can be no difficulty about the title. I have tried to give you a plain statement of the facts which have a material bearing on the point at issue. The questions involved are of vital interest to the tax-payers of this city. Holding the responsible position we do, as Commissioners of the Park, and having to carry forward this important public work in the face of serious disadvantages, we feel it absolutely necessary that we should have in the future, as we have had in the past, the intelligent, willing support of our fellow citizens. The scheme, as you will see, has a definite beginning, and middle, and end to it. The first stage has been passed through, and the result shows that our calculations were sound, for no one can deny that the {{page break}} 53 enhanced value of Brooklyn property to-day fully justifies the liberally conceived plan of operations we recommend when our whole intention was laid bare before you three years ago. We are now in the middle of the work, all the important points, save one, have been carried. We have all the ground we want and where we want it; our most burdensome operations in the field have been successfully carried through, and we are henceforward in a position to go ahead under more favorable circumstances. What the end is to be we cannot tell, for the point left unsettled seems to us to be of vital importance to the financial success of the whole undertaking. It is the one now before you for consideration. What we ask, with a profound conviction of its necessity, is what we have asked for from the first, that the Legislature shall give us the power to make a fresh disposition of the land on the east side of the avenue, so that it may be laid out under our direction in a way that we firmly believe will not only help the park, by giving it proper approaches in every direction, but will enable our whole scheme to become a really comprehensive project for the advancement of the prosperity of Brooklyn, and at the same time establish it on a thoroughly satisfactory basis as an investment of city funds. We are, however, now as heretofore open to any new conviction that will enable us the better to perform our trust, and only ask that the question shall be discussed in a candid spirit, and on broad public grounds.REPORT OF THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS AND SUPERINTENDENTS. To the Brooklyn Park Commissioners: GENTLEMEN : — We lay before you our usual Report for the year upon matters of Design, Construction and Superintendence. In the work laid out during the year, no essential deviation from the original design has been made, though certain details of importance have been introduced which will be referred to below. The conditions which had previously prevented work upon the West side of the ground having been removed, the Northern part of the Park has been finished with the exception of a little planting, and this portion of the design will next spring, for the first time, be comprehensively exhibited upon the ground. The main drive on the West side is complete form the entrance to the Lookout Hill, where it meets the Nethermead extension of the East drive, and the public has in use five miles of thoroughly constructed carriage way. A corresponding extent of the surface has been worked over and a large part of it now realizes the design, so far as it can be made to do so by the completion of the mere constructive work. There are in use, also, five miles of gravelled or concrete walk, and two hundred acres of woodland shrubbery and open meadow surface. The construction of the Park as designed is complete from end to end, East of a line drawn through the middle of it, except at two points, where there are deposits of clay and soil to be used elsewhere. Work is more or less advanced on nine-tenths of the remaining ground, and the larger part of it will be in suitable condition for public use next summer. The most eventful occurrence of the year has been the completion of the great well and the Water works at its mouth. A very important part of our design depended for complete success upon the practicability of obtaining a certain amount of water by this expedient, and we should 56 hardly have ventured to include so large an extent of lake surface in our design without the encouragement of your President, who had given special personal study to this source of supply, and who had from the outset perfect confidence in its availability. It is therefore a matter of congratulation that the plans prepared by Mr. Martin, as Engineer-in-Charge, and approved after thorough consideration by your Board, have this year been successfully carried out, the present indications being that a considerably larger supply of water will be obtained than it was thought necessary to provide. The general result is that a provision of excellent cold spring water, sufficient not only to keep the extensive ornamental waters in a condition favorable to health, but to furnish a large number of drinking fountains, has been secured in a manner which makes the Park to a great degree independent of all other sources of supply. A public walk is required to pass the point where, for engineering reasons, the Well occurs, and as many visitors will be desirous of examining it, we have preferred to treat its mouth in such a way that, while perfectly protected, no one can pass without obtaining a somewhat forcible impression of the extent and character of the work. For this purpose the walk, as it approaches the Well from either side, is enlarged so as to include a circular deck, in the middle of which is a railed opening twenty feet in diameter overhanging the outer part of the cavity. The Boiler House attached to the Well is in a conspicuous position to the lake shore, and we have designed its exterior with special reference to this prominence of situation. In its interior plan a stairway for communication with the pump platform at the bottom of the Well has been provided, so that under proper regulations visitors may have the opportunity of examining the works with ease and safety. Mr. Martin we are informed, is about to give up the appointment of Engineer-in-charge which he has for some time held under your Commisison, having been invited to fill a position in the City of Brooklyn of larger professional responsibility, and we desire to put on record our sense of the value of his services to the Park, not only in the solution of such special problems of construction as the one referred to above, but also in the daily supervision of the various operations that have been necessary to the practical development of the Park design during the last two years. There has been a more extensive transplanting of trees of a size making the use of special transporting apparatus desirable, upon your {{page break}} 57 ground, than to our knowledge has been attempted elsewhere on the continent. Two trucks of original design prepared by Mr. Culyer have been used, both operating in a more rapid and economical way than those so extensively employed in Paris. With one of these, trees weighing with the balls of earth attached fourteen tons, and measuring between four and five feet in circumference have been moved. The whole number of trees weighing upwards of one ton and measuring more than one foot in circumference, which have been thus far moved, is six hundred. It is too soon to express entire confidence of permanent success, but from the experience of a single summer of rather trying character, the result promises to be satisfactory and highly creditable to Mr. Bullard, the Park Inspector, who continues the immediate management of the planting. The Meadow port and Nethermead arches have been completed, and the Lullwood Bridge, constructed of oak on stone abutments, has been carried across an arm of the lake. These works have been under the immediate charge of Mr. E. C. Miller, Assistant Architect. A building has been constructed on the Parade Ground which has been designed to provide rooms for the use of the military, with apartments for a janitor, and to furnish in addition a partially enclosed shelter for the accommodation of the general public. This structure has been placed at the top of a gentle slope which has been artificially constructed at the western extremity of the Parade Ground for the purposes set forth in the explanation of the design which was included in our special report on the subject submitted for the consideration of the Board prior to the commencement of operations. The Diary is now complete so far as the main structure is concerned, and is ready for occupation. The need which this building is designed to serve can be met under very advantageous circumstances in the Brooklyn Park, and is of a different character altogether to that which will be responded to in the Refectory, which is the next building of importance that should be proceeded with. The latter building is intended to occupy a conspicuously prominent position in the immediate vicinity of the Breeze Hill Carriage-Concourse, the Lookout Hill, the Lake Shore, and the Nethermead, which is a stretch of greensward in the heart of the Park. The Refectory is proposed to be a house of entertainment on a liberal scale, agreeably situated so far as outlook is concerned, but with no more suggestion of privacy or retirement than would be found in a suburban hotel. The Diary, on the other hand, is intended to meet the same physical need for refreshment, but it is designed to be used58 by visitors only when in search of a more thoroughly rural experience than can be looked for at any point which furnishes accommodation for an assemblage of carriages. It is of course impracticable anywhere within the necessary limits of a city park, to make sure that visitors shall enjoy a sense of complete rural seclusion, but the inclination which influences those who are able to go far into the country for recreation, is often strong with thousands, who are in no position to leave their business and their families. While, therefore, results which would seem forced or improbable are to be avoided, it is desirable to meet this requirement on a scale that shall be adequate for the purpose. We therefore abandon all idea of contrasting the publicity of the city with the privacy of deep woods, mountains, lakes, and rocky fastnesses, and accept another ideal altogether, that of pastoral rural life, as the most valuable and universally available one, for the purpose we have in view. The development of the pastoral idea in is most favorable aspects is possible in a large City Park, and it is the peculiar natural advantage of the ground under your control, that it offers an unusually favorable opportunity for the purpose. A stretch of greensward a mile in length, surrounded by woods, and unbroken by any carriage road, should certainly offer a field of ample dimensions for an illustration of the idea, and this we have in Brooklyn Park. Thousands of people, without any sense of crowding, stroll about the level or undulating sunny or shaded turf-spaces that are to be found in this strip of pasture and woodland; and with a careful arrangement of the planting yet to be done, the number of visitors may be much increased without any reference with the general suggestion. If, as is now frequently stated in the public prints, the Brooklyn Park is in some respects more attractive than the Central Park in New York, it is because we have from the outset been sustained by your Board in our effort to improve a considerable portion of the ground, with special reference to the development of this element of pastoral effect, in the pursuit of which we have at a few points made considerable changes in the surface of the ground, so as to connect a series of dissevered and isolated patches of comparatively level ground, into one sweep of grass-land that is extensive enough, to make a really permanent impression on the mind. Before this important feature in the general design can be adequately realized by the visitor, it will of course be necessary that sheep and cattle should be allowed to graze in the meadows; beautiful specimens of fine breeds should be selected, and ample provision for their accommodation should be made in suit- 59 able stables, connected with an establishment of which the Diary building would properly form the most important feature. Full details of the progress of the work during the year, and interesting statistics of the public use of the park, will be found in the appended reports of the Engineer-in-charge, and his principal assistants, Mr. Bogart and Mr. Culyer. It will be observed that the public use of the park has been largely greater than it was during the previous year. It may be remarked also, that a gratifying improvement has occurred in the character of this use; a much smaller proportion of the visits recorded having been from curiosity to examine a new thing, and a much larger part having been made with a view to family and social recreation. The number of domestic pic-nic parties was large, and more than two hundred and fifty Sunday schools and other neighborly and friendly organizations, found suitable accommodations for their pleasure excursions in the woods near and opposite to the Diary. We are strongly convinced that no other element in the design of your work compares in importance with that which is calculated to suggest, facilitate, and encourage the choice by the people of the City, of simple temperate, healthful, rural and domestic forms of recreation, instead of such as involve a liability to the development of habits of extravagance, and a morbid inclination for the unwholesome excitements of city life. We desire, in conclusion, to draw attention to the unsettled state of the question in regard to the treatment of the land under the control of the Commission on the East side of Flatbush Avenue. The fact that it continues to be impracticable to make definite calculations as to the disposition of this ground, has a prejudicial effect in reference to the general development of the Park design, and the long continued delay is also attended with many practical disadvantages. The whole subject was fully discussed in our Report made to your Board in 1866, prior to the commencement of active operations, and again in that of last year; and we have simply now to say that the views we have heretofore expressed remain unchanged. Respectfully, OLMSTED, VAUX & CO. Landscape-Architects and Superintendents.WELL AND BOILER HOUSE. GENERAL SECTION. SCALE OF FEET C.C. MARTIN. ENGINEER. OLMSTED. VAUX & CO LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS. REPORT. OF C.C. MARTIN, ENGINEER-IN-CHARGE. PARK COMMISSION, CITY OF BROOKLYN, ENGINEER'S OFFICE, January 1st, 1870. Messrs. OLMSTED, VAUX & CO., Landscape-Architects and Superintendents. GENTLEMEN:— During the past year the work upon the Park has been confined mostly to the Western and Central portions. The force of laborers employed has not been as large as last year, but the results of the season's work have been quite satisfactory since the labor has been concentrated upon fewer points, and these have been steadily pushed forward to completion. No strikes have occurred among the laborers and but one among the mechanics, and that was due to an arbitrary society rule which was finally disregarded by the Park employées. ROADS. The Park drives have been constructed principally with rubble stone foundations. Heretofore the Roa Hook gravel was placed directly upon the broken stone. This season two inches of coarse gravel, with a small admixture of loam, was placed upon the broken stone, and two inches of Roa Hook upon this. By the substitution of Park gravel the cost of the drives was materially reduced, as the material was less expensive, and it packed more readily under the action of the roller. There is every reason to suppose that these drives will be equally as durable as the more expensive kind, because the wear of the vehicles will still come upon the Roa 62 Hook gravel, and before this two inches of surface gravel is worn out the drives will require to be surfaced with fresh material. Continued and careful observations have been made on the drives with the rubble foundation, in order to compare them with those having Telford foundation, and they have been found to compare favorably with them. The road gutters have been constructed almost exclusively of stone blocks similar to Belgian blocks, and laid upon a bed of sand one foot deep. They are much less expensive than the brick gutters, will be equally as durable, and will be much more easily repaired. There is but one serious objection to them, and that is that a large amount of surface water is lost by passing between the blocks, and thus into the ground. At this time, this is immaterial, as there is an abundant supply of pure water for the lake with its present area, but when the lake is completed it will be advisable to save all of the surface water possible, in order to keep it supplied; but the probabilities are that the fine silt worked from the roads will, before that time, so effectually close up the crevices between the stones that almost no water will be lost. Should it be found that too much water is lost, a very simple, cheap and effective remedy will be, to cover the surface of the block gutters with a light layer of tar concrete. This will make a gutter that will be impervious to water, and thus equally as effective as brick gutters. Several additional experiments on tar concrete drives have been made. The specimen of drive laid by the Scrimshaw Patent Concrete Company, in the fall of 1867, has steadily improved since its construction. During the year it has had no repairs, and no expense has been put upon it except to sweep off the dust and mud brought on it by carriages from the adjacent gravel roads. It is at the present time in perfect order. From experiments which I have made, I have been convinced that there is no difficulty to be anticipated in making repairs either from the breaking up or wearing out of the concrete material. If, from the unequal settlement of the ground, or any other causes, the concrete should crack, a section of it can be removed and new material put in its place, without material injury to the Drive surface; and when the surface has worn uneven, as it will in time, by constant use, a new surface can be laid upon the old, and the adhesion is so complete that no tendency to crack is exhibited. Samples of the Scharf Patent Concrete Pavement have been laid. This promises well, and if it withstands the action of the frosts, it will also make a good road surface. 63 Later in the season a sample of the Haider Patent Concrete Pavement was laid on the Drive. This also promises well, but time and the elements must decide the merits of this or of the Scharf Pavement. The sample of Fisk concrete laid in 1867 was almost entirely disintegrated last season, and during the past summer the patentees, at their own cost, re-surfaced it, but before the season was over it had again gone to pieces. For walks it answers a better purpose, but even for walks the signs of failure are at this time becoming evident. The disintegration commences at the bottom and gradually comes to the surface. STEAM ROAD ROLLER. During the season the Park Commission authorized the purchase of a Steam Road Roller from Messrs. Aveling & Porter, of Liverpool, England. It arrived in the Park in August, and was immediately set up by Park employees, and put to work, and from that time until the work upon the drives was suspended for the season, it worked almost constantly, and, for a great portion of the time, night and day. It effected a very marked saving in the expense of rolling. The roller weighs fifteen tons, and rolls a width of six feet. It moves either backward or forward with equal facility, and hence does not have to be turned around on the drive, although it can be turned around in its own length, which is about twenty feet. The rollers are five feet in diameter. Although this roller may be entirely adapted to the rolling of broken stone or McAdam roads, a few modifications could be made which would improve it for rolling gravel roads. The rollers should be at least six feet in diameter, so that they would not have so great a tendency to roll the gravel up in waves before them. Secondly, the face of the roller should be straight. On this one the rollers are about five-eights of an inch convex, and there being four of them, the effect is to produce four parallel depressions, five-eights of an inch deep, and this is only produced by moving the gravel sidewise. This sidewise motion is prejudicial to the packing, and would be obviated by making the faces of the rollers straight, instead of convex. Again, for soft roads, Park roads, with a layer of fresh gravel, three or four inches thick upon them, the traction power of this roller is scarcely sufficient. This could be obviated, either by coupling the four rollers, so that they would all become driving wheels, or else by throwing more weight upon the driving wheels. The roller, as it is, effects a very great saving of expense in rolling, but the above obvious improvements would add considerably to its efficiency. The cost of running it is about ten dollars per day, and it does about twice as much effective rolling as the seven ton Park roller, which required eight horses to run it, and costs twenty dollars per day.64 ARCHWAYS, BRIDGES. The Enterdale Arch, near the main entrance, has been finished during the year. Also, the Meadowport Arch, with the exception of the wooden lining, and the Nethermead Arches, except the pointing up of the brick work. The Lullwood Bridge has been completed, and is in use. A small rustic bridge over the Ambergill has been constructed. A temporary wooden bridge has been built across the lake near the south end of Breeze Hill to connect the finished drives on the opposite sides of the Lake, until the permanent bridge shall be built. It is one hundred and eighty-four feet long, thirty-five feet wide, and fourteen feet above summer level of water in the Lake. DAIRY HOUSE. The Dairy House has been completed, and is now occupied. THE FOUNTAIN. The masonry of the Fountain Basin on the Plaza is nearly completed, and on the occasion of the unveiling of the Lincoln Statue, water was, for the first time, thrown from a temporary jet. The gas, water and drainage pipes have all been put in, and are in good working order. WALKS. Nearly all of the walks laid on the Park during the year have been made of Tar Concrete--a large proportion under the Scrimshaw Patent, a portion under the Scharf Pavement, and a portion was laid with Improved Fisk Pavement. All of the tar concrete walks are in good condition, although some of the Fisk Concrete walks will, from present indications, require re-surfacing next season. THE WELL. The well for supplying the Park with water is essentially completed, although some of the surroundings, as railings, engine-house roof, &c., are yet unfinished. CONSTRUCTION OF WELL. The method of sinking the well having been determined upon, the work was commenced as follows: an excavation about sixty feet in diameter was made to a depth of seven feet. Pieces of plank three feet {{page break}} 65 long, ten inches wide, and two inches thick, were then laid upon this bottom at intervals of about three feet from centre to centre upon a a circle of fifty-four feet in diameter, and the whole carefully levelled. A band of wrought iron fifty-four feet in diameter, half an inch thick, and twenty-two inches wide, was then obtained and placed upon this ring of plank. The band was made of sheets about fourteen feet long, the ends of which were placed together, forming butt-joints; over these ran covering plates, three feet long, and double counter sunk rivets were used to secure them. These having been put in place and brought to a true circle, a ring of oak timber, eleven inches thick, eleven inches wide on the top and two inches wide at the bottom, was placed inside of the iron band, the thin edge resting on the short plank, and being in contact with the iron. This was securely fastened to the band by means of bolts and spikes. Upon this was laid another ring of oak timber six inches thick and twenty-four inches wide, the inner diameter of the ring being fifty feet. These two rings were securely fastened together by spikes ten inches long and half an inch square. Seven courses of oak of the same dimensions as the last were then laid up, making a total depth of timber of four feet, the whole securely spiked and bolted. The iron band reached to the top of the second six-inch course of timber, and the third course projected over its edge so as to come flush with the outside of the iron, thus forming a shoulder against which the iron could press, and which would prevent its being forced upon the outside of the curb. Forty holes were then bored through this four feet of timber, to receive the rods of one and one-half inch round iron which were sixteen feet long. These rods were passed through this mass of timber and were held in position at the top by a turnplate. The wall of brick masonry, two feet thick, was then commenced upon this wooden curb, and carried up to a height of ten feet, where four layers of pine timber, each six inches thick and sixteen inches wide, were introduced. These were placed in the centre of the wall, and the iron rods passing through them were securely bolted down with heavy washers and nuts. The wall was now sixteen feet high, besides the cutting edge, which projected ten inches below the main wall, and was securely bolted together. While this was being done a suitable Derrick had been obtained, and so placed that the boom would swing over the wall and command the interior space also. Iron buckets for hoisting out the sand, and a six-horse-power hoisting engine were procured. Work was then commenced upon the excavation. The material from within the wall was excavated and thrown into the iron buckets, and was then hoisted out and taken away. The excavation in the centre was 566 kept below that at the sides, and when sufficiently advanced the material from immediately under the wall was removed. This was done with considerable care and uniformity, and as the excavation progressed the wall slowly and quietly settled down. This process was continually repeated until the wall was lowered forty-one feet, when frost suspended operations last season. At the same time that the excavation was going on within the well the masons were at work carrying up the wall. The iron rods were extended within this wall to its top, but their size was reduced to one and one-fourth inches diameter. The brick wall had a battu towards the centre of half an inch per foot. The object of this was to prevent the wall from binding or getting wedged by the pressure of the earth. The result was as anticipated. The wall regularly and uniformly settled as the excavation was made. The work resumed last spring, and progressed satisfactorily until the bottom of the curb was about three feet below the water-surface, when it was found to be impossible to make the excavation under the curb uniformly. The curb did not settle evenly, and cracks were produced in the wall, also an unequal pressure from the material on the outside was thrown on the wall, which produced an eccentricity of about two feet in the diameter of the well. This wall was allowed to remain in the position last indicated. Another curb similarly constituted of timber, brick and iron was constructed, the interior diameter being thirty-five feet, the walls two feet thick, and the height ten feet, besides the cutting edge, which is of wood, and projects below the main wall one foot. This curb or wall was lowered in a manner similar to the first, until its top was one foot below the surface of the water, giving a depth of twelve feet of water in the well. Work was suspended at this point, as the depth of water obtained was considered sufficient. The method of making the excavation under water was somewhat novel and entirely successful, reducing the expense of that portion of the work very materially. A cylinder twenty inches diameter, and forty inches long, with a closed top, was made of three-eighths inch boiler iron. The whole was made air-tight except the bottom, which was left entirely open. In the top were two valves opening upward. The lower edges of the cylinder were made thin and sharp. Attached to the top was a timber or stem six inches square, and eighteen feet long, and at the top of this a suitable attachment was made for a {{page break}} 67 hoisting apparatus. The tackle of the Derrick was made fast to this and the cylinder was lowered away into the water, the valves were forced open and the air escaped. As soon as the cylinder touched the bottom, the stem of the cylinder was worked backward and forward, thus forcing the cylinder into the sane by its own weight. When full of sand the valves were closed and the whole hoisted out. As soon as the cylinder was lifted above the water it was swung to one side, the valves opened and the contents discharged upon the platform constructed for the men to work upon. The cylinder has a capacity of seven cubic feet, and on an average, five cubic feet of sand was lifted at each time, and a charge could be brought up every two minutes. The apparatus seemed to work as well in sixteen feet of water as in shallow depths. ENGINE AND PUMP. The Engine is of the kind known as the Worthington Duplex Pumping Engine; and consists, essentially of two direct acting horizontal engines, by the side of each other; so connected together, that the motion of the one will operate the steam valves and change the motion of the other. "In the 'Duplex' Engine the shock at the change of the stroke, is avoided by the use of two double-acting water-cylinders and two sets of steam-cylinders; the whole so combined as to form one engine, delivering the water into a common air-chamber." "Each pump moves to the end of its stroke, and is there compelled to rest absolutely still, for as much time as will allow the water-valves to seat themselves quietly, instead of sending them to their seats violently, by a premature motion. And as this piston ceases its stroke, it communicates motion to the steam-valves of the other side of the engine, so that its pump assumes he work where the first laid it down, and continues it with such uniformity that the indicating guage will show scarcely any variation in the water-pressure. The work requires rest from motion while the steam valves are closing and the currents subsiding; but in the force main the upward flow must be unimpared and unbroken." "When we examine the engine in regard to the quantity of metal in motion, we find no large masses moving, but that the power of the steam, acting direct upon the steam-piston, is transmitted through68 the piston-rod to the water-plunger, which is attached to the other end of the same rod, thus acting upon the water without the intervention of a greater mass of metal than the strains absolutely require. The engine being built so as to contain all these strains within itself, the foundations are smaller, and much less expensive, than those required for other classes of engines." "The capacity of the engine is such, that it will easily deliver into the Reservoir one million gallons in twenty-four hours, through four hundred and sixty-five feet of twelve-inch pipe, at a height of one hundred and sixty feet." "It is about twenty-five horse-power. It has two double-acting water-pistons; and each piston-rod passes through a high pressure into a low-pressure cylinder, in which the steam is first used at high pressure and afterwards at low pressure. The steam cylinders are to be protected by a steam jacket, and a covering of felt and black walnut; and are provided with balanced steam slide-valves. Steam-water-pressure, and vacuum gauges are attached to the engine, and there is also to be a counter to record the number of strokes." "There are four single-acting vertical air-pumps, worked by two half-beams. The engine draws the water from the well through a suction-pipe which delivers it into the water-cylinders. This suction-pipe is fitted at its base with a 'foot-valve' to keep it always full of water." The diameter of the suction-pipe is.......... 12 inches. " " " " water-piston is.......... 14 " Length of Stroke .......... 17 " Diameter of the two high-pressure Cylinders....... 14 " " " " low " " ........ 24 " "The speed of the engine is from fifty to eighty strokes per minute, as may be desired. The ordinary speed is about sixty strokes with the pressure of the steam forty pounds and the vacuum twenty-five inches." BOILER. The Boiler is of the type known as the Horizontal Tubular. It is fifteen feet long, four feet in diameter and contains thirty-nine tubes three {{page break}} 69 inches diameter. The grate surface has an area of sixteen square feet, and the heating surface of the boiler is seven hundred and fifty square feet. The furnaces are under the shells of the boiler; the fire returning through the tubes. The boiler fronts are entirely of iron, and are very substantial and neat in appearance. The boilers are fed by a small duplex pump. BOILER HOUSE. The Boiler House is situated on the surface of the ground near the well, and is constructed of pressed brick with Ohio stone trimmings. The chimney is located at one corner of the house. It is ten feet square at the base and is to be sixty feet high, and has a flue two feet square throughout. The house is completed except the roof, and the chimney is carried up but about forty-five feet. ENGINE AND PUMP FOUNDATION. It was necessary to place the Pumps and Engine near the surface of the water in the well, and in order that they might be entirely independent of the walls of the well, which were liable to settlement, it was decided to place them on a platform carried by six cast-iron columns. These columns were made nine inches in diameter with three-fourths inch thickness of metal, and of different lengths. They were cast with flanges on the outside by which the sections were securely bolted together. They were sunk into the sand by a very rapid, cheap and effective method. The sections forming each column were bolted together. A cap was made to fit the top of the column and was securely bolted to it, and in the centre of this was a coupling for a two and a half inch hose. At the bottom another flange was cast with a cone projecting ten inches from its under side with an opening at the point two and a half inches in diameter. The column thus equipped was suspended over the position it was to occupy, and suitable guides provided to ensure its maintaining a vertical position in its descent. A hose was thus attached to the coupling on the cap and connected with a small number-four Worthington pump. The pump was started and water forced in at the top of the column and out at the bottom. As soon as the flow was fully established the column was lowered down. The water escaping into the sand below the column loosened it, and kept it in violent agitation, so that it offered almost no resistance to the sinking, the water escaping alongside of the column to the surface. These columns, nine inches in diameter, with a bottom flange eighteen inches in diameter, were sunk into the sand from eight to ten feet in70 about eighteen minutes, when the columns were at their proper depth. So long as the pumping continued they were loose and easily moved around in the sand; but within three minutes after the pump stopped they were almost as firm as if set in stone the sand having settled so compactly around them. The method was a complete success, and I see no reason why columns could not be sunk to almost any depth by the same process. Upon the tops of the columns were placed wrought iron beams carrying the floor and pumps. Stone steps were build spirally into the wall of the well to enable visitors to reach the pump platform. A floor has been laid over the well leaving a circular opening twenty feet in diameter. The floor is supported on two isometrical trusses. The entrance to the well is through the Boiler House and a side opening in the wall of the well. FORCE MAIN. The Force Main leading from the pump to the Reservoir is a cast iron pipe twelve inches in interior diameter. Its length is to be four hundred and sixty-five feet, and the elevation of the point at which it delivers the water into the Reservoir is one hundred and sixty feet above the level of the water in the well, and one hundred and seventy-three feet above tide level. The main was mad with bell and spigot joints, the bells being five inches deep, and the lead joints were made only three and one-fourth inches deep, the balance of the space being filled by a hempen gasket. The force main delivers the water into the Reservoir just above its high-water line. The object in pumping to this height rather than into the bottom of the Reservoir is to insure a uniform pressure on the pumps. In the force main near the pump is placed a check-valve. This is a self-acting arrangement by which the pressure of the water in the main is prevented from acting on the pumps while they are not in motion, and consists of an inclined partition across an enlargement of the pipe, with valves on the upper side, which are opened as the water is forced through them from the pumps, and which are closed by the pressure of the water in the pipe above them. At a distance of eighty-three feet from the well, and at an elevation of about sixty-one feet above the surface of the water in the well, there is a branch connecting with a fifteen inch vitrified pipe which leads to the lake near the proposed site of the Refectory. This branch will be used when it is required simply to fill the lake. At a distance of one hundred and fifty-four feet form the well, and at an elevation of ninety feet above the water in the well, is another {{page break}} 71 branch connecting with a twelve inch cast-iron pipe leading around the base of Look-out Hill to the uppermost of a series of pools. This pipe delivers the water at an elevation of one hundred and twenty-four feet, and will be used when a supply of water is to be furnished to the pools and cascades situated in the Ambergill and Nethermead districts. It will thus be seen that the water from the well can be delivered at elevations of sixty-one, one hundred and twenty-four, or one hundred and sixty-feet, as the case requires, thus reducing the work and cost of pumping to its minimum. The water from the Reservoir will be taken into the pipe distribution system to be used at the hydrants, drinking fountains, &c., at different points on the Park. This will constitute but a small proportion of the water required on the Park. By far the largest quantity will be required to supply the loss form the lake, due to evaporation from the surface and leakage from the bottom. This water may be used to produce pools, cascades, rapids, and running brooks before it empties into the lake. SOURCE OF WATER SUPPLY FOR THE WELL. The ground on that portion of the Park lying south of the hills, and in fact all of the south side of Long Island is one vast bed of sand, which is generally covered by but a few feet of soil and loam. On account of this peculiar formation, a large proportion, probably sixty per cent. of the rain fall is absorbed and passes down to what is popularly known as "the main spring." This is a body of water filling the sand and extending under this whole district. The distance from the surface of the ground to the surface of this body of water depends upon the modulation of the ground; but the elevation of this water surface above tide level is quite uniform for equal distances from tide water, and depends upon that distance; it rises about seven feet per mile - so that, for instance, at any point two miles from tide water the surface of this subterraneous reservoir will be about fourteen feet above tide levels. The slope being known, it becomes an easy matter to calculate with great certainty the quantity of water which can be obtained from the well. The rain fall averages something over forty inches per annum, but assuming it to be forty inches, then sixty per cent, of this, or twenty-four inches in depth of water will reach the main spring. This quantity over a circle with a radius of one half a mile will give a daily supply of about nine hundred thousand gallons. To draw this supply of water to the well from a distance of one half a mile it will be necessary72 to pump the water down to a depth of about three and a half feet, and this will allow the water to take the regular slope of about seven feet per mile. The water in the well is twelve feet deep and can readily be pumped down seven feet, and this will draw water from nearly a mile in every direction. There is therefore an abundant supply of water within reach of the well, and the only remaining question was, could the requisite amount be pumped out without bringing in with it the sand in the bottom and around the well and thus fill it up. This last question was set at rest by actual observation during a trial of the pump. It was found that when the water in the well was drawn down four and a half feet water came in at the rate of 850,000 gallons per day, without in the least disturbing the sand in the bottom. This was on the third day the pump was run; and the rate of flow of the water towards the well will increase as pumping is continued, for the subterraneous channels will arrange themselves in directions towards the well. No doubt the bottom could be brought in and the well ruined by suddenly pumping the water down eight or ten feet--but if it were drawn down even to that depth gradually no damage would occur. The water must not be drawn down more than four and a half feet suddenly, as it cannot be done safely. FORT GREENE. The work on Fort Greene has been steadily pressed during the season, and a large proportion of it is completed. The walks laid last year are in good order, and a large amount in addition have been laid this season. Mr. T. P. Kinsley remained in charge of the work as Engineer until it was suspended in November. Mr. F. Mollard performed the duties of General Foreman during the continuance of the work. On Prospect Park, the organization of the Engineer Department remained essentially as at the last report, during the season, until the suspension of work in November, when the Engineer corps was reduced to correspond with the reduction of the labor force. For the Park Statistics you are respectfully referred to the reports of the Assistant Engineers-in-charge, herewith presented. The Assistant Engineers-in-charge, Mr. John Bogart and Mr. John Y. Culyer, have performed the duties of their respective departments with skill and fidelity. Respectfully submitted, C. C. MARTIN, Engineer-in-Charge. FRONT ELEVATION LODGE AND SHELTER . KINGS COUNTY PARADE GROUNDS LAVATORY SHELTER OFFICERS ROOM PUBLIC ROOM SHELTER GUARD ROOM 4 0" X 30 0" 17 0"X 23 0" 16' 0"X 24'0" 4'0"X50'0" 4'3"X 20' 6" GENERAL PLAN OLMSTED, VAUX & CO LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS REPORT OF JOHN BOGART, ASSISTANT-ENGINEER-IN-CHARGE. ____________. . .____________ PARK COMMISSION, CITY OF BROOKLYN, ENGINEER'S OFFICE, JANUARY 1ST, 1870. C.C. MARTIN, ESQ., Engineer-in-Charge. Sir: I submit herewith the following tabular statistics of construction of the Brooklyn Parks, up to January 1st, 1870. DRIVES. Drives finished, 60 feet wide, .................................... 379 lineal feet. " 52 " .................................... 277 " " 50 " ..................................1,441 " " 46 " ..................................5,546 " " 40 " ................................12,423 " " 30 " ..................................1,500 " " 27 " ..................................1,610 " " 23 " ..................................1,550 " " 50 " (Franklin Avenue,).....1,860 " ______ Total length of Drive finished,.................................26,586 " _______ or 5 4-100 miles. Drives in progress, 60 feet wide,................................ 75 lineal feet. " " 50 " .............................. 200 " " " 40 " ............................1,610 " ______ Total, ..................................................... 1,885 " ______ or 36-100 miles. 74 CONCOURSES. Finished Concourse for carriages — Plaza, 272,442 sup. feet. " " " Park, 119,350 " " " for pedestrians, Plaza, 26,742 " " " " Park, 59,300 " " " " Fort Greene, 78,832 " " " " Parade Ground, 18,000 " Total area of finished Concourse, 574,666 " or 13 19-100 acres. Concourse in progress, for carriages — Plaza, 3,000 sup. feet. " " " Park, 200,000 " " " for pedestrians—Park, 80,000 " " " " Fort Greene, 93,960 " " " " Parade Ground, 4,000 " Total, 380,960 " or 8 75-100 acres. RIDES. Rides finished, 20 feet wide, 3,000 lineal feet. " 16 " 625 " " 15 " 2,050 " " 8 " 600 " Total length of ride finished, 6,275 " or 1 19-100 miles Rides in progress, 20 feet wide, 2,975 lineal feet. " 15 " 900 " Total, 3,875 " or 73-100 miles WALKS. Walks finished, 20 feet wide, 408 lineal feet. " 16 " 15,540 " " 14 " 400 " " 12 " 8,875 " " 10 " 760 " " 8 " 450 " " 52½ " Fort Greene 108 " " 16 " " 570 " " 14 " " 3,667 " " 12 " " 1,831 " " 10 " " 598 " " 8 " " 505 " " 8 " Carroll Park, 2,275 " Total length of finished Walks, 35,987 " or 6 82-100 miles. 75 Finished Walk at Prospect Park, 5 1-100 miles. " at Fort Greene, 1 38-100 " " at Carroll Park, 43-100 " Walks in Progress, 30 feet wide, 5,396 lineal feet. " 25 " 2,175 " " 20 " 7,137 " " 16 " 1,775 " " 12 " 1,900 " " 10 " 885 " " 8 " 850 " " 52½ " Fort Greene, 365 " " 16 " " 150 " " 14 " " 797 " " 12 " " 50 " " 10 " " 35 " 21,515 " 4 7-100 miles. DRAINAGE. 18 inch vitrified pipe laid, 1,692 lineal feet. 15 " " 7,899 " 12 " " 9,144 " 10 " " 1,947 " 8 " " 8,988 " 7 " " 305 " 6 " " 19,813 " 5 " " 1,619 " 4 " " 2,496 " 2½ " " 675 " 10 " " Fort Greene, 315 " 8 " " " 680 " 6 " " " 2,066 " 5 " " " 1,234 " 4 " " " 2,707 " 6 " " Carroll Park, 97 " 4 " " " 310 " 6 " cement pipe laid, 142 " Total, 62,129 " or 11 77-100 miles. The pipe laid, 3 inch, 19,345 lineal feet. " 2½ " 25 " " 2 " 27,110 " " 1½ " 7,332 " Total, 53,812 " or 10 19-100 miles.76 WATER DISTRIBUTION Wrought iron and cement pipe, 16 inch..... 3,023 lineal feet. " " 12 " ..... 2,548 " " " 6 " ..... 10,550 " " " 4 " ..... 3,351 " Total, .............................................................. 19,472 " or 3 69-100 miles. Cast iron pipe, 20 inch,................................. 347 lineal feet. " 16 " ................................. 29 " " 12 " .............................. 2,515 " " 8 " ................................. 191 " " 6 " ................................. 43 " " 4 " ................................. 8 " " 3 " ................................. 53 " " 2½ " ................................. 10 " " 1½ " galvanized............ 450 " " 1 " " .............. 1,427 " Total,............................................................ 5,073 " or 96-100 miles. Lead and tin pipe, ¾ inch ......................... 802 lineal feet. " " ½ " Fort Greene, ... 294 " " " 3/8 " "....... 1,064 " Total,.............................................................2,160 " or 41-100 miles. Blow-offs and Branches, ............................ 74 Stop cocks, ................................................... 38 Air cocks, ...................................................... 12 Hydrants, ...................................................... 33 Reducers, ...................................................... 4 Metres, .......................................................... 2 Stop cocks—Fort Greene, ............................ 11 Gas pipe laid, 4 inch,.................................... 700 lineal feet. " 3 " .................................... 88 " Total, .............................................................. 788 " or 15-100 miles. Iron fence set—Fort Greene, ....................... 703 lineal feet. 77 AREA OF OPERATIONS UP TO JANUARY 1ST, 1870. Area worked over up to January 1st, 1870,.......... 352½ acres. " " " Fort Greene ..... 30 " Surface finishes, meadows and slopes,................. 153 acres. " woodland,..................................... 40 " " water surfaces,............................. 14 " " roads and walks,.......................... 48 " Total, ........................................................................... 255 " Surface seeded,.......................................................... 170 acres. Surface finished—Fort Greene,................................. 22 acres. MASONRY. Amount of Brick Masonry ........................................ 2,922 cubic yards. " " " Fort Greene.................... 75 " " Stone masonry ...................................... 5,986 " " " Fort Greene.................... 89 " " Concrete ................................................. 1,758 " " " Fort Greene..................... 57 " " Steps set.................................................. 4,779 lineal feet. " " " Fort Greene..................... 214 " " Curb set.................................................. 67,624 " " " " Fort Greene..................... 677 " " Belgian pavement laid....................... 295,152 sup. feet. " Cobble pavement laid.......................... 52,816 " " Brick pavement laid.............................. 20,520 " " Brick gutter laid..................................... 20,268 " " Telford gutter laid................................. 49,709 " " Cobble gutter laid.................................. 15,880 " " Flag stone gutter laid............................. 6,760 " ------------ Tar concrete pavement laid...................................... 360,136 sup. feet. " " " " Fort Greene................ 176,944 " -------------- AMOUNT OF STONE BROKEN. McAdam stone by stone-breaker ............................ 16,214 cubic yards. Telford and building stone by hand......................... 8,943 " " " " " Fort Greene.... 2,569 " Spall-stone by hand.................................................... 12,920 "78 MATERIAL MOVED. During 1869 Total to Jan 1, 1870. Fort grading and shaping drives, rides, walks, meadows and slopes...........................................cubic yards, 144,844.................416,370 For lakes, pools and streams.............................. " 126,136.................481,058 For Plaza................................................................. " ---------.................172,355 For sewers, drains and water distribution........ " 32,678....................85,842 Soil........................................................................... " 80,760.................410,772 Peat......................................................................... " 20,546..................66,566 Clay.......................................................................... " 2,274..................30,150 Manures and compost.......................................... " 10,700..................36,100 Stone........................................................................ " 19,305..................83,266 Gravel and sand...................................................... " 25,147..................85,367 Miscellaneous.......................................................... " 3,822..................18,446 Total cubic yards............................................................................466,212............1,886,292 Material moved at Fort Greene.....................................................32,532.................89,914 Total cubic yards............................................................................498,744 1,976,206 ENGINEER CORPS. The Assistant Engineers, Mr. Wilson Crosby, and Mr. James C. Aldrich, at Prospect Park, and Mr. T. P. Kinsley at Fort Greene, have been actively and efficiently engaged in the immediate supervision of the Engineer Corps during the season. Respectfully submitted, JOHN BOGART, Assistant-Engineer-in-Charge. TREE MOVING MACHINE.—PROSPECT PARK. SIDE ELEVATION. OLMSTED, VAUX & CO., LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS. REPORT OF JOHN Y. CULYER, ASSISTANT-ENGINEER-IN-CHARGE. PROSPECT PARK, BROOKLYN, DEC. 31st, 1869. C.C. MARTIN, ESQ., Engineer-in-Charge. DEAR SIR: — You will find herewith a report of the means and materials employed in the construction and maintenance of the several Parks under the jurisdiction of the Commission, for the year ending December 31st, 1869, together with an inventory of tools and supplies, and the statistics of the force, and other details, for the same period. FORCE. During the working season the average of men employed was 813, being a less force than has been engaged during any previous season of the same duration. The work has been prosecuted mainly within the district lying on the Westerly side of the Park area, commencing with the unfinished ground near the main entrance on the Plaza, then running parallel with Ninth Avenue, and including the main West or Circuit Drive, through the Litchfield and adjoining properties, and also comprehends the construction of the Drive to Lookout Hill, the Nethermead Arches, and work on adjoining territory. In addition to this, a large amount of work was done in the Lake District during the early part of the year.80 A considerable force of masons and stone-cutters was employed upon the construction of Meadowport and Nethermead Arches, the Well, Boiler House and Fountain Basin, and the stone-work of the Frame House. A force of carpenters was employed to complete the wood-work of Lullwood Bridge, the Farm House, the Well, the temporary Bridge connecting the Drive from Vanderbilt Hill with Breeze Hill, and also on a large amount of current detail labor incident to the general progress of the work. The following statement shows the average number of employed force during each month of the year, and also for the preceding years since the organization of the work in 1866: STATEMENT SHOWING THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF EMPLOYED FORCE FOR THE MONTHS AND YEARS NOTED. Year. Jan. Feb. March. April. May. June. July Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. 1866. Active operations commenced 300 335 450 550 620 700 725 on the Park in the latter part of the month of June, 1866. 1867. 700 630 410 800 1000 1150 1200 1525 1750 1825 1800 1100 1868. 944 812 508 1215 1047 1189 1095 1090 1116 1118 1167 912 1869. 740 698 746 946 959 988 991 1006 975 946 552 204 The following is an exhibit of the days during which the main force was employed, and of the days when the weather partially or entirely prevented the prosecution of the work. Whole number of full days when the main force was employed......250 Whole number of days when the weather interrupted the work........57 FORT GREENE. The work at Fort Greene has been prosecuted during the past year under the direction of our Assistant Engineer, our General Foreman of field work, and a small force varying from 35 men in January and February, to an average of 60 or 70 during the summer and early fall season. 81 The work was entirely suspended Nov. 10th. In January, February and March. one Foreman, with one gang of men, was employed. Subsequently two Foremen and two gangs of men were engaged until the close of the season. The period covered represents 269 working days. During this time the work was interrupted by storms on 50 days. The following table shows the average number employed at Fort Greene, by months, during the years 1868 and 1869: Year. Jan. Feb. Mar. April. May. June. July. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. 1868. Work begun June, 1868. 96 89 133 136 139 132 72 1869. 36 35 41 80 79 69 68 61 66 58 50 Work suspended ORGANIZATION. The force for the year was made up as follows: FOR GENERAL CONSTRUCTION WORK. One General Foreman. Two Assistant General Foremen. Nine Barrow Gangs (one at Fort Greene) average 32 men each. Six Cart Gangs (one at Fort Greene) average 20 men each, 25 Carts. Two Team Gangs, average 20 men each, 25 Teams. One Stone-breaking Gang, average 8 men each. Three Miscellaneous Gangs, average 40 men. Of this force 12 men, 1 team and 5 sprinkling carts were required for the work of maintenance, cleaning of roads, basins and water ways: to which is added a force of Gardeners in the Spring and Summer, for the care of shrubbery, mowing, &c. MECHANICAL FORCE—STONE-CUTTERS, STONE AND BRICK MASONS. One General Foreman. One Foreman of Stone-Cutters, 45 Stone-Cutters. Two Foremen of Stone-Masons, average 15 Masons each. One Foreman of Brick-Masons, 9 Brick-Masons, 682 CARPENTER AND BLACKSMITH FORCE. One Foreman of Carpenters, 21 Carpenters. One Foreman of Rustic Work, 4 Rustic Carpenters. One Foreman of Blacksmiths, 5 Blacksmiths, 5 Helpers. PLANTING AND GARDENING FORCE. One Foreman. Eight Master Gardeners. Fifteen Skilled Laborers. One hundred and fourteen Laborers. The Gardener's force is under the supervision and direction of the Park Inspector, Mr. O. C. Ballard. The division and arrangements of labor remain the same as heretofore, as does also the keeping of time and accounts of work, and of complete vouchers and records. DISCIPLINE. The following is an abstract of the record regarding promotions, suspensions and discharges occurring during the year: APPOINTMENTS AND PROMOTIONS. Number of Foremen appointed...................................................1 Number of Laborers promoted to Assistant Foremen.............1 Number of Assistant Foremen promoted to Foremen.............1 Resignation of Foremen.................................................................2 SUSPENSIONS. Number of Assistant General Foremen suspended for infraction of rules........................................................................................................1 Number of Foremen suspended for breach of discipline...................8 Number of Assistant Foremen suspended for breach of discipline..4 Number of Laborers suspended for breach of discipline...............155 83 DISCHARGES. Number of Foremen discharged for breach of discipline...................2 Number of Assistant Foremen discharged for inefficiency.................1 Number of Laborers discharged for inefficiency..............................357 Number of Laborers discharged for intoxication and neglect of duty............................................................................................................49 ACCIDENTS. Six laborers were injured on the work, and two died in consequence of injuries they received. A small boy was run over and killed by a truck belonging to a contractor. A number of cases of sun-stroke occurred during the extreme heat of the summer, none of which resulted fatally, owing, it is believed, to the prompt application of the remedies provided by the Commission for such cases. KEEPERS, AND PUBLIC USE OF THE PARKS. This force, as organized the preceeding year, remained unchanged up to November 30th, when, in consequence of the general suspension of work on the Park, a temporary reduction was made in the number employed. The force consists of two Head Keepers, one Station officer, six Wardens, sixteen range Keepers, and thirty Post Keepers. A reduction was made November 30th, of two Wardens, four Range Keepers, and six Post Keepers, together with six subordinate employees. The service has been distributed as follows: 16 Rangers, prospect Park. 24 Post Keepers, Prospect Park. 3 Post Keepers, Fort Greene. 2 Post Keepers, Carroll Park. 1 Post Keeper, City Park, and comprehends a daily inspection by a Head Keeper of all the smaller Parks under the jurisdiction of the Commissioners. It is to be observed in this connection that the area now made use of by the public is much larger in extent than it was last year, and 84 that the number of visitors making use of the Park is greatly in advance of last season, the natural result being that the duties and responsibilities of the Keeper force have been proportionately increased. During the year one Ranger and two Post Keepers have resigned. Two Post Keepers have been promoted to the range of Range Keepers. One death has occurred in the grade of Post Keepers. Five Range Keepers and nine Post Keepers have been suspended for breach of discipline. Two Range Keepers and ten Post Keepers have been discharged for neglect of duty and inefficiency. ARRESTS. Thirty-three arrests were made during the year, of which the following is a summary: For fast driving.................................................. 4 For injuring trees and shrubbery....................2 For disorderly conduct and intoxication......23 For interfering with Keepers............................3 For violation of ordinance on Fort Greene.... 1 Besides the above a number of minor offences were disposed of by caution or reprimand, by the Station Officer, or the Keeper under whose observation they occurred. Twelve lost children were restored to their homes. IMPOUNDED ANIMALS. The annoyance resulting from cattle, goats and swine running at large, is abating. One hundred and fifty-four animals were impounded, which were redeemed by their owners on payment of fines and charges, or sold to pay expenses. PUBLIC USE OF THE PARKS. During the year records have been made of the number of people visiting the Park, and the results in detail will be found in the following statement. The whole number for the year is 2,958,539, which is 822,197, or 38 per cent. in advance of last year. A marked increase in the number of persons driving in the Park is also noticeable, 714,240 vehicles having entered the Park. This is 292,642, or 69 per cent. in advance of the preceding season. 83 STATEMENT SHOWING THE NUMBER OF VISITORS AT PROSPECT PARK DURING THE YEARS 1868 AND 1869. Vehicles. Equestrians. Pedestrians. Total Visitors. 1868. 1869. 1868. 1869. 1868. 1869. 1868. 1869. January 11,440 36,719 1,301 4,031 62,012 73,500 94,443 187,688 February 16,476 37,888 510 49,60 42,504 81,761 90,982 150,385 March 16,085 43,740 3,304 6,380 27,281 32,820 75,933 170,420 April 19,089 53,430 5,287 4,671 25,942 45,125 88,502 210,086 May 38,871 75,636 7,623 11,242 69,478 65,049 194,457 303,199 June 65,485 82,620 8,825 7,884 102,544 87,441 308,988 343,185 July 52,877 68,226 5,214 5,133 98,967 102,203 266,821 312,014 August 51,133 80,339 6,369 4,270 117,425 91,315 277,193 336,602 September 37,349 70,717 4,863 5,072 60,322 74,667 177,242 291,890 October 49,684 80,417 8,329 7,163 72,325 98,305 229,942 346,719 November 44,909 50,073 10,113 5,847 44,027 29,091 188,247 185,157 December 18,200 34,435 3,180 3,101 86,056 14,788 144,042 121,194 421,598 714,240 64,918 69,754 808,383 746,065 2,136,792 2,958,539 The largest number of visitors on any one day was 41,425, October 24th. 720,888 persons visited the Park on Sundays. 69,754 equestrians have made use of the Park. This is 4,836 in excess of the preceding year. About two and a half miles of new drive was opened to public use simultaneously with the inauguration of the Lincoln Statue, October 21st. 32,439 persons entered the gates of the Park on that day. In addition to these, several thousand persons witnessed the ceremonies at the Plaza, without entering the Park.86 During the year a piece of ground, one and one-third acres in area, was prepared and set apart for velocipede riders. Velocipedes were also permitted on the walks of the Park, but no great use was made of either of their privileges, and beyond the occurrence of several slight accidents, there is nothing to record in regard to this branch of the public amusement. In the early fall, the turf upon the most of the larger open spaces of the Park, having become firm and close, the public was allowed free range over it. The privilege gave great satisfaction to many, and was not found inconsistent with the maintenance of good order or the preservation of the turf. During the summer and fine fall weather, the West Woods were in constant use for large social parties and the picnics if friendly associations, Sunday Schools, Church and Temperance Societies. There have been two hundred of these during the season. In addition a large number of smaller family festivals were noted. The use of these grounds, and of the privileges thus accorded to visitors, has been marked by good order and a ready compliance with established regulations. Tables, seats and swings were provided, as heretofore, without charge. No accident has occurred. PARADE GROUND. This ground has been in good serviceable condition during the season, frequent mowings having rendered the turf strong and compact. There have been twelve Parades, one Division Parade, three Brigade Parades, and eight Regimental and Battalion Parades. the grounds have also been made use of by about fifty Cricket, Base Ball and La Cross Clubs. SKATING. There were twenty-two days of skating this year, as follows: Sixteen in January, two in February and four in March. The Pond area, obtained by a temporary dam across the incompleted excavations of the lake, in use for skating was twelve acres. A new movable house with convenient accommodations for the public, 168 feet by 28 feet was provided; during this period 75,000 visits were made to the Pond. 87 TREES AND SHRUBS. The following statements show the number of deciduous trees, shrubs, evergreens, etc, purchased; also the stock on hand, together with the number that have been planted during the year, ON PROSPECT PARK. STATEMENT SHOWING THE NUMBER OF TREES, SHRUBS, ETC., RECEIVED DURING THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31ST, 1869. Deciduous Trees. 5.787; Deciduous Shrubs. 8.167; Evergreens 19.784; Vines. 852; Ferns. 2.600; H'rbaceous Plants. 2.696; Bedding Plants. 282; Aggregate. 40.168 STOCK IN NURSERY, DECEMBER 31ST, 1869. Deciduous Trees. 22.130; Evergreens. 32.834; Deciduous Shrubs. 44.525; Vines. 3.707; H'rbaceous Plants. 1.492; Ferns. 3.000; Aggregate. 10.7688 STATEMENT SHOWING THE NUMBER OF TREES, SHRUBS, ETC., SET IN PERMANENT PLANTATIONS DURING THE YEAR. Deciduous Trees. 3.030; Evergreens. 9.386; Deciduous Shrubs. 17.786; Vines. 2.634; H'rbaceous Plants. 6.814;Ferns. 3.360; Bedding Plants. 282; Aggregate. 43.292 Fifty-two deciduous trees of fine character and five deciduous shrubs were presented by Mr. Henry Struybring. Five deciduous trees, twenty-six deciduous shrubs, and eight ever-greens, by Mr. S. R. Trowbridge. One very fine American elm by Mr. Cooper.88 FORT GREENE. STATEMENT SHOWING THE NUMBER OF TREES, SHRUBS, ETC., PLANTED AT FORT GREENE DURING THE YEAR. Deciduous Deciduous Evergreens. Vines. Herbaceous Aggregate. Trees. Shrubs. Plants. 1,079 6,357 3,271 108 52 11,317 Seven shrubs and two other plants were presented by Mrs. Burtis. CARROLL PARK. STATEMENT SHOWING THE NUMBER OF TREES, SHRUBS, ETC., PLANTED AT CARROLL PARK DURING THE YEAR. Deciduous Evergreens. Deciduous Vines. Aggregate. Trees. Shrubs. 9 25 308 19 361 A choice selection of deciduous shrubs and evergreens, imported from England, were received in excellent condition. A part of these is included among the stock planted this season, and the remainder form a part of the stock on hand for future operations. Two large trucks, especially adapted to the moving of large trees, were constructed on the work in 1867, and have been in successful and constant operation in the seasons proper for such work since that time. Between five hundred and six hundred trees, ranging from four inches to seventeen inches diameter, measured three feet from the ground, have been taken up and transplanted from one to another point more or less distant on the Park or from the outside, with entire success. Not more than six have died that have been thus moved. The largest tree moved measured seventeen inches in diameter at three feet from the ground, and weighed with the ball of earth attached to the roots fifteen tons. It was carried a distance of half a mile, and so far as its present appearance indicates, without material injury. 90 Three flag-staffs, 70 feet high and 17 inches in diameter at the base, have been permanently set in their position at the Plaza; and three large flags, 30 ft. by 40 ft., severally bearing emblems and the mottoes of the United States, the State of New York and City of Brooklyn, have been prepared for use on public occasions and holidays. PARK FURNITURE. Fifty-two rustic-seats of sassafras and cedar have been made and placed about the Park. Two canvas field umbrellas, with camp chairs, were placed on the turf near the Children's Play-ground. There have been added to the furniture of the Park - 26 Rustic ordinance stands, 800 Rustic bird houses, 75 Park settees of iron and wood, each 7 feet long, 30 " " " " 5 " 30 " " " " 4 " One new drinking fountain of granite. During the past season two temporary places for refreshment, established the preceding season, and found to extend desired facilities to the public, were continued. Numerous water-stations were established, to which fresh cool water was supplied. The swings and scups in the East and West woods have bene kept in repair, and have been in constant use during fine weather. The birds peculiar to the woods of this section, secure from annoyance, are already increasing in numbers upon the Park quite noticeably. The English Sparrows are familiar visitors, and numbers of them are becoming permanent lodgers on the Park. PARADE GROUND. A shelter-house, with suitable accommodations for the use of the Military of Kings County, was erected during the year, of the following dimensions:- Main building, 40 ft. by 40 ft. Two wings, each 50 ft. by 14 ft., 91 with additions to the same on each end, 14 ft. by 20 ft., the whole covering an area of 3,560 superficial feet. FORT GREENE. A trellis of worked timber has been constructed at this park, on the hill, 200 ft. by 200 ft., 14 1/2 ft. in height in centre, and 12 1/2 ft. in the wings, and contains under shelter 48 seats, each 16 ft. 8 in. long; one drinking fountain of granite; also two additional drinking places were provided, to which cool water was constantly supplied during the summer. Two temporary water-closets and one urinal were erected. Two hundred and thirty feet of new iron fence was placed on the boundary line of the Park and Hospital property. CITY PARK. Eight gate entrances at this Park have been re-arranged and new gates supplied. SUPPLIES. Tools, Implements, and Machinery. From the accompanying statement of material received and used on the work, and now in stock, it will be seen that there is now on hand a large general supply of tools and implements for future operations. Of the more expensive appliances, such as derricks, derrick-gathering, trucks, road-rollers, &c., the supply is in excellent condition, and will be sufficient for any ordinary future demands of the work. A Steam Road Roller of fifteen tons weight was received from England in good order, and has been in use during the latter part of the year. One ten ton wall-builder for moving stone was purchased. STONE AND BRICK. During the season 315 cubic yards of foundation stone have been received. 1,763 cubic feet of Ohio sandstone, } Selected stone, quarried, and 9,000 " " Maine granite, } worked to dimensions. 1,785 " " Quincy granite, } A supply of brick for the completion of the Reservoir is on hand. 92 GRAVEL. 8.342 cubic yards of gravel was purchased; 7,342 cubit yards of this was used for construction, with 1,000 yards required for maintenance. Horses, ETC. There are eight horses belonging to the Commission, six of them are in daily use on the field as teams, and two for general use of the officers of the PArk, and are in good working condition. In view of the accumulation of machinery, implements, and supplies needed for current and general demands of the work, the selection and use of a permanent site for storage yard is desirable. ANIMALS AND BIRDS The following animals and birds were presented to the Commis- sioners :----- One Camel, One Fox, One Peccary, One Eagle, One Hawk. Not having suitable accommodations for them, they were tempora- rily transferred to the care of the Central Park Commissioners, in ac- cordance with an understanding that leaves them subject to withdrawal whenever it may be deemed desirable to establish a zoological collec- tion on the Brooklyn Park. FERTILIZING MATERIALS. Statement of manure and fertilizing material, received and on hand. PROSPECT PARK. 338 two-horse loads horse manure. FORT GREENE. 122 two-horse loads horse manure, 1,978 one " " street " PROSPECT PARK.---- STATEMENT OF MATERIAL ON HAND. Stable Manure Compost, 387 cubic yards, Night-soil, " 2,314 " " Fish, " 420 " " Peat and Lime " 11,373 " " --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 93 FORT GREENE. Stable Manure Compost, 267 cubic yards. METEOROLOGY. The system of Meteorological observations which was begun in the month of July, 1868, has been continued throughout the year. These have been made and recorded three times daily. The extent and thoroughness of such records depend largely upon the completeness of the system, and character of the instruments used. Our supply has been only partial, and the observations taken were ne- cessarily incomplete, though entirely reliable to the extent afforded by the instruments. With reference to the Commission these records would appear to have little value, but the constantly growing interest throughout the country, in this popular branch of science, at once sug- gests the importance of the subject. Successful agriculture and other industries depend largely upon the conditions of the atmosphere and temperature. Meteorology alone affords us an intelligent comprehension of these phenomena. Data, compiled from its observations are regarded by the scientific as among the most *valuable contributions to the statistics of the country. Pro- gress in the science is to be mainly anticipated from study at the office established for that purpose at Washington, of accurate records of ob- servations made simultaneously at a very large number of stations in all parts of the country. The situation of the Park, and the Character of its organization, make it by far the best station for the purpose in this vicinity. The apparatus at present in use is very simple and incomplete. If the Com- mission should think proper to appropriate five hundred dollars to its enlargement and improvement, the observations which might be taken without any additional current expense, would be of much higher value. A faithful and intelligent attention to duty has characterized the sercives of the several assistants employed in my department. Respectfully submitted, JOHN Y. CULYER, Assitant- Engineer-in-charge.