Ex IGtbrtB 
 
 SEYMOUR DURST 
 
 When you leave, please leave this book 
 
 Because it has been said 
 "Ever thing comes t' him who waits 
 
 Except a loaned book." 
 
 Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library 
 Gift of Seymour B. Durst Old York Library 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2014 
 
 https://archive.org/details/reportofbrooklynOObroo 
 
INDEX TO MAP. -X. Lincoln Statue. 2. Fountain. :). Flnza Shelter. 
 
 Thatched Shelter. 5. Endale Arch. 0. Hint Drive Shelter and lioad Steps. 7. Play (inland Arbor 
 17. Lullwood Bridge. Is. Cleft lti Ige Span. 19. Breeze Hill Concouree. 20. Cow. Obeoora. 21. Concert Grove Shelter and Pavilion 
 30. Parade Ground Lodge. 31. Site for Parade Ground Stables. 32. Lookout Hill Bridge. 33. CbBOrvatory and Shelters. 
 
 43. Binnonwater. 41. Lullwater. 45. Dairy Cottage 
 
 8. Play Ground Pool. 9. Play Ground Concourse for Children. 10. Oarrouasel. 11. Haiti.' 
 
 12. Culvert Arch. 13. Deer Baddo 
 
 22. Conceit Grove. 23. Boat Landing 
 Well. 35. Terrace and llclcrtory. 86.'. 
 
 Dairy Stable. 17. Payno Stntuo. Ik. Meadow Pott Aroh. 
 
 24. Site lor Music Pavilion. 25. Irving Statue. 2t;. Carriage ConOc. 
 
 27. Ford Budge 98. 
 
 k. 14. WUlink Entranc 
 Promenade Diirc Shalte 
 
 15. Emit Wood Arch. lti. Binnen Bridge 
 SB. Franklin Avenue Shelter. 
 
 Terrace Bridge. 37. Lookout hill Concourse. 38. 1'ullkill Bridge. 311. Pools. 10. Esdule Bridge. 41. Ambergill. 42. Xcthe: 
 
 Urinals. U U. Boat Landing. 
 
 Bustio shelters 
 
REPORT 
 
 OF THE 
 
 FROM 
 
 JANUARY, 1874, TO DECEMBER 31. 1879 
 
 BROOKLYN : 
 
 lP:ri:r:Lt©cl for tlae Com 
 1880. 
 
COM MISSION ERS. 
 
 JAMES S. T. STRANAHAN, 
 JOHN H. PRENTICE, ABRAHAM B. BAYLISS, 
 
 STEPHEN HAYNES, WILLIAM MARSHALL, 
 
 DARWIN R. JAMES, ISAAC S. CATLLN, 
 
 SAMUEL S. POWELL, 
 
 THE MAYOR, Ex-offivio. 
 
 OFFICERS. 
 
 l' resident, 
 
 JAMES S. T. STRANAHAN. 
 
 Secretary, 
 FRANCIS G. QUEVEDO. 
 
 Chief Engineer and Superintendent, 
 JOHN Y. CULYER. 
 
ANNUAL REPORT 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Brooklyn Park Commissioners. 
 
 Mayor's < >ffice, City Hall. ) 
 Brooklyn, January 31, lsh'M 
 
 To the Honorable the Common Council : 
 
 Gentlemen : 
 
 The Annual Report of the Brooklyn Park Commissioners is 
 herewith transmitted for your consideration. 
 
 Very respectfully youre, 
 
 JAMES HOWELL, 
 
 Mayor. 
 
 Office <>f the Brooklyn Park Commissioners, ^ 
 » City Hall, Brooklyn, > 
 
 January 30, 1880. S 
 
 Hon. James Howell, Mayor : 
 Dear Sir: 
 
 I herewith transmit to you the Annual Report of the Brooklyn 
 Park Commissioners, which by law and the ordinances of the qity 
 we are required to present at this time. 
 
 Respeetfnlly, 
 
 j. s.'t. stranahan, 
 
 President. 
 
 1 
 
4 
 
 January 1, 1880. 
 To f/ie Honorable fhr Common Council of t/ie City of Brooklyn : 
 Gentlemen : 
 
 The Brooklyn Park Commissioners beg leave to lay before you 
 their report for the year terminating December 31, ls7!>. 
 
 There will he found appended a statement, in detail, showing 
 the amount of moneys received and the sources whence they were 
 derived, together with a full account of the expenditures of the 
 year. 
 
 In view of the very limited appropriations which have been set 
 apart by Your Honorable Body tor the use of the Park Commis- 
 sioners, they are Tiot able to report any definite progress during 
 the year in the important works committed to their charge. 
 
 The comparatively small force of employes which it lias been 
 possible for them to retain in their service, has been engaged 
 throughout the year upon such work as was demanded by the 
 seasons and by the public use of the Park. It consisted chiefly 
 in maintaining through the winter months, the lake in proper con- 
 dition for skating, curling, ice-boat sailing and other ice sports, 
 for which it was in general use by our citizens ; in repairing and 
 cleaning the roads, walks, &c. : in the care of the grass, shrub- 
 bery and public buildings, and in whatever else contributed to 
 the comfort and convenience of the public, as far as it was pos- 
 sible for them to do. 
 
 In consequence of the almost entire suspension of the work of 
 construction upon the Park since 1873, and in view of the fact 
 that no material change had, during any one year, notably marked 
 the administration of their duties, the Commissioners, since 1873, 
 have remitted the publication of extended reports of their opera- 
 tions. They therefore take this opportunity to present the fol- 
 lowing summary of the Work of construction provided for by 
 special appropriation since 1873, and also to present at some 
 length the general subject, of maintenance. 
 
 The successful completion of certain suburban improvements 
 by the Commissioners, of which the Ocean Parkway, and the Con- 
 course at Coney Island, are very prominent, and so closely 
 identities them with the works within the city as to unite them 
 in a common consideration in this report. 
 
 That these results have been successfully achieved at this time, 
 and at such cost as, with wise management on ihe part of the 
 municipal authorities, will render them but slight burdens to our 
 
5 
 
 taxpayers, is a source of general congratulation. The importance 
 and value of works of the character of our parks, &c, and the 
 properly constructed, convenient and attractive approaches to a 
 delightfully suburban neighborhood cannot be reasonably over- 
 estimated. The general appropriation for construction purposes 
 which had been provided in accordance with an act of Legislature 
 ceased in the year 1S73, since which time only such new work 
 lias been dune as was necessary to complete unfinished portions 
 in hand. For this there remained sufficient money to meet the 
 outlay, and the expense of such other undertakings as have been 
 from time to time duly authorized by the proper authorities has 
 been met with money provided by Your Honorable Body. With- 
 in these two classifications the following works are enumerated 
 in the order of their completion : 
 
 PLAZA FOUNTAIN. 
 
 This work, including the finishing of the artificial stone and 
 metal work of the dome, and the fountain railing, with their com- 
 plement,^ parts, embodied novelties in design and construction 
 which have been finished in a satisfactory manner. 
 
 The central location of the large fountain makes it the most 
 conspicuous ornament of the Plaza. It was intended to relieve 
 what would otherwise have proved a monotonous and too utilitarian 
 feature of the broad approach to what must always be the lead- 
 ing entrance to the Park. 
 
 The railing itself not only serves as an appropriate ornament 
 and finish to the circular stone work which surrounds the princi- 
 pal basin, but comprises, as a part of its structure, a series of 
 globular glass lanterns which are supplied with gas by pipes car- 
 ried through the upper bar of the railing. These lanterns afford 
 opportunities for a spectacular display, it being anticipated, as 
 has since proved the fact, that the Plaza in pleasant weather, and 
 especially during the summer months, would attract the people of 
 the neighborhood to its vicinity as a convenient and pleasant 
 resort. 
 
 The first public illumination of the fountain and surrounding 
 space of the Plaza took place on the evening of July 4, 1874, 
 but similar displays have been of infrequent occurrence since, 
 owing to the failure of the authorities to make provision for the 
 necessary supply of gas. The existing provisions for the water 
 display of the fountain have been and continue to be temporary 
 in character in consequence of the limited and intermitted supply 
 
V> 
 
 of water placed at the disposal of the Commissioners by the 
 Water Board. The Commissioners entertain the opinion that a 
 reasonable occasional use, especially <>n holidays, of water for 
 such purpose as is afforded by the Plaza Fountain, would be an 
 entirely legitimate one. Throughout Europe, in almost every 
 city and large town of prominence, where the water supply is ob- 
 tained with more difficulty and expense than it is ever likely to 
 be with us, the local authorities recognize the claims of all public 
 fountains and provide for ornamental displays of water. The 
 mechanical resources of the Plaza Fountain itself arc such as 
 to supply a delivery of water sufficient to properly secure a dis- 
 play equal to, if not surpassing, any public fountain now con- 
 structed. 
 
 PEDESTRIAN CONCOURSE. 
 
 The unfinished details of work pertaining to the stone work, 
 water walls, coping, railing, small fountains and flower basins 
 were completed in 1874. This work included the unfinished 
 work provided for by contracts of the previous year. 
 
 CONCERT GROVE OPEN SHELTER. 
 
 The large open shelter facing the restaurant was completed in 
 1874. This structure is in the form of an irregular octagon in 
 plan, 80 feet long and 40 feet wide, and is constructed of iron 
 and wood, with stone tile flooring, enclosed with iron railing, in 
 which suitable openings have been left for access to the tables 
 and chairs within. It affords pleasant and convenient facilities 
 for taking outdoor refreshments during the fine weather of the 
 year. The original design of the Pedestrian Concourse contem- 
 plated provisions for the comfortable assembling of carriages and 
 pedestrians at a central and accessible portion of the Park ; and the 
 combinations of rich stone work and other architectural features, 
 with the elements of landscape art, in which the cultivation of 
 flowers form a prominent feature, are calculated to make 
 this a very attractive neighborhood. These arrangements have 
 been completed and seem to have met in an ample manner the 
 purposes for which they were designed. As a natural and proper 
 secpience to this work, provisions have been made for the accom- 
 modation of musicians, it being contemplated to provide, at some 
 future time, in this part of the Park, open air concerts in a loca- 
 tion where they may be most conveniently enjoyed by all classes 
 of visitors. Here it is designed to overcome many of the difficul- 
 
7 
 
 tics universally existing in outdoor concerts, and to secure 
 to people in carriages and pedestrians alike all the advantages 
 desired. The circuit drive of the Park follows the line of the 
 contiguous lake, bordering the open area or concourse of nearly five 
 acres, all parts of which are open to drivers and riders, while a 
 smaller carriage concourse is situated on the hill north and west 
 of the grove. 
 
 North of the principal carriage concourse, and forming a 
 southern portion of the grove, a space is especially designed for a 
 promenade on foot. This is planted with plane trees (platanus 
 orientalis), now in a very thrifty condition of growth, and these, 
 together with the aid of a series of awnings picturesquely arranged, 
 it is believed, will afford a sufficient protection from the heat and 
 sun during the warmer months of summer. Additional facilities 
 in this respect will be provided, and natural aid will result from 
 the growth of trees on the bordering high ground. 
 
 At present the ordinary attractions of the Pedestrian Con- 
 course, together with the success of the floral displays, which 
 have been accomplished at comparatively small cost, already 
 make this one of the most attractive neighborhoods of the Park. 
 For the present, the concerts are provided at a point familiar to 
 all, easy of access, and with such acceptance to the public that 
 the Commissioners, in view of their limited financial resources, 
 feel justified in continuing its temporary use. 
 
 CARROUSEL. 
 
 A Carrousel has been constructed for the use of children, and 
 appropriately located on the playground near the main entrance 
 of the Park. This building was completed in the summer of 
 1874, and opened for use in the early part of July ; the building- 
 is octagonal in form, forty-five feet in diameter, and contains 
 twenty four mechanical horses and four coaches. The machinery, 
 which is worked by horse power, communicates the motion to 
 a central shaft twenty-seven feet in height, properly supported 
 from the foundation in the cellar, and extending to the roof in 
 the. building. To this shaft 1-1- radial arms are securely attached, 
 from which are suspended the horses and carriages. 
 
 This structure is designed for and used principally by the 
 children of the community, to whom it offers many attrac- 
 tions. The Commissioners have always approved the introduc- 
 tion of features of this character which have secured popular ap- 
 proval elsewhere, and against which no possible objection can be 
 
8 
 
 reasonably urged, [ndeed the extent and variety of this class of 
 amusements to which the public grounds in European countries 
 are appropriated would surprise many who have not familiarized 
 themselves with the policy universally adopted abroad of re- 
 sponding to the demand for facilities for outdoor recreation, in 
 which are included every device and contrivance that skill and in- 
 genuity for healthful and innocent pleasure can contrive. 
 
 The popularity of this device, justifies the recommendation 
 that a similar construction he provided for at an early date in the 
 West Woods, now the favorite resort for picnics for our citizens, 
 and one of the most continuously frequented portions of the Park. 
 
 CAMERA OBSCURA. 
 
 At a later date permission was given to erect a small building 
 suitable for the exhibition, in a somewhat novel form, in this 
 country, at least, of the camera obscura. The building is con- 
 structed with the purpose of securing a dark chamber convenient 
 of access for visitors, and is located in this ease, to command a 
 view within a limited range, of prominent and attractive portions 
 of the landscape and the lake. A powerful lens is placed in a 
 box on the apex of the building, so arranged as to revolve through 
 a circle. By this means all objects coming within the field of the 
 lens are thrown on a polished mirror set on an angle of 45', and 
 reflects upon a circular table of some five feet in diameter, pro- 
 vided with a clean white surface. Thus a picture is presented 
 which is not only a photographic reproduction ol the particular 
 view within the Held of the lens at the time, but producing in 
 wonderful beauty the colors and characteristics of the foliage, the 
 flowers and the clouds and the movements of passing objects such 
 as boats on the lake, carriages on the Drive, Arc The simplicity 
 of the arrangement, the novelty of the exhibition and the beauty 
 of the pictures which pass in rapid panoramic succession afford 
 instruction and entertainment and attract a great many visitors. 
 
 Of the remaining construction work in Prospect Park, for which 
 appropriations have been especially provided, is the greenhouse, 
 built in 1875, at a cost of $8,307.41. The utility of this structure 
 has been demonstrated by the face that we have already been en- 
 abled to furnish, by propagation of new plants and the care of 
 old ones, a supply aggregating annually in ample varieties from 
 thirty to fifty thousand plants, sufficient for all the parks in the 
 city for the past five seasons, at a cost of less than one-third of 
 the market price of the plants themselves. Indeed had the 
 
9 
 
 Commissioners in these later years been compelled to purchase 
 ils supply of plants, they would not have been able to furnish, in 
 such quantities, foliage plants and flowers which, in their variety 
 and novelty of arrangement, have formed such conspicuous attrac- 
 tions in the Park. 
 
 WILLINK ENTRANCE. 
 
 In 1876 the Willink entrance approach was substantially com- 
 pleted at a very reasonable cost by special appropriation, for the 
 convenience of a very large number of our Eastern District 
 citizens, who found it a desirable means of approach to the Park. 
 
 The Commissioners, in view of the fact, long known to them, 
 that nearly as many pedestrians enter at this point during the 
 summer season as at the main entrance, had for some time felt it 
 to be their duty to make some adequate provision to meet this 
 public requirement. The completion of this work affords much 
 satisfaction to thousands of our citizens and gave prominence to 
 the fact of the very general use of the Park made by the resi- 
 dents of the eastern part of the city. Its cost was $5,922.55. 
 
 SKATING SHELTER. 
 
 In the latter part of the fall (November) it was found necessary 
 to make additional provision for skating and other ice sports, 
 amusements which had become very popular pastimes on the 
 Park lakes during the winter season. 
 
 The existing and very temporary accommodation was found to 
 be no longer equal to meet the public necessities in this particular. 
 The material which had been used in the building for several 
 successive seasons needed to lie replaced, and extensive repairs to 
 the boat platform and foundations were also found to be 
 necessary. 
 
 The Commissioners therefore decided to make the needed re- 
 pairs, and to erect a new building, which should furnish the re- 
 quired accommodation, and the work was entered upon and 
 completed at a cost of $10,975.47, in time for continued use 
 throughout the prolonged skating season of the winter of 1876. 
 The details of construction of this building were so arranged in 
 its main features as to meet all the requirements of a permanent 
 structure, affording ample accommodation to the public as a 
 skating house in winter. At the same time, it was planned with 
 a view to its use as a shelter in summer by the large number of 
 visitors who assemble at this busy part of the lake, and who 
 
10 
 
 avail themselves of the grateful shade and convenient seats, which 
 form its principal attractions. This change is brought about by 
 removing in summer, the partitions and counters and enclosing 
 panels, which made it an enclosed building for winter use, and 
 which, when removed, transform it into an open shelter in sum- 
 mer. The women's room alone forms a permanent apartment 
 and is kept open and used throughout the year. 
 
 PICNIC WOOD SHELTER 
 
 The accessibility of the West Woods, by which name is desig- 
 nated the wooded area that skirts the Long .Meadow on the Ninth 
 avenue side of the Park, and its peculiar fitness for the purpose 
 h i - made it a very acceptable place of resort in summer. Jn con- 
 nection with this there hat* naturally resulted a demand for a 
 building which should combine certain conveniences, such as 
 shelter in case of sudden storms, proper accommodation for 
 attendance upon sick or injured persons, together with needed 
 waiting and baggage rooms, closets, tfec. The Commissioners- 
 accordingly prepared plans and subsequently constructed a suita- 
 ble building daring the winter and spring of 1876-7, from moneys 
 provided for the purpose by the authorities. It is located at a 
 central point in the woods and is available for use not only for 
 tli" great number of people who congregate in this portion of the 
 Park, but for those visitors who come in carriages as well, the 
 West Drive passing within a few hundred feet of the building. 
 This structure is of wood, upon a brick foundation and covers 
 an area feet in length by 60^ in width. The building proper 
 is 54^ feet by 28 feet, and is surrounded on all sides by broad 
 piazzas 18^ feet wide, with overhanging roof. These, in addition 
 to the accommodation afforded by the interior rooms of the build- 
 ing for shelter in bad weather, supply ample protection in cases 
 of sudden storms or other emergencies. The picnic shelter and 
 its appurtenances cost $9,916.54. The superficial area of these 
 piazzas is equal to 4,500 square feet. The building contains a 
 public room in which the purveyor is permitted to sell the lighter 
 refreshments, under proper restrictions, and, at either end, 
 accommodations in the way of closets, washroom, &c, are pro- 
 vided respectively for the sexes. 
 
 Like other needed structures upon the Park, which experience 
 demonstrates have never exceeded in accommodation the demands 
 of the public, the picnic shelter affords a class of accommodation 
 
♦ 
 
11 
 
 which should be and must be more liberally arranged for, if it is 
 purposed to meet the requirements in this important particular. 
 The building at present serves a most useful purpose, and fur- 
 nishes all that could possibly be secured within the limited expen- 
 diture to which the Commissioners have been restricted. 
 
 THE POET MOORE. 
 
 In the month of May last there w as erected on the Park, under 
 the auspices and at the expense of the St. Patrick's Society of 
 this city, a substantial memorial to the poet Moore, consisting of 
 an elaborate pedestal of granite and a bust of bronze by the 
 sculptor Draddy, very happily representing the subject at mid-age 
 of his life. 
 
 On the L'.Sth of the same month, being the centennial anniver- 
 sary of the poet, the memorial was unveiled with appropriate 
 ceremonies, in which many prominent citizens participated. The 
 presentation was made to the Park Commissioners by Hon. 
 Thomas Kinsella, President of St. Patrick's Society, and was for- 
 mally accepted, on behalf of the Park Commissioners, by the Hon. 
 J. S. T. Stranahan. An oration was also delivered by Mr. C. W. 
 Brooke of New York, and an original poem was read by Mr. 
 Andrew McLean. The bust and pedestal occupies a site upon 
 one of the turfed spaces within the Pedestrian Concourse, and is 
 most eligibly and appropriately located. It is readily accessible 
 to visitors on foot and in carriages, to whom the " counterfeit 
 presentment," in enduring bronze, of the author of the " Songs 
 of Ireland" and "Lalla, Rookh " will be an added attraction to 
 this charming spot. 
 
 The principal mechanical work daring the last two years has 
 been confined mainly to the repairs which, from time to time 
 have been found necessary upon the buildings, bridges, summer 
 houses, boat landings, seats, fences, *fec. The record of new 
 work, as will be seen, is necessarily a limited one and the ex- 
 penditure involved comparatively trifling. The new structures 
 particularly, have been provided in response to a clearly defined 
 demand which has grown out of the more general use of the 
 Park. 
 
 As intimately connected with the general work of construction, 
 a review of which during the past five years is contained in the 
 preceding pages, may be enumerated several of the more import- 
 ant features contemplated in the design of the Park for which no 
 appropriations have as yet been provided. The tact exists, and it 
 
 2 
 
12 
 
 is perhaps unfortunate that it is so, that in these essential features 
 the Park is still incomplete. If the unity ami harmony of de- 
 sign to which these works are essentially contrihutary were 
 secured by their successful completion, the ultimate question of 
 the»future substantial enclosure of the Park, while now desirable 
 and which some day will be necessary, may be further postponed. 
 
 The details of the work to which reference is here made may 
 be enumerated as follows : 
 
 First — The completion of the large bridge connecting the 
 central drive across the inner arm of the lake near the present 
 temporary bridge at the base of Lookout Hill. This structure 
 is intended to be an imposing and substantial one hut not neces- 
 sarily elaborate or expensive in design. It will he required to 
 span a stream and walk, which combined are seventy feet in 
 width. 
 
 Second — Near this bridge, upon the high plateau to the right it 
 is contemplated to erect a hotel and refectory suitable to the 
 future needs of the Park. The sight is a commanding one, and 
 overlooking the lake and Park below and extending over the 
 intervening country is the ocean itself. 
 
 Third — Another structure has been contemplated, to lie placed 
 upon the site of the temporary bell tower, now removed, which 
 formerly stood at the top of Lookout Hill, the most commanding 
 point of the Park. As an observatory, the appropriateness of 
 which is concided, the fine lookout includes within its range 
 three large cities and two noble rivers on one hand, and the 
 series of old towns replete with historical interest and forming a 
 delightful suburban outlook over a pleasing landscape, the New 
 York Bay, Sandy Hook and the gateway to the Atlantic on the 
 other. These naturally suggest and justify some provision of this 
 character. The building itself should be an attractive one, and 
 might include among its utilities a repository for meteorological 
 apparatus and a systematic observation of the natural phenomena 
 arranged, for which a building, as proposed, would afford the 
 necessary facilities. 
 
 Fourth — A considerable area of the Park, extending from the 
 site of the proposed building just described to the angle in the 
 southerly boundary of the Park formed by the junction of the 
 old Coney Island road and Fifteenth street and the contiguous 
 
13 
 
 area, upon which but little work has been done, will require to be 
 brought under a more extensive cultivation ; the roads and walks 
 extended through them, and the surfaces adjusted to conform to 
 the adjacent completed portions ot the Park. 
 
 On the principal portion of these grounds are located a series 
 of buildings which came into the possession of the Commissioners 
 with the land upon which they stand, and from the commence- 
 ment of operations in 1866 to the present time have been used 
 for offices, shops and stables for the construction and maintenance 
 force. No other expenditure has been incurred on the Park for 
 the purpose for which these buildings were used except, as may 
 have grown out of the current necessities of the work. These 
 buildings are now in a dilapidated and almost uninhabitable con- 
 dition and in the adjustment of the area above referred to will 
 properly disappear. Accommodation will then have to be pro- 
 vided for similar purposes elsewhere, and a sum sufficient to erect 
 a building for the permanent offices, police station, shops and 
 stables will become a necessary expenditure at an early day. 
 
 Upon the larger of our small parks, in which the residents of 
 the neighborhood are more particularly interested, there exists 
 the need of additional provision for the public convenience, such as 
 on several occasions the Commissioners have ineffectually en- 
 deavored to secure. Among the most important of these may be 
 mentioned a building containing a waiting room for women and 
 children, with closets, &c, and similar accommodations for males, 
 together with an increased water supply. 
 
 THE SMALL PARKS. 
 
 WASHINGTON OR FORT GREENE PARK. 
 
 This Park covers an area of over thirty acres, comprising the 
 most conspicuous and important of the smaller parks within the 
 city, and lies in the midst of a well-developed and thickly-popu- 
 lated neighborhood. With a varied topography, the principal 
 characteristic of which is its elevated plateau, rising considerably 
 above the grade of the streets surrounding it, the Park commands 
 many interesting views of the city, the East River, the lower bay, 
 and altogether combines very happily many of the most desirable 
 features of a city recreation ground. It is an historic localitv, 
 and the record of events which have occurred in its neiffhbor- 
 hood and upon portions of the area as well, will be found in the 
 annals of our struggles for liberty. These details are especially 
 familiar to our people, from the fact that the collection and col- 
 
14 
 
 lation of data, not ordinarily contained in the history of the time, 
 have been made a matter of study and research by some of our 
 prominent citizens. The account of the general design and im- 
 provement of this work may be found in our earlier reports. 
 The Commissioners record the fact wirh satisfaction, that the Park 
 has justified fully the expenditure of the money appropriated for 
 its development, and now affords a desirable, pleasant and health- 
 ful resort fur all residents of the neighborhood to whom, as well 
 as the surrounding property, the Park has specially proved in 
 many ways to lie a great benefit. 
 
 The details of construction since the last report are as follows : 
 The completion of the enclosing walls along DeKalb avenue, 
 from Cumberland street to the City Hospital grounds. The work 
 consisted of :i heavy rubble masonry wall, with granite coping, 
 similar in design to that portion of the wall previously built, and 
 was satisfactorily finished by contract with Mr. James Ashfield of 
 this city, at :i cost of Si 0,412.20. 
 
 The completion of the surfaces contiguous to the wall inside 
 the Park, comprising the necessary tilling, shaping, soiling, seed- 
 ing and planting was done by the Park force, as was also the 
 grading of the street sidewalks and the completion of the tree 
 planting on the same. 
 
 Within the past six years the sum of $9,101.18 has been set 
 apart at various times by the Board of Estimate for the further 
 improvement of the terraces, saluting battery, approach, <fcc, 
 which form a conspicuous feature in the improvement at the 
 northwesterly angle of the Park, at the junction of Canton 
 street and Myrtle avenue. Part of this was done in previous 
 years, by which was outlined and defined the general character of 
 the work. A considerable area of walk surfaces was covered with 
 bituminous concrete with good effect and at a' moderate cost, 
 this class of materia! being very desirable for walk surfaces 
 where the grades are steep and changeable. Other repairs found 
 to be necessary from time to time were made, to different 
 branches of the work. 
 
 On the night of duly '■'>, 1876, the centenary of the Indepen- 
 dence of the United States was celebrated by an imposing pro- 
 cession, attended with appropriate exercises, at the site of the 
 tombof the Martyrs of the Revolution. The ceremonies were par- 
 ticipated in by leading citizens, and consisted of music, addresses, 
 singing and other patriotic demonstrations. During the progress 
 of these exercises resolutions laudatory of the brave deeds of 
 
15 
 
 the Martyrs were adopted, together with a proposition looking to 
 the completion of the unfinished tomb and monument, which 
 would suitably commemorate the patriotism, bravery and suffer- 
 ing of the Prison Ship Martyrs. 
 
 In pursuance of the object of the passage of these resolutions, 
 the Mayor, the Honorable Frederick A. Schroeder, appointed a 
 Committee, consisting of twenty-five citizens, who were author- 
 ized to memorialize Congress in behalf of the object, and to take 
 such other action in conjunction with the Congressional repre- 
 sentatives of the county as they should deem necessary. 
 
 it is occasion for regret that a sum could not be obtained 
 sufficient to insure the completion of this work, and for the con- 
 struction of the Martyrs' memorial without further delay. 
 
 Allusion was made in a previous report to the Common Council 
 of last year to at) appropriation of $4,<J00 for flagging the ex- 
 terior sidewalks at Fort Greene. The work consisted of blue- 
 stone flag, six feet in width, laid upon the walks around the ex- 
 terior boundary of the Park, and was satisfactorily done by Mr. 
 P. Lynon of this city at the rate of 13^ cents per square foot. 
 
 The step?, platforms, battery walls, coping, &c, which com- 
 prise the elements of this walk were procured by contract 
 at various periods. The work was brought to completion in 1878 
 by the erection of the battery wall on the upper plateau; the 
 necessary earthwork, foundations, grading, seeding and planting, 
 &c, of the contiguous surfaces were subsequently done by the 
 Park force. In 1875, six iron gates, flanked by coping railings 
 of appropriate design, were erected at the several entrances to 
 the Park, by the aid of which the ordinances proscribing the use 
 of the Park at night are more effectually enforced. 
 
 Temporary buildings for the use of women and children, and 
 for the keepers, were severally provided, and the supply of drink- 
 ing hydrants was increased to a small extent, in order to accom- 
 modate the children who frequent the Park in large numbers 
 during the fine weather throughout the year. 
 
 CITY PARK. 
 
 The material deterioration in value and character, of the prop- 
 erty which forms the neighborhood surrounding City Park, 
 clearly indicates the tendency which has prevailed during the 
 several past years to abandon it as a desirable place of residence. 
 Unimproved property continues to be idle and its use for busi- 
 ness purposes, especially for the manufacture and storage of bulkv 
 
i<; 
 
 :m<l coarse materials, is already foreshadowed. A considerable 
 sum of money has been expended from time to time upon the 
 City Park with a view to maintain it in a condition which, in the 
 judgment of the Commissioners, was warranted by the circum- 
 stances. The plan of the work was remodelled, walks re-graded 
 and surfaced accordingly, and the turf spac s resoiied and seeded; 
 old, dead and unsightly trees removed and replaced by numbers 
 of young and thrifty stock of choice varieties : the enclosing fence 
 and gateways were repaired and every effort made to preserve 
 the Park for legitimate purposes. The ordinances of the Com- 
 missioners have been disregarded, the city authorities even defied, 
 and every species of property amenable to destruction have, 
 from time to time, been subjected to wanton and persistent abuse. 
 The iron gates which at night were closed and interposed as a 
 bar to the improper use of the Park, so much complained of in 
 former years, hare been broken or violently wrenched oil' the 
 hinges, in the necessary absence of the police. This condition 
 of things has led the Commissioners to consider the question of 
 appropriating this area to other and more useful purposes, and to 
 reiterate their suggestion contained in former reports of devoting 
 the Park to the use of a public market, in support of this rec- 
 ommendation a still further and cogent reason may be found in 
 the fact that Washington Park or Port Greene, it would seem to 
 the Commissioners, entirely supersedes the necessity for the City 
 Park for all essential purposes and advantages. It is more 
 desirably located, is ample in area, with greater justification and 
 for possibilities of embellishment, and is every way sufficient 
 as a recreation ground for the present and future needs of that 
 portion of the city. A careful consideration of this recommen- 
 dation would lead our thinking citizens to agree with the Com- 
 missioners in the estimate of value to be placed upon a con- 
 venient and commodious public market upon the present site 
 of City Park. This location is well suited for the purposes indi- 
 cated, the facilities of approach and communication are such as to 
 add to its resources and render it in many desirable respects a 
 successful competitor for a large share of the business which, for 
 want of just such conveniences, is carried across the river to New 
 York. No other reason than that the facilitiesdo not now exist pre- 
 vents Brooklyn, to-day, from being the market of much of the 
 varied supply of farm products of Long Island, which not only 
 includes a considerable share of cereals, hut hundreds of thousands 
 of dollars' worth of vegetables, milk, eggs, poultry, &c. With 
 
17 
 
 direct railroad communication, to be easily arranged for with 
 all parts of the island, and with New York as well, it is possible, 
 in the judgment of the Commissioners, to secure to Brooklyn a 
 profitable and extended business in this important direction. 
 Already the authorities of New York are called upon to meet 
 a very perplexing question in connection with the demand 
 of the sellers of produce of all kinds, for suitable space for the 
 display and sale of their goods and supplies. It is doubtful 
 whether, within the whole limits of the city, there can be provi- 
 ded such accommodation which for convenience can compare 
 favorably with those w hich City Park may be reasonably looked to, 
 to afford. The proposition to appropriate it to such use has recei ved 
 much consideration from this Board and has met with the approval 
 of many of our most sagacious citizens. The commonest precepts 
 , of municipal economy should lead us to regard such a use of pub- 
 lic property as a very appropriate one, the results of which can- 
 not fail to open up new and fertile resources of business and rev- 
 enue to the community. 
 
 CARROLL PARK. 
 
 No new work has been done upon this Park during the period 
 covered by this report. • 
 
 TOMPKINS PARK. 
 
 No work has been done upon this Park since its completion 
 except to the extent of erecting a small building of brick and 
 wood, containing water-closets and other conveniences for the 
 public use, and a general repair of the enclosing fence, which was 
 remodelled out of the old material and reduced in height. Dur- 
 the centennial year a large flag-staff was erected by the Park Com- 
 missioners in order to make use of a large American ensign which 
 had been presented to the Commissioners by patriotic citizens 
 residing in the neighborhood. 
 
 In the fall of the same year, maple trees were planted and 
 boxed on the exterior sidewalks of the Park. 
 
 A small triangular area, containing about one-tenth of an acre, 
 located at the junction of Broadway, Throop avenue and Gwin- 
 nett streets, in the Eastern District, was improved by the Com- 
 missioners with money ($4,000) specially appropriated by the 
 Common Council for the purpose. The work consisted of re- 
 grading, sodding and planting the interior space, the erection of 
 an ornamental iron fence and lamp posts and the planting and 
 boxing of shade trees on the exterior sidewalks. 
 
18 
 
 CITY HALL PARK. 
 
 This area, though nominally under (lie jurisdiction of the Park 
 Commissioners, has for several seasons occupied the attention of 
 the Common Council, under whose direction the Hoard of City 
 Works have carried out in a modified and not altogether satisfac- 
 tory form, a series of alterations, from which it must he conceded, 
 the general public have derived advantage. 
 
 MAINTENANCE AND THE PUBLIC USE OF THE PARKS, Ac 
 
 As sustaining the object and aim for which the parks were 
 established, the subject of maintenance is the most important 
 which the Commissioners, under the existing state of things, lias 
 to consider, and they arc constrained at the outset, to dwell upon 
 the embarrassments under which they labor. They feel this not 
 less keenly from the fact that they are supposed to possess an 
 intimate knowledge of the requirements of the important works 
 under their care, and for which they are held responsible. 
 
 It will be generally conceded that no work of construction for 
 permanent public use can be brought to a stage of completion 
 that will not need, from that moment, a wise, continuous expendi- 
 ture for its maintenance and preservation. This applies with 
 doilble force to a work so complex in character as our park, 
 whose natural features must be maintained in their integrity, re- 
 quiring the exercise of careful discrimination and taste in the 
 selection of the various utilities that, in the judgment of the Com- 
 missioners, may be best adapted to popular convenience and pleas- 
 ure. 
 
 The growing popularity of Prospect Park with all classes of 
 citizens, while affording the utmost satisfaction to the Com- 
 missioners, has entailed constant and increasing responsibilities, 
 it must be obvious that with the increased use of the Park, and 
 consequently, the more rapid wearing out of its numerous im- 
 provements, and the requirement at some points of enlarged 
 conveniences to meet a public demand, there is great need that 
 the appropriation for maintenance should be increased. Take for 
 example a roadway over which one hundred vehicles pass in a 
 day, it requires constantly a certain amount of expense to pre- 
 serve it. Increase the number to five hundred, and it is entirely 
 plain that the cost of maintenance, to keep it in proper order, will 
 be greater for the same length of time. When this reasoning is 
 applied to all the appointments of the Parks that are being 
 subjected to an annually increasing use, the inferences are too 
 plain to need extended notice. 
 
1!) 
 
 Central Park with entirely different topography, many im- 
 provements not corresponding in usefulness to those in this 
 city, and subjected to more restrictive regulations, has been the 
 only available public pleasure resort, the management of which 
 was likely to offer suggestions as to intelligent maintenance; and 
 this has afforded but a limited held for useful hints. Our Park 
 is much better calculated, in its resources for popular enjoyment, 
 than Central Park, to give general satisfaction to our citizens, 
 and the novel and varied improvements which have followed 
 upon its public use have necessitated an extent and variety of ex- 
 penditure not contemplated in the original scheme of mainten- 
 ance. At this point, therefore, the Commissioners feel it in- 
 cumbent upon them to seek to impress the fact upon the minds of 
 the people of Brooklyn, that while, for a given amount of money, 
 it would be entirely just to expect a larger return in labor or 
 material at this time as against a period of five or ten years ago, 
 during which both labor and material were abnormally high, it 
 must be borne in mind that the provisions for maintaining the 
 parks, which were sufficient live or ten years ago, are not 
 adequate now, for the following reasons : At the time when ar- 
 rangements for a separate maintenance fund were first made, the 
 Park roads, walks and structures, together with the meadows and 
 plantations, had just been completed and thrown open to public 
 use, and were, in such condition as to be best litted for that use, 
 which in itself was not nearly so general as at the present time. 
 Therefore, while the work of restoration and repair was compara- 
 tively small, the expenditure met all reasonable requirements, 
 and satisfactorily maintained the finished portions of the work. 
 
 Our drives and other thoroughfares have since been subjected 
 to a constant use, and the very limited amount of labor and 
 material which we have been enabled to provide for their main- 
 tenance have not been sufficient to restore or keep them up to 
 the condition of their original construction, nor to preserve them 
 in such a way as to make them conducive in the highest degree 
 to the pleasure and comfort of those who use them. The Com- 
 missioners, with the liveliest interest in all that pertains to the 
 welfare of their own city, have regarded it as their highest duty 
 to conserve those means which would be likely to encourage and 
 develop a taste for outdoor recreation and a habit of frequent 
 resort to the parks. Inadequately supplied with means sufficient 
 to accomplish all that might in times of greater business pros- 
 perity be reasonably demanded for perfect maintenance, they 
 
 3 
 
20 
 
 have Bought to make the most economic use of the resources 
 placed at their disposal. The Commissioners assume that a judi- 
 cious administration of their functions will lie best appreciated in 
 utilizing the means at their command in a manner besl calculated 
 to develop the use of the parks in their largest sense. Prospect 
 Park alone not only requires a large amount of care, which is 
 not noted by the casual observer, but its visible features demand 
 constant supervision, and are oftentimes so exacting and perplexing 
 as to justify and impose great responsibility. The underground 
 work, such as the drainage and water supply, is of the first im- 
 portance, entailing unceasing vigilance and unremitting care. 
 A similar necessity arises with the buildings, bridges and other 
 structures, the roads and walks, the broad acres of turf and 
 plantations and the water areas. 
 
 Perhaps no single element of park design invites such direct 
 and frequent observation and criticism as the roads, and no 
 features are more likely to demand more constant and consider- 
 able expenditure, as with each season the number of citizens 
 increases who avail themselves of the opportunity which the Park 
 and connecting drives afford for pleasure driving. It seems but 
 a short time since there was but little of such driving in Brooklyn, 
 and the large number, and varied character of the equipages 
 which now throng the Park in gay procession was scarcely to be 
 foreshadowed. It will not be many years before the outstretch- 
 ing city will have destroyed many of the rural charms of the 
 suburban districts, and the inevitable encroachments will so en- 
 hance the value of the drives already secured to the people of 
 Brooklyn that they will be looked upon as affording advantages 
 which cannot be dispensed with. It is quite evident to the Com- 
 missioners that a large part of the expenditure in the future must 
 of necessity pertain to the restoration of the roads, it must be 
 borne in mind that a system of roads designed almost exclusively 
 for pleasure riding, entail not only responsible engineering, such 
 as is given' to the construction of any other properly built work, 
 but requires, in addition, a more constant supervision, and the 
 maintenance of a compact and even surface, without which they 
 cease to afford that degree of comfort and pleasure which is 
 desirable and expected from them. The Commissioners have not 
 been able to expend in labor and material as much as ought to be 
 devoted to this branch of the work, and until the surfaces can be 
 substantially restored to a condition corresponding measurably 
 to that of the original construction, they will continue to prove 
 
21 
 
 move or less unsatisfactory and meet with adverse criticism. 
 We liave been reasonably successful in meeting the demands of 
 the public; we have been fortunate in our resources, and in the 
 advantages afforded by the observation of other works which 
 have enabled us to improve upon plans and methods of con- 
 struction, and iu many instances to substitute others which have 
 resulted in great economy in first cost ; but our operations and 
 progress in the future, while they must properly lie guided by the 
 same consideration of economy, must be measured in their extent 
 and variety by the money which shall be placed at our disposal 
 for judicious disbursements, in their accomplishment. 
 
 No large community capable of managing its municipal affairs 
 can be so blinded by narrow- sighted frugality as to disregard the 
 claims of a great recreation ground as among the most powerful 
 and economical influences for improving its moral and physical 
 status. In a large city the majority of whose inhabitants remain 
 within its limits throughout the year, and only the few compara- 
 tively more fortunate than the rest, are able to' seek enjoyment 
 and repose in the country, the provision and maintenance of the 
 parks in their amplest resources should be a conceded necessity. 
 The money expended in the construction and required in the 
 care of these must, in the nature of things, be an outlay similar in 
 its operation to that which prompts intelligent individuals to seek 
 for themselves such measures of recreation and mental and 
 bodily relaxation as are likely to conserve the health and energies 
 of the system and enable them to best enjoy life. To thought- 
 lessly characterize it as an expensive luxury to be dispensed with 
 without sacrifice, or to say that its benefits are alone attainable 
 by a privileged class, is to ignore the Old World experience and 
 the result of observation and study of our best thinkers. The 
 parks are not alone for the pleasure of the masses of our popu- 
 lation ; but are calculated to enhance health and comfort. Con- 
 sidered in their sanitary aspects alone, they unquestionably rank 
 among the greatest conservators of public welfare and therefore 
 public economy. They offer, in the aggregate, attractions that are 
 found elsewhere in piecemeal, and often in questionable resorts; 
 they are divested of all meretricious associations or exposure to 
 immoral or physical dangers. They are free and refreshing, 
 while similar attractions in detail presented elsewhere are expen- 
 sive, or leave the visitor under a painful sense of obligation which 
 oftentimes he is not "in a position to discharge, and which if he 
 does discharge he feels the worse tor. 
 
22 
 
 Whether considered in their individual or collective uses, the 
 parks are great moral and intellectual educators and conduce to 
 the peace and prosperity of every citizen, it is a significant fact 
 to be noted that, on holidays or other occasions when thousands 
 of people mingle there with each other, arrests for infractions of the 
 peace are very rarely necessary. Our parks for these and many 
 other reasons that might be urged, are in themselves sources of 
 health and prosperity to the people, whose value cannot he prop- 
 erly estimated without due weight being given to these features 
 of the question. Their cost and maintenance in such a com- 
 parison Miiks into insignificance. 
 
 France and Germany have their public parks and gardens; and 
 the great city of London, with its dens .' population, commands 
 over 6,000 acres of public grounds for general use. 
 
 While the more recent embellishments of these grounds may 
 be open to criticism, yet aided by their wonderfully picturesque 
 road system, throughout the rural districts of the kingdom, they 
 accomplish more for the preservation of health of the people than 
 they have ever been given credit for, in rendering habitable 
 large sections of once ugly, gloomy portions of the older city. 
 The suggestions afforded by observation of the parks of the Old 
 World are valuable to us so far as it is possible to make an eco- 
 nomical adaptation of them to the cosmopolitan population and cus- 
 toms of the new ; and of these suggestions, none is of more com- 
 manding importance and interest than their system of roadways. 
 Whether regarded from an aesthetic or from a utilitarian point of 
 view, their proper construction and maintenance are justly held 
 to be of primary necessity. 
 
 It is not deemed necessary to enter in detail upon the reasons 
 why our park thoroughfares and structures should be kept up to 
 a corresponding grade of excellence. They need complete reno- 
 vation, and delay in this important detail of work would in the 
 judgment of the Park Commissioners be unwise economy. The 
 thorough renewal of the Park surfaces would now after nearly 
 twelve years continuous use necessitate special expenditure. 
 
 The liberal provisions afforded by the construction of the Ocean 
 Parkway, the increase cf patronage, and the greater freedom per- 
 mitted in the speed of horses, have in some respects changed the 
 character of the use of a portion of the Park drives. In the 
 original design, it was contemplated that the series of lanes which 
 pass through the East Wood would divide travel and divert it, 
 in part, from the main road, from Baltic Pass to the south, and 
 
23 
 
 concentrate it again in the main drive beyond. The object in- 
 tended was to invite the use of this wooded area as one of the 
 attractive features in the circuit, but the American characteris- 
 tic of taking the shortest road between two points has here 
 ignored aesthetic considerations and asserted itself, indicating 
 what would seem to be a desirable improvement, viz., the widen- 
 ing of tl lis portion of the main drive for the greater convenience 
 and safety of visitors. For this reason, the greater width of a 
 thoroughfare-drive at this point becomes a necessity. 
 
 It is very gratifying to record the fact, that the number of eques- 
 trian visitors is increasing each year, indicating a growing love 
 for this healthful and exhilarating exercise. The proper man- 
 agement of a bridle road involves expense and care, and the 
 demands upon our attention in this particular are likely to in- 
 crease with the marked popularity of the Park in the respect to 
 which Ave have just alluded. Our walks, the treatment of which 
 has, for like reasons, corresponded to that of the roads, require 
 a similar general repair. 
 
 There exists at this time a most pressing necessity for an ex- 
 tensive readjustment and modification of our plantations, which, 
 in the number and extent of choice varieties, comprises a collec- 
 tion of evergreen and deciduous material of distinguished charac- 
 ter which only the most reckless disregard of the critical condition 
 which the trees and shrubs, everywhere forming the essence and 
 spirit of landscape attractions, have now reached, for want of 
 means necessary to care for them, can account for the failure to 
 heed the request and warning of the Commissioners in this 
 particular. 
 
 Several partially completed portions of the Park lack the force 
 and character which a proper system of planting alone can supply. 
 In the finished areas, however, a large number of trees and shrubs 
 have reached such a condition of growth as to make it necessary 
 to remove many of them. This is necessary, not only for the pur- 
 pose of preserving the harmony in composition, but to secure a 
 valuable stock of plants at a stage of development most desirable 
 for use in connection with new w r ork and which had been origi- 
 nally planted with a view to secure an early effective display with 
 the view ultimately of utilizing many of them in the manner and 
 for the purposes above suggested. 
 
 Our lakes and water-bourses, which form so desirable a part of 
 well-balanced park design, entail upon us a due share of respon- 
 sibility. The main lake, which covers an area of over 50 acres, 
 
24 
 
 offers unusual facilities for ice and water sports, and the untram- 
 melled use permitted has developed a taste for certain aquatic 
 amusements which, it is believed, is peculiar to Brooklyn. 
 
 The supply for a lake of such dimensions is derived from the 
 following sources : 
 
 First — The natural rainfall due to the area covered by the 
 hike and water-courses of the Park. 
 
 Second — The surface drainage of a large circumjacent area 
 flowing directly into the lake over turf, and other surfaces, and 
 intercepted by suitable silt basins along the line, so that all dele- 
 terious matter is arrested and removed from time to time. 
 
 Third — The direct supply from the Park well. 
 
 The depth of the lake averages about fi^ feet, and the tem- 
 perature of the water has never been known to reach a point 
 at which the poisonous gases, the basis of malarial troubles, are 
 generated by decomposition of vegetable matter, whose growth is 
 superinduced in shallow water of a higher temperature. 
 
 The capacity of the well is such as; to enable us to supply, at 
 frequent intervals, large volumes of pure water at low temperature ; 
 this, with the aid of natural agents, as evaporation for example, 
 which, for a period of twenty-four hours, in summer, will equal 
 nearly 500,000 gallons of water, the disturbance of the surface 
 by the winds to which this area is peculiarly subject, the passage 
 of boats and the movements of water-fowl, affords every reason 
 to believe that at no time since the completion of the Park has 
 the lake caused the propagation or prevalence of malarial diseases. 
 On the other hand, the very thorough system of underground 
 drainage in operation on the Park has relieved the large area to 
 such an extent as to offer no material occasion for alarm in this 
 particular. 
 
 The Kings County Medical Society, several years since, 
 through a committee of physicians appointed to consider the 
 general subject of drainage in the city and vicinity, specially 
 examined the drainage system of the Park, and cited it in their 
 reports as an example of the best results attending a well-devised 
 plan of surface and subsoil drainage. 
 
 Some anxiety has been expressed as to the appearance of por- 
 tions of the lake in summer, where there has been an accumula- 
 tion of vegetable matter, and much careless criticism has been 
 made by people who are not acquainted with its real causes. 
 
25 
 
 Any thoughtful observer of the varying condition of water stored 
 in reservoirs and artificial lakes, and also in natural waters, will 
 remember to have seen the development of a similiar formation 
 at the beginning of summer, when the waters contain a flavor 
 and odor likened to a fishy taste and smell. A thorough investi- 
 gation, attended with careful analysis, has disclosed the fact that 
 this condition is brought about by a harmless chemical change in 
 organic matter, chiefly a growth of a low species of vegetation. 
 This produces in a very natural way a class of aquatic forms of 
 life, themselves agents of purification. While to some extent 
 their existence may sometimes be disagreeable to sight and smell, 
 there has been no proof adduced yet that the presence of such 
 matter, not peculiar to our lakes at this period, is productive of 
 injury to health, more especially alone, do we believe this to be 
 the case from the fact that our lake is singularly free from any 
 deleterious growths, and it is not made the receptacle of any of 
 the filth accumulated in any portions of the Park, which is 
 specially cared for and disposed of in such a manner as to pre- 
 clude the possibility of danger or annoyance. 
 
 Our water service is quite as elaborate in its system and rami- 
 fications as would be that required to supply a town of 20,000 
 inhabitants. Special reference to our water supply is made else- 
 where in this report. 
 
 PUBLIC USE OF THE PARKS. 
 
 The homogeneous character of our people heretofore alluded 
 to, and the absence of transient population ordinarily common to 
 a large city, here operate to secure to all classes of citizens free- 
 dom from many restrictions which, in other cities, it is found 
 necessary to impose upon those who visit the parks. The adapt- 
 ability of a considerable portion of its area for the entertainment 
 of masses of people, naturally suggested to the Commissioners 
 the most liberal construction in the provisions established for 
 governing the use of the Park, and it is with no small degree of 
 pride that they view the varied demands for popular recreation to 
 which the resources of the Park so happily respond. 
 
 It is almost within the memory of oar youth that the Ameri- 
 can people have developed a desire for Held sports, sufficiently 
 strong to be regarded as in any sense a popular demand. While 
 there has been at all times an abundant surplus in the energies of 
 the people, that, rightly directed, would find agreeable and 
 healthful recreation in systematic pastimes and athletic enjoy- 
 
26 
 
 incuts, furnished OIJ land and water, it required the fixed de.stiny 
 of an unfolding civilization to bring us to that era. The demand 
 for pleasures of this character is not confined to one sex, nor to 
 the age of childhood or youth alone. It is not horn of a caprice 
 or a whim, but is the expression of a popular thought. Its whole- 
 some gratification gives additional health, vigor and grace to our 
 young people, and tends to systematize the social life of the com- 
 munity. To meet this growing and laudable sentiment, the pur- 
 poses for which the Park was intended, have in a sense been 
 modified and adapted to new exigencies. 
 
 The rules adopted by the Commissioners, were prepared with a 
 view of giving each individual, the largest personal liberty and 
 enjoyment consistent with the proper preservation of the Park. 
 
 Our beautiful turf and wooded areas, as well as our walks and 
 roadways, have been ottered for use to the public with the least 
 restriction, and all the better class of field sports have found 
 ready growth in our parks or other grounds under our care, as in 
 no other in this country. The effect has been to multiply local 
 organizations devoted to physical development and training, 
 make more universal the love of harmless outdoor amusements, 
 and to improve the public health. In corresponding degree, the 
 water surfaces of the Park have been availed of for rowing, sail- 
 ing, yachting, or for the varied amusements of the winter season. 
 In the judgment of the Commissioners, the relative amount of 
 water, the open Lawns, and the proportion of spaces for more se- 
 questered enjoyments, would be, one day, of paramount interest to 
 the people of this city, and events have justified their action in the 
 accepted designs and finish of the Park. The people at large are 
 making the most generous use of the grounds, and the lovers of 
 more specific pastimes, as boating, base ball, cricket, lacrosse, 
 archery, croquet or skating, throng the Park and its appendages 
 on all occasions when the weather is propitious for these respective 
 pleasures. That the policy of the Commissioners has given a 
 large impetus to these various enjoyments has already been 
 alluded to, but its results cannot be too strongly commended to 
 the attention of an intelligent public. The Park has proved it- 
 self a vast, healthful, vitalizing force to the people of this city, 
 and its worth cannot be estimated pecuniarily; its uses stimulate 
 the energies and quicken the pulses of thousands ; its pervasive 
 influence elevates the moral tone of the community, and its 
 great mission is only just entered upon. 
 
27 
 
 The people of Brooklyn have been responsive in their popular 
 appreciation of the Park in its general features, but no person 
 can measure the usefulness of a work whose influence is of such 
 diversified nature, acts upon a half million of people and proceeds 
 upon incalculable progression. 
 
 During the season of the year appropriate to its usee, our 
 Parade ground has been in constant demand by large numbers of 
 the adults and youth of Brooklyn, its exceptional appropriateness 
 for their pleasures not only attracting many local organizations, 
 but athlehic clubs and associations of various kinds from New 
 York City and other points in the State, as well. The " National " 
 game of base ball has seemed to receive new vigor as a popular 
 pastime, and extended to every social circle of the community. 
 For several seasons past the game of cricket has been a steady and 
 growing amusement at the Parade ground with one or more of 
 the oldest clubs in this country, and the skill that is required in 
 its practice has of late iucreased interest in it as a sport, and 
 consequently drawn a greater number to engage in its exercise. 
 
 The broad lawns of the Park have been a standing invitation 
 to less boisterous amusements than those just referred to, and 
 their uses for croquet playing, promenades, and the innocent 
 exercise of people of both sexes and all ages, have given the Park 
 a fame that is almost national. On the lake, a fleet of rowboats 
 has been maintained for the use of visitors, and it has received a 
 very general patronage from a large class of people who find 
 peculiar entertainment in this kind of exercise which affords 
 recreation, not only directly promotive of health and strength, 
 but which is attended with none of the dangers incident to deeper 
 and more exposed water. In the broader and more open portion 
 of the lake, the sailing of miniature yachts has become a perman- 
 ent amusement of the summer and fall seasons. The construc- 
 tion, appointments and mimic movements of these little vessels, 
 attracting a general interest and attention approximating that 
 which has heretofore been accorded to watercraft of full size. 
 
 The popular knowledge young people acquire in regard to the 
 construction and management of small boats, superfically regard- 
 ed, seems trivial, but it is really of permanent value. It is the 
 best kind of object teaching, serving a practical purpose for future 
 use, and it is indelibly fixed in the memory, by the delightful as- 
 sociations that cluster about it. 
 
 4 
 
28 
 
 YACHT HOUSE. 
 
 No less than four miniature yacht cluhs exist in this city, 
 representing 150 of these little vessels, and the skill bestowed 
 upon the perfecting of their models and every detail of their 
 outfit lias developed an enthusiasm second only to that which 
 prevails among the yachtsmen who take active interest in the 
 fashionable clubs whose annual regattas command such popular 
 attention. The rapid growth of these popular pleasures has 
 pressed upon the attention of the Commissioners the need of 
 accommodations, suitable in character and inexpensive in con- 
 struction, for their more perfect enjoyment. Upon the ball 
 ground it would be an obvious convenience to have erected 
 a building, suitably and economically arranged, for players 
 and others to deposit clothing or other articles, and a building 
 similar in character near the lake, where boatmen could store 
 their yachts would seem to be an equally legitimate pro- 
 vision. As an accessory to the proper enjoyment of these 
 pastimes, now obtaining such popular favor, and growing in 
 interest every year, there is a propriety in the erection of these 
 simple structures at small cost that seems to be similar to the 
 already completed auxiliary accommodations for skaters and 
 others. The building upon the ball grounds could be made 
 to subserve a double purpose in affording additional accom- 
 modations to our military organizations on their periodical 
 visits. 
 
 PARADE GROUND. 
 
 The Parade Ground, presenting almost unrivalled facilities 
 for military manceuvres, continues to be a popular field of prac- 
 tice with the National Guard who esteem its acquisition for 
 such purposes most fortunate and desirable. 
 
 It has been our privilege on frequent occasions to offer the 
 nse of this ground to a number of the military organizations of 
 New York, which, having no facilities for field exercises in that 
 city, have, in repeated instances, acknowledged the obligations 
 to this county under which they rested. 
 
 Among the most recent lawn amusements in this country is 
 archery, and some effort has been made by residents of this 
 city to add it to our out-door recreations. During the past 
 seasons an organization was perfected which made use of the 
 ground assigned to them by the Commissioners for that pur- 
 pose, and later new organizations were formed. The accom- 
 modation thus afforded was very satisfactory to those who 
 availed themselves of it. The sport possesses many elements 
 of popularity, including competitive skill, expertness in hand- 
 ling the bow and arrow, and may be regarded as a most favor- 
 able pastime. 
 
29 
 
 PICNICS. 
 
 A move old-fashioned, and always popular, use of the Park, at- 
 tracting by far the largest number of visitors to a uniformity of 
 entertainment, lias been the annual picnics of churches, schools 
 and other organizations, and the universal use of our woods in 
 the summer season for private and family picnics. The reasons 
 for this are very easily defined — there is a general harmony be- 
 tween the informality of picnics participated in by the class of 
 people referred to, representing the best citizenship, present 
 and prospective, of the community, and the peaceful repose of 
 Nature in the beautiful woods situated in the west border of the 
 Park. 
 
 Protection is her<> afforded in every proper pleasure peculiar 
 to such occasions ; children and adults feel the full enjoyment 
 of contrast between heated homes of brick and the narrow con- 
 tines of our city streets and the cool, invigorating air of the 
 fields and woods of the Park. There is no place in this vicinity 
 combining so many attractive elements, as a nucleus of enjoy- 
 ment, as the picnic grounds — a fact that is well attested by their 
 general use every season from early in June until the first of 
 October. Perhaps not one of these elements, is of more para- 
 mount consideration to the public than that of absolute safety. 
 An objection urged with much force against picnic excursions to 
 more 1 distant points, is the peril to which children are exposed 
 to life and limb, by cars or steamboats, by drowning, or climbing, 
 or other casualty ; of secondary consideration, some, indeed, 
 would give it the first importance, is the often compulsory con- 
 tact with uncongenial and improper associations or influences, 
 sometimes seriously marring the day's pleasure. Another ques- 
 tion, not so frequently considered, but really of magnitude, is 
 the weariness and fatigue nearly always resulting from an out- 
 of-town excursion, and the entirely unrefreshed condition of the 
 participator, certainly a very barren result when it is considered 
 that thousands of people do not have half-a-dozen opportunities 
 a year for such recreation. The expense of these excursions 
 away from home varies of course with the individual, but in any 
 event it is five or ten fold what it would be at the Park, such 
 excursions are subjected to all the inconvenience of crowds, set 
 times for departure and return, the uncertainties of the weather, 
 and other circumstances too numerous for enumeration. 
 
 The picnic to the Park is divested of nearly all the objections 
 above mentioned. Every facility is afforded for the proper use 
 of the woods themselves and numerous accessory sources of 
 enjoyment are very near, equally safe and equally harmless. 
 
•M) 
 
 With proper police surveillance afforded, no annoyance has 
 been permitted nor complained of, fresh water has been liberal- 
 ly supplied, swings have been permanently maintained in the 
 woods, and there has been an ample supply of tables and seats 
 provided. 
 
 During the past four or- five seasons, as the Commissioners 
 are gratified to announce, the formal applications for the use 
 of these grounds have been gradually increasing, and during 
 the past summer over 400 permits were, issued. The organiza- 
 tions, thus availing themselves of the use of these grounds, num- 
 bered from 100 to 5,000 persons each and were hugely com- 
 posed of children and young people. 
 
 It is for the accommodation of the largely increasing number 
 of these excursionists to this attractive portion of the Park, 
 that the building elsewhere alluded to was designed. 
 
 For several seasons, the annual parade of the Sunday-school 
 children, comprising a huge proportion of that class of our 
 people, have assembled on their parade-day in the Park. On 
 one of these occasions the assemblage of children numbered 
 fifteen thousand, and every year since has varied from seven to 
 twelve thousand. The exercises have drawn thither a large 
 attendance of visitors which contributed to make the anniver- 
 sary one of the most imposing gatherings of the year. 
 
 The Park carriage service, which was organized a number of 
 years ago, continues to meet with public approval. The carriages 
 starting from the Plaza entrance at Flatbush and Ninth avenues, 
 and the Willink entrance, near City line, run at frequent inter- 
 vals throughout the fair weather, and over a route that embraces 
 the finest views of the Park, affording an agreeable ride at mod- 
 erate cost. The enhanced attractions of Coney Island, during 
 tin 1 past season, have materially diminished the receipts of this 
 service as well as the patronage of the restaurants on the Park. 
 But these are embarrassments that time will probably regulate. 
 
 The adaptability of the Park lake to skating, ice-boat sailing, 
 &c, suggests on each recurring season that ample provisions 
 should be made for the fullest enjoyment of these pleasures. 
 
 Equestrian exercise has already taken a foremost position 
 among the pleasures and attractions of the Park. In fair 
 weather, at all seasons of the year, both ladies and gentlemen 
 avail themselves of our bridle-paths and public thoroughfares 
 in large numbers. The healthful pleasure of horseback exer- 
 cise, has received an additional impulse of popularity from 
 training-schools in this city, and from the participation in it 
 of some of our most worthy citizens. It is a recognized accom- 
 
31 
 
 plishment, graceful and elevating in character, and naturally 
 growing in public favor. The Park roadways and equestrian 
 routes extending to delightful suburbs, afford, desirable attrac- 
 tions to those who seek this mode of recreation. 
 
 If the thoughtful visitor to the Park, will take the trouble to 
 familiarize himself, even in slight measure, with all its accesor- 
 ies for pleasure and personal enjoyment, he will be surprised at 
 tin' aggregate and the variety and quality of tastes which seem 
 so easily catered to, but which it would be impossible 'to gratify 
 hut for the orderly and systematic supervision maintained in 
 conjunction with the good-will and self-respect of the great 
 majority of visitors. The influences of the resort are all peace- 
 ful, healthful, and harmless. There are harmonious and tem- 
 perate pleasures for all ages and conditions of life. 
 
 While it is not to be expected that Brooklyn can afford to ex- 
 pend the same amount per acre, in maintaining the Park, as is 
 lavished upon similar Public Institutions in the Metropolis, 
 it is only reasonable for us to ask for such means as would be 
 desirable under careful business management, to preserve all 
 parts of the Park in the best condition for use, and to adminis- 
 ter affairs in connection with them with such intelligence, and 
 reasonable liberality, as to afford to all classes of our citizens 
 each in the direction to be best enjoyed by them, the ultimate 
 advantages which works of this character so varied in their 
 resources may provide. 
 
 KEEPER FORCE. 
 
 During the past year, the Keeper Force has been serviceable 
 in the work of supervising the several parks and other territory 
 under the jurisdiction of the Park Commissioners. 
 
 The ordinances have been enforced generally with little fric- 
 tion, and good order lias prevailed ; the proportion of those who 
 visit the parks, etc., with bad intent being small, it is believed, 
 and opportunity of carrying out any evil purposes is rarely 
 afforded. 
 
 The force is much smaller in numbers and consequent effi- 
 ciency than it was several years since, and the responsibilties 
 of adjusting it to the needs of the parks, &c, necessarily greater. 
 
 WATER SERVICE. 
 
 During the whole period in which our water service has been 
 in operation, we have satisfactorily realized the advantages 
 which were expected to be derived from its establishment on 
 the Park. We have had a large and almost unrestricted supply, 
 
32 
 
 nearly equal to the large and varied requirements of the Park, 
 its fountains, drinking hydrants, buildings, closets, lake and 
 roads, the Ocean Parkway and Concourse, for sprinkling pur- 
 poses, and for the supply of the horse trough and drinking foun- 
 tains under our care at the Island. 
 
 In addition to these our resources were such, during the past 
 two seasons, as to meet an equally important demand in the 
 furnishing of water to the principal hotels, at the Island, by 
 which means the convenience and pleasure of thousands of 
 visitors were largely contributed to. 
 
 The facilities thus afforded have been, without doubt, most 
 timely, and one important purpose served by the Commis- 
 sioners in this particular, has been to guard the management 
 of the most prominent enterprises on the Island against any 
 criticism or complaint which the w ant of an abundant supply of 
 pure water would have unquestionably given rise to. 
 
 The Park water supply in its present condition, so far as 
 the various hotels, &c, are concerned, is but a comparatively 
 temporary expedient, and increase, in the size of the supply pipe 
 will be necessary to enable the Commissioners to deliver an 
 amount of water that . will be required within a year or two. 
 ritiniatelv, it is believed, the more extended resources of the 
 city supply will be made available for the use of the Island and 
 the intervening towns, and the Parkway line, in addition to its 
 use as primarily designed, principally for the maintenance of 
 the Ocean Parkway and Concourse, may serve an additional 
 useful purpose as a service pipe for the property along the 
 Parkw ay. 
 
I 
 
 33 
 
 Th& following stati incut shows th, work />■ rforim <l lug tin I'ark 
 
 pumping-engine <ut<l the stated yi( l<l of the well, for the p< riod 
 extending from June 5, 1871, to December 31, 1S7 ( J. 
 
 D A T e . 
 
 No. OF 
 
 Gallons 
 
 PUMl'fcD. 
 
 21;525,504 
 46,877,64 I 
 lo:i.os(»,s2-l 
 50,156 304; 
 61,881,496 j 
 49,212,372 
 66,821,348 
 
 I'Yoni.lune 5, 1.S71 toSi'ptrin 
 
 ber 10, 1871 
 
 September 10, 1871 ko 
 
 Muv L, L872 
 
 " Muv i, 1*72 toOotobei 
 
 1, 1872 
 
 '• October 1, 1872 to Muv 
 
 1, 1873 
 
 " Muv I, 1873 to October 
 
 1, 1873 ' 
 
 " October 1, 187ii toMuv 
 
 1, 1871 
 
 " Muv 1, 1S74 to Octo- 
 ber 1, 1874 
 
 " October 1. Ib71 to Mm 
 
 1. 1875 '. 
 
 " Muv 1. 1*75 to October 
 
 1, 187") 
 
 October 1, 1N75 toMav 
 
 1, 1870 
 
 Muv l. 1876 to October 
 
 1, 1876 
 
 •• Oetcber 1, 1870 to Muv 
 
 1, 1877 28,279,108 ) 
 
 " May 1, 1877 to October 
 
 I, 1877 
 " October 1, 1877 1 J Muv 
 
 1, 1878 ". I 27,911.7."): 
 
 " Muv 1. 1878 to October 
 
 1, 1878 
 
 " October 1, 1878 to Muv 
 
 1, 187!> I 27,357.000 
 
 " Muvl, 1879 toOotober 
 
 1, 1870 
 
 October 1. 1H79 to De- 
 cember 31, 1879 18,377,392 
 
 Totals 
 
 47,124,176 / 
 65,367,984 ) 
 38,817. 1 Hi 
 48,2t'.o 872 
 
 65,431,828 
 
 59,763,016 
 
 27,357,000 ) 
 59,060,436 ) 
 
 Total In Gallons Duys when 
 
 ( i M.l.ONS 
 1* u m p B I) 
 FOB TUB 
 Ykib. 
 
 21,525,604 
 140,958,468 
 
 Water I - 1 
 
 from 
 city Service 
 
 Kuril liar. 
 
 L5,081,176« 
 11,888 
 
 Turk well 
 
 was 
 not in use 
 ach year. 
 
 Ill 537.NOO 2,91! I |ii I 
 
 1 L6.033.720 
 
 l,119,0OS 
 
 112. 192,100 1,101,592 
 
 87,078,288 1,384,548 
 
 93,710,936 
 
 72,550 
 
 87,075,308 2,347,224 
 
 87,017,130 
 
 18,377,392 
 
 885, 107.072 24,442,396 
 
 79 
 
 23 
 
 oo 
 
 02 
 
 19 
 
 407 
 
 * Used from July, 180S, to September, 1871. 
 
34 
 
 Gall. 
 
 Y i 
 
 Average yield per year 
 
 Maximum 
 
 Minimum 
 
 yield of Park Well in 1878 
 
 Used by hotels at Coney Island 
 
 " for sprinkling Ocean Parkway. 
 
 " " Prospect Park 
 
 Gallons. 
 
 7,766,259 
 10,909,379 
 
 (ii),0(l(),(lll(l 
 
 Yield of Park Well in 1879 
 
 Used by hotels at Coney Island 
 
 " for sprinkling Ocean Parkway 
 " " Prospect I'ark 
 
 11,001,748 
 11,100.(1(10 
 
 64,915,688 
 
 From June to Oc'ober of each year, the well has been operated twenty-four 
 hours per day ; during the year 1878, the engine was stopped only four days 
 during the summer months, and during 187!) only two days. Previous to 1878 
 no water was used below the King's highway on the Parkway. The main to Coney 
 Island was laid in 1877, and was opened for use early in 1878. 
 
 SPECIAL WORKS. 
 
 Of the special works which have been from time to time 
 placed under charge of the Brooklyn Park Commissioners, and 
 which have, in whole or in part been carried to substantial 
 completion, the most important was the Ocean Parkway and the 
 Concourse at Coney Island, to which reference is specially made 
 in a portion of the following pages. These special works are 
 enumerated as follows : 
 
 Ninth avenue and Fifteenth street. 
 Washington avenue. 
 Ocean avenue. 
 Coney Island avenue. 
 
 In all cases, the contemplated improvements pertained to 
 streets and avenues bordering upon or contiguous to the Park, 
 the work being provided for by special enactments of the Legis- 
 lature. In view of the relations that these thoroughfares were 
 to bear to the Park, it was quite proper that the Park Commis- 
 sioners should largely determine the character of the work to 
 be done, as w T ell as to regulate and establish the necessary 
 grades. Where practicable the work was done by contract. 
 
NINTH AVENUE AND FIFTEENTH STREET. 
 
 Both of these thoroughfares were widened during the early 
 years of the Park work, and sonic modification of the grades 
 were made by the Commissioners andapproved by the Common 
 Council, in order to adjust the grades of certain streets abut- 
 ting upon the Park boundary. Upon these works the Com- 
 missioners expended the sum of $29,086.10. The indebtedness 
 thus incurred is provided to be paid by the act of the Legis- 
 lature, chapter 546 of the Laws of 1875, out of moneys to be 
 raised for completing the improvement, as well as tin 1 amount 
 already expended by the Commissioners. Until recently, 
 neither of these streets were used to any considerable extent, 
 except 1>\ two lines of railroad, which have seemed to afford all 
 the accommodation demanded by the public. 
 
 The Commissioners have always regarded the property lying 
 along the western border of the Park as valuable, and as forming 
 part of a very attractive portion of the city, in view of ils prox- 
 imity to the Park, the favorable character of its topography, 
 and for its general eligibility. This in common with other neigh- 
 borhoods, has felt tin 1 effect of the business depression which 
 has so long prevailed, and there has been, naturally, little dis- 
 position on the part of capitalists and others to improve any 
 considerable portion of it. Having this in view, the Commis- 
 sioners, under whose care a portion of Ninth avenue and 
 Fifteenth street was placed by the Legislature, deemed it un- 
 wise to enter upon any scheme of improvement which must, in 
 the nature of things, be premature in its effect, and if carried 
 out upon a scale which would meet the approval of the authori- 
 ties and of the Commissioners themselves, would have entailed 
 upon the property during this long series of years a heavy 
 burden. This view was adhered to against the urgent opposi- 
 tion of some of the owners who have since frankly admitted the 
 wisdom of the course adopted by the Park Commissioners. 
 
 Whenever it shall be deemed a favorable time to improve 
 these streets it ought to be done in a substantial and satis- 
 factory manner. The pavement should consist of one or the 
 other of the most improved stone blocks, either of New Jersey 
 trap-roCk or of granite. 
 
 In advance of laying down the superstructure, the necessary 
 sewers should be constructed and the water and gas pipe put 
 down, so that proper time for settlement of the earth in the 
 trenches may be allowed for and the finishing work thoroughly 
 done. What is here said applies more particularly to Ninth 
 
 5 
 
36 
 
 avenue on the Park side, but is quite true in a large measure 
 of Fifteenth street, which is destined to become an important 
 line of communication between the southwestern portion of 
 the city and the surburban towns. 
 
 WASHINGTON AVENUE. 
 
 The act providing for the improvement of this avenue for a 
 length of 7,1(10 feet, contemplated its increase iii width to eighty 
 feet, necessitating the addition of a strip ten feet in width along 
 the westerly line of the street. The necessary legal proceedings 
 were entered upon for the taking of the additional land required, 
 and upon the approval of the report of the Commissioners 
 appointed by the Supreme Court, plans for the grading and 
 paving were prepared and the work subsequently let in two 
 secti< nis. 
 
 The first section extended from Atlantic avenue to the city 
 line, a distance of 5,052 ui\> feet, and upon which the specifica- 
 tions contemplated the partial regrading of the street, made 
 necessary by the change in its width, and also to repave, recurb 
 and gutter the whole street. 
 
 The Commissioners designed from the outset to expend as 
 little money as possible upon the work, desiring to remit to the 
 future, w hen the character of the street would be more clearly 
 defined, the question of a more substantial and costly improve- 
 ment. For tins reason, the contractor was permitted to make 
 use of all the material on the line of the street, including curb 
 and gutter, paving stones and flagging that might be found 
 available, in view of the temporary character of the contempla- 
 ted improvement. Under these conditions this section of the 
 avenue was let to and the work promptly performed by Mr. 
 Thomas McCann, of this city, for the sum of £2.20 per lineal foot. 
 
 The second section, 2,0±<S iV<> feet in length, was made up of 
 that portion of the avenue lying within the tow n of Flatbush, 
 and was let to Mr. B. K. Sturges, and the work satisfactorily 
 performed within the prescribed time for the sum of $5.25 per 
 lineal foot. This latter contract included the furnishing of a 
 considerable amount of extraneous material for filling, together 
 with new curb and gutter and paving stone for the entire road- 
 way. 
 
 Washington avenue runs through an important section of the 
 city and affords a direct line of communication to the Park and 
 to the town of Flatbush. 
 
 There are no indications of any improvements such as would 
 have warranted any large expenditure beyond providing, as the 
 Commissioners have already done, a practicable and convenient 
 thoroughfare. 
 
37 
 
 OCEAN AVENUE. 
 
 During the latter part of 1875 the opening and improvement 
 of this avenue was agreed upon between the Park Commission- 
 ers and the authorities of the town of Platbush, and after the 
 mecessary legal proceedings had been successfully accomplished, 
 the work was proceeded with under contract with Mr. William 
 P. Sturges. Tins avenue forms the lower portion of the south- 
 easterly boundary of the Park, and extends from the Willink 
 entrance, at Platbush avenue and Franklin avenue, in the town 
 of Platbush on the south. 
 
 The plan of the improvement provided for a street 100 feet 
 in width, divided as follows : A 50 feet roadway, a sidewalk on 
 the westerly side of 30 feet, and on the easterly side of 20 feet 
 in width. The length of the avenue was 3,013 feet. A blue stone 
 curb ami .gutter defines and limits the roadway on each side 
 and parallel with the curb, and extending 10 feet in width. 
 Toward the centre of the road is laid a strip of cobble-stone 
 paving, with a view to facilitate drainage and protect the road 
 on each side from the action of storms, &c. The remaining 
 space, of 30 feet, forming the central or main portion of the 
 roadway, is made up of tilling of gravel of the neighborhood, 
 carefully selected, from which large stones have been removed, 
 and the whole substantially rolled to a good surface. At a later 
 period two rows of thrifty maple trees were planted and boxed 
 on the sidewalk of this avenue, adjoining the Park. 
 
 The opening and construction of this avenue completes the 
 system of exterior roadways contemplated in the original 
 scheme of the Park Improvement, but which in this instance had 
 been deferred and practically abandoned by the Commission- 
 ers, in consequence of the opposition of the property owners, 
 the indifference to the recommendations of the Commissioners 
 evinced by the authorities of the city, and, to some extent, the 
 excessive value placed upon the land proposed to be taken. 
 Subsequently, however, the co-operation of the authorities of 
 the town of Platbush was secured, and the project was satis- 
 factorily carried out to completion. 
 
 CONEY ISLAND AVENUE. 
 
 This avenue forms the lower southeasterly boundary of the 
 Park, from the city line at Fifteenth street and Eleventh avenue 
 to the entrance of the Park at the junction of Franklin avenge 
 and the old Coney Island road. 
 
 Having been petitioned to do so, the Park Commissioners, 
 representing the city, joined the property owners along the line 
 
33 
 
 of the avenue in an improvement of a subordinate character, 
 which, while involving the expenditure of a comparatively small 
 amount of money ($2,411), has provided a convenient roadway, 
 and was in all respects satisfactory to the parties interested. 
 
 The work was let under contract to Mr. Thomas Glevry for 
 the sum of $3.84 per lineal foot, and consisted of the necessary 
 grading, together with a strip of cobble-stone pavement and 
 curl) and gutter on the westerly side of the road. 
 
 The intervening space at the northerly end of this improve- 
 ment, across the circle at Fifteenth street and Eleventh avenue, 
 was improved at the expense of the Commissioners by special 
 contract with the contractor of Coney Island avenue. 
 
 EAST SIDE LANDS. 
 
 For several years past public attention has been more or less 
 directed to the huge area of property belonging to the city, 
 under the control of the Commissioners, known as the east side 
 lands, and forming part of the Park, as originally taken for 
 that purpose. 
 
 This area lies on the easterly side of Flatbush avenue, and 
 exclusive of the Reservoir (which occupies an area of ll 1 , acres), 
 contains 121 acres, and is bounded by Flatbush and Van- 
 derbilt avenues, Warren street and W ashington avenue, ter- 
 minating at the south at the dividing line between the city and 
 the town of Flatbush. The various discussions, both on the 
 part of the public and the Commissioners, and the several legal 
 processes which have led to the abandonment of these lands for 
 Park purposes, have been made known from time to time in 
 the previous reports of the Commissioners, and in the daily 
 papers, and are measurably familiar to our citizens. 
 
 The scheme considered and matured by the Commissioners, 
 and sanctioned by the highest legal authority of the State for 
 the sale of these lands, has, like most important contemporary 
 enterprises elsewhere, been arrested and held in abeyance for 
 reasons patent to the thinking men of the community, pending 
 the remarkable period of business depression and stagnation 
 through which the country, it is now believed, is happily 
 emerging. 
 
 During the progress of work upon the Park in the early 
 years of its construction, no change was effected in the pre- 
 vailing features of the east side property. The first consider* 
 able work consisted in opening the Eastern Parkway, from the 
 plaza to Washington avenue, involving the removal of 231,000 
 cubic yards of material above the established grade. Following 
 
39 
 
 upon the commencement of this work in 1871, and its completion 
 in 1873, further quantities of material were removed from time to 
 time from points where the same was in excess, and was used 
 to hll up the low grounds within the boundaries of the east side 
 lands, which work was done at prices that were known to be to 
 the advantage of the city. At a later date the various and per- 
 sistent oppositions to the proposed sale of a portion of these 
 lands were measurably overcome by the Commissioners, and 
 with the approval of the public generally, steps were at once 
 taken looking to the carrying out of their plan of sale ; an accu- 
 rate survey of the area was ordered, which included the location 
 and extension of the city streets and avenues through it, together 
 with a careful study of grades to be established with a' view to 
 the most favorable development of the property. It must he 
 borne in mind that any system of extension through it of the 
 city streets to prove of practical utility, must of necessity connect 
 with, and their grades must conform to, those arbitrarily estab- 
 lished by the city authority upon the streets and avenues sur- 
 rounding the Park. 
 
 The projection of Sackett street, otherwise known as the 
 Eastern Parkway entailed at once the necessity for this co-op- 
 eration of interest. The grading involved at the outset 
 the extension of the easterly slope of the Reservoir as an 
 engineering necessity, and after a conference of the engi- 
 neers, respectively, of the Park Commissioners and the Water 
 Board, as to the amount of additional property required, pro- 
 ceedings were instituted by joint co-operation of the Park Com- 
 missioners and Water Board to obtain legislative authority for 
 the transfer of the land required. This authority having been 
 secured, a commission agreed upon by the city authorities 
 and the Park Commissioners, consisting of Messrs. Thomas 
 Sullivan, John French and Silas Ludlum, was appointed to 
 value the property to be taken, and their report was approved 
 without modification. At this point of the proceedings it was 
 discovered that by an imperfection in the law, no provision had 
 been made for the, transfer of the money resulting from the sale 
 of the land from one department to the other, notwithstanding 
 the fact that the law originally placed the absolute control of 
 all moneys resulting from the sale of any of the Park lands in 
 the Commissioners who were further authorized to pay there- 
 from all expenses incurred in connection with the said hinds, 
 out of the first moneys which should be received from their 
 sale or any portion thereof. 
 
40 
 
 The failure to recognize, this right in this special act, however, 
 made it necessary to transfer the money in question to the 
 custody of the Sinking Fund Commissioners, but the Park 
 Commissioners sought and obtained relief from the following 
 Legislature with the consent and co-operation of the city 
 authorities, and subsequently obtained the full amount of money 
 in question. In connection with the survey alluded to, with a 
 view to a reasonable development of the resources of the area, 
 Qnderhil] avenue, Butler street and Park place wi re opened, 
 graded and paved by special contract and the preparations 
 made at once for a sale of a portion of the property. Maps 
 were printed showing the number and location of the lots 
 aggregating over 1,000 in all, in the several portions of the prop- 
 erty w hich it was proposed to sell. The further preliminaries 
 of a sale by public auction were arranged for in LS74, and the 
 sale itself was appointed to take place in December of the same 
 year, in deference to what appeared to be an expressed public 
 opinion, but at a meeting of the Common Council, held on the 
 l(ith of November, LS74, the following resolutions were passed, 
 the effect of which, was to suspend indefinitely the proposed 
 sale. 
 
 "Whereas, because of financial requirements the Board of 
 Park Commissioners claimed to be called upon to sell at public 
 auction the property belonging to' the city known as the east 
 side lands ; and 
 
 "Whereas, it is the opinion of those most competent to judge 
 that a sale of said property in the present depressed condition 
 of the market for real estate will result in serious loss to the 
 city, as also prove very injurious to the interests of the citizens 
 holding real estate for a market, particularly in the vicinity of 
 the proposed sale ; therefore 
 
 " Resolved, That the Park Commissioners be and they hereby 
 are earnestly requested to postpone the sale to a period of time 
 which shall indicate some possibility of obtaining nearer the 
 value of the property than is now promised, and the Mayor and 
 Comptroller be and they are hereby authorized to confer with 
 the Board of Park Commissioners, and tender to them such 
 financial aid as may be legal and proper, that their legal 
 demands and the interest of the city in the property be fully 
 protected by securing a postponement of the sale to a more, 
 promising opportunity." 
 
 A small portion of the area nearest the plaza has been graded 
 in part, the removal of the material having been done at a very 
 
41 
 
 small cost. In one or two instances contractors, requiring filling 
 for their own purposes elsewhere, have been permitted to take 
 it from the east side lands without cost to the Park Commis- 
 sioners. No other moneys have been expended beyond such as 
 was absolutely necessary from time to time in the care and 
 supervision of this area. 
 
 It is hardly necessary to say, perhaps, that the Commission- 
 ers realized, and have always done so, the desirability of 
 promptly disposing of the considerable portion of this property 
 at fair prices, and have made every reasonable effort to do so, 
 that the city may be benefited thereby and improvements of a 
 character suitable to the neighborhood encouraged and fos- 
 tered. 
 
 Had the Commissioners been enabled by the aid of intelligent 
 public sentiment to overcome the captious and personal opposi- 
 tions to their scheme in regard to this area at an earlier day, it 
 is only reasonable to infer that a satisfactory sale would have 
 been successfully accomplished previous to 1873, the result of 
 which, it is confidently believed, would have demonstrated the 
 practicability and wisdom of the policy advocated by the Park 
 Commissioners. 
 
 There is an indebtedness amounting to $34,655.51, which has 
 been incurred by the Park Commissioners from time to time for 
 authorized expenditures, the payment of which is provided for 
 by law. The Commissioners have now in contemplation, the sale 
 of a, portion of these lands at such favorable time during the 
 coming year, as their judgment shall approve. The proceeds of 
 this sale, together with the moneys derived and to be derived 
 and justly due from the assessment of the property surrounding 
 the Park, which has been legally adjudged to have been bene- 
 fited thereby, will, it is believed, in a very material degree serve 
 to reduce the amount of indebtedness incurred in the original 
 construction of the Park, and reduce the Park debt, so called, 
 to an amount at which there can be little complaint as com- 
 pared with the benefits resulting from so marked and consider- 
 able a public improvement. 
 
 The grading and paving of Underbill avenue, to the Eastern 
 Parkway involved the necessity of lowering and relaying the 
 force main which connects the pumping engine at Warren street 
 with the high service reservoir on Prospect Hill. This main 
 l;ad been placed within a few feet of the natural surface, doubt- 
 less as a measure of economy, in view of the fact that while a 
 system of grades had been established by the city for the con- 
 tinuation of the other streets through the east side area, it was 
 believed notwithstanding the alteration of the grade of Platbush 
 
42 
 
 avenue, thai tin' necessity lor the linger expenditure required 
 fo place the pipe below the grades of the street, to which the 
 ordinances required them to he ultimately regulated, were so 
 remote as to justify, as an engineering expedient, the placing of 
 the pipe as above described. The Park Commissioners hold 
 that the expenses involved in lowering and relaying this pipe so 
 as to conform to a system of grades established by the city, and 
 over w hich the Park Commissioners exercised no control, and 
 to which the grade of the Parkway itself was required in effect 
 to conform, was properly chargeable upon the city, and the 
 whole work should have been done by and at the expense of the 
 Board of City Works. A difference of opinion as to which De- 
 partment should bear the expense of this work has led to a 
 postponement of any consideration of the question of its settle- 
 ment. The Commissioners, having been under the necessity 
 of completing the street openings upon which improvements 
 under contract were in progress, assumed the burden of this 
 expenditure under protest, and the work, which was clearly a 
 general public benefit and of no immediate concern to the Pari 
 or the east side lands, was satisfactorily completed. The Park 
 Commissioners are prepared at any time to enter upon an ad- 
 justment of the amount involved in this expenditure, which 
 they feel they were, by the exigencies of the case, forced to 
 assume unjustly. 
 
 EASTERN PARKWAY. 
 
 This important work was commenced in 1ST 1 and completed 
 in 1874. The description of the plan, together with details of 
 construction, are to be found in previous reports of this com- 
 mission. In the earlier history of the work, through defects in 
 the law or ambiguity hi its interpretation as to the manner of 
 raising money for its construction, the work suffered from a 
 considerable delay, the burden of which fell largely upon the 
 contractor, Mr. Thomas McCann, who was forced to assume 
 large financial responsibilities for a considerable period with- 
 out aid from the city. The modification of the law and the 
 correction of the defects alluded to were accomplished by the 
 aid of the Legislature, and no trouble was encountered in the 
 further progress of the w ork. 
 
 The design, involving a large outlay of money, contemplated 
 a central drive and a traffic road on each side, together with 
 attendant promenade and ordinary sidewalks. The line of the 
 improvement was projected through a territory marked in its 
 topography, and material changes of the surface involved the 
 
43 
 
 removal of large Quantities of material, which, however, was 
 made of substantial use for tilling, upon adjacent property below 
 the established grade. The very extensive area of property in- 
 tended to be benefited by the construction of this road, was 
 owned in large parcels by a few gentlemen who were principally 
 instrumental in procuring the enactment of the law which 
 placed this work, without solicitation or desire on their part, 
 under the charge of the Park Commissioners, and they other- 
 wise cleared the way for an early completion of the work which 
 it was agreed should be prosecuted at the expense of the 
 property benefited. Had the reasonable expectations with 
 regard to the effect of this improvement upon the property, 
 been realized, there can be little doubt as to the successful dis- 
 position of the adjacent property thus benefited, but it will be 
 remembered that the business depression, elsewhere alluded 
 to, followed closely upon the completion of this work, and its 
 effect upon the sales of real estate was immediate, and from 
 winch this, as well as other desirable property, suffered such 
 serious effects. Business in this class of speculation and 
 investment was everywhere affected in like manner, and no 
 foresight was able to avert its disastrous consequences. 
 
 Neither the city nor the Park Commissioners are in any way 
 responsible for the change to which all property will be required 
 to adapt itself, and while the era of bold real estate enterprises, 
 lavish and sometimes wasteful expenditures, has properly 
 passed away, there is still an ample field for the exercise of 
 legitimate undertakings, among which the improvement and 
 sale of property may be properly classed. 
 
 It by no means follows, however, that this property will not 
 ultimately bring substantial reward to its owners; on the con- 
 trary, the Commissioners believe that it will derive greater ad- 
 vantages proportionately from the improvements already made, 
 exceptional in character, than would have been likely to follow 
 the otherwise slow and characterless development of so isolated 
 and apparently unattractive a territory. 
 
 At present the Eastern Parkway is a well-used thoroughfare, 
 and affords a convenient line of communication with the 
 business portion of the city for a large and important section of 
 the community. In conjunction with Bedford avenue, which is 
 one of the most conspicuous and direct lines of travel with the 
 Eastern District, the Parkway affords a substantial, pleasant 
 and commodious exit for business traffic and pleasure riding ; 
 the facility afforded for reaching the Park and the principal 
 roadways to Coney Island forms no inconsiderable claim among 
 the advantages to be derived from it. 
 
 6 
 
44 
 
 As with other works under the charge of the Commissioners, 
 the provisions for its care and preservation arc not sncli as a 
 work of this character and magnitude require, nor is it in the 
 interest of the property or the city to continue to permit the 
 excessive deterioration to which it is necessarily subjected, in 
 consequence of the limited appropriations placed at the dispo- 
 sal of the Commissioners. 
 
 THE OCEAN PARKWAY AND CONEY ISLAND. 
 
 The initiation of this work and its relations to the Park, 
 together with an account of its construction so far as the King's 
 Highway, a distance of three and one-quarter miles from the 
 easterly entrance of the Park, have been very fully described in 
 previous reports. The project of constructing abroad highway 
 trom Brooklyn to Coney Island had been discussed and ap- 
 proved by the Park Commissioners as early as 1867, and it re- 
 ceived the sanction of the Legislature shortly after. Plans 
 were prepared and the necessary Legal steps were taken to ac- 
 quire possession of the land, and the work w as completed to 
 King's Highway in the autumn of 1873. 
 
 The Commissioners found themselves surrounded with many 
 embarrassments, in thus early forecasting the possibility and 
 desirability, if not the need of suburban drives, which, begin- 
 ning at the Park and terminating at the ocean, would present a 
 thoroughfare of rare attractions. While the hist section of the 
 road was being constructed, property owners and many conser- 
 vative, right-minded citizens as well, expressed grave doubts as 
 to there being any justification for it, they questioned the utility 
 of the work and urged, if persisted in with earnestness, that it 
 must be finished with the most economical expenditure. These 
 influences to some extent determined the general quality and 
 character of the improvement. So fitful and uncertain was the 
 travel and traffic with the county towns, and so little were the 
 suburban district and ocean views valued for their attractions, 
 by the larger part of the community, that the construction of 
 this road was opposed as unnecessary. At a later period public 
 opinion had taken definite shape in its favor, but the local oppo- 
 sition and prejudice were such that it required the exercise of 
 great caution and judgment on the part of the Commissioners, 
 to secure the just recognition and success of the work then 
 completed. 
 
 As an instance in point it may be stated that the plan of the 
 improvement was materially modified and cheapened in defer- 
 ence to the desires of the property owners, who insisted that 
 
45 
 
 the distance from the Park to their property over the contem- 
 plated route was so great ;is to practically debar them from 
 participation in any accruing benefits. Another obstacle to the 
 extension of the road was met in the Prospect Park Fair 
 Grounds Association, through whose property the proposed 
 route lav. To meet these opposing elements the Commission- 
 ers found it desirable to determine upon a temporary completion 
 to tli is point, until time should justify the wisdom of their 
 further plans. On opening this Drive, its use by the public be- 
 came general, and its value and desirability were at once 
 acknowledged. The result further secured was the withdrawal 
 of local opposition, the co-operation of those who had been 
 arrayed against it, and the securing of legislation necessary to 
 the extension of the road to the ocean, in the years 1874-5. 
 Title to the land was acquired, and the work was extended upon 
 the same general plan as that already completed. The lower 
 portion of this work, comprising a distance of two and one- 
 quarter miles, was put under contract to Messrs. Curtin & 
 O'Brien, the lowest bidders, of this city, at a cost of ^.").!)") per 
 lineal foot, which price comprehended the entire filling, grading, 
 paving, surfacing, and planting of trees essential to a completion 
 of the improvement. The work was finished in the month of 
 November, 1876, and was at once tin-own open to the public, by 
 whom it was quickly appreciated and utilized as a delightful, 
 convenient and substantial thoroughfare to the ocean. 
 
 The construction of this second section of this work, the 
 results of which have contributed so much toward attracting 
 attention to the great availability of Coney Island as a popular 
 seaside resort, followed immediately on the confirmation of the 
 report of the Commissioners of Estimate and Assessment, 
 approved by the Supreme Court. The general plan of the 
 work corresponded with that of the first section and comprised 
 a central roadway of 70 feet in width, and bordering upon 
 it on either side a promenade or broad walk 30 feet in width. 
 An additional roadway '25 feet wide for business purposes 
 was placed on the side of the main sidewalk, and a walk 
 15 feet in width was additionally provided for next to the 
 building line. This line, by legal restriction, is confined to 
 within and beyohd •'!<) feet of the extreme limit of the improve- 
 ment, which is '210 feet wide. The mode of construction is very 
 simple, the material of the grading was principally found upon 
 the line of the work, and consisted of light loam and gravel 
 peculiar to this portion of the island. With proper preparation 
 and care it makes an admirable road for pleasure driving. 
 The bed of the principal roadway to the depth of 12 inches, is 
 
4(5 
 
 (•(imposed of selected gravel from which all stones of large size 
 wen- excluded. The surface was carefully shaped and rolled 
 until a proper bond was secured. The side roads, after being 
 properly graded, were covered with six inches of gravel. The 
 sidewalks, including the promenade or central walks, were 
 graded and covered with six inches of soil, upon which grass- 
 seed was sown with a view of seem ing a tough sod ; six rows of 
 trees, consisting of elms and maples of approved varieties for 
 the principal portions of the road, and the golden widow for 
 that portion more directly affected by the salt air, were planted 
 the whole length of the roadway. Nothing of an exceptional 
 character in construction was encountered in the progress of 
 the work except in connection with the crossings of two 
 marshes, originally formed by the action of the sea, one 1,000 
 feet and the other 1,200 feet long, the latter divided by Coney 
 Island creek, an arm or inlet of the sea, the existence of 
 which creek gives distinction to Coney Island as an island. 
 
 On Coney Island, with the exception of a small piece of up- 
 land, which, without doubt, was originally the end of the main 
 peninsula, the roadway passed over the white sand formation 
 peculiar to this portion of the coast. The entire length of 
 the improvement, from the King's Highway la roadway built by 
 the English in the 10th century), and extending across the land 
 from Gravesend Bay to the northerly line of the Concourse 
 Drive, is 11,814 feet ; while that of the upper portion, finished in 
 1873, is 16,838 feet making a total length from the southwesterly 
 entrance of the Park at the junction of the old Coney Island 
 road and Franklin avenue, in the town of Flatbush to the Con- 
 course, of 28,697 feet, which is (5^) miles nearly. 
 
 The work involved the moving of nearly 22,500 cubic yards of 
 material, about 10,000 square yards of rough cobblestone 
 paving, and the planting of 3,000 trees, together with such other 
 details of work as are incidental to road building of this char- 
 acter. .Messrs. O'Brien & Curtin, the contractors, also con- 
 structed a bridge which carries the roadway over Coney Island 
 creek, at a cost of about £3,000. No material, trouble was ex- 
 perienced in crossing the marshes referred to beyond that of 
 providing for slight uniform settlement incidental to the shrink- 
 age of such material, w hich settlement is likely to leave some 
 depression in the surface to be repaired by some additional 
 rilling from time to time. This bridge is 40 feet wide, and two 
 spans, of 20 feet each, carry over the central driveway, and two 
 sidewalks, 10 feet in width, making a total length of 00 feet. 
 The elevation of the floor of the bridge is five feet above mean 
 high tide, each bent consists of spruce jjiles placed rive feet 
 
47 
 
 from the centres, twelve inches in diameter at the head, and 
 driven to the ultimate resistance. The piles were capped by 
 white pine timber twelve inches square, morticed to the piles 
 and secured by locust pins. Floor beams, 4x12 inches, of 
 white pine, were placed two feet between centres, upon which a 
 looring of three-inch yellow pine plank was laid. A handrail 
 on each side of the roadway separates it from the sidewalk. 
 The end bents were sheeted to the bottom of the creek with 
 three-inch yellow pine plank, against which the rilling at the end 
 of the bridge rested. On the preliminary survey, the formation 
 of the mud and vegetable growth, of which the marsh is com- 
 posed, was found to be very irregular in depth, in some 
 instances reaching 14 feet, and with a mean depth of 6 feet, 
 material settlements were apprehended and occurred at several 
 points during the construction ; but over the principal portion 
 of this part of the work the settlement was but slightly in excess 
 of that which attends ordinary filling for the same depth. This 
 was due to two causes, the chief one being that the grade of the 
 road at this point was arranged to meet the necessities only of 
 the minimum till of 4 feet, which it was assumed, the tough 
 marsh sod would be able to bear or float upon its surface. The 
 work was begun in the latter part of April, and was substan- 
 tially completed and open to public use in November of the 
 same year. It has become the principal line of communication 
 for the large and growing number of those who seek pleasure 
 and amusement out doors, who ride in carriages to the sea- 
 shore. 
 
 An act passed by the Legislature of 187(> and 1877 authorized 
 the Commissioners to appropriate the premium resulting from 
 the sale of county bonds, which had been withheld by 
 the County Treasurer, to the extent of $17,070.5)0, for the fur- 
 ther purpose of extending the water supply along the line of 
 the Ocean Parkway to Coney Island. The necessary plans and 
 specifications having been agreed upon, the contract, after 
 proper competition, was awarded to Messrs. O'Brien & Curtin, 
 the lowest bidders, at 53 cents per lineal foot ; the contract in- 
 volved the laying of a four-inch cast iron pipe from the end of 
 the pipe laid in 1873, to the Concourse at Coney Island, with 
 extensions east and west to the extreme limit of the county 
 property. It also included the furnishing of a Beton Coignet 
 water-trough for horses, with suitable connections, two or- 
 namental drinking hydrants located at the shelters, together 
 with the necessary hydrants, stop-cocks, Ac, along the line of 
 the Parkway and the Concourse. 
 
48 
 
 The extreme length of the line was 1 *>,*»;"** ) lineal feet. To test 
 an invention which was recommended by engineers and others, 
 a line, (iOO feet in length, of six-inch wood and asphalt pipe was 
 laid down, as an experiment, by the Asphalted Tube Works of 
 New York city. The invention consisted of a series of layers 
 of wood veneers wound round a central core, with a course of 
 asphalt running between each layer. By experiments made at 
 the shops of the company at Harlem, N. V., a piece of pipe, com- 
 posed of five Layers of wood, had under several trials, exhibited 
 successfully, a pressure of five hundred pounds to the square 
 inch. The pipe was laid down and was made use of during the 
 fall of 1877, as a connecting link between the old six-inch cast- 
 iron pipe and the four-inch cast-iron extension. It shortly gave 
 indications of failure, many lengths soon breaking, one after 
 another, thus interfering with the continuous delivery of water 
 to the island. The interest and faith in the serviceahleness of 
 the pipe, was such on the part of the proprietors, that they 
 asked and obtained permission to substitute a pipe of greater 
 strength, viz., of eight layers of veneer. The work was done 
 promptly and the water turned on the line October 3, 1877. 
 For a time no evidence of weakness was exhibited on the wooden 
 pipe until the early fall, when the pipe ultimately failed. The 
 experiment was abandoned, and the pipe replaced by cast iron. 
 Tne experiment was an interesting one, but the failure may be 
 attributed mainly to the water ram on the line of pipe due to the 
 frequent opening and closing of the hydrants, the limited num- 
 ber of which was not sufficient to relieve the pressure of these 
 blows, and to the fact, probably, that it was difficult to secure 
 uniformity of strength and perfectness of material in all the 
 pipe. The veneers used were of maple, carefully selected, free 
 from knots or other defects, and cut with uniform nicety by 
 machinery from the round of the tree. The shaping of the 
 pipe was also effected by machinery, the asphalt was of the 
 best quality, and great care was taken by the parties interested 
 to insure success. Samples of the veneers were tested by tensile 
 strains of 100 pounds to the square inch, thus far giving evidence 
 of strength in the structure of the pipe. For light pressures 
 there can be no doubt that this pipe is deserving of careful 
 consideration and trial, if the cost of supplying it can be brought 
 within the limit of successful competition with other water 
 
 As a fitting termination to this improvement, the Commis- 
 sioners, in behalf of Kings county, obtained possession of about 
 seventy acres of that portion of the Island, at the end of the Ocean 
 Parkway, with a frontage of 2,750 feet, extending along and in- 
 
49 
 
 eluding the most desirable portion of the beach, with an average 
 depth of 1,000 feet from high water mark. The Parkway exten- 
 sion intersects this property 1,250 feet east of its westerly 
 boundary, the extreme easterly boundary being l,f>00 feet from 
 the same point. W ithin this area, a series of hills, or dunes, 
 formed by the erratic accumulations of sand, were found, some 
 of them being from 5 to 12 feet above high tide. A line or 
 range of these hills, generally distant about 450 feet from the 
 beach, as before noted, was selected for the site of a so-called 
 beach Concourse, or Ocean Promenade, for visitors in carriages 
 and on foot. 
 
 The plan of the work contemplated the construction of an 
 embankment of sand of sufficient w idth to afford a base for an 
 ample roadway for driving, and accommodation for pedes- 
 trians as well. The details of construction may be briefly 
 described as follows : The cross section of the embankment 
 necessitated a width of about 135 feet in the aggregate. The 
 sand was deposited on the line selected, to a height of 5,';, feet 
 above high water mark on the front line, and 6 feet on the rear, 
 and involved the removal of about 30,000 cubic yards of sand, 
 which was obtained entirely from the area owned by the county. 
 The material was carefully graded and faced by a slope toward 
 the ocean of 3 to 1. Upon this slope, and upon the upper sur- 
 face of the entire length of the Concourse for a width of 100 
 feet, a covering of bituminous concrete pavement was laid. The 
 material on the slopes was carried down to low water mark. 
 It is of uniform thickness (3 inches) and was composed of equal 
 quantities of selected gravel and beach sand carefully dried in 
 heated cylinders and mixed in due proportion with refined coal 
 tar and asphalt, carefully prepared by the contractors, the 
 Abbot Pavement Company of Brooklyn. 
 
 All the work of preparation was carefully done, the whole 
 satisfactorily completed and accepted early in September, 1870. 
 This work was designed not only to serve the purposes of a 
 pleasant promenade drive, but also for use as a breakwater and 
 a substantial barrier to the encroachments o£ the sea, which, 
 unopposed, had often threatened the destruction of a portion of 
 the Island and previously jeopardized the buildings and struc- 
 tures already erected, and had often occasioned considerable 
 damage to the w ork of enterprising lessees. 
 
 In 1876 two open shelters constructed of wood, upon a pile 
 foundation, were placed upon the Concourse at the junction 
 of the Parkw ay, for the convenience of visitors. These structures 
 were built by contract with Mr. Van Kiper of Brooklyn, were 
 open on all sides, and with convenient entrances on the front 
 
50 
 
 and rear. An overhanging roof affords protection from storm 
 and the heat of the sun. They cover each an area of 75 feet 
 by '25, and, being amply provided with seats and tables, are 
 much used throughout the season by visitors to the Island. 
 
 In the summer of 1S7H an arrangement was made with the 
 Kings county Gaslight Company to light the Concourse with 
 gas. Pipes were laid down and a sufficient number of posts and 
 lamps were put up to secure the necessary illumination of the 
 walks and drive dining the season of L878 and 1S7'.I. 
 
 The following is a sketch of what is known of the earlier 
 physical features, configuration and history of Coney Island, 
 and may prove not uninteresting. In the original patent grant- 
 ed to Guisbert Op-Dyck for Coney Island, it is called Cunnv 
 Island, and by the Dutch, Coneynen Eylandt, from the name, it 
 is conjectured, of an individual who had possessed a part of it. 
 Pine Island, then called Conyne Hook, was at that time sepa- 
 rated from the former by a creek, which has since disappeared. 
 
 The entire Island, with the exception of a small border of up- 
 land and marsh, is composed of pure white sand which, satu- 
 rated at tin 1 level of high tide, presents the distinctive charac- 
 teristics of the sea-beach, so familiar to our people. Above the 
 level of high water, eccentric formations of sand, presenting 
 almost every imaginable form to be assumed by such material, 
 whose location and permanency vary with every changing wind 
 and storm, were found. At various points these formations 
 clustered about the hardy and scant vegetation, principally 
 beach grass, red cedar and native laurel, peculiar to the Island. 
 
 The presence of a comparatively rich soil on portions of the 
 Island is doubtless due to the upheavals and accretions of rich 
 deposits of mud from the bed of the ocean. To this has been 
 added the decomposed vegetation which at an earlier period 
 resulted from a more considerable vegetable growth than now 
 exists. This, as well as the soil of the contiguous main land, bears 
 to-day some of the characteristics of the soil of the prairie, to 
 which it assimilates somewhat in its formation and, like some 
 portions of the prairie which have been burned over at certain 
 periods, it owes its appearance to a like cause. A portion of 
 the Canarsee Indians (which tribe claimed at one time the whole 
 of the lands now included within the limits of Kings county) 
 left interesting relics on the main land, near the southerly part 
 of the Island, in the shape of immense piles of shells. They 
 were very fond of shell-fish, and these shell banks, formed evi- 
 dently with some plan, have been found elsewhere on Long 
 Island. Many years since, in initiating the work of construction 
 
51 
 
 of the shell road on the lower end of the village of Gravesend, 
 a road well known to the old residents of Brooklyn, these shell 
 banks were discovered and the shells were used in surfacing this 
 road, for which they answered an admirable purpose. 
 
 Two well defined lines of hills extending the full length of the 
 Island and running parallel with the ocean, the line of whose 
 domain has remained substantially unchanged for many years, 
 are now fast disappearing before the improvement of roadways 
 and buildings, and works effected in the neighborhood. 
 
 The old records of the town of Gravesend mention the fact 
 that what is now known as Coney Island formerly consisted of 
 three smaller islands, the easterly one being known as Sedge 
 Bank Island ; another as Guisbert's or Will Johnson's Island, 
 and the third as Piney Island. Will Johnsons Island was an 
 area, which now forms the central or main part of the Island, 
 from the line of the old Coney Island road, westerley to Van 
 Sicklen's hotel, and Piney Island lay west of a line from Van 
 Sicklen's hotel to Feltman's hotel, at which point at an earlier 
 day the surface was sufficiently depressed to form an inlet, and 
 was locally known as Piney inlet. It is recorded that certain 
 accounts of money was received by the town of Gravesend for 
 permits or licenses to cut cedar trees, which at that period, it is 
 said, attained a growth sufficiently large in that neighborhood 
 to be used in the construction of small sailing vessels. It is 
 further shown that permits were granted for pasturing cattle, 
 thus indicating a sufficient growth of vegetation to induce 
 farmers to drive their cattle thither in the spring, where they 
 were permitted to remain during the summer and early fall. 
 
 The fishermen who at that time, pursued that exclusive occu- 
 pation in this vicinity in greater numbers than now, united to 
 defray the necessary expense of opening an inlet from a point 
 near the site of Van Sicklen's hotel to Gravesend Bay, in order 
 to avoid the longer and more boisterous passage along the 
 coast, from Piney inlet to the point. The effect of this enter- 
 prise was to shoal Piney inlet and finally close it up altogether. 
 Its general course could until quite recently, be traced by its 
 well defined line and depressed surface. A part of the inlet 
 separating Guisbert's Island from the Sedge Bank still exists, 
 and is known as Sandy Creek. Its outlet, however, has been en- 
 tirely closed up by the comparatively recent formation of sand 
 hills near Engeman's hotel. 
 
 Of the many accounts which have been given of the wonderful 
 changes that have taken place on the Island and its coast, 
 the following extracts will be read with interest : " The more " 
 " extensive and extraordinary marine encroachments have been " 
 
 7 
 
52 
 
 "and arc now in continual operation upon the south shore of" 
 "the Island, the materials of which it is generally constructed" 
 "being incapable of opposing any considerable barrier to the" 
 "violence of winds and waves, especially during the existence" 
 "of heavy storms, driving with inconceivable force and aug- " 
 " mented energy against the soft and yielding substance of" 
 " the headland and beaches. Its effect and ravages are per- " 
 " ceptible to the most common observation from one end of the " 
 " Island to the other; yet probably in no one place so pal-" 
 "pable as about Gravesend, and particularly in the neighbor-" 
 "hood of Coney Island. Mr. John Van Dvck recollects when" 
 "the beach at Coney Island was composed of high and exten-" 
 " she sand hills, where it is now a Hat and level beach, some-" 
 " times covered by the tides ; and he has cut gl ass upon a part " 
 "of the beach which is now a flat and level beach, sometimes" 
 " covered by the tides ; and he has cut grass upon a part of" 
 " the beach w Inch is now at a considerable distance ill the sea. " 
 "At other places where the water was of sufficient depth to " 
 "float vessels of 50 tons, it is now solid ground. In IH'.M, over" 
 "forty years ago, Mr. Court Lake, of the same place, aged 7'.)," 
 " states that his grandfather, about 11(1 years ago, cut a quantity " 
 "of cedar posts upon a part of Coney Island which is now two" 
 " miles from the ocean ; and that he has himself cut firewood" 
 "at a place now a mile and a half from the shore. There was" 
 "also a house upon Pine Island owned by one Brown, the site" 
 "of which is now a great way at sea ; and that Plumb Island" 
 " was once covered by fine timber, where there is none now," 
 " the greatest [tart of the land having washed away." 
 
 Several old maps, more or less comprehensive of Coney 
 Island, are extant ; the result of careful surveys, by reliable sur- 
 veyors. One of these was made by John Terhune, who was born 
 in 1700 and died in LSl'2. He was a resident of Gravesend, and 
 for many years represented that town as a Supervisor. 
 
 Somewhere about 1800-10, a map of Gravesend, including 
 Coney Island, w T as made by him for a town survey for the State. 
 On this map, the first range of sand-hills parallel with the 
 shore, were located much nearer the beach line than is shown 
 by later surveys. Another map is known as the Jeremiah Wil- 
 liamson map, believed to have been made previous to the 
 Terhune map, somewhere about 1765-70. Upon this is shown 
 the so-called meadow lots of the North, Middle and Ledge bank 
 division, this division having been indicated for and in the 
 interest of the thirty-nine original freeholders of the town. 
 
53 
 
 They were, it is believed, the first recognized owners of this 
 portion of the Island, and some of their heirs and assigns have 
 recently claimed portions of the Island on the basis of this 
 recorded light. On this map is made the following singular 
 and unique memorandum: "This beach has, within tin 1 memory 
 of living men, washed away more than a mile in one night." 
 Other old surveys, the maps of which show parts of Coney 
 Island and Grravesend, were made by Herman Lifford and 
 Roger Strong. There are one 01 two other maps of interest, 
 without date or other means of authentic identification. 
 
 A more recent survey and map was made by the United States 
 Coast Survey in 1835, another in 1855, and in 1M7."> the Engineer of 
 the Park Commission completed a survey with the view to a care- 
 ful comparison with those which preceded it, and which has served 
 as the basis for the subsequent operations of the Commissioners 
 and others in the vicinity. The older inhabitants of Grravesend 
 claim to have observed with great care, the alterations of the 
 contour of the beach and configuration of the Island generally, 
 from time to time. These observations have continued through 
 several years and seem to justify the opinion that an almost 
 orderly system of compensating changes is continually taking 
 place in the shore line. These, are more or less directly 
 due to meteorological phenomena of the spring and fall 
 seasons. The prevalent winds and characteristic storms of 
 these seasons present distinct and well defined phases common 
 to this latitude, only varying in a marked degree when storms 
 of a somewhat eccentric character of long-continued and un- 
 usual severity, act in conjuntion with the high tides. According 
 to our own observations these ' changes possess a marked indi- 
 viduality. A restoration by storms of some portions of the 
 Island that have been altered or obliterated by previous storms 
 is not uncommon, and it is equally true that portions of the 
 Island which have been enlarged at one time by storm and tide 
 lose their accretions from the same cause at another. Recent 
 surveys indicate that Coney Island has gained length by the 
 accumulation of sand, through several seasons. These changes 
 are observed, if not more intelligently, certaintly by a greater 
 number of people than formerly, and they are oftener the sub- 
 ject of newspaper notice. Comparisons of the two latest sur- 
 veys show that additions have been made to the easterly end 
 and considerable losses have occurred at the lower or extreme 
 westerly end. The principal line of sand hills running in a 
 generally easterly and westerly direction, is about 1,600 feet 
 from the beach. A similar but less conspicuous sand formation 
 
54 
 
 making a secondary chain of elevations about 450 feet from the 
 beach ; both of these are now almost obliterated by recent im- 
 provements. However important these changes may have been 
 in the past, there has operated during late years a force, or 
 series of forces, which have with little apparent material alter- 
 ation, counterbalanced the loss and gain of surface, so that 
 whatever more of extent, variety of features and picturesqueness 
 the Island afforded to the sturdy Dutch burgher and his 
 family, 200 years ago, the modern visitor may be congratulated 
 upon enjoying with more certainty those extensive attrac- 
 tions with which the Coney Island of to-day, abounds. 
 
 While the safety of Coney Island has been greatly ensured by the 
 interposition of considerable embankments of tilling, strengthen- 
 ed with structure's of pile and heavy timber along the hotel 
 water fronts, it is by no means improbable, that a phenomenal 
 storm may occur and do great damage to portions of the Island. 
 At certain times of the year, there is a prevalence of violent 
 winds and storms from the northeast and the northwest respect- 
 ively. From winds from the former direction veering toward the 
 south, the most destruction is to be looked for, and the greatest 
 care should be taken to guard against their effects. A north- 
 east to southeast storm often brings in a heavy sea, which, 
 rolling obliquely along the shore, aided by powerful tidal 
 currents, with such force as to warrant the greatest alarm. 
 
 The severe storm of January, LS7H, may be instanced as an 
 example. One of these storms raging with great force, the 
 winds and tides in conjunction, and long continued, would be 
 liable to obliterate the most important improvements on the 
 Island in a few hours. 
 
 Storms from the northwest, while also prevalent, rarely 
 bring in an ocean swell, while the waves they raise fall upon 
 the shore in a line nearly perpendicular to the trend of the 
 coast. The projection of piers into the ocean at points along 
 the face of the Island may ultimately destroy the surf, form 
 bars, and so materially impair the attractions of bathing. 
 
 The parks, the suburban improvements, such as the Ocean 
 Parkway, the Concourse and other works at Coney Island, were 
 projected by the Commissioners with reference to the demands 
 of the future. They foresaw to a large extent what would follow, 
 and their plans, which then looked so formidable, are already 
 recognized as not exceeding the demand for them. They were 
 plans not for a season but for coming years, and this is an ele- 
 ment in all the undertakings of the Commissioners to the con- 
 sideration of which, our citizens have not always given proper 
 
55 
 
 weight. The Commissioners have been compelled oftentimes 
 lor want of proper appropriations, to pursue a very mistaken 
 economy in their judgment, in restricting some of their work 
 to a basis that would soon require repairs and not much later, 
 to be built anew. 
 
 The Coney Island of to-day, with its unequal improvements 
 and its latent possibilities for becoming one of tin 1 most popu- 
 lar seaside resorts in the world, is notably one of those develop- 
 ments which the Commissioners with reason, claim to have 
 outlined and foreshadowed as the natural sequence to the 
 schemes now so intimately connected with the Island itself. 
 Although large investments have been made there, carrying with 
 them magnificent projects calculated to secure popular approval, 
 there is much that is temporary, crude and unsightly. A few 
 nominal and some real owners and lessees, individual and cor- 
 porative, representing the interests of a few more people, are 
 competing with each other and with those who may yet enter 
 upon unoccupied ground, for the pecuniary profits that may 
 result from their various enterprises. As an outgrowth of this, 
 there are already three or four distinct clusters of buildings, each 
 representing a, variety of entertainment for the public, and if 
 the existing condition of things continues without interruption 
 or restriction, it will be but a very short time before the entire 
 Island wilj become a vast and anomalous seaside conglomera- 
 tion of hotels, pavilions and meretricious exhibitions, and shows, 
 presenting a straggling, incongruous and most undesirable ap- 
 pearance, and, in large measure, disappointing if not destroying 
 the public expectations. There are no watering places in Great 
 Britain, or on the continent, which can afford such healthful 
 enjoyment, with such convenience of access to such numbers of 
 people, and it stands almost without a rival in our own country. 
 It is of peculiar and immediate importance to Brooklyn, with 
 her rapidly growing suburbs, which within the coming century 
 may embrace this resort within her limits, that Coney Island 
 should be placed under a wise supervision in order that the 
 people may enjoy equally and cheaply its present and future 
 attractions. 
 
 It is desirable for economic and many other reasons that 
 proper supervision should be secured at the earliest moment. 
 Long leases and absolute ownership, with the improvements 
 that will naturally follow, will a few years hence, if this matter 
 is delayed, seriously embarrass the prosecution of plans for a 
 much wider enjoyment and resource, that could now be accom- 
 plished with economy and to general satisfaction. 
 
56 
 
 The problem continually presents itself how to provide the 
 greatest amount of rational pleasure to the greatest number of 
 people. In fche exercise of their duties the possibilities and 
 suggestions of Coney Island as a present and future resort for 
 rest and recreation of our teeming population, have constantly 
 engaged the attention of the Commissioners. Our people 
 should consider themselves fortunate in controlling so impor- 
 tant an interest, for instance in so fine a beach as comprises the 
 Concourse at the Island, and it remains for them to demand! 
 intelligent and large-minded legislation, commensurate with 
 the importance of a matter so vital to their welfare. The 
 interests centred at the Island are so conflicting and the 
 policy governing their control so narrow and short-sighted, 
 that with the exception of few moneyed corporations owning 
 large areas of land, the development of which is closely allied 
 to enterprises involving a large expenditure of money for other 
 purposes, .it is easy to predict their future, unless proper influ- 
 ences are used to harmonize their management, so far as it may 
 be important to the public interest to do it. Intelligent and 
 disinterested observation can only lead to this conclusion upon 
 one point, viz.: that the chief charm and attractiveness of Coney 
 Island can only be preserved by unrestructed access to its 
 delightful beach, and a view of its shore, without the inter] >o- 
 sition of incongruous and offensive associations such as the 
 huckster, the caterer to low amusements, gambling parapher- 
 nalia and other unsightly and obtrusive enterprises which 
 pander to the tastes of only a few people and are exceedingly 
 objectionable to the majority of visitors. Some of these petty 
 speculators minister to depraved tastes and offer cheap allure- 
 ments of a flashy and questionable character to induce unthink- 
 ing people to spend their money, while others of the better sort 
 are compelled by the existing and often unrestricted condition 
 of things to thrust themselves into competition in order to he 
 where the crowd congregate. This, on portions of the beach, 
 has grown from a slight annoyance to become a positive 
 nuisance, for the present toleration of which no one in partic- 
 ular is to blame, because there is no absolute law to prevent it, 
 or, if there be, no authority to give it force. In similar manner, 
 other abuses have gained a foothold which, with every recur- 
 ring season, are now growing tenfold stronger by royal right 
 of possession. The aggregate of this class of evils necessarily 
 deprives the people at large of a vast amount of that satisfac- 
 tion and pleasure in their visits to the seaside to which they 
 are justly entitled. 
 
57 
 
 Three distinct suggestions impress themselves forcibly upon 
 the Commission as essential, if not vital, to the continued 
 and permanent success of Coney Island as a popular seaside 
 icsi >rt. These are : 
 
 First — To secure the beach against destruction or occupation 
 by greedy owners and lessees, thus insuring to the people its 
 free and unrestricted use. 
 
 Second — To provide a convenient promenade and roadway 
 for vehicles, the number of which will always he sufficient to 
 justify the amplest accommodation in this regard. 
 
 Third — A system of police surveillance under regulations that 
 may he made wholesome and effective. 
 
 Fourth — To secure proper sanitary regulations and to devise 
 such plans for the disposition of refuse of all kinds as will re- 
 move the possibility of serious annoyance or danger to visitors 
 and residents. 
 
 The preservation of the beach and its free use by the public, 
 for healthful recreation is obviously a consideration of the first 
 Importance. The obstructions that now encumber portions of 
 it, the peripatetic venders and the vehicles now driven along 
 with shouts of warning to pedestrians, should all be retired 
 under regulations and provisions that would be alike gratifying 
 to the public and just, to the extent of giving each his equal 
 right and privilege and protection in the same. With a prom- 
 enade under proper restrictions, and for convey ances of all kinds, 
 the public would at once find its pleasure and comfort greatly 
 enhanced. The beach at present is a favorite resort for little 
 children accompanied by parents or servants; there is necessity 
 for constant caution and care to guard them from vehicles and 
 rude pedestrians that are passing from one point to another on 
 the beach, not specially because it is the beach, but because 
 the only alternative, the driving or walking through the soft, 
 dry sand, a little back from the beach, even when no booths are 
 encountered, is intensely wearisome to both man and beast. 
 With a roadway and a sidewalk of the form and general 
 character such as has already been described to the Board of 
 Supervisors by the Commissioners, to be constructed on the 
 line of Surf avenue, the enjoyment and usefulness of the Island 
 would be materially increased. It woidd be valuable not only 
 to the great visiting public but to all who cater to it with what- 
 ever is brought to the Island in wagons — meats, provisions, 
 vegetables, <vc. A roadway of this description should afford 
 
58 
 
 access to important points on the Island, ami would of itself 
 be a bond of common interest to a local community which mall 
 one day be twentyfold what it is now, and for whose welfare a 
 Liberal and intelligent provision should be made. 
 
 The want of svsteinat ic and sufficient police supervision at the 
 Island is already a serious one, and if not provided for in tin; 
 iieai' future will do a negative injury to this resort which it will 
 lie long iii recovering from. One point on tin- Island lias Keen 
 a place of promiscuous resort for thirty years past. At a later 
 period the beach began to be visited at another point, but it 
 was not until quite recently that this resort began to be divested 
 of the ill repute which it had acquired in the earlier years of 
 its history as a place of recreation. 
 
 [1 is now so far redeemed in this respect that assaults and 
 rowdyism are comparatively infrequent, public gambling only 
 occasional and jobbery or larceny of rare occurrence. This 
 result is partly due to the great predominance of a more law 
 abiding class of visitors than formerly, partly to the employ- 
 ment of private policeman at some of the leading hotels, and 
 partly due to the presence of police officials from this city. 
 
 There is neither system, discipline nor moral results of any 
 kind from such service. A long beach where thousands gather by 
 day and by night, a large area of which is unlighted and w hich 
 is unguarded by patrolmen, affords opportunity for a great deal 
 of impropriety and crime, the occurrence of which will, unless 
 checked, give an evil character to this resort and drive from it 
 the class of people w hose continued presence and confidence is 
 a guarantee of its respectable character. 
 
 This is a matter touching the interests not only of the gen- 
 eral public, but of those who have large investments there. An 
 evil reputation is sometimes as insiduous in its growth as a 
 wasting disease, and equally fatal. The remedy is a uniformed 
 and sufficient police service for the entire Island during the 
 summer season, both by day and by night, adapted to its 
 changing exigencies, assigned to duty where people gather in 
 largest numbers, or where, in the judgment of an intelligent 
 executive, they may be most required in the preservation of 
 order and good morals. 
 
 Of co-equal importance with this, if not of greater interest, is 
 early attention to the sanitary requirements of the Island, a 
 code of regulations and a rigid enforcement of them. Hundreds, 
 perhaps thousands go to Coney Island primarily and almost 
 entirely for their health, mere recreation being a secondary 
 consideration. 
 
59 
 
 If tlie good effect of the sea breezes ami pure air is sought 
 for, the Jesuits should correspond with these expectations, and 
 visitors should in some satisfactory degree realize the benefits 
 which they may reasonably hope for, by timely visits to the 
 Island. 
 
 To disturb the mind of the public with doubts upon this 
 subject, and to give rise to possible apprehensions which 
 practically may largely be imaginary, will nevertheless plainly 
 operate to a large extent to the disadvantage of those who look 
 to the visitors for the patronage upon which their support de- 
 pends. Viewed from a higher stand point, this is the least 
 important consideration, but it plainly indicates the direction 
 in which owners and lessees of hotels may best subserve their 
 own by uniting the interests of the people by guarding against 
 any annoyances or danger which may be avoided by the timely 
 use of such means as will probably dispose of the sewage, &c, 
 and render apprehension and complaint unnecessary if not im- 
 possible. To disregard this plain dictate of business foresight, 
 will be to turn every visitor into a detractor and the reputation 
 of the Island, if this neglect should become flagrant, would 
 suffer very severely in consequence. 
 
 The Commissioners having been led to consider this problem, 
 do not regard it as one necessarily difficult of solution, nor as 
 involving large pecuniary outlay, and they have already consid- 
 ered the propriety of securing such aid from the county authori- 
 ties as would enable them to initiate on a part of the Island 
 most favorable for such purposes, a scheme which, if it proves 
 practicable, the results may be further enlarged upon and per- 
 fected by the co-operation of those most distinctly interested. 
 
 So much may be said in regard to the four leading wants of 
 the Island; but something may be added of a general nature 
 which seems pertinent to the subject. It may be said of the 
 existing policy at the Island, or the want of it, that it is of a 
 character too restrictive for people of moderate means. To a 
 large majority of Island visitors who are neither very poor nor 
 very rich, there is the alternative of paying more dearly for the 
 gratification of their appetites and tastes than they can afford 
 to, or of patronizing places which, however respectable, possess 
 distasteful associations and belongings that, if accepted, it is 
 with a mental protest and a sense of dissatisfaction. 
 
 All that affords pleasure to the masses at Coney Island, 
 whether it be sustenance or amusement, should be equally acces- 
 sible and under equally favorable conditions. 
 
 A point that should not be underestimated in considering 
 the improvement of Coney Island, is the importance of securing 
 
 8 
 
60 
 
 at the earliest moment, the necessary legal authority to give 
 sucli shape and character to its interests, so far as they arc of 
 public concern, as will preserve for the common benefit of all, 
 the best uses of this watering place, which at no distant period 
 may become a charming summer seaside city, with Lighted 
 streets and hundreds of cottages, its more public places thronged 
 as now, by thousands of transient visitors, attracted not only 
 li\ the sea itself, but by many other facilities of enjoyment, 
 not the least of winch will be that they are safe, healthful, 
 economical and thoroughly satisfying. 
 
 It would be as impossible as it is unnecessary perhaps to 
 forecast the future of Coney Island and its approaches. 
 
 It seems safe to believe that at no remote period a substan- 
 tially built drive will be completed around the margin of (iraves- 
 
 end Bay, through Bay Ridge and Fort Hamilton, Ac, affording a 
 most delightfully picturesque series of land and water views. 
 The scenery contiguous to ( iravesend Bay, the Na rrows, and the 
 Upper Bay comprises suburbs of the most delightful character. 
 
 The prominent seaside resorts to which the residents of New 
 York, Brooklyn, Jersey City and other cities in this vicinity 
 pay tribute, are Newport, part of the Massachusetts coast and 
 ('ape May. They are reached only by the sacrifice of time, 
 move or less inconvenience by reason of their distance, and a 
 considerable outlay of money. The same criticisms possess an 
 approximate force when made as to Fire Island, Long Branch 
 and some other minor resorts. 
 
 Coney Island possessing all the advantages for which other 
 places of the kind are sought, chief of which are a hue beach 
 and surf, and ample facilities for safe bathing, is even now 
 almost a suburb, in its nearness to the largest and most 
 densely populated area in this country, with capabilities of 
 becoming to two million of people a veritable people's resort, 
 to which access by water, in itself affording an attraction highly 
 prized by thousands, is most convenient, while the extensive 
 railroad facilities connecting with all parts of New York and 
 Brooklyn render little to be desired in this particular. 
 
 All of which is respecfully submitted. 
 
 J. S. T. STRANAHAN, 
 
 President. 
 
 F. G. Quevedo, 
 Jno. Y. Culyer, Secretary. 
 Chief Engineer and Superintendent. 
 
61 
 
 Statement of Receipts and Expenditures on account of the several 
 Parks of the City of Brooklyn during the Year 1874. 
 
 PROSPECT PARK. 
 
 Receipts. 
 
 Balance to credit, January 1, 1874 
 
 Received for water sold 
 
 rents of buildings on the Park. . 
 
 % ' royalty on Carrousel 
 
 •' surveys, maps, &c 
 
 hire of steam rollf-r 
 
 " grass and old material 
 
 " boat license 
 
 " wagons and harness 
 
 " stune, etc., sold 
 
 " Surveyor's instruments 
 
 " milk 
 
 " trees and shrubs 
 
 carriage license 
 
 Received from Franklin avenue improvement. 
 " Park pound 
 
 Total 
 
 Expenditures. 
 
 Paid salaries engineers, «ic 
 
 •' surveyors, draughtsmen and assistants 
 
 " laborers, keepers, horses and carts 
 
 " materials of construction, tools and instruments. 
 
 " stationery, printing, and drawing materials 
 
 " office expenses, rents, and repairs 
 
 " trees, plants, and shrubs 
 
 " insurance 
 
 " legal expeoses 
 
 " manure and other fertilizers 
 
 " horse feed 
 
 " patent pavements 
 
 Balance, January 1, 1875. 
 
 $223 10 
 7,142 (10 
 
 310 53 
 5,794 35 
 1,000 00 
 
 640 41 
 
 500 00 
 1,500 00 
 
 205 00 
 7 50 
 1,156 36 
 80 55 
 46 26 
 6,241 02 
 
 100 85 
 
 $1,882 70 
 5,353 26 
 60,687 52 
 36,951 75 
 1,409 14 
 2,138 30 
 1,066 24 
 333 00 
 678 00 
 184 33 
 357 40 
 812 63 
 
 Total 
 
62 
 
 WASHINGTON PARK. 
 
 Receipts. 
 
 Received from City <>f Brooklyn . 
 
 Expenditures. 
 
 Balance, January 1, 1874 
 
 Paid surveyors and assistants .... 
 
 " drainage pipe . . 
 
 " materials of construction and tools. . . . 
 
 " Scrimshaw and stone pavements 
 
 laborers, mechanics, horses and carts 
 
 " horse feed 
 
 " trees and boxes 
 
 " printing and advertising 
 
 " retaining wall 
 
 Balance, January 1, 1875. 
 Total 
 
 1(1 
 
 1979 K 
 
 152 32 
 
 767 81 
 
 551 59 
 
 026 19 
 
 50 00 
 198 00 
 
 51 00 
 412 20 
 
 $25,000 00 
 
 $2,551 47 
 
 10,188 57 
 
 $21,743 04 
 3,250 96 
 
 $25,000 00 
 
 CITY PABK. 
 
 Receipts. 
 Balance to credit, January 1, 1874 
 
 Expenditures. 
 
 Expended on pavements and walks 
 " '.' labor 
 
 $5,016 75 
 32 90 
 
 s:!.772 52 
 
 $5,049 65 
 
63 
 
 ZINDEL PARK. 
 
 ; . . 
 
 Receipts. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 $4,000 00 
 
 Expenditures. 
 
 
 
 
 
 $84 
 
 16 
 
 
 
 1,514 
 
 13 
 
 
 " wages, laborers, horses and carts 
 
 846 
 
 38 
 
 
 stone coping, &c 
 
 1,048 
 
 95 
 
 
 " stationery 
 
 11 
 
 00 
 
 
 " materials of construction, tools, &C 
 
 323 
 
 07 
 
 
 " trees and shrubs 
 
 7") 
 
 1 1 
 
 
 
 88 
 
 70 
 
 
 
 
 $3,991 50 
 
 Balance 
 
 
 
 8 50 
 
 Total 
 
 
 
 $4,000 00 
 
 
 MAINTENANCE ACCOUNT. 
 
 Received for the maintenance of all the City Parks for 
 
 the year 1874 
 
 Received for the maintenance of Franklin avenue 
 
 Balance . 
 
 Deficiency in maintenance of former years. 
 Expended in maintenance of 1874 
 
 $26,734 86 
 126,708 23 
 
 $125,000 00 
 2,406 80 
 
 $127,406 80 
 26,036 29 
 
 $153 443 09 
 
 $153,443 09 
 
64 
 
 S 
 
 "AV.UMIIVJ 
 
 •tiohhvq 
 
 •KoxnsiHSVjVv 
 
 •loaaaoaj 
 
 — i~ — 
 
 (N tN 
 CD i-l 
 
 CO — I 
 00 » 
 
 J- -1 
 
 -f Ci -+l 
 .-H Cj 00 
 
 x -M 
 OS lO 
 
 tooHO-ixniat-ioo 
 
 t - L- L~ US 00 CO LO CI LO CS O 
 
 ClOHilrttMOCOOOlOS 
 i-l <M T)< 00 i.0 X t- ^TJ ?2 
 
 oo 1.0 i— < oo o< h o o 
 of co of co io" ^ji" oo" co" 
 
 .-H .-H CO i— 1 
 
 S.S 
 
 a- i< o 
 
 PS 
 
 o 
 Eh 
 
65 
 
 PARA.DE GROUND. 
 
 Receipts. 
 
 Balance to credit, January 1, 1874. 
 Amount received from County Treasurer. 
 
 Expenditures. 
 
 Paid keepers 
 
 " mechanics, laborers, horses and carts . 
 
 " materials of construction and supplies. 
 
 " trees and shrubs 
 
 $185 88 
 784 59 
 83 60 
 55 25 
 
 Balance, January 1, 1875 
 
06 
 
 Receipts and Expenditures during the Year 1 875. 
 
 PHOSPKCT PARK. 
 
 Eeceipts. 
 Balance to credit, January 1, 1875 . 
 
 EXPENDITURES. 
 
 Paid salaries, engineers, surveyors and clerks 
 
 " mechanics, laborers, keepers, horses and carts. 
 
 " materials of construction, tools, &c 
 
 " trees and shrubs 
 
 " printing, stationery ana drawing materials. .. . 
 
 S3.523 03 
 17,787 81 
 14.584 12 
 984 20 
 403 22 
 
 MAINTENANCE. 
 
 Receipts. 
 
 Received from City. 
 
 rent of buildings on Park 
 royalty on camera-obscura . 
 " sale of cattle .... 
 
 " tools 
 
 " royalty on Carousal 
 
 Received for milk 
 
 " " boat license. ... 
 
 " " carriage license 
 
 " " water sold 
 
 " " grass and old material. 
 " from Park pound 
 
 Expenditures. 
 
 Balance. January 1, 1875 -. 
 
 Paid supplies, materials of construction and tools . . . 
 " salaries, engineers, surveyors and draughtsman. 
 
 " laborers, keepers, horses and carts 
 
 " printing .... 
 
 " office expenses and rent of office. 
 
 " legal expenses 
 
 " horse feed 
 
 " music 
 
 " stationery, drawing materials, &c 
 
 Total. 
 
 $120,11011 
 
 t,858 mi 
 
 77 65 
 
 438 70 
 
 350 00 
 
 125 00 
 
 516 10 
 
 2,021 7(i 
 
 1,500 00 
 
 500 00 
 
 70 30 
 
 792 88 
 
 30 C J0 
 
 $21,665 
 
 21 
 
 4,434 
 
 51 
 
 96,535 
 
 61 
 
 683 
 
 78 
 
 1,985 
 
 39 
 
 690 
 
 20 
 
 3,527 
 
 SI 
 
 3,900 
 
 00 
 
 1,142 
 
 16 
 
 
 
67 
 
 WASHINGTON PARK. 
 
 Receipts. 
 
 
 
 
 ;><>,-•>'> ;m> 
 
 
 
 5.0U0 00 
 
 
 
 $8,256 96 
 
 EXPENDITC RES. 
 
 
 
 
 $980 42 
 
 
 
 1,086 55 
 
 
 " laborers, keepers, mechanics, horses and carts. .. 
 
 3,372 34 
 
 
 
 5,439 31 
 
 
 
 $2,817 65 
 
 TOMPKINS PARK. 
 
 RlCLIPTS. 
 
 
 
 
 
 $326 48 
 
 Expenditures. 
 
 
 Paid salaries engineers, surveyors and assistants 
 
 $32 39 
 
 
 " materials of construction, tools, &c 
 
 6 20 
 
 
 
 14 26 
 
 
 
 
 52 85 
 
 Tefal 
 
 
 $273 63 
 
 
 
 PARK BOUNDED BY GWINNETT AND MIDDLETON STREETS AND 
 BROADWAY AND THROOP AVENUE. 
 
 Receipts. 
 Balance to credit. January 1, 1875 
 
 Expenditures. 
 
 Paid materials of construction, tools, »v 
 " laborers, horses and carts 
 
 $50 57 
 
 9 
 
68 
 
 MARTYRS' TOMB. 
 
 Rkckipts. 
 
 * 
 
 $552 40 
 $567 40 
 
 ExiVNDITlBES. 
 
 Paid salaries surveyors and assistants 
 
 $f>8 15 
 53 75 
 445 50 
 
 " laborers, mechanics, hones and carts 
 
 CUMBERLAND PARK. 
 
 Extendi tches. 
 
 Balance, January 1, 1875 
 
 Paid laborers 
 
 $117 43 
 1 05 
 
 $118 48 
 
 
 i 
 
 MAINTENANCE PARKWAYS. 
 
 RtCtlPTS. 
 
 
 $5,000 00 
 $8,467 30 
 
 Expenditures. 
 " salaries, engineers and superintendence 
 
 $8,397 69 
 69 61 
 
69 
 
 •SJIVM.HSVJ 
 
 O tH 
 
 C5 CM 
 OJ CO 
 CO CM 
 
 •nvjj xxig 
 
 •zxio 
 
 t— CO 30 
 
 CM — I 
 C~ OJ 
 
 •NOXONIHSV^ 
 
 — "M 
 
 CO 00 
 
 SD 1^ t~ ta M-StDOO 
 
 oo- i-^c~-*t~-oooioocn 
 cc co" ci ci e» a> c- t-T co" 
 
 «■> rH .-I CM M 
 
70 
 
 PARADE GROUND. 
 
 Receipts. 
 
 Balance, January 1, 1875 
 
 Aim mut received from County Treasurer 
 
 $2,583 80 
 2,500 00 
 
 Expenditures. 
 
 Paid keepers aud superintendence $2,022 04 
 
 laborers, mechanics, horses and carts 1,948 60 
 
 supplies, materials of construction and tools .... 594 7;i 
 
 insurance 209 88 
 
 Balance, January 1, 1870 
 
 Receipts and Expenditures during the Year L876. 
 MAINTENANCE OF PARKS. 
 
 Receipts. 
 
 The total receipts for maintaining the Public Parks 
 during the year 1876, were: 
 
 Received from City. . 
 
 Balance, January 1, 1877. 
 
 SI 20, Or 00 
 32.155 80 
 
 Expenditures. 
 
 The total expenditures for maintaining the Public 
 Parks during the year 1876, were: 
 
 Balance, January 1, 1876 
 
 Paid supplies, materials of construction and tools $23,712 30 
 
 salaries engineers, surveyors and draughtsmen 
 
 laborers, keepers, horses and carts 
 
 office expenses and rent of office 
 
 horse feed 
 
 music 
 
 stationery drawing matsriilfi. &i 
 
 Total 
 
 5,082 80 
 85,82 4 55 
 1,614 08 
 3,561 08 
 3,177 50 
 547 39 
 
71 
 
 Total. 
 
 
 o 
 I- 
 
 eo 
 
 CM 
 
 
 $15 47 
 1 29 
 
 CD 
 
 'CO 
 t— I 
 
 •aaciNiz 
 
 • CM ■ © 
 
 ' ■* • IS 
 ■ m • 
 
 CM 
 
 
 OS CD CO 00 C5 
 
 oo o co t- oo 
 
 HHN 1 i - f 
 
 00 LO CO CO 
 
 01 H iji ^1 CO 
 
 00 
 
 o 
 
 CO 
 
 of 
 a? 
 
 ■TIVJJ S.ITQ 
 
 : co 
 
 CO . c- 
 ~n ■ CO 
 
 Oi ■ G5 
 CM 
 
 ♦» • 
 
 oo 
 
 CO 
 
 no 
 t- 
 
 Ol 
 
 00 
 
 
 $159 28 
 263 70 
 723 69 
 
 2,175 68 
 317 72 
 
 o 
 •* 
 
 CO 
 
 co" 
 
 •tiouhvq 
 
 $210 15 
 470 99 
 51 36 
 
 1,177 33 
 316 66 
 
 OS 
 
 CM 
 CM 
 cm" 
 </? 
 
 •NOXONIHSV^ 
 
 xoiora i co -* 
 
 CO LO «C 00 O !>• 
 
 Ci CD CO *t* ~ 
 L^CMCO"* Ol O 
 CO CO O CM CM 
 99 rH CO" 
 
 LO 
 
 to 
 
 CM 
 00 
 
 CO" 
 
 •IDUdSOH.J 
 
 $13,432 95 
 3,000 82 
 
 1G.370 81 
 
 13,928 43 
 7,554 83 
 427 97 
 2,237 01 
 1.173 59 
 
 34 690 25 
 3,177 50 
 
 12 149 85 
 
 r-i 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 to 
 
 oo" 
 o 
 
 m 
 
 o 
 
 Ph 
 
 d a - 
 
 ' Sh 32 C <d ~- 
 
72 
 
 MAINTENANCE OF PARKWAYS. 
 
 EXPENDITURES. 
 
 Balance, January 1, 1870 
 
 Paid laborers, horses and carts 
 
 " trees 
 
 " materials of construction, &c... 
 " engineers and superintendence. 
 
 Receipts. 
 
 Received from City of Brooklyn 
 Balance 
 
 $3,467 30 
 4,802 03 
 422 00 
 534 6) 
 579 70 
 
 $9,865 68 
 
 8,000 00 
 
 $1,805 08 
 
 WASHINGTON PARK. 
 
 The total Receipts and Expenditures during the year 1870, were : 
 
 Receipts 
 
 Balance to credit, January 1, 1876 
 Received from C ity of Brooklyn 
 
 $2,817 65 
 0,000 00 
 
 ExPENDITUItES. 
 
 Paid for iron gates 
 
 " granite steps and platforms. 
 
 Balance, January 1, 1877 
 
 S3, 150 00 
 5,436 50 
 
 $8,817 65 
 
 8,586 50 
 $231 15 
 
73 
 
 TOMPKINS PARK. 
 
 Expenditures. 
 
 Paid surveyors ami assistants 
 
 " trees, shrubs anil plants and flag-staff 
 " laborers, horses and carts. 
 
 Receipts. 
 Balance to credit, -January 1, 187(5 
 Total 
 
 $96 55 
 
 PARADE GROUND. 
 
 RECEIPTS. 
 
 Balance, January 1, 1876 
 
 Amount received from County Treasurer, 
 
 2,5(10 00 
 
 ExPENlUTUHES. 
 
 Paid laborers, mechanics, horses and carts SI, 076 76 
 
 " keepers and superintendence 1,761 67 
 
 " supplies, materials of construction and tools 20: S ::s 
 
 Balance January 1, 1877 
 
74 
 
 Receipts and Expenditures during the T*ear 1 S 7 7 . 
 MAINTENANCE OF PARKS. 
 
 Receipts. 
 
 The total receipts on account of maintaining the public 
 parks during the year 1877, were: 
 
 Received from City 
 
 •' for deficiency of 1872 and 1875 
 
 Am ont of accounts certified to Auditor 
 
 He -l ived for rent of building on Prospect Park 
 
 " carriage license 
 
 " milk sold 
 
 " boat license 
 
 ' ' royalty on Carrousel 
 
 " " eamera-obscura 
 
 old material sold. . 
 
 " water 
 
 • ' trees .... 
 
 " cattle 
 
 " Park pond 
 
 " revenue of 1876 
 
 Balance, January 1, 1878. 
 
 Expenditures. 
 
 The total amount of expenditures on account of main- 
 taining the public parks during the year 1877, were: 
 Halance, January 1, 1877 
 
 Paid salaries engineers, surveyors and draughtsmen . . . 
 " laborers, keepers, mechanics, horses and carts . . 
 
 " supplies, materials of construction, tools. &c 
 
 " office expenses, rent of office and insurance 
 
 " stationery, drawing materials and printing. 
 
 " patent pavement 
 
 " horse feed 
 
 music 
 
 trees, shrubs and plants. 
 
 Paid City Treasurer. 
 
 $00.01 10 
 
 (Ml 
 
 35,600 
 
 00 
 
 66,134 
 
 83 
 
 5,427 
 
 oo 
 
 500 
 
 mi 
 
 500 
 
 00 
 
 1,0(10 
 
 (III 
 
 424 
 
 48 
 
 51 
 
 
 426 
 
 37 
 
 88 
 
 10 
 
 7 
 
 mi 
 
 5 
 
 mi 
 
 3 
 
 0(1 
 
 3,271 
 
 11 
 
 SI 73, 438 16 
 03C 40 
 
 $174,074 56 
 
 $9,233 
 
 in 
 
 94,054 
 
 49 
 
 29,9:59 
 1,310 
 
 57 
 19 
 
 1,609 
 
 94 
 
 339 
 
 05 
 
 1.030 
 
 15 
 
 2,875 
 
 mi 
 
 383 
 
 20 
 
 $32,155 80 
 
 $140,775 61 
 1,143 15. 
 
 $174,074 56 
 
75 
 
 WASHINGTON PARK. 
 
 Receipts. 
 
 Cash balance, January 1, 1S77 
 
 Amount of accounts certified tc^ Auditor 
 
 Expenditures. 
 
 Paid laborers, horses and carts 
 
 " granite steps and platforms, and freight on same 
 
 " salaries, engineering and superintendence 
 
 " psitent pavement 
 
 $231 15 
 4,897 95 
 
 $1,184 08 
 3.4(1-2 00 
 241 33 
 299 69 
 
 MAINTENANCE OF EASTERN PARKWAY. 
 
 Ri OEirTs. 
 
 Amount of accounts certified to Auditoi 
 Balance January 1, 1S7S 
 
 EXPENDITURES. 
 
 Paid laborers, horses and carts 
 
 " engineering and superintendence 
 
 " supplies 
 
 " trees 
 
 MAINTENANCE OF OCEAN PARKWAY. 
 
 Receipts 
 
 Received from City 
 
 Balance, January 1, 1878 
 
 Expenditures. 
 
 Paid laborers, horses and carts 
 
 '• engineering and superintendence 
 
 " supplies, printing, materials of construction, Ac 
 
 " keepers 
 
 " tools 
 
 $7,( on 00 
 1,75!) 64 
 
 S3, 298 30 
 663 65 
 2,366 97 
 1,530 7-2 
 900 00 
 
 10 
 
76 
 
 SKATING SHELTER. 
 
 Receipts. 
 
 Received from City. 
 
 Expenditures. 
 
 Paid laborers and mechanics 
 
 " lumber, materials of construction, tools, &c 
 " engineering anil superintendence 
 
 $2,786 22 
 7,811 25 
 375 00 
 
 *10.'.»7o 47 
 
 SH>,!>75 47 
 
 WILLINK ENTRANCE. 
 
 Receipts. 
 
 Received from City Treasurer 
 
 Balance, January 1, 1878 
 
 Expenditures. 
 
 Paid laborers, horses and carts 
 
 " supplies, materials of construction and tools 
 
 " engineering and superintendence 
 
 " drainage pipe 
 
 " pavement 
 
 1 1,225 50 
 1,445 19 
 250 00 
 178 10 
 2,821 76 
 
 £5,920 55 
 
 $5,920 55 
 
77 
 
 PARADE GROUND. 
 
 Receipts. 
 
 Amount received from County Treasurer. 
 
 Expenditures. 
 
 Balance January 1, 1877 
 
 Paid laborers, mechanics, horses and carts.. 
 
 " keepers and superintendence 
 
 " supplies and materials of construction. 
 " insurance 
 
 Balance January 1, 1878 
 
 $383 20 
 1,421 71 
 820 74 
 337 10 
 G8 00 
 
 $2,500 00 
 
 3,030 75 
 $530 75 
 
 MAINTENANCE OF CONCOURSE AT CONEY ISLAND. 
 
 Receipts. 
 
 Amount received from County Treasurer 
 Expenditures. 
 
 Paid keepers and superintendence 
 
 " laborers, mechanics, horses and carts 
 
 " sup, lies, materials of construction and tools. 
 " trees 
 
 Balance January 1, 1878. 
 
 S781 10 
 1,122 95 
 218 18 
 62 10 
 
 $2,000 00 
 
 2,184 33 
 $184 33 
 
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79 
 
 Maintenance of Prospect, Washington, Carroll, City, City Hall 
 and Tompkins Parks, for the Year 1878. 
 
 Unexpended balance of 1877 
 
 Amount appropriated by Common Com oil of city for 
 
 I year 1878 
 
 Appropriated by Common Council for deficiency of 
 
 1876 
 
 Appropriation by resolution of Common Council of 
 
 December, 1877 
 
 From Park Revenue Fund 
 
 Items of expense certified to Auditor on account of 
 Maintenance of the Public Parks of the city : 
 
 For pay-rolls of laborers, mechanics, hor-.es and carts 
 
 " keepers 
 
 employes, Superintendent, Secretary, 
 
 and clerks 
 
 For bills of supplies, feed, lumber, <fcc 
 
 " stationery, drawing mat rials, printing, 
 and books 
 
 Unexpended balance 
 
 $8 32 
 
 100,000 00 
 
 3,517 70 
 
 1,500 00 
 9,295 42 
 
 sir. 808 57 
 27,528 29 
 
 7,183 25 
 31,482 76 
 
 1,010 39 
 
 MAINTAIN ANCE OF EASTERN PARKWAY. 
 
 Amount appropriated by Common Council for the year 
 
 1878 
 
 Unexpended balance of appropriation of 1877 
 
 Items of expense certified to Auditor for above object: 
 
 For pay-roll of laborers, keepers, &c 
 
 " employes and superintendence 
 
 Bills for trees 
 
 " supplies and materials 
 
 Unexpended balance 
 
 $4,000 00 
 17 
 
 §3,371 85 
 447 50 
 132 00 
 48 32 
 
 $4 000 17 
 
 $3,999 67 
 50 
 
 $4,000 17 
 
80 
 
 MAINTENANCE OF OCEAN PARKWAY. 
 
 Amount appropriated by Common Council of the City 
 for year 1878 
 
 Transferred by Common Council from Park Revenue 
 Fund 
 
 Items of expense certified to Auditor for above object :- 
 
 For pay-rolls of laborers, horses and carts 
 
 For pay-rolls of employers and superintendence. 
 
 water 
 
 trees 
 
 horses 
 
 wagons 
 
 road scraper 
 
 water carts 
 
 " supplies and materials 
 
 Unexpended balance . 
 Total 
 
 $10,000 00 
 000 OH 
 
 $r,.:wi 07 
 
 81)4 80 
 
 287 77 
 
 143 (10 
 
 350 00 
 
 .-,1111 (Ml 
 
 HO (1(1 
 
 900 00 
 
 1,355 34 
 
 $10,900 (io 
 
 $10,892 64 
 7 36 
 
 $10, 900 00 
 
 WASHINGTON PARK. BUIL1 >ING BATTERY WALL 
 
 Amount appropriated by the Common Council for 
 
 Washington Park, for year 1878 
 
 Unexpended balance of appropriation of 1877 
 
 Items of cost certified to Auditor for above object : 
 
 For pay-rolls of employes, surveys and superintendence. 
 
 " " laborers 
 
 bills for tree boxes 
 
 '• " bricks, cement, supplies 
 
 Bodwell Granite Company, granite 
 
 John H. O'Rourkc, contract 
 
 Unexpended balance . 
 Total 
 
 $7,000 00 
 2,102 05 
 
 S42!) 67 
 568 61 
 20ii 00 
 117 00 
 5,0!*5 90 
 2,690 00 
 
 $0 102 05 
 
 $9,101 18 
 87 
 
 $9,102 05 
 
81 
 
 WASHINGTON PARK FLAGGING. 
 
 Amount appropriated by Common Council for flagging 
 aud regulating sidewalks of Washington Park 
 
 Items of cost certified to Auditor for above object: 
 
 For pay-rolls of laborers, horses and carts. . . . 
 " superintendence, inspection and surveys. 
 
 " supplies/bricks and cement 
 
 " drain pipe ... 
 
 " Peter Lynan, contract 
 
 Amount of appropriai ion unexpended 
 Total 
 
 $827 i)7 
 285 00 
 142 05 
 8 10 
 
 2,734 26 
 
 ERECTION OF PICNIC SHELTER ON PROSPECT PARK. 
 
 Unexpended balance of appropriation of 1877, applica- 
 ble to Picnic Shelter 
 
 Appropriation of 1878 
 
 Items of cost certified to Auditor for above object : 
 
 For labor 
 
 " superintendence 
 
 " E. Snedeker, contract. 
 
 " E. Snedeker. 
 
 " patent pavements 
 
 " lumber 
 
 " drain pipe 
 
 " supplies 
 
 " har ware 
 
 Unexpended "balance. 
 Total 
 
 $7,021 53 
 2,892 01 
 
 SI, 720 78 
 495 27 
 5,550 00 
 100 00 
 1,083 78 
 58 39 
 339 44 
 532 90 
 27 99 
 
82 
 
 ERECTION OF SHELTER AND REPAIRS OF FENCE OF TOMPKINS 
 
 PARK. 
 
 Amount appropriated by Common Council for year 1878. 
 
 Amounts certified to Auditor being in full of expendi- 
 ture for Baid improvement: 
 
 For superintendence and inspection 
 
 " pay-roll of laborers and employ i s 
 
 " Elbert Snedeker, contract for shelter. . . 
 " Miller & W illiamson, contract for fence 
 
 " patent pavement 
 
 " supplies and material 
 
 Unexpended balance 
 Total 
 
 $3,000 00 
 
 $'27.5 7") 
 22!) 8!) 
 1,870 00 
 499 00 
 08 53 
 53 26 
 
 Amount appropriated by Common Council of the City 
 for 1*78, to | ay amounts expended on the erection of 
 Green House and ( 'arronscl. soiling and planting north 
 side of Ocean Hill, and additional appropriations for 
 Skating and Picnic Shelter in Prospect Park 
 
 Amount certified to Auditor for cost of Green House: 
 
 Pay-rolls of laborers and superintendence 
 
 Rills for supplies and materials of construction. . 
 
 Amount certified to Auditor for cost of Carrousel: 
 
 Pay-rolls of laborers and superintendence 
 
 Bills for supplies and materials of construction. . . 
 
 Amount certified to Auditor for cost of Ocean Hill Im- 
 provement: 
 
 Laborers, horses and carts 
 
 Amount certified to Auditor for additional cost of 
 Skating Shelter: 
 
 Pay-rolls for laborers, horses and carts 
 
 Balance credited to account of additional appropriation 
 for Picnic Shelter 
 
 $2,611 oo 
 
 5,6'JG 41 
 
 3,968 07 
 1,961 56 
 
 2,316 9a 
 
 554 00 
 2,892 01 
 
83 
 
 PARK REVENUE. 
 
 Receipts. 
 
 Amount received from rents 
 
 " royalty on Carrousel 
 
 " carriage license ' 
 
 boat ' " 
 
 " Ariel Kink 
 
 milk 
 
 " sale of cattle 
 
 " " sheep . 
 
 " " old material 
 
 " i "■ " derrick 
 
 " " " castings 
 
 " tree boxes 
 
 " " water 
 
 " goldfish 
 
 •' use of steam roller 
 
 " care of runaway horses and 
 broken carriages 
 
 |878. 
 
 Feb. 2, amount paid City Treasurer 
 
 Mch. 8, " " 
 
 April 11, " " 
 
 May 28, 
 
 fjuly 2, " " 
 
 " 13, " " 
 
 Sept. 12, " " 
 
 Dec. 12, " " 
 
 !•« 31, " " 
 
 >i. 020 mi 
 
 363 27 
 
 500 oo 
 
 500 00 
 
 07 :il 
 
 305 05 
 
 70 oo 
 
 120 67 
 
 2:t:S 14 
 
 150 00 
 
 Oti 30 
 
 12 00 
 
 3,854 46 
 
 9 72 
 
 75 00 
 
 58 00 
 
 $2,350 
 
 05 
 
 216 
 
 ;;o 
 
 50 
 
 on 
 
 73 
 
 30 
 
 178 
 
 50 
 
 114 
 
 50 
 
 1,367 
 
 84 
 
 6,085 
 
 73 
 
 575 
 
 30 
 
 CONCERT FUND. 
 
 Amount subscribed by the several railroad companies, 
 and paid iu the City T reasury 
 
 Transferred by Common Council from Park Revenue 
 Fund 
 
 Amount certified to Auditor for sixteen concerts given 
 by Deverell's Thirteentb Regiment Band, Prospect 
 Park 
 
 $1,100 00 
 816 00 
 
 $1,016 00 
 
 $1,916 00 
 
 $1,916 00 
 
 11 
 
84 
 
 KINGS COUNTY PARADE GROUND. 
 
 Amount appropriated by Supervisors of Kings County 
 for care and maintenance of Parade Ground 
 
 Amount expended during year 1878 for above object : 
 
 Balance January 1, 1878 
 
 For wages of keepers, laborers and mowers. 
 " wages, salaries and superintendence . . . 
 " supplies, lumber, tools, Ac 
 
 Balance January 1, 1879. 
 
 $530 75 
 2,031 14 
 255 50 
 21)3 67 
 
 $2,500 00 
 
 $3,111 0G 
 (ill 06 
 
 $2,500 00 
 
 CONCOURSE AT CONEY ISLAND. 
 
 Amount appropriated by Board of Supervisors of Kings 
 county for care and maintain ance of Coney Island 
 Concourse 
 
 Amount expended during the year 1878 for above 
 object: 
 
 Balance, January 1, 1878 
 
 For laborers and keepers .... 
 
 " salaries and superintendence 
 
 " repairs to Scrimshaw pavement (damage by storms) 
 " lighting with gas 
 
 Balance, January 1, 1879. 
 
 SI 84 33 
 894 41 
 
 94 00 
 2,210 17 
 
 41 78 
 
 $2,500 00 
 
 $3,424 G9 
 
 S924 69 
 
85 
 
 
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 390 
 
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 Financial Statement jar the Year 1879. 
 MAINTENANCE OF PUBLIC PARKS. 
 
 Unexpended balance of 1N78 
 
 Amount appropriated by the Common Council of the 
 
 city, for the year 1870 
 
 Amount derived from Park Revenue 
 
 Items of Expense certified to Auditor on account of 
 Maintenance of Public Parks of the City : 
 
 For pay-mils of laborers, mechanics, horses and carts . 
 
 " pay-rolls of keepers 
 
 " hills of supplies, feed, lumber, Arc 
 
 " bills of stationery, drawing materials, printing and 
 
 books 
 
 Balance unexpended January 1, 1880. 
 Total 
 
 $308 18 
 
 75 000 00 
 9,211 96 
 
 $39,75(1 70 
 31,1 1 8 00 
 12,740 45 
 
 858 70 
 
 $84,520 14 
 
 $84,513 00 
 7 14 
 
 S84.520 14 
 
 MAINTENANCE OF EASTERN PARKWAY. 
 
 Amount appropriated by the Common Council for the 
 year 1879 
 
 Items of expense certified to Auditor for above object: 
 
 For pay-rolls of laborers, keepers, horses and carts. . . 
 " bills for supplies 
 
 Balance unexpended January 1, 1880. 
 Total 
 
 $4,974 00 
 20 00 
 
 $5,000 00 
 
 $4,994 00 
 6 00 
 
 $5,(100 00 
 
87 
 
 MAINTENANCE OF OCEAN PARKWAY. 
 
 Amount appropriated by Common Council for the year 
 1879 
 
 Items of expense certified to Auditor for above ob 
 ject : 
 
 For pay-rolls of laborers and teams . 
 
 " trees 
 
 " lumber 
 
 " transportation 
 
 " bydr nts 
 
 " supplies and materials 
 
 Balance unexpended January 1, 1880. 
 
 Total 
 
 $9,431 85 
 K'2 80 
 68 30 
 150 00 
 124 00 
 11! I 05 
 
 BEDFORD AVENUE REPAIRS AND CLEANING. 
 
 Amount appropriated by Common Council of the city 
 for the year 1879 
 
 Items of expense certified to Auditor for above ob- 
 ject : 
 
 For pay- rolls of laborers, keepers, horses and carts ... 
 
 " repairs to tar pavement 
 
 " printing 
 
 Unexpended balance, January 1, 1880. 
 
 8475 54 
 3,514 36 
 9 00 
 
 $4,000 00 
 
 $3,998 90 
 1 10 
 
 $4,000 00 
 
 SALARIES— OFFICES OF PARKS. 
 
 Amount appropriated by Common Council of the city 
 for the year 1879 
 
 Items of expense certified to Auditor for above ob- 
 ject : 
 
 For pay-rolls of officers and employes 
 
 Unexpended balance, January 1, 1880. 
 
 $8,500 00 
 
 $8,500 00 
 
88 
 
 MUSIC — PROSPECT PABK. 
 
 Amount appropriated by Common Council of the City for the 
 
 year 1879 $1,500 
 
 Items of expense certified to Auditor for above object : 
 For twelve concerts given by Conterno's Band on Prospect Park. . . . $1,500 00 
 
 REVENUE DERIVED FROM THE PUBLIC PARKS OF THE CITY OF 
 BROOKLYN AND PAID INTO THE CITY TREASURY. 
 
 From rents $4,069 03 
 
 " boats l,0i 00 
 
 " carriage license. . . 375 00 
 
 '• water 3,257 95 
 
 " sale of old material 85 15 
 
 " sale of cattle 96 00 
 
 " Camera-obscura 18 65 
 
 " Carrousel 241 04 
 
 " Ariel Rink 52 14 
 
 " care of broken wagons 17 00 
 
 $9,211 96 
 
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 The following tabular statement contains various statistics per- 
 taining to the parks and other works under the control of the 
 Park Commissioners, or refer to works brought to completion 
 under their direction : 
 
 An a of I'roapect Park proper, exclusive of the east siile lands . . 
 
 Area of Parade Ground 
 
 Area of the east side lands, exclusive of reservoir and grounds. . . 
 
 Area of reservoir an,d grounds 
 
 Atea of meadows finished 
 
 Area of woodlands 
 
 Area of water surface 
 
 Area of concourses, drives, bridle roads and walks 
 
 Area of surfaces unfinished 
 
 Length of drives finished 
 
 Length of bridle roads finished 
 
 Length of walks finished 
 
 Length of drainage pipe laid 
 
 Length of tile pipe laid 
 
 Length of water pipe laid 
 
 Masonry built I .... 22,894 
 
 Bituminous concrete laid 940,738 
 
 Material moved 3.281,0h2 
 
 Washington Park— area 
 
 Length of walks 
 
 City Park area 
 
 Length of walks 
 
 Carroll Park— area 
 
 Length of walks 
 
 Tompkins Park — area 
 
 Length of walks 
 
 Citv Hall Park— area 
 
 Zindel Park- -area 
 
 505A acres. 
 
 ' I Oil 
 
 i:$0 
 
 '"hi 
 
 63 h " 
 61 ■<„ 
 
 Ip " 
 
 66$, " 
 
 5fih miles. 
 
 3 '■> " 
 
 111 !I7 << 
 ,V I (l() 
 
 1 I Oil 
 
 culnc yards, 
 square feet. 
 
 cubic yards. 
 30 jl 
 
 ' I DO 
 
 acres, 
 miles. 
 
 I 'Ml 
 ] llll 
 
 1 llll 
 7 7 "- 
 
 STATEMENT showing ((mounts of material on various works ex- 
 terior to the Parks, hy the Brooklyn, Park Commissioners. 
 
 Name or Designation of Work. 
 
 East-side lands 
 
 Eastern Parkway 
 
 Washington avenue 
 
 Underbill avenue 
 
 Park place 
 
 Butler street 
 
 Douglass street 
 
 Degraw street ... 
 
 Ocean avenue 
 
 Franklin avenue 
 
 Coney Island avenue 
 
 Fifteenth street 
 
 Ocean Parkway 
 
 Concourse, Coney Island 
 
 Cubic Yards. 
 
 220,134 
 
 786,897 
 73,150 
 50,000 
 '.1.000 
 23,000 
 
 217.184 
 01.020 
 35.350 
 11,075 
 3 250 
 13.510 
 
 971.200 
 00,200 
 
101 
 
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 Statistics of Keeper Force. 
 
 Captain 1 
 
 Sergeants 3 
 
 Keeper — average number from 1S74 to 1879, inclusive. ... 43 
 
 Appointed — from 1874- to 1879, inclusive 16 
 
 Resignations- — from 1874 to 1879, inclusive 5 
 
 Discharges for discipline — from 1874 to 1879, inclusive... II 
 
 Suspensions for discipline — from 1874 to 1879, inclusive. . %% 
 
 1874 — Daily average, 42. Per centage, 95. 
 
 1875— « ' " 37. " 86£. 
 
 1876— " ' l 38. " 92§. 
 
 1 877— " 35. " 86. 
 
 1878— " " 32. " 76. 
 
 1879— " " 31. " 77A. 
 
 Arrests. 
 
 For fast driving, disorderly conduct, interfering with officers, 
 &c— from 1874 to 1879, inclusive 421 
 
 Ejected from the Parks for minor transgressions of the ordi- 
 nances — from 1874 to 1879, inclusive 37 
 
 Sheltered for the night — from 1874 to 1879, inclusive 143 
 
 Lost children — cared for and returned to their parents, from 
 1874 to 1879, inclusive 86 
 
 Accidents — carriages, sleighs, &c, from 1874 to 1879, in- 
 elusive 551 
 
 Drowning — from 1874 to 1879, inclusive?* 2 
 
 Suicides — from 1874 to 1879, inclusive 7 
 
L03 
 
 Return of Visitors for 1874. 
 
 Month-'. 
 
 January 
 
 February 
 
 March 
 
 April 
 
 May 
 
 •Tune 
 
 July 
 
 August 
 
 September 
 
 October 
 
 November 
 
 December 
 
 Totals 
 
 ( ' LRBIAGES. 
 
 Esqoes- 
 
 Pedes- 
 
 TRIANS. 
 
 trians. 
 
 236,271 
 
 3,147 
 
 87,179 
 
 124.392 
 
 3,343 
 
 89,946 
 
 238,203 
 
 3,375 
 
 69,470 
 
 290,010 
 
 3 897 
 
 68,796 
 
 361,182 
 
 4,827 
 
 177. t28 
 
 304,236 
 
 4,039 
 
 165,101 
 
 368,394 
 
 3,390 
 
 1 S3, 080 
 
 369,681 
 
 4,086 
 
 L99.520 
 
 331,200 
 
 4,225 
 
 162 941 
 
 395,463 
 
 4,923 
 
 143 993 
 
 325, 1)71 
 
 4,666 
 
 81,747 
 
 171,693 
 
 2,584 
 
 29,004 
 
 3,526,326 
 
 46,502 
 
 1,458,205 
 
 Sleighs. 
 
 83.2 1 7 
 121,581 
 
 34,494 
 239,292 
 
 Return of Visitors for 1S75. 
 
 Months 
 
 January. . 
 February . . 
 March 
 April 
 
 May 
 
 June 
 
 July 
 
 August. . . . 
 September . 
 October. . . . 
 Nove iiber. 
 I (ecember. . 
 
 Totals. 
 
 Carriages. 
 
 64. 
 
 62. 
 
 94, 
 213 
 369, 
 423, 
 427. 
 398 
 106, 
 393 
 25s 
 198, 
 
 107 
 
 556 
 092 
 900 
 114 
 207 
 
 no 
 
 016 
 251 
 174 
 243 
 843 
 
 3,309,285 
 
 Eques- 
 trians. 
 
 1,071 
 
 738 
 
 1 436 
 3,159 
 5.490 
 5,025 
 4,145 
 3,878 
 3,949 
 4,805 
 3.255 
 
 2 463 
 
 40,020 
 
 Pedes- 
 trians. 
 
 134 
 81 
 25. 
 44, 
 171, 
 '220, 
 251, 
 221, 
 10S 
 162, 
 61, 
 31, 
 
 293 
 936 
 051 
 691 
 230 
 352 
 083 
 432 
 495 
 646 
 143 
 614 
 
 Sleighs. 
 
 227,748 
 : VI. 157 
 65,211 
 
 1,579,972 
 
 3.25, 110 
 
 / 
 
1(>4 
 
 Return of Visitors for 1870. 
 
 Months. 
 
 January . . 
 February. . 
 
 March 
 
 April 
 
 May 
 
 June 
 
 July 
 
 August .... 
 September. 
 October 
 
 November 
 December . 
 
 Totals. 
 
 Cabriages. 
 
 227, lis 
 155,106 
 120.870 
 197,868 
 :sns..si I 
 312,576 
 300.555 
 298,503 
 
 228.270 
 294,098 
 200,082 
 102,207 
 
 2.75:!, 022 
 
 TBIAN8. 
 
 2,430 
 
 1. s.v; 
 1,944 
 3,193 
 .5,240 
 4,693 
 
 2. :! is 
 2,690 
 2. 1 .V.I 
 3,210 
 2,520 
 1,330 
 
 33,034 
 
 Pedes- 
 trians. 
 
 10,869 
 33,529 
 19,034 
 40 273 
 130,553 
 130,341 
 137.323 
 1 17.511 
 86,398 
 99,656 
 37,078 
 84,54!! 
 
 993,147 
 
 Si [.Kills. 
 
 53,598 
 
 180 
 
 123,750 
 I77.SIO 
 
 Total. 
 
 270.723 
 21 1,080 
 l 12.331 
 211 334 
 450,013 
 447,010 
 
 iio.22i; 
 
 448,797 
 310 827 
 396,961 
 240,280 
 311,812 
 
 3,957,643 
 
 Return of Visitors for 1877. 
 
 Months. 
 
 January . . 
 February . . 
 March 
 
 April 
 
 May 
 
 June 
 
 July 
 
 August. . . . 
 September 
 October . . . 
 November 
 December . 
 
 Totals 
 
 Carriages. 
 
 41,519 
 133.185 
 159,348 
 2i2.:;o7 
 336,028 
 390,039 
 325,589 
 297,009 
 318,5s] 
 272,247 
 187,803 
 194,230 
 
 2,867,885 
 
 Equi s- 
 
 TBJ INS. 
 
 343 
 1,084 
 1,404 
 2.414 
 3,001 
 2,969 
 2.170 
 1,743 
 2,394 
 2,.i46 
 2.070 
 2,508 
 
 25,258 
 
 Pedes- 
 trians. 
 
 70. 
 48 
 27 
 67, 
 158. 
 188. 
 230, 
 163, 
 140 
 86, 
 36, 
 34, 
 
 020 
 902 
 277 
 924 
 931 
 139 
 
 Sleighs. 
 
 179,1 85 
 
 108 
 
 208 . 
 934 
 711 . 
 959 . 
 
 712 
 804 
 
 1,200,582 179,193 4,332,918 
 
105 
 
 Return of Visitors for 187S. 
 
 Months. 
 
 Cariuac;es. 
 
 r. QUES- 
 
 1 KDES- 
 
 Sleighs. 
 
 Total. 
 
 
 TMAN'S. 
 
 TRIANS. 
 
 
 
 1 , SI o 
 
 
 i •> 
 
 
 
 104,100 
 
 1,238 
 
 22,342 
 
 24,110 
 
 151,790 
 
 March 
 
 178,572 
 
 2,492 
 
 43,137 
 
 
 221.2H1 
 
 April 
 
 234,120 
 
 3,049 
 
 77,060 
 
 
 314,229 
 
 May 
 
 282.924 
 
 3,199 
 
 111,499 
 
 
 397,622 
 
 
 276,678 
 
 3 271 
 
 149,033 
 
 
 428,982 
 
 July 
 
 331.182 
 
 2,917 
 
 228,116 
 
 
 562,215 
 
 August. 
 
 292,458 
 
 3,055 
 
 131,496 
 
 
 427,009 
 
 
 281,7(KI 
 
 2,864 
 
 123,739 
 
 
 408,3(13 
 
 October 
 
 291,210 
 
 3,587 
 
 96,809 
 
 
 391,606 
 
 November 
 
 221,588 
 
 3,342 
 
 15.703 
 
 
 270, G33 
 
 December 
 
 128,067 
 
 1,271 
 
 (If,, 094 
 
 
 196,932 
 
 
 2,787,224 
 
 33,003 
 
 1,129,518 
 
 24,122 
 
 3,973,867 
 
 I!, turn of Visitors for 1879. 
 
 Months. 
 
 January 
 
 February 
 
 March 
 
 April 
 
 May 
 
 June 
 
 July 
 
 August 
 
 September 
 
 October 
 
 November 
 
 December 
 
 Totals 
 
 Carriages. 
 
 Eques- 
 
 Pedes- 
 
 Sleighs. 
 
 Total. 
 
 tri>ns. 
 
 trians. 
 
 
 
 55,070 
 
 769 
 
 112,720 
 
 37,822 
 
 200,381 
 
 (12,598 
 
 968 
 
 08,142 
 
 1 1,(123 
 
 146,331 
 
 178.635 
 
 2,358 
 
 50,805 
 
 
 231,798 
 
 211, (147 
 
 2,849 
 
 62,313 
 
 
 300,809 
 
 327,180 
 
 5,349 
 
 156.945 
 
 
 489,474 
 
 314,516 
 
 4,279 
 
 149,999 
 
 
 408,794 
 
 396,327 
 
 4,068 
 
 226,703 
 
 
 027,158 
 
 274,422 
 
 2,925 
 
 150 688 
 
 
 431.035 
 
 262,071 
 
 3,693 
 
 97,153 
 
 
 302,917 
 
 274.K17 
 
 4,046 
 
 91,969 
 
 
 370,182 
 
 228,886 
 
 3,295 
 
 5 '1,509 
 
 
 288,690 
 
 129,293 
 
 1,893 
 
 23 966 
 
 2,550 
 
 157,702 
 
 2,744,812 
 
 36 492 
 
 1,253,972 
 
 54,995 
 
 4,090,271 
 
 Picnics — From 1874 to 1879, inclusive 1,854 
 
 Base ball games — From 1874 to 1879, inclusive 9,776 
 
 Polo— 1^,79 18 
 
 Parades — Divisions, Brigades, Regiments, &c., from 1871 
 
 tu 1S79, inclusive . 48 
 
 Concerts — From 1874 to 1879, inclusive 103 
 
 Skating— From 1874 to 1879, inclusive 206 
 
 Impounded animals — From 1874 to 1879, inclusive 81 
 
L06 
 
 Statement showing the Donations of Animals, Fowls, <Jsc, 
 f rom the several named parties during the yeans nolo/. 
 
 NllMBEU AND 
 
 Description. 
 
 2 deer 
 
 1 deer 
 
 1 Egyptian gander. 
 
 1 deer 
 
 1 deer 
 
 1 deer 
 
 2 Aurora rabbits. . 
 
 2 brook trout 
 
 1 a t<:iupe 
 
 1 bull alf 
 
 1 Muscovy duck. 
 
 1 Calcutta lamb . 
 
 2 peafowls 
 
 1 deer 
 
 1 alligator 
 
 Name or Donoh. 
 
 A. Forman 
 
 L. ('. Benedict. 
 Oapt. Waeftiear 
 Mr. Tunnison. . 
 Beory Ihntz . . . 
 I) a. de L u via. 
 
 Dr. Minton 
 
 Mr. Smitli 
 
 C. H. Bridges. . 
 CP. Smitli 
 
 2 loxes F. Sliepley . . . 
 
 1 deer Miss E. S. Wood 
 
 Mies J. S. Kane . . . 
 J. W. Munsou .... 
 
 i)r. J. Smitli 
 
 W IL. W)ggans.. . 
 
 Dr. Hutchinson j 470 Clinton avenue. 
 
 Massachusetts. 
 
 Addbbss. 
 
 1 lt> Pierrepont street. 
 Uemsen sireet. 
 72 linsh street. 
 Hat bush. 
 
 71 1 St. Mark's avenue. 
 171 Henry street. 
 184 E&emsen street. 
 371 Baltic street. 
 Kansas 
 
 7li Pierrepont street. 
 
 17'.) Lmjueer street. 
 127 High street. 
 Sag Harbor. 
 lOli Gates avenue. 
 
 1 monkey 
 
 2 Angora rabbits 
 1 deer 
 
 St Mark's avenue. 
 
 E. Hatch New Jersey 
 
 Miss Meade 20 First place. 
 
 Gilbert Potter G Bedford avenue. 
 
 2 alligators Mr. Bergen Flatbush. 
 
 1 peacock Miss A. A. Archer . . . Conuectieut. 
 
 1 fox squirrel J. A. Prentice 29 Lafayette avenue. 
 
 quail 
 
 deer 
 
 Museovy duck. 
 
 deer 
 
 geese 
 
 H. E. Pitkin 528 Bergen street. 
 
 •(. 8. T. Stranahan . . . It linton and Union Streets. 
 
 Joseph short j 106 North Oxford street. 
 
 H. B. Biggs | lit; St. James' place. 
 
 Mother Baptista Brooklyn. 
 
 1 deer C. B. Murphy. . . 
 
 1 deer H. C. Hill ...... 
 
 1 goat j George *anford 
 
 200 carp E. G. Blatchford 
 
 52 Duffield street. 
 189 Park avenue. 
 (Iravesend 
 
 LSI -sh C ammission 
 
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114 
 
 t 
 
 Inventory of realty and other property belonging to the Brooklyn 
 Park Commissioners on the ?>\st day of December, 1S7 ( <*. 
 
 HEAL ESTATE. 
 
 Prospect Park (including the east side lands), about. .030 acres. 
 
 Washington Park 30£ " 
 
 Tompkins Park 7f " 
 
 City Park 1\ " 
 
 Carroll Park 1A " 
 
 City Hall Park \\ « 
 
 STOCK. 
 
 Description. 
 
 NUMBEII. 
 
 Condition. 
 
 
 13 
 
 77 
 22 
 213 
 
 < 10 working. 
 I 3 inferior. 
 Good. 
 
 > 
 
 Sheep 
 
 Deer 
 
 Fowl 
 
 
 The latter item comprises 15 swan, 128 geese, 52 ducks, 18 
 peafowls; 25 lambs, 4 deer, 50 geese, 61 ducks were added to the 
 stock during the year. 
 
 WA.TER TRUCKS. 
 
 2 two-horse trucks, good condition. 
 
 6 two-horse trucks, good condition. 
 
 4 two-horse trucks, fair, in use about eight years. 
 
 2 one-horse trucks, fair, in use about eight years. 
 
 WAGONS AND CARTS. 
 
 2 two-horse dirt wagons, good condition. 
 
 2 two-horse dirt wagons, fair condition. 
 
 3 two horse dirt wagons, worn out. 
 2 oue horse carts, good condition. 
 
 1 one-horse cart, fair condition. 
 
 2 one-horse carts, worn out. 
 2 handcarts, worn out. 
 
 1 light wagon, nearly worn out. 
 
 2 lumber sleighs, good condition. 
 
 2 ice planers aDd scrapers, good condition. 
 
 83 large lanterns for skating house, good condition. 
 
115 
 
 1 fifteen ton steam roller, serviceable. 
 
 2 iron hand rollers, serviceable 
 
 2 two-horse iron cylinder rollers, serviceable. 
 1 eight-horse iron cvlinder roller, serviceable. 
 
 1 fourteen-inch Worthington duplex pump, with boiler, good 
 
 order. 
 
 2 hydraulic jacks, good order. 
 1 screw jack, good order. 
 
 3 boom derricks, miscellaneous sizes, with gearing worn out. 
 1 four by-ten inch Blake stone-crushing machine, serviceable. 
 1 capstan, serviceable. 
 
 1 hose truck, worn out. 
 1 stone truck, worn out. 
 
 7 ladders, such as steps and ordinary, serviceable 
 1 portable house furnace, serviceable. 
 
 1 portable blacksmiths' furnace, serviceable: 
 
 In stoves for offices, skating house and shelters, good order. 
 
 2 sets of double harness, worn out. 
 
 5 sets of double harness, good condition. 
 
 5 sets of single harness, three sets worn out. 
 ;]()<> feet 2.1-inch leather tire hose. 
 TOO pounds of assorted sizes rope. 
 300 feet rubber hose. - 
 
 2 platform scales. 
 
 SUPPLIES IN BUILDINGS. &c. 
 
 Under this head is included the stock of office fixtures, such as 
 desks, chairs, tables and safes, with a stock of books, blanks and 
 office material generally for current use, the bulk of which has 
 been in use for a period ranging from five to eleven years. 
 
 TOOLS. 
 
 The stock of small tools and implements on hand have not met 
 the ordinary requirements of the work during the past season, 
 and consists of 20 shovels, 86 picks and mattocks, 37 wood and 
 iron rakes, 6 hoes, 6 axes, 37 brooms, 6 baskets, 19 pails. 5 dip- 
 pers, 21 crow-bars, 11 paint brushes, &c, "together with a small 
 stock of carpenters' and blacksmiths' tools. 
 
 The stock of stable material, besides the more important items 
 previously enumerated, includes ordinary stable supplies, horse 
 blankets, lield umbrellas for water trucks, brushes and stable 
 furniture in very limited quantity, and in a deteriorated con- 
 dition. 15 
 
116 
 
 12 American ensigns in good condition ; 15 fl;igs worn out. 
 Tlie clothing of the keepers' force consists of 84 suits of 
 summer and winter uniforms and H rubber coats in fair order. 
 
 ENGINEERS' SUPPLIES. 
 
 4 drawing boards. 
 4 transits. 
 4 levels. 
 
 With a small stock of rods, tapes, plumb bobs, and other engi- 
 neering paraphernalia. 
 
 MATERIAL AND GENERAL SUPPLIES. 
 
 We have on hand a supply of material for current use, such as 
 oil for lamps, a small stock of various paints, a small lot of lum- 
 ber and building material, sewer drain pipe, tiles, &c. 
 
 As heretofore, the custom has been, din ing the year, to order 
 oidy such material as was absolutely needed for immediate use. 
 
 HOUSES. 
 
 There are several houses on the east side lands ; a portion of 
 these are occupied by employes and others on rental. The rents 
 for the same are received and accounted for. 
 
117 
 
 METEOROLOGICAL TABLE No. 1. 
 
 Table showing the observed Height of the Barometer, monthly, 
 for the Year ending December 31, 1874. 
 
 Month— 1874. 
 
 Mean 
 
 AT 
 
 Mean 
 
 AT 
 
 Mean 
 at 
 
 n 3 
 
 
 a 
 
 D 
 g 
 
 a 
 
 P 
 g 
 
 w 
 o 
 
 V5 
 *] 
 ~ 
 
 
 7 A If, 
 
 2 P. M. 
 
 9 P. M. 
 
 
 
 
 u 
 
 « 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 H 
 
 Q 
 
 
 30.183 
 
 30.144 
 
 30 
 
 186 
 
 30.171 
 
 30.597 
 
 29.675 
 
 
 .922 
 
 30.176 
 
 30.143 
 
 30 
 
 173 
 
 30.164 
 
 30 
 
 062 
 
 29.685 
 
 
 .977 
 
 30.015 
 
 29 . 978 
 
 30 
 
 033 
 
 30.009 
 
 30 
 
 425 
 
 29.527 
 
 
 .898 
 
 
 30 035 
 
 30 
 
 061 
 
 30.051 
 
 30 
 
 568 
 
 29 . 480 
 
 1 
 
 .088 
 
 30.018 
 
 29 909 
 
 29 
 
 999 
 
 29 . 995 
 
 30 
 
 498 
 
 29 . 641 
 
 
 .857 
 
 29 . 983 
 
 30.014 
 
 30 
 
 046 
 
 30.014 
 
 30 
 
 303 
 
 29.537 
 
 
 .766 
 
 30.070 
 
 30.041 
 
 30 
 
 032 
 
 30.048 
 
 30 
 
 273 
 
 29.794 
 
 
 .479 
 
 30 . 067 
 
 30 . 040 
 
 30 
 
 058 
 
 30.055 
 
 30 
 
 293 
 
 29.715 
 
 
 .578 
 
 30.141 
 
 30.103 
 
 30 
 
 122 
 
 30.122 
 
 30 
 
 344 
 
 29 . 523 
 
 
 .821 
 
 30.133 
 
 30.087 
 
 30 
 
 138 
 
 30.119 
 
 30 
 
 491 
 
 29 704 
 
 
 .787 
 
 30 is:. 
 
 30.147 
 
 30 
 
 208 
 
 30.180 
 
 30 
 
 633 
 
 29.319 
 
 1 
 
 .314 
 
 30 . 169 
 
 30.181 
 
 "30 
 
 156 
 
 30.169 
 
 30 
 
 739 
 
 29.734 
 
 1 
 
 .005 
 
 Annual Mean, at 7 A. M., of 365 observations, 30 .099. 
 Annual Mean, at 2 P. M., of 365 observations, 30.073. 
 Annual Mean, at 9 P. M., of 365 observations, 30.101. 
 Annual Mean of 1,095 observations, 30.091. 
 Maximum for the year, 30.739 ; 9 P. M., December 31. 
 Minimum for the year, 29.319 ; 9 P. M., November 23. 
 Difference of Kange, 1.420. 
 
118 
 
 METEOROLOGICAL TABLE No. 2. 
 
 Table showing the State of the Thermometer, monthly, for the 
 Year ending December 31, 1874. 
 
 Month— 1874. 
 
 Mean 
 
 AT 
 7 A. M. 
 
 Mean 
 
 AT 
 
 2 P. M. 
 
 Mean 
 
 AT 
 9 P. M 
 
 fx 
 
 (9 z 
 
 13 
 
 p 
 I 
 
 n 
 < 
 
 a" 
 p 
 
 2 
 
 l-l 
 
 A 
 M 
 
 M 
 
 XI 
 
 O 
 SS 
 fa - 
 
 « fa 
 
 ■A C 
 
 fa 
 
 fa 
 
 Q 
 
 w 
 
 a 
 
 < 
 
 .January 
 
 30.80 
 
 36.29 
 
 33.31 
 
 33 
 
 47 
 
 62 
 
 00 
 
 9.00 
 
 51 
 
 00 
 
 Febr lary ... 
 
 25.57 
 
 33 40 
 
 31.18 
 
 30 
 
 05 
 
 7(1 
 
 00 
 
 3.00 
 
 67 
 
 00 
 
 Mach 
 
 32 77 
 
 41 32 
 
 36.84 
 
 36 
 
 98 
 
 63 
 
 00 
 
 13.00 
 
 50 
 
 00 
 
 Apiil 
 
 36 . 80 
 
 44.32 
 
 40.13 
 
 40 
 
 44 
 
 66 
 
 50 
 
 19.50 
 
 47 
 
 00 
 
 May 
 
 55.01 
 
 01.24 
 
 50.23 
 
 57 
 
 49 
 
 88 
 
 50 
 
 33.50 
 
 55 
 
 00 
 
 
 60. 01 
 
 75 35 
 
 07 45 
 
 69 
 
 SI) 
 
 92 
 
 50 
 
 00 
 
 42 
 
 50 
 
 July 
 
 71.90 
 
 79.03 
 
 71 . 21 
 
 74 
 
 05 
 
 92 
 
 50 
 
 59 00 
 
 33 
 
 50 
 
 August 
 
 66 72 
 
 74.02 
 
 68.20 
 
 69 
 
 67 
 
 92 
 
 50 
 
 52 . 50 
 
 40 
 
 00 
 
 September 
 
 03.25 
 
 72.38 
 
 65 . 13 
 
 06 
 
 92 
 
 88 
 
 50 
 
 32.50 
 
 56 
 
 00 
 
 October 
 
 47.09 
 
 59.61 
 
 52.79 
 
 53 
 
 10 
 
 69 
 
 50 
 
 35 50 
 
 34 
 
 mi 
 
 November . . 
 
 37.58 
 
 46.28 
 
 40.90 
 
 41 
 
 59 
 
 65. 
 
 00 
 
 21.50 
 
 43 
 
 50 
 
 December .... 
 
 29.50 
 
 35 82 
 
 32.31 
 
 32 
 
 54 
 
 50 
 
 50 
 
 7.50 
 
 43 
 
 00 
 
 Annual Mean, at 7 A. M., of 305 observations, 40.97. 
 Annual Mean, at 2 P. ML, of 305 observations, 54.92. 
 Annual Mean, at 9 P. M., of 365 observations, 49.65. 
 Annual Mean of 1,095 observations, 50.51. 
 Maximum during the year, 92.50. 
 Minimum during the year, 3.00. 
 Difference of Range, 89.50. 
 
11!) 
 
 METEOROLOGICAL TABLE No. 3. 
 
 Table showing the Duration and Depth of Main and Snow, 
 monthly, during the Year ending December 31, 187L 
 
 Month. 
 1874. 
 
 January 
 Februar 
 March . 
 April . 
 May . . . 
 June. . . 
 July. . 
 August 
 September 
 October 
 November. 
 December 
 
 Totals . 
 
 <c u • 
 d E! £ 
 
 rgS o 
 
 s 
 
 13 
 11 
 10 
 16 
 10 
 11 
 8 
 6 
 9 
 
 I 
 11 
 
 117 
 
 DOEATION. 
 
 45 
 45 
 15 
 30 
 50 
 15 
 15 
 15 
 55 
 55 
 
 30 
 
 L0 
 
 - - 
 M.S 
 
 ts el 
 
 2.49 
 .46 
 1.10 
 8.8S 
 2.24 
 2 31 
 2.41 
 2.90 
 10.13 
 1.86 
 1.80 
 1.33 
 
 37.91 
 
 r sj .2 
 
 00 
 
 36.75 
 
 3£ 
 
 X 
 
 1.56 
 
 6.87 
 
 3.99 
 3.26 
 2.11 
 8 88 
 2.24 
 2.31 
 2.41 
 2.90 
 10 13 
 1.86 
 1.80 
 2.89 
 
 44.78 
 
 5 3 s 9 
 
 >— i w .— 
 
 ^ S I - 
 
 O C fc, 
 
 .sp7„"So 
 
 — JO p <S 
 
 S 3 
 
 S w eS 
 
 3 2 "3 "§ 
 
 -? I S o I 
 a5 E >"=> 9 53 
 
 2 * « 
 
120 
 
 METEOROLOGICAL TABLE No. 1. 
 
 Table showing the observed Height of the Barometer, monthly, 
 for the Year ending December 31, 1875. 
 
 Month — 1875. 
 
 Mean 
 
 AT 
 7 A. M. 
 
 Mean 
 
 at 
 2 p. ii. 
 
 Mean 
 at 
 
 9 P. M. 
 
 (H 
 
 ti . 
 
 x Z. 
 
 h a 
 
 X J 
 
 Maximum. 
 
 Minimum. 
 
 Difference 
 
 w 
 
 ° i 
 « 
 
 January 
 
 30.231 
 
 30.109 
 
 30.198 
 
 30.199 
 
 30.023 
 
 29.703 
 
 
 .920 
 
 February 
 
 30.130 
 
 30.063 
 
 30.110 
 
 30.101 
 
 30 545 
 
 29.449 
 
 1 
 
 096 
 
 March . .' 
 
 30 117 
 
 30.090 
 
 30.118 
 
 30.108 
 
 30 50 1 
 
 '.".) 050 
 
 
 854 
 
 April 
 
 30 008 
 
 29.969 
 
 30.000 
 
 29 . 992 
 
 30 . 444 
 
 29 020 
 
 
 .818 
 
 May 
 
 30.018 
 
 29.989 
 
 30 023 
 
 30.010 
 
 30.297 
 
 2'.l 002 
 
 
 .095 
 
 Juno . 
 
 30 070 
 
 30 051 
 
 30.002 
 
 30 . 003 
 
 30 212 
 
 29.777 
 
 
 .405 
 
 July 
 
 30 035 
 
 30.008 
 
 30.023 
 
 30.022 
 
 30.271 
 
 29 . 702 
 
 
 .509 
 
 August 
 
 30.080 
 
 30 061 
 
 30.073 
 
 30.071 
 
 30 . 329 
 
 29 794 
 
 
 .535 
 
 September 
 
 30 070 
 
 :;n 042 
 
 30.060 
 
 30.059 
 
 30 418 
 
 29 708 
 
 
 .710 
 
 October 
 
 30.031 
 
 29 697 
 
 30.022 
 
 29.917 
 
 30.494 
 
 29.528 
 
 
 .900 
 
 November 
 
 30.102 
 
 30 054 
 
 30 . 101 
 
 30.086 
 
 30 . 092 
 
 29.581 
 
 1 
 
 111 
 
 December 
 
 30.054 
 
 30.015 
 
 30 040 
 
 30 038 
 
 30.677 
 
 29.452 
 
 1 
 
 .225 
 
 Annual Mean, at 7. A. M„ of 305 observations, 30 080. 
 Annual Mean, at 2. P. M., of 3C5 observations, 30.017. 
 Annual Mean, at 9. P. M., of 305 observations, 30.070. 
 Annual Mean of 1,095 observations, 30.055. 
 Maximum for the year, 30 .092. 
 Minimum for the year, 29 449. 
 Difference of Bange, 1 243. 
 
12L 
 
 METEOROLOGICAL TABLE No. 2. 
 
 Table showing the State of the Thermometer, monthly, for 
 the Year ending December 31, 1875. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 w 
 
 
 Month — 1875. 
 
 Mkan 
 
 at 
 
 Mean 
 
 AT 
 
 Mean 
 at 
 
 t* 
 
 hi 
 a 
 
 H 
 
 55 
 Ed 
 
 S 
 p 
 a 
 
 S 
 s 
 
 a 
 
 
 ERENC 
 OK 
 
 w 
 
 c 
 
 
 7 A. 
 
 if. 
 
 2 p. 
 
 M. 
 
 9 p. 
 
 M. 
 
 »S' 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 m 
 
 q 
 
 
 20 
 
 35 
 
 25 
 
 98 
 
 23 
 
 78 
 
 25 
 
 .('3 
 
 38.00 
 
 i. 
 
 5 
 
 39 
 
 5 
 
 February 
 
 19 
 
 28 
 
 26 
 
 82 
 
 23 
 
 32 
 
 23 
 
 .14 
 
 49.00 
 
 
 
 49 
 
 
 March 
 
 28 
 
 05 
 
 34 
 
 79 
 
 32 
 
 39 
 
 31 
 
 74 
 
 53.00 
 
 io 
 
 5 
 
 42 
 
 5 
 
 April 
 
 38 
 
 28 
 
 47 
 
 45 
 
 40 
 
 87 
 
 42 
 
 20 
 
 62.50 
 
 25. 
 
 
 37 
 
 5 
 
 May 
 
 55 
 
 00 
 
 64 
 
 90 
 
 56 
 
 42 
 
 58 
 
 77 
 
 86.00 
 
 39 
 
 
 47 
 
 
 June 
 
 65 
 
 55 
 
 74 
 
 28 
 
 65 
 
 45 
 
 68 
 
 42 
 
 94.00 
 
 56 
 
 5 
 
 37 
 
 50 
 
 July 
 
 71 
 
 06 
 
 77 
 
 58 
 
 7(1 
 
 97 
 
 73 
 
 .20 
 
 86.00 
 
 62 
 
 5 
 
 23 
 
 5 
 
 August 
 
 69 
 
 00 
 
 76 
 
 40 
 
 70 
 
 23 
 
 71 
 
 87 
 
 83.50 
 
 55 
 
 5 
 
 28 
 
 
 September 
 
 59 
 
 93 
 
 68 
 
 48 
 
 61 
 
 53 
 
 66 
 
 .64 
 
 86 . 50 
 
 45 
 
 5 
 
 41 
 
 
 October 
 
 48 
 
 45 
 
 57 
 
 39 
 
 51 
 
 33 
 
 52 
 
 39 
 
 70.00 
 
 35 
 
 
 35 
 
 
 November 
 
 35 
 
 08 
 
 41 
 
 90 
 
 37 
 
 17 
 
 38 
 
 .05 
 
 58.00 
 
 8 
 
 
 50 
 
 
 December 
 
 29 
 
 45 
 
 35 
 
 19 
 
 32 
 
 40 
 
 32 
 
 .34 
 
 56.00 
 
 3 
 
 
 53 
 
 
 Annual Mean, at 7 A. M., of 365 observations, 44.96. 
 Annual Mean, at 2 P. M., of 365 observations, 52.59. 
 Annual Mean, at 9 P. M., of 365 observations, 47.16. 
 Annual mean of 1,095 observations, 48.65. 
 Maximum during the year, 94. 
 
 Minimum during the year, — 1 .50. (1|° below zero.) 
 Difference of Eange, 95.50. 
 
METEOROLOGICAL TABLE No. 3. 
 
 Table showing the Duration and Depth of Rain and Snow, 
 monthly, during the Year ending December 31, 1875. 
 
 Month. 
 1875 
 
 January 
 February 
 March . 
 A.pril . . 
 May . .. 
 
 June . . 
 
 July... 
 August 
 September 
 October. . . 
 November 
 December. 
 
 Totals . . 
 
 k-3 o 
 - ■- 
 
 •S-g \ 
 
 B o a 
 y. - 
 
 9 
 8 
 9 
 10 
 8 
 9 
 12 
 12 
 8 
 8 
 10 
 14 
 
 117 
 
 Duration. 
 
 3 ■- 
 
 - 5 
 
 2 18 
 2.34 
 2.07 
 1.72 
 1.23 
 2.84 
 3.74 
 6.42 
 2.<i0 
 2.87 
 3.08 
 2.543 
 
 33.433 
 
 on 
 
 * J 
 
 a d 
 
 GO .2 
 
 c — 
 
 12.00 
 8.75 
 
 14 00 
 7 00 
 
 2 25 
 
 44 00 
 
 -a -s 
 - - 
 
 - - 
 
 6 a 
 
 .64 
 .95 
 2.70 
 .99 
 
 .20 
 5.48 
 
 2.82 
 3.29 
 4.77 
 2.71 
 1.23 
 2.84 
 3.74 
 6.42 
 2.40 
 2 87 
 3.08 
 2.743 
 
 38.913 
 
 o <u Q 
 
 — = — 
 
 3 fli - 
 
 ■3 art 
 
 5 > 
 
 _ 13 .£5 
 
 f s a 
 
 OQ tin J 
 S I * 
 
 3 jh « 
 
 — - - 
 
 / 1 I 
 
 J i r o 
 
 - .- - 
 
 ■*p 'I 
 
 jj I 
 
 -: - 
 
 3 ^.-fl 
 
123 
 
 METEOROLOGICAL TABLE No. 1. 
 
 Table showing th? observed Height of the Barometer, monthly, 
 for the Year ending December 31, 1876. 
 
 Month— 1876. 
 
 Mean 
 at 
 
 Mean 
 
 AT 
 
 M 
 
 EAN 
 AT 
 
 K 
 
 a 
 
 55 
 
 
 P 
 
 
 p 
 
 w 
 o 
 y. 
 
 « 
 w 
 
 w 
 fa $ 
 
 3 
 
 
 7 A. M. 
 
 2 P. M. 
 
 9 P. M. 
 
 'A 
 C 
 
 
 
 < 
 
 
 
 fa 
 fa 
 
 K 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 («= 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 January 
 
 3U 
 
 142 
 
 30 
 
 109 
 
 30 
 
 142 
 
 30 
 
 131 
 
 30 
 
 .630 
 
 29 
 
 .574 
 
 1 
 
 056 
 
 February 
 
 30 
 
 118 
 
 30 
 
 092 
 
 30 
 
 149 
 
 30 
 
 120 
 
 30 
 
 .894 
 
 29 
 
 139 
 
 1 
 
 . 755 
 
 March 
 
 30 
 
 043 
 
 30 
 
 020 
 
 30 
 
 038 
 
 30 
 
 034 
 
 30 
 
 .483 
 
 29 
 
 .343 
 
 1 
 
 .140 
 
 April 
 
 29 
 
 994 
 
 29 
 
 939 
 
 29 
 
 979 
 
 29 
 
 971 
 
 30 
 
 .358 
 
 29 
 
 . 359 
 
 
 . 999 
 
 May 
 
 30 
 
 088 
 
 30 
 
 055 
 
 30 
 
 065 
 
 30 
 
 069 
 
 30 
 
 421 
 
 29 
 
 .772 
 
 
 652 
 
 June 
 
 30 
 
 054 
 
 30 
 
 024 
 
 30 
 
 033 
 
 30. 
 
 037 
 
 30 
 
 253 
 
 29 
 
 .718 
 
 
 535 
 
 July 
 
 30 
 
 049 
 
 30 
 
 022 
 
 30 
 
 025 
 
 30 
 
 032 
 
 30 
 
 264 
 
 29 
 
 .823 
 
 
 441 
 
 
 30 
 
 114 
 
 30 
 
 091 
 
 30 
 
 091 
 
 30. 
 
 098 
 
 30 
 
 281 
 
 29 
 
 .870 
 
 
 411 
 
 September... ... 
 
 30 
 
 028 
 
 30 
 
 001 
 
 30 
 
 022 
 
 30 
 
 017 
 
 30 
 
 307 
 
 29 
 
 .725 
 
 
 582 
 
 October 
 
 30 
 
 037 
 
 29 
 
 992 
 
 30 
 
 033 
 
 30. 
 
 021 
 
 30 
 
 391 
 
 29 
 
 683 
 
 
 708 
 
 November 
 
 30 
 
 000 
 
 29 
 
 967 
 
 29 
 
 986 
 
 29. 
 
 984 
 
 30 
 
 381 
 
 29 
 
 .640 
 
 
 741 
 
 December 
 
 30 
 
 007 
 
 29 
 
 990 
 
 30 
 
 016 
 
 30. 
 
 004 
 
 30 
 
 616 
 
 29 
 
 .134 
 
 1 
 
 482 
 
 Annual Mean, at 7 A. M., of 366 observations, 30.056. 
 Annual Mean, at 2 P. M., of 366 observations, 30.025. 
 Annual Mean, at 9 P. M., of 366 observations, 30.048. 
 Annual Mean of 1,098 observations, 30.043. 
 Maximum for the year, 30.894. 
 Minimum for the year, 29.134. 
 Difference of Range, 1.760. 
 
 16 
 
124 
 
 METEOROLOGICAL TABLE No. 2. 
 
 TaMe showing the State of the Thermometer, monthly, for the 
 Year endiny December 31, 1876. 
 
 Month— 1876. 
 
 Mean 
 at 
 
 7 A. M. 
 
 Mean 
 
 AT 
 2 1>. M. 
 
 Mkan 
 
 AT 
 
 P. M. 
 
 Monthly 
 
 si 
 < 
 m 
 
 3 
 
 s 
 
 p 
 s 
 
 M 
 
 < 
 
 M 
 
 N 
 O 
 'A 
 
 
 31.44 
 
 38 
 
 23 
 
 34 
 
 16 
 
 34 
 
 61 
 
 65. 
 
 5 
 
 8.5 
 
 57 
 
 
 February 
 
 28.10 
 
 34 
 
 43 
 
 31 
 
 17 
 
 31 
 
 22 
 
 53. 
 
 5 
 
 8.5 
 
 45 
 
 
 Maix-h 
 
 31.47 
 
 39 
 
 27 
 
 34 
 
 95 
 
 35 
 
 23 
 
 65. 
 
 5 
 
 10. 
 
 55 
 
 5 
 
 April 
 
 42.87 
 
 52 
 
 27 
 
 44 
 
 98 
 
 46 
 
 71 
 
 66 
 
 
 27.5 
 
 38 
 
 5 
 
 May 
 
 55 . 70 
 
 46 
 
 73 
 
 57 
 
 73 
 
 53 
 
 .39 
 
 85 
 
 5 
 
 30.5 
 
 55 
 
 
 
 60.55 
 
 78 
 
 38 
 
 69 
 
 80 
 
 72 
 
 .58 
 
 02 
 
 5 
 
 46.5 
 
 46 
 
 
 July 
 
 74.47 
 
 83 
 
 14 
 
 75 
 
 27 
 
 77 
 
 .63 
 
 08 
 
 5 
 
 59. 
 
 39 
 
 5 
 
 Aug>nt 
 
 70.23 
 
 70 
 
 26 
 
 71 
 
 13 
 
 73 
 
 .54 
 
 01 
 
 5 
 
 53. 
 
 38 
 
 5 
 
 
 50.50 
 
 66 
 
 15 
 
 6C 
 
 07 
 
 62 
 
 .21 
 
 85 
 
 5 
 
 44.5 
 
 41 
 
 
 
 •15.55 
 
 54 
 
 13 
 
 48 
 
 65 
 
 49 
 
 44 
 
 73 
 
 
 29.5 
 
 43 
 
 5 
 
 November 
 
 41 50 
 
 46 
 
 67 
 
 42 
 
 65 
 
 43 
 
 .61- 
 
 70 
 
 5 
 
 22.5 
 
 48 
 
 
 
 21.84 
 
 26 
 
 40 
 
 23 
 
 76 
 
 24 
 
 .00 
 
 53 
 
 
 0.5 
 
 52 
 
 5 
 
 Annual Mean, at 7 A. M., of 366 observations, 47.69. 
 Annual Mean, at 2 P. M., of 36C observations, 53.75. 
 Annual Mean, at 9 P. M., of 366 observations, 40.60. 
 Annual Mean of 1,008 observations, 50 34. 
 Maximum during the year, 08.50. 
 Minimum during the year, 0.50. 
 Range, 98. 
 
125 
 
 METEOROLOGICAL TABLE No. 3. 
 
 Tahle showing the Duration and Depth of Rain and Snow, 
 monthly, during the Year ending December 31, 1876. 
 
 Month. 
 1876. 
 
 January 
 Pebruar 
 March.. 
 April.. . 
 May . . . 
 June . . 
 July . . 
 August. 
 September 
 October - , 
 November 
 December 
 
 m -f-i C 
 
 3 a S 
 
 Totals 116 
 
 7 
 
 7 
 13 
 10 
 11 
 
 8 
 11 
 
 4 
 13 
 10 
 13 
 
 9 
 
 Duration. 
 
 16 
 
 25 
 
 5 f 
 " a 
 
 - 
 
 723 
 
 71 
 
 344 
 
 467 
 
 014 
 
 I 22 
 
 (•,404 
 
 96 
 374 
 
 1.561 
 
 4.19 
 
 1.97 
 
 41.899 
 
 10. 
 
 7. 
 
 12.50 
 
 29.50 
 
 1.725 
 
 3.265 
 
 !j ID 
 
 d ?" u 
 
 ■5 5 = 
 
 - r 
 
 .723 
 4.72 
 7.874 
 3.467 
 3.014 
 3 122 
 6.464 
 1.96 
 4.374 
 1.561 
 4.19 
 3.695 
 
 45.164 
 
 Remarks. 
 
 Occasional 
 Snow- 
 tin rries. 
 
 1 
 
 I Light 
 ( showers. 
 
 Snow flur- 
 ries. 
 
126 
 
 METEOROLOGICAL TABLE No. 1. 
 
 Table showing the observed Height of the Iiaro?/ieter, monthly, 
 for the Year ending December 31, 1877. 
 
 Month— 1877. 
 
 Mean 
 at 
 
 7 A. U. 
 
 Ml' AN 
 AT 
 2 P. M. 
 
 Mean 
 at 
 
 9 P. M. 
 
 Monthly 
 Mean. 
 
 S3 
 P 
 
 £ 
 
 < 
 
 Minimum. 
 
 w 
 
 
 < 
 
 PS 
 
 January 
 
 30.164 
 
 30.135 
 
 30.271 
 
 30 138 
 
 30 
 
 572 
 
 29.285 
 
 1.287 
 
 February 
 
 30 075 
 
 29.832 
 
 30.094 
 
 30.036 
 
 30 
 
 .472 
 
 29.513 
 
 .959 
 
 March 
 
 150 . 000 
 
 29.975 
 
 30 015 
 
 30.015 
 
 30 
 
 .507 
 
 29 315 
 
 1 .192 
 
 April 
 
 29.966 
 
 29 942 
 
 29 992 
 
 29.972 
 
 30 
 
 .331 
 
 29 524 
 
 .808 
 
 May 
 
 30.027 
 
 30 004 
 
 30.014 
 
 30.029 
 
 30 
 
 .360 
 
 29 595 
 
 .765 
 
 June.. 
 
 30.068 
 
 30 020 
 
 30.055 
 
 30.057 
 
 30 
 
 296 
 
 29.762 
 
 .524 
 
 July 
 
 29 . 990 
 
 29 977 
 
 29.991 
 
 29 . 980 
 
 30 
 
 .265 
 
 29.777 
 
 1.488 
 
 August . 
 
 30 021 
 
 29.998 
 
 30 009 
 
 30 053 
 
 30 
 
 . 200 
 
 29.770 
 
 430 
 
 September 
 
 30.094 
 
 30.070 
 
 30.058 
 
 30 . 082 
 
 30 
 
 .311 
 
 29 803 
 
 .508 
 
 October 
 
 30.085 
 
 30 041 
 
 30.108 
 
 30 061 
 
 30 
 
 .461 
 
 29 492 
 
 .969 
 
 November 
 
 30.109 
 
 30 058 
 
 30 105 
 
 29.979 
 
 30 
 
 .586 
 
 29.701 
 
 .885 
 
 December 
 
 30.083 
 
 30.047 
 
 30 . 103 
 
 29 . 97G 
 
 30 
 
 .598 
 
 29 . 496 
 
 1 . 102 
 
 Annual Mean, at 7 A. M., of 365 observations, 30.057. 
 Annual Mean, at 2 P. M„ of 365 observations, 30.008. 
 Annual Mean, at 9 P. M., of 365 observations, 30.068. 
 Annual Mean of 1,095 observations, 30.044. 
 Maximum for the year, 30.598. 
 Minimum for the year, 29.285. 
 Range, 1.313. 
 
127 
 
 METEOROLOGICAL TABLE No. 2. 
 
 Table showing the State of Thermometer, monthly, for the Year 
 ending December 31, 1877. 
 
 Month— 1877. 
 
 Mean 
 
 AT 
 7 A. II. 
 
 Mean 
 
 AT 
 2 P. If. 
 
 Mean 
 at 
 
 9 P. M. 
 
 Monthly 
 Mean. 
 
 S 
 
 a 
 
 i 
 
 < 
 
 a 
 
 D 
 P. 
 
 Range. 
 
 January 
 
 20.82 
 
 29 
 
 11 
 
 25.71 
 
 25.21 
 
 43.5 
 
 10. 
 
 33 
 
 5 
 
 February 
 
 26.80 
 
 34 
 
 49 
 
 26.26 
 
 29 . 20 
 
 53.5 
 
 13. 
 
 40 
 
 5 
 
 March 
 
 35.66 
 
 40 
 
 49 
 
 35.66 
 
 42.95 
 
 59. 
 
 12.5 
 
 46 
 
 5 
 
 
 44 40 
 
 61 
 
 68 
 
 45 . 20 
 
 50.22 
 
 75. 
 
 30. 
 
 45 
 
 
 May 
 
 55.21 
 
 65 
 
 44 
 
 57.86 
 
 59.50 
 
 90. 
 
 37. 
 
 53 
 
 
 June 
 
 67.81 
 
 77 
 
 74 
 
 68.24 
 
 7126 
 
 89.5 
 
 51.5 
 
 38 
 
 
 
 72.00 
 
 81 
 
 25 
 
 72.71 
 
 75.34 
 
 92.5 
 
 58.5 
 
 34 
 
 
 August 
 
 71.40 
 
 81 
 
 36 
 
 73.08 
 
 75 28 
 
 90.5 
 
 61. 
 
 29 
 
 5 
 
 September 
 
 63.27 
 
 73 
 
 61 
 
 56 77 
 
 64.55 
 
 84. 
 
 42. 
 
 42 
 
 
 October 
 
 52.63 
 
 54 
 
 80 
 
 53 55 
 
 53.66 
 
 77. 
 
 37.5 
 
 39 
 
 5 
 
 
 42 92 
 
 46 
 
 66 
 
 45.82 
 
 45.13 
 
 67. 
 
 25. 
 
 42 
 
 
 December 
 
 32.56 
 
 36 
 
 08 
 
 36.51 
 
 35.05 
 
 60.5 
 
 21 
 
 39 
 
 5 
 
 Annual Mean, at 7 A. M., of 365 observations, 50.47. 
 Annual Mean, at 2 P. M., of 365 observations, 56.89. 
 Annual Mean, at 9 P. M., of 365 observations, 49. 
 Annual Mean of 1,095 observations, 51.45. 
 Maximum during the year, 92.50. 
 Minimum during the year, 10. 
 Range, 82.50. 
 
128 
 
 METEOROLOGICAL TABLE No. 3 
 
 Tdhle showing the Duration and Depth of Rain and S?ww< 
 mont/dy, during the Year ending December 31, 1877. 
 
 Month. 
 
 Number of Days 
 on which Bain or 
 Snow occurred. 
 
 Duration. 
 
 11 tin 
 inches. 
 
 ED 
 
 If 
 
 2 « 
 8.| 
 
 ^ a 
 
 u a. 
 
 •S = 5 
 
 Remarks. 
 
 1877. 
 
 01 
 OS 
 
 Q 
 
 BO 
 
 o 
 
 03 
 
 a 
 
 .a 
 
 43 
 
 a 
 
 CD 
 
 A 
 
 a 
 
 o 
 ,-a 
 
 a, 
 eg 
 Q 
 
 eg 
 
 H u 
 
 5= J 
 o .? 
 = S 
 
 «|.S 
 
 3 1 « 
 
 o a >> 
 
 January 
 
 February .... 
 
 March. .' 
 
 April 
 
 May 
 
 June 
 
 July 
 
 August 
 
 September. . . 
 
 October 
 
 November . . . 
 December. . . . 
 
 7 
 6 
 18 
 9 
 13 
 12 
 11 
 8 
 6 
 12 
 11 
 7 
 
 3 
 4 
 
 3 
 4 
 1 
 
 2 
 21 
 
 2 
 21 
 
 IX 
 
 16 
 17 
 11 
 16 
 15 
 6 
 23 
 
 45 
 5 
 40 
 45 
 58 
 56 
 50 
 5 
 
 17 
 
 40 
 19 
 
 1.76 
 1 . 381 
 4 205 
 3.587 
 
 .953 
 2.693 
 5.148 
 2.408 
 1.470 
 8.131 
 4.895 
 
 .652 
 
 23. 
 1.50 
 7.50 
 
 2.10 
 .09 
 .71 
 
 3.86 
 1 471 
 4 915 
 
 3 587 
 .953 
 
 2.693 
 5 . 148 
 2.408 
 1.470 
 8.131 
 
 4 895 
 .652 
 
 Occasional 
 
 Snow 
 Flurries. 
 
 ] Occasional 
 \ Ligl.t 
 j Showers. 
 
 Totals 
 
 120 
 
 35 
 
 C 
 
 20 
 
 37.283 
 
 32.00 
 
 2.90 
 
 40.183 
 
 
129 
 
 METEOROLOGICAL TABLE No. 1. 
 
 Tabic showing the observed Height of the Barometer, monthly, 
 for the Year ending December 31, 1878. 
 
 Month— 1878. 
 
 Mean 
 
 AT 
 7 A. M. 
 
 Mean 
 
 AT 
 2 P. M. 
 
 Mean 
 at 
 
 9 P. M. 
 
 Monthly | 
 Mean. 
 
 1 
 
 Maximum. 
 
 Minimum. 
 
 t, 
 O 
 S3 
 < 
 
 
 30.064 
 
 30 034 
 
 30.062 
 
 30.055 
 
 30.640 
 
 29.401 
 
 1.239 
 
 February 
 
 29 . 965 
 
 29.962 
 
 29.992 
 
 29.989 
 
 30.311 
 
 29.503 
 
 .808 
 
 March 
 
 30.029 
 
 29 . 986 
 
 29.988 
 
 30.028 
 
 30.498 
 
 29.257 
 
 1.241 
 
 April 
 
 29.878 
 
 29 849 
 
 29.877 
 
 29.877 
 
 30.281 
 
 29.329 
 
 .952 
 
 May 
 
 29 974 
 
 29.936 
 
 29.948 
 
 29.955 
 
 30 . 239 
 
 29 . 623 
 
 .616 
 
 
 30.034 
 
 30.011 
 
 30 014 
 
 30.018 
 
 30.231 
 
 29.594 
 
 .637 
 
 July ... 
 
 30 015 
 
 29.996 
 
 29.941 
 
 30.003 
 
 30.194 
 
 29.687 
 
 .507 
 
 
 29 945 
 
 29 934 
 
 29.941 
 
 29 . 940 
 
 30.204 
 
 29.682 
 
 .522 
 
 
 
 30 150 
 
 30 164 
 
 30.171 
 
 30.448 
 
 29 . 762 
 
 .686 
 
 October 
 
 30.068 
 
 30 . 029 
 
 30 034 
 
 30.040 
 
 3D 343 
 
 29.470 
 
 .873 
 
 Novem b' r 
 
 29 993 
 
 29.935 
 
 29.995 
 
 29 . 985 
 
 30.481 
 
 29.125 
 
 1.356 
 
 December 
 
 30.041 
 
 30.002 
 
 30.021 
 
 30.03^ 
 
 30.467 
 
 29.367 
 
 1.100 
 
 Annual Mean, at 7 A. M., of 365 observations, 30.016. 
 Annual Mean, at 2 P. M., of 365 observations, 29.985. 
 Annual Mean, at 9 P. M., of 365 observations, 29.998. 
 Annual Mean of 1,095 observations, 29.999. 
 Maximum for the year, 30 . 640. 
 Minimum for the year, 29 . 125. 
 Range, 1 .515. 
 
130 
 
 METEOROLOGICAL TABLE No. 2. 
 
 I'ahlc showing the State of 'Thermometer, monthly, for the Year 
 ending December 31, 1878. 
 
 
 Mi AN 
 
 Mean 
 
 Mean 
 
 |J . 
 
 X X 
 
 p 
 
 
 
 Month - 1878. 
 
 AT 
 
 at 
 
 at 
 
 zH 
 
 Irt 
 
 | 
 
 H 
 
 a 
 
 
 7 A. M. 
 
 2 P. M. 
 
 9 P. M. 
 
 I 5 
 
 H 
 
 55 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 s 
 
 
 
 January 
 
 28.8) 
 
 34.70 
 
 31.05 
 
 31.4! 
 
 63. 
 
 9.50 
 
 43.50 
 
 February 
 
 29.15 
 
 35 . 75 
 
 32.08 
 
 32.43 
 
 53. 
 
 8.50 
 
 44.50 
 
 March 
 
 38 79 
 
 48.40 
 
 43.08 
 
 45.59 
 
 08. 
 
 12. 
 
 56. 
 
 April 
 
 48.54 
 
 58.54 
 
 51.37 
 
 52.82 
 
 75. 
 
 39. 
 
 36. 
 
 Miy 
 
 55 . 20 
 
 08.14 
 
 57.07 
 
 59.23 
 
 81 50 
 
 39. 
 
 42.50 
 
 
 03.40 
 
 71 . 72 
 
 04 43 
 
 00.52 
 
 88. 
 
 47. 
 
 41. 
 
 
 71.53 
 
 81.48 
 
 72.81 
 
 75.53 
 
 97. 
 
 01. 
 
 36. 
 
 August 
 
 08.49 
 
 77.46 
 
 70.01 
 
 72 21 
 
 88.50 
 
 56. 
 
 32.50 
 
 September 
 
 01.50 
 
 71.08 
 
 04 . 72 
 
 05.94 
 
 86. 
 
 42.50 
 
 43.50 
 
 October 
 
 52.09 
 
 5-1.71 
 
 54 43 
 
 57.07 
 
 76. 
 
 30.50 
 
 39.50 
 
 November 
 
 39.59 
 
 47 24 
 
 43.34 
 
 43.T.8 
 
 60.50 
 
 27. 
 
 33.50 
 
 December 
 
 29.58 
 
 34.52 
 
 31.85 
 
 31.97 
 
 58. 
 
 13. 
 
 45. 
 
 Annual Mean, at 7 A. M., of 305 observations, 48.91. 
 Annual M<-an, at 2 P. M., of 305 observations, 57.37. 
 Annual MeaD, at 9 P. M., of 305 observations, 51.50. 
 Annual Mean of 1,095 observations, 52.59. 
 Maximum for the year, 97. 
 Minimum for the year, 8.50. 
 Range, 88.50. 
 
131 
 
 METEOROLOGICAL TABLE No. 3. 
 
 Table showing the Duration and Depth of Rain and Snow, 
 monthly, during the Year ending December' 31, 1878. 
 
 Month. 
 1878. 
 
 January . 
 February 
 March 
 April . 
 May . . 
 June . 
 July.. 
 August 
 September 
 October. . , 
 November. 
 December. . 
 
 Totals.. . . 
 
 3 d 
 
 16 
 
 7 
 14 
 
 8 
 11 
 
 8 
 10 
 12 
 
 7 
 12 
 11 
 10 
 
 126 
 
 Duration. 
 
 4.692 
 
 3.03 
 
 3.512 
 
 1.205 
 
 3.691 
 
 3.345 
 
 5.942 
 
 6.48 
 
 2.123 
 
 2.318 
 
 4.61 
 
 4.96 
 
 45.908 
 
 a a 
 
 cc-S 
 
 11.00 
 
 H to 
 
 o « 
 
 725 
 293 
 
 05 
 33 
 
 1.398 
 
 T3 _= CO 
 
 93.3 
 I II 
 
 2 £ s" 
 
 a o -g 
 
 5 .417 
 
 3.323 
 
 4.512 
 
 1.205 
 
 3.691 
 
 3.345 
 
 5 942 
 
 6.48 
 
 2.123 
 
 2.318 
 
 4. 06 
 
 5.29 
 
 47.306 
 
 Eemarks. 
 
 Occasional 
 Snow 
 Flurry. 
 
 ) 
 
 I Occasional 
 \ Light 
 ' Showers. 
 
 Occasional 
 
 Snow 
 Flurries. 
 
 17 
 
132 
 
 METEOEOLOGICAL TABLE No. 1. 
 
 lable showing the observed Height of the Barometer, monthly, 
 for the Year ending December 31, 1879. 
 
 
 Mean 
 
 Mean 
 
 Mean 
 
 5 . 
 
 m 'a 
 
 i 
 p 
 
 3 
 P 
 
 
 Month— 1879. 
 
 AT 
 
 AT 
 
 at 
 
 
 
 
 w 
 
 
 7 A. M. 
 
 2 F. M. 
 
 9 P. M. 
 
 Ja 
 
 U 
 
 z 
 
 M 
 
 S3 
 
 -4 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 January 
 
 30.029 
 
 29.977 
 
 30.010 
 
 30.005 
 
 30.445' 
 
 29.510 
 
 .935 
 
 February 
 
 30.017 
 
 29.983 
 
 30.032 
 
 30.010 
 
 30.723 
 
 £9.440 
 
 1 . 283 
 
 March 
 
 30.166 
 
 30.064 
 
 30 . 079 
 
 30.092 
 
 30.00(1 
 
 29.366 
 
 1.294 
 
 April 
 
 29.944 
 
 29.908 
 
 30.012 
 
 29.934 
 
 30.373 
 
 29.466 
 
 .907 
 
 May 
 
 30.095 
 
 30.089 
 
 30.090 
 
 30.139 
 
 30.495 
 
 29 . 707 
 
 .728 
 
 June 
 
 29.992 
 
 29 909 
 
 29 . 999 
 
 20.999 
 
 30.338 
 
 29.537 
 
 .801 
 
 July 
 
 30.026 
 
 30 007 
 
 30.015 
 
 30.010 
 
 30 . 285 
 
 29.592 
 
 .093 
 
 August 
 
 30.009 
 
 29.985 
 
 29.989 
 
 30.017 
 
 30.279 
 
 29.562 
 
 .717 
 
 September 
 
 30 167 
 
 30 . 140 
 
 30.160 
 
 30.156 
 
 30.431 
 
 29.780 
 
 .651 
 
 October 
 
 30.187 
 
 30.142 
 
 30.179 
 
 30.167 
 
 30.728 
 
 29 551 
 
 1.177 
 
 November 
 
 30 . 205 
 
 30 159 
 
 30.281 
 
 30.188 
 
 30.580 
 
 29 499 
 
 1.081 
 
 December 
 
 30.180 
 
 30.158 
 
 30.182 
 
 30 162 
 
 30.418 
 
 29.794 
 
 .624 
 
 Annual Mean, at 7 A. M., of 365 observations, 30.085. 
 Annual Mean, at 2 P. M., of 365 observations, 30.045. 
 Annual Mean, at 9 P. M., of 365 observations, 30.086. 
 Annual Mean of 1,095 observations, 30.072. 
 Maximum for the year, 30.723. 
 Minimum for the year, 29.366. 
 Kange, 1.367. 
 
 * 
 
133 
 
 METEOROLOGICAL TABLE No. 2. 
 
 Table showing the State of Thermometer, monthly, for the Year 
 ending December 31, 1879. 
 
 Month— 1879. 
 
 Mean 
 at 
 
 7 A. If. 
 
 Mean 
 
 AT 
 2 P. M. 
 
 Mean 
 at 
 
 9 P. M. 
 
 Monthly 
 Mean. 
 
 Maximum. 
 
 Minimum. 
 
 Range. 
 
 January 
 
 22.27 
 
 30.10 
 
 26.07 
 
 26.16 
 
 46.50 
 
 2. 
 
 
 48.50 
 
 February 
 
 24.32 
 
 30.05 
 
 26.22 
 
 27.54 
 
 45. 
 
 7. 
 
 50 
 
 37 50 
 
 March 
 
 30.39 
 
 41.49 
 
 36.22 
 
 36.75 
 
 58. 
 
 19. 
 
 
 39. 
 
 April 
 
 40.75 
 
 51.42 
 
 43 . 98 
 
 44.91 
 
 69. 
 
 21. 
 
 50 
 
 47.50 
 
 May 
 
 54.83 
 
 64.58 
 
 5(1.70 
 
 54.97 
 
 81.50 
 
 39. 
 
 50 
 
 42. 
 
 June.. 
 
 G7.02 
 
 76 66 
 
 67.56 
 
 70.83 
 
 90.50 
 
 47. 
 
 50 
 
 43. 
 
 July 
 
 71.33 
 
 81.86 
 
 72.78 
 
 75.24 
 
 95. 
 
 62. 
 
 50 
 
 32.50 
 
 August 
 
 70.41 
 
 79 
 
 71.74 
 
 73 71 
 
 90.50 
 
 60. 
 
 
 30.50 
 
 September 
 
 61 24 
 
 68.96 
 
 62.35 
 
 64.25 
 
 86. 
 
 45. 
 
 
 41. 
 
 
 55.65 
 
 65.38 
 
 57.60 
 
 61.09 
 
 84. 
 
 31 
 
 50 
 
 52.50 
 
 November 
 
 37.13 
 
 43.62 
 
 38.64 
 
 39.79 
 
 72.50 
 
 21 
 
 
 51.50 
 
 December 
 
 39.94 
 
 41.07 
 
 36.00 
 
 36.34 
 
 58. 
 
 11 
 
 
 47. 
 
 Annual Mean, at 7 A. M., of 365 observations, 47.94 
 Annual Mean, at 2 P. M., of 365 observations, 56.18. 
 Annual Mean at 9 P. M., of 365 observations, 48.81. 
 Annual Mean of 1,095 observations, 50.98. 
 Maximum for the year, 95. 
 Minimum for the year, — 2. (2° below zero.) 
 Range, 97. 
 
134 
 
 METEOROLOGICAL TABLE No. 3. 
 
 Table showing the Duration and Depth of Rain and Snow, 
 monthly, during the Year ending- December 31, 1879. 
 
 - .2 J 
 
 8 
 11 
 15 
 13 
 10 
 14 
 11 
 10 
 8 
 G 
 11 
 16 
 
 133 
 
 Duration. 
 
 4 
 19 
 1 
 
 13 
 13 
 
 9 
 15 
 22 
 . .i 23 
 1 I 19 
 5 9 
 
 33 14 
 
 « 3 
 
 <H A 
 
 Yi> 
 
 77 
 
 2G4 
 
 469 
 
 435 
 
 850 
 
 983 
 
 •215 
 
 956 
 
 531 
 
 835 
 
 051 
 
 25 39.109 
 
 33 a 
 
 25 
 
 38.25 
 
 49 
 
 013 
 
 05 
 
 3.353 
 
 'S 2. * 
 
 a qj 
 
 rj 0< O 
 
 its 
 
 o a g 
 
 3.24 
 2.783 
 3 314 
 4.469 
 2.435 
 2.850 
 3.983 
 9.215 
 1.956 
 .531 
 1 . 995 
 5.691 
 
 42.462 
 
 Hemabks. 
 
 Occasional 
 
 Snow 
 Flurries. 
 
 I 
 
 | Occasional 
 \ Light 
 j Showers. 
 
 I 
 
 Occasional 
 Snow 
 Flurries. 
 
135 
 
 P 
 
 
 'S.IUOJJ 
 
 ■sJLv(j 
 
 0) 
 [> 
 CO 
 
 H 
 
 Es 
 o 
 
 S3 
 02 
 
 S5 
 
 •saqout ni 
 
 'arejj pun 
 •la^tiAY paonp 
 -9.1 mous i«}ox 
 
 •saqoni m 
 o;p9DnpajA\oag i 
 
 •saqoat at 'Avoag 
 
 ONiooonot-mcoHOH 
 
 lO !D lO 
 
 iO OJ i-H lO 
 
 ■* IH OS <M TO 
 
 - - o ^o 
 
 OUJO WO 
 
 IC cn o CI to 
 
 diomi> ; ^ ^ ; '. ! co co 
 
 CO CO CO 
 
 "umtnmij\[ 
 
 •nmunxvpi 
 
 CO 
 
 H 
 
 pq 
 
 • ranraintj^ 
 
 tnnraixBjij 
 
 io io o co o o a o ?i io tc o 
 
 mot-ciiot^jicMnoici'* 
 
 OOBiOCJI»f5CS«SCTt-«03 
 
 cfiHcqcoinraioujiniiHrt 
 
 O^OOOOOOOlOfflXOOfflOl 
 
 •tmtooocoxoiTiTioim 
 
 OQOC£>lOTOCO<NCO-Ot~Ol^ 
 
 ooxoncot-xx^Nco 
 
 i— it HOeOCMHCOHlOOO 
 
 rioocr-oooor-iooo 
 
 >. s ■ ® s 
 
 s Sjj : : : 1 1,2 a a 
 
 P <V J5 S S d <o O O 0) 
 
136 
 
 Summary for the six yearn. 
 BAROMETER. 
 
 Mean, for 6,573 observations 30.051 
 
 Maximum, February 5, 1870 30.894 
 
 Minimum, November 22, 1878 29.125 
 
 Range 1.769 
 
 THERMOMETER. 
 
 Mean, for 6,573 observations 51 . 22 
 
 Maximum, July 9, 1876 98.50 
 
 Minimum, January 3, 1879 2.00 
 
 Eange 100.50 
 
 RAIN AND SNOW. 
 
 Total fall of snow in inches 192.50 
 
 Reduced to water 23 . 260 
 
 Total fall of rain 237.182 
 
 Total fall of snow reduced to water and rain 260.448 
 
 DURATION. 
 
 The time in which rain and snow fell : 
 
 224 days, 22 hours, 28 minutes. 
 
The following comprises the several Acts of the Legis- 
 lature, relative to the Brooklyn Park Commissioners, during 
 the period covered by this Report : 
 
 CHAPTER 572. 
 
 An Act to amend an Act entitled "An Act to provide for the 
 improvement of the Coney Island plunk road, as recently 
 widened, passed May three, eighteen hundred and seventy- 
 two." 
 
 Passed May 25, 1874; three-fifths being present. 
 
 The People of the State of New York, represented in /Senate 
 and Assembly, do enact as follows: 
 
 Section 1. Section one of the Act entitled " An Act to pro- 
 vide for the improvement of the Coney Island plank road, as 
 recently widened, passed May three, eighteen hundred and 
 seventy-two," is hereby amended so as to read as follows: 
 
 § 1. The Brooklyn Park Commissioners are hereby authorized 
 to grade, gravel, curb and gutter that portion of the Coney 
 Island plank road, as recently widened, lying between the circle 
 at the southwesterly angle of Prospect Park and Church lane, and 
 said Church lane from said road to Ocean Parkway, according to 
 a plan to be devised and adopted by them. All expenses inci- 
 dent to said improvements, after having been duly certified by 
 the said Park Commissioners to the Commissioners of Estimate 
 and Assessment, appointed as hereinafter directed, shall be by 
 them apportioned and assessed upon the property in their judg- 
 ment benefited thereby, within a district of Assessment to be 
 fixed by the said Park Commissioners ; but no district of assess- 
 ment shall extend beyond the termini of the improvements pro- 
 vided for in this Act, and the assessments specified in their 
 report, when filed in the office of the Clerk of the county of 
 Kings and duly confirmed by an order of the Supreme Court at 
 Special Term, upon an application therefor, of which ten days' 
 notice shall have been given in two newspapers printed in the 
 city of Brooklyn, shall constitute liens upon the several parcels 
 
138 
 
 of lands and premises upon which they shall have been laid, and 
 shall be collected in the manner hereinafter directed. The said 
 Part Commissioners may also contract in writing, for the making 
 of the said improvement and may, from time to time, as the work 
 progresses, issue to the contractors in the name and upon the 
 authority of the said Commissioners, certificates of indebtedness 
 bearing interest, to the extent of eighty per cent of the work com- 
 pleted by said contractors, payable out of the assessments there- 
 for, when collected. The Supreme Court, in the Second Judicial 
 District, at a Special Term thereof, shall, upon application of said 
 Park Commissioners, on notice of ten days, to be published in 
 two papers in the city of Brooklyn, appoint three Commissioners I 
 of Estimate and Assessment, who shall be residents of the town 
 of Klatbush, who shall have the powers and perforin the duties 
 of the Commissioners of Estimate and Assessment, who acted in 
 estimating the damages incident to the widening and opening of 
 the said road. All the provisions of chapter seven hundred and 
 seventy-one, of the laws of eighteen hundred and seventy-three, 
 so far as relates to the collection of* the assessments herein pro- 
 vided for, and the sale for the non-payment of the same, and the 
 lien thereof, shall apply to and become part of this Act, except that 
 no fees for collecting shall be charged against any property 
 belonging to the city of Brooklyn or to the county of Kings. 
 
 § 2. This Act shall take effect immediately. 
 
 CHAPTER 583. 
 
 An Act to lay out and improve a public highway or avenue and 
 concourse, in continuation of a public highway or avenue here- 
 tofore laid out from Prospect Park in the city of Brooklyn 
 toward Coney Island in the county of Kings. 
 
 Passed May 25, 1874 ; three-fifths being present. 
 
 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate 
 and Assembly, do enact as foliovis: 
 
 Section 1. The Brooklyn Park Commissioners are hereby 
 authorized and directed to lay out and improve a public highway 
 or avenue, not more than two hundred and ten feet wide, ex- 
 clusive of the court-yards hereinafter provided for, commencing 
 on the northerly side of the King's highway, so called, at the point 
 of termination of the public highway or avenue, from Prospect 
 Park in the city of Brooklyn toward Coney Island in the county 
 
139 
 
 of Kings, as the same is laid out pursuant to the provisions of 
 chapter eight hundred and sixty-one, <>t' the laws of eighteen 
 hundred and sixty-nine, and the several Acts amending the same, 
 running thence in a general southerly direction through the town 
 of Gravesend, and on and across Coney Island ro the Atlantic 
 Ocean. They shall also lay out a road or highway, one hundred 
 feet wide, through and along the northerly and easterly side 
 of the lands of the Prospect Park Fair Grounds Association, and 
 the laws adjoining the same on the north and east, commencing 
 where tRe said proposed road will intersect the said Ocean Park- 
 wayj at the northerly side of lands of said association, and ter- 
 minating at the said continuation of the said Ocean Parkway on 
 the southerly side of said lands. 
 
 They shall aiso lay out and open and improve such concourse 
 or shore road at the southerly terminus of said highway, hereby 
 extended, as in their judgment shaTl be wi-e and propel', not ex- 
 ceeding "three thousand feet in length on each side along the 
 beach, and five hundred feet in width, exclusive oi such accretions 
 or additions which may be caused by the action of the elements 
 or otherwise, on the southerly side thereof, which accretions, if 
 any, shall attach thereto and be under the same control and care 
 of the Brooklyn Park Commissioners, as the said concourse or 
 shore road shall or ma} 7 be. And for this purpose they may enter 
 upon any lands that may be necessary, and cause a proper survey 
 and map of the said avenue, as well as of the district of assessment 
 therefor to be made. 
 
 § 2. No buildings or other erections, except porches, piazzas, 
 fences, fountains and statuary shall remain or be at any time 
 placed upon said avenue within thirty feet from the outside lines 
 thereof, which space on each side of the said avenue, and in 
 addition thereto, shall be used for the court-yards only, and may 
 be planted with trees and shrubbery, and otherwise ornamented, 
 at the discretion of the respective owners or occupants thereof; 
 but such use and ornamentation shall be under the direction of 
 the said Park Commissioners. 
 
 § 3. The said Commissioners are hereby also directed to grade 
 and otherwise improve said concourse, lateral, branch or shore 
 road at the ocean beach, the said one bundled feet road, and also 
 so much of the said avenue as lies south of the lands of the said 
 association, and also so much of said avenue as lies between the 
 present termination of Ocean Parkway and the point where said 
 one hundred feet road commences, and in order to determine the 
 
 IS 
 
* 
 
 140 
 
 amount to be paid to the owners of the land.- and tenements 
 required to he taken for the purposes of this Act and for the 
 improvement thereof, the said Commissioners shall first fix a 
 district of assessment for the opening and improvement of the said 
 continued parkway, and another district of assessment for the 
 opening and improvement of said one hundred feet road, within 
 which several districts the property to he benefited shall be 
 assessed to defray the expenses of such several takings, as well 
 as of the improvement thereof. Notice of the time* and place 
 of fixing the said districts, and of hearing the parties inter- 
 ested therein, shall be published for ten days successively in at 
 least two daily newspapers printed and published in the county 
 of Kings. 
 
 § 4. After fixing the said districts of assessment the said Com- 
 missioners shall apply to the Supreme Court at a Special Term to 
 lie held in the Second Judicial District, upon a similar notice, for 
 the appointment of three Commissioners, who sha'l he freeholders 
 and residents of the said county, to estimate the value of the 
 lands and premises required to he taken for the purposes of this 
 Act, and the damages to be sustained by any person interested 
 therein, as well by the taking of the land as by the restriction or 
 easement thereon, specified in the second section of this Act, 
 or for the relinquishment of any easement now existing thereon 
 or attaching thereto, together with the expenses of said opening 
 and of the improvement thereof; and also, to apportion and assess 
 the same both for the taking and improving in such manner as 
 they shall deem just and equitable, upon the property to be bene- 
 fited within the districts of assessment so to he fixed by the said 
 Park Commissioners, and the said Court, at Special Term, shall 
 thereupon proceed to make such appointment, in case of the 
 death or refusal to act, or other disability of the Commissioners 
 so to be appointed, or either of them, at any time before the 
 several objects of their appointment shall have been accom- 
 plished, the said Court, at Special Term, may fill the vacancy. 
 
 § 5. The Commissioners so to be appointed by the Court, after 
 having been duly sworn faithfully to perform the duties hereby 
 devolved upon them, shall proceed to make the estimates and 
 assessments referred to in the last preceding sections of this Act. 
 And in laying the assessment for improvement, the expense of 
 improving the said one hundred feet road shall be charged upon 
 the lands of the said Prospect Park Pair Grounds Association. 
 Each of the said reports shall, at all times, before confirmation, be 
 
141 
 
 subject to view and correction, and ten days' notice of the time 
 and place of hearing objections thereto, and of reviewing and 
 correct i tig the same, shall be published in the newspapers above 
 referred to. After hearing such objections and making the cor- 
 rections, if any be required, the reports shall be delivered to the 
 snid Park Commissioners. 
 
 § (5. Upon receiving the said reports, or either of them, the 
 said Park Commissioners shall give ten days' notice in the said 
 newspapers, that application will be made to the said Court, at a 
 Special Term, at a time and place to be therein designated, to have 
 the same continued. Appeals may be taken from said reports, or 
 any of them, by giving written notice to the attorney of the said 
 Commissioners, at least six days before the time fixed for the 
 application to confirm the same, with a specification of the nature 
 of the objections; and the Court shall have power to confirm, 
 amend or refer back the said reports, or either of them, as it may 
 deem proper, and to make any further order in the premises, 
 until the final confirmation thereof. 
 
 § 7. After the reports of estimate and assessment for taking 
 and opening the said avenue and one hundred feet road, and said 
 concourse or lateral branch or shore road at the ocean beach, 
 shall have been confirmed, the title to the concourse or lateral 
 branch or shore road, shall vest in the county of Kings in fee- 
 simple absolute,' and : aid reports together with the maps herein- 
 before referred to, shall be filed in the- office of the Clerk of the 
 county of Kings, and the said Park Commissioners shall be there- 
 upon authorized to improve the said avenue and one hundred feet 
 road and said concourse, lateral branch or shore road at the ocean 
 beach, according to a plan lo be devised or adopted by them ; 
 and for that purpose they may cause the same to be graded, 
 paved, curbed, guttered and bridged, and shade trees planted 
 thereon, and may lay out and construct such carriage-ways, side- 
 walks and areas, with such terraces, drives or concourses on the 
 ocean beach as they may deem expedient, and such improvements 
 may be made in sections, and from time to time, it they shall so 
 elect. 
 
 § 8. All expenses incident to such improvements, or either or any 
 of them, after having been duly certified by the said Park Commis- 
 sioners to the said Commissioners of Estimate and Assessment, shall 
 be by them apportioned and assessed upon the property in their 
 judgment benefited thereby, within the several districts of assess- 
 
142 
 
 ment so to be fixed by the said Park Commissioners. The expense 
 of constructing the drive and concourse on the ocean beach, as 
 well as ol' nidi bridges as nia\ be required fur such parkway, not 
 exceeding tire sum of 'fifteen thousand dollars, shall be a charge on 
 the county of Kings, and of the expense of constructing the said 
 parkway south of a point which is distant fifteen hundred feet 
 southerly from the Neck road, so called, not exceeding one-half 
 shall be charged and assessed against the property in the judg- 
 ment of the Commissioners benefited by said improvement, and 
 so much thereof as shall he charged and assessed against the 
 county of Kings, either for the opening or improvement thereof, 
 the Supervisors of the said county are hereby directed to raise 
 by tax upon the requisition of the Park Commissioners, and the 
 County Treasurer to pay the proceeds thereof to the persons en-- 
 titled to receive the same npon like requisition. And the 
 reports of the Commissioners of Assessment shall be subject to 
 objection and appeal and to confirmation in the same manner as 
 their said former assessment reports; but the expenses of no por- 
 tion of said parkway shall be a charge upon the county of Kings. 
 
 § 9. All assessments made and confirmed in pursuance of this 
 Act shall be liens upon the lands and premises upon which they 
 shall have been laid, and such lands and premises shall be subject 
 to he sold for the assessments referred to in the fifth and sixth-- 
 sections of this Act, if such assessments are not paid within ninety 
 days after the confirmation thereof. The present existing pro- 
 visions of law applicable to sales for taxes and assessments in the 
 city of Brooklyn, to redemptions and leases therefor, and to the 
 respective rig. its of the parties interested therein, including the 
 rate of interest to be paid by the parties in default, shall apply to 
 all assessments to be laid under this Act whenever- they are not 
 inconsistent therewith. And when any duties are by said laws 
 imposed upon the Common Council of said city, they shall devolve 
 upon the said Park Commissioners; and where imposed upon 
 subordinate officers of the city, they shall he performed by per- 
 sons to be specially appointed by the said Park Commissioners. 
 
 § 10. The said Park Commissioners may appoint one or more 
 collectors of all assessments to be laid under this Act, who shall 
 severally give bonds for the faithful performance of their duties, 
 and for the prompt payment of all the moneys to he 'collected by 
 them. The collector of any assessment shall be entitled to re- 
 ceive a compensation of one per cent on all moneys paid to him, 
 within two weeks after he .shall have published notice in said 
 
143 
 
 newspapers twice a week, for four weeks, of the time and place 
 where he will attend to receive payment. After the expiration 
 of six weeks from the first publication of the said notice, the col- 
 lector shall he entitled to three per cent on all moneys thereafter 
 to he collected by him, and in either case his compensation shall 
 be paid by the party assessed, over and above his assessment and 
 as part thereof; and the lien of the assessment shall extend to 
 such compensation, except that no fees shall be allowed for the 
 collection of the amount assessed against the county of Kings. 
 In case any assessment shall remain unpaid after the expiration 
 of the time above specified, the collector shall proceed to sell at 
 public auction, for the lowest term of years for which any person 
 will take the same and pay the amount so remaining unpaid, with 
 interest from the time of the confirmation of the Assessment 
 report, together with two per cent for collector's fees, and three 
 dollars on each parcel in addition for the expanses of advertising 
 and sale, and said collector first giving thirty days' notice of the 
 time and place of sale, by publishing the same in two daily news- 
 papers printed in the county of Kings twice a week for three 
 weeks. Upon a sale being made, the said collector shall give cer- 
 tificates of sale to purchasers, and shall also execute and deliver 
 conveyances of the lands so purchased, unless the same shall 
 ^have been redeemed by an owner, lessee or mortgagee thereof, 
 within two years from the time of sale, by paying to the pur- 
 chaser, or to the said Brooklyn Park Commissioners, for his use, 
 the amount paid by him with interest at the rate of twelve per 
 cent per annum. The said certificates of sale shall be recorded 
 by the purchasers, in the office of the Register of Deeds in and 
 for the county of Kings, and shall constitute liens upon the 
 premises therein described, after the same shall have been so re- 
 corded, and shall take precedence of all other liens except for 
 unpaid taxes or assessments. And all interest to be collected at 
 the said sale, shall be credited and paidjPTY? rata among all parties 
 entitled to receive awards upon the said opening. Upon the 
 final collection of any assessment to be made under this Act, it 
 shall he paid over by the said Park Commissioners, to the several 
 persons entitled to receive the same. 
 
 § 11. After the said avenue shall have been opened, the said 
 avenue, and the concourse lateral branch or shore road, at the 
 ocean beach, shall be under the exclusive charge and management 
 of the said Park Commissioners, and they shall make and enforce 
 rules and regulations for the proper use thereof. And after the 
 
144 
 
 K.iid avenue and shore road shall have heen improved as herein- 
 before directed, its subsequent maintenance shall he a charge 
 upon the city of Brooklyn, and such amounts as the said Park 
 Commissioners shall, from time to time, by resolution, determine 
 to he neces-ary for the purpose, shall he annually raised by the 
 Board of Supervisors of the county of Kings, and collected in 
 the taxes of the current year, and paid over to the said Park 
 Commissioners. 
 
 § 12. The said Commissioners of Estimate and Assessment shall 
 be severally entitled to receive three dollars a day for each and 
 every day necessarily employed in the discharge of their duties, 
 ai.d their compensation, with room-hire, stationery, and other 
 necessary expenses, together with the compensation of the sur- 
 veyor, counsel, and other persons to be necessarily employed 
 under the foregoing provisions of this Act, (and who are hereby 
 directed to be employed by the said Park Commissioners), shall 
 be included in the general expenses to be incurred herein. 
 
 § 13. This Act shall take effect immediately. 
 
 CHAPTER 588. 
 
 An Act to provide for the completion and improvement of^ 
 Sackett, Douglass and Degraw streets, in the city of Brooklyn, 
 and also for the collection and payment of all moneys expended 
 or indebtedness incurred by said city on account of the im- 
 provement of such streets by the Brooklyn Park Commissioners. 
 
 Passed June 1, 1874; three fifths being present. 
 
 The People of the /State of Neiv York, represented in Senate 
 and Assembly, do enact as follows: 
 
 Section 1. Sections 4, 7, 9 and 10 of an Act of the Legis- 
 lature entitled " An Act to widen portions of Sackett, Douglass 
 and President streets, and otherwise to alter the Commissioners' 
 map of the city of Brooklyn, passed May sixth, eighteen hundred 
 and sixty-eight, as amended, extended or enlarged by the Acts 
 amendatory of or supplemental to, or said to be amendatory of 
 or supplemental to such Act are hereby (except as hereinafter 
 amended) expressly re-enacted, and the powers granted, or pur- 
 ported, or stated to be granted by such sections and Acts are here- 
 by expressly conferred upon the Brooklyn Park Commissioners 
 and other officers and agents as therein set forth. 
 
145 
 
 § 2. All sums of moneys heretofore at any time paid or ad- 
 vanced to said Tark Commissioners by said city, for or on account 
 of the improvement mentioned in said sections of tlje Act passed 
 May sixth, eighteen hundred and sixty-eight, and the said 
 amendatory and supplemental Acts, together with all the sums 
 hereafter to he advanced under the authority of this Act, with all 
 interest paid by said city at the time of such assessment on ac- 
 count of bonds issued to obtain the money so advanced, shall be 
 assessed, levied and collected in the manner provided in and by 
 this Act, it being the true intent and meaning of ibis Act to 
 make the sums heretofore expended tor such improvement a 
 charge on the same district, and assessable and collectable in the 
 same manner as though such sums had been expended after the 
 passage of this Act. 
 
 § 3. Section four of the Act passed May twenty-second, 
 eighteen hundred and seventy-three, supplemental to the afore- 
 said Act, passed May sixth, eighteen hundred and sixty-eight, is 
 hereby amended by substituting the words "the Board of Super- 
 visors of King's county" for the words "the Joint Board of 
 Supervisors and Common Council of said city" in such section, 
 it being the true intent and meaning of this section to cause the 
 assessment therein referred to be levied by the said Board of 
 ..Supervisors instead of by the Joint Board therein referred to, 
 and the said section is hereby further so amended that the tax or 
 charge therein referred to shall not be collected by said Joint 
 Board, but shall he collected by the officers of said city author- 
 ized to collect taxes therein. 
 
 § 4. Section five of the Act last above referred to is so 
 
 amended that payments therein allowed to l;e made to the 
 
 Comptroller shall be made to the Collector of Taxes and 
 Assessments of said city. 
 
 § 5. This Act shall take effect immediately. 
 
14(1 
 
 CHAPTER 2(35. 
 
 An Act to amend an Act entitled "An Act to widen and im- 
 prove a portion of Washington avenue, in the city of Brook- 
 lyn, and extend the same into the town of Flatbush. Passed 
 April twenty-third, eighteen hundred and seventy." 
 
 Passed May 12, L875 ; three-fifths being present. 
 
 The People of the State of Nero York, represented in Senate 
 and Assembly, do enact as follows : 
 
 SECTION L. Chapter three hundred and seventy-six of the 
 Laws of eighteen hundred and seventy, entitled " An Act to widen 
 and improve a portion of Washington avenue, in the city of 
 Brooklyn, and extend the same into the town of Plathush/' passed 
 April eighteen hundred and seventy, is hereby amended hy 
 adding following section at the end thereof: 
 
 § 10, For the purpose of paying the contractors and other 
 persons employed in the improvement of so much of said avenue 
 as lies within the city of Brooklyn, the usual assessment bonds of 
 the city of Brooklyn shall be issued arid sold by the proper 
 officers of said city to an amount necessary to pay the same, 
 provided nothing herein contained shall authorize the issue of 
 assessment lionds beyond the sum already limited by law. And 
 the said Park Commissioners are hereby authorized to issue to 
 the contractors and other persons employed in making said 
 improvement within the town of Flatbush and outside of the city 
 of Brooklyn, certificates of indebtedness not exceeding the 
 amount due said contractors and other persons employed in said 
 work, bearing interest to a period three months after the date of 
 the confirmation of the assessment report, to be paid out of the 
 moneys collected for assessments on property within said town, 
 which shall be levied and collected within a district of assessment 
 to be fixed by said Park Commissioners on property within the 
 town of Flatbush. All interest heretofore collected try reason of 
 default in payment of the assessment for opening of that part of 
 said avenue hung within the town of Flatbush shall be credited 
 to the interest account of said improvement, and all interest to be 
 collected by reason of default in payment of any assessments 
 under the provisions of this Act, within said town, shall be paid 
 to the contractor or other parties to whom payments are due by 
 reason of such default, in proportion to the amount of their 
 respective claims. 
 
 § 2. This Act shall take effect immediately. 
 
147 
 
 CHAPTER 489. 
 
 An Act to amend chapter five hundred and eighty-three of the 
 Laws of eighteen hundred and seventy-four, entitled "An Act 
 to lay ont and improve a public highway or avenue heretofore 
 laid out from Prospect Park, in the city of Brooklyn, toward 
 Coney Island, in the county of Kings " 
 
 Passed June 5, 1875 ; three-fifths being present. 
 
 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate 
 and Assembly, do enact as follows : 
 
 Section 1. Section eight of chapter five hundred and eighty- 
 three of the Laws of eighteen hundred and seventy-four,, entitled 
 "An Act to lay out and improve a public highway or avenue 
 and concourse in continuation of a public highway or avenue 
 heretofore laid out from Prospect Park, in the city of Brooklyn, 
 toward Coney Island, in the county Kings," is hereby amended so 
 as to read as follows: 
 
 § 8. All expenses incident to said improvements, or either or any 
 of them, after having been duly certified by the said Park Com- 
 missioners to the said Commissioners of Estimate and Assessment, 
 shall be b}' them apportioned and assessed upon the property in 
 their judgment benefited thereby, within the several districts of 
 assessment so to be fixed by the said Park Commissioners. The 
 expense of constructing the drive and concourse on the ocean 
 beach, as well as of such bridges as may be required for such 
 Parkway, shall be a charge on the county of Kings, and of the 
 expense of constructing the said Parkway south of a point which 
 is distant fifteen hundred feet southerly from the Neck road, so 
 called, not exceeding one-half shall be charged and assessed 
 against the property in the judgment of the Commissioners bene- 
 fited by said improvement, and so much thereof as shall be 
 charged and assessed against the county of Kings, either for the 
 opening or improvement thereof, shall be paid thereof by the 
 County Treasurer to the persons entitled to receive the same, 
 upon the certificate of the Brooklyn Park Commissioners. And 
 the reports of the Commissioners of Assessment shall be subject 
 to objection and appeal and to confirmation, in the same manner 
 as their said former assessment reports. 
 
 § 2. Said Act is amended by adding at the end thereof the 
 following sections : 
 
 19 
 
148 
 
 § 13. The said Park Commissioners may contract in writing 
 for the making of all or any of the said improvements, after in- 
 viting proposals for doing the work and furnishing the materials, 
 by publication for one week in said two daily newspapers, printed 
 and published in the county of Kings, and tiling a copy of each of 
 said contracts in the office of the Treasurer of the county of 
 Kings within ten days after the making of the same. And 
 they may from time to time as the work progresses, but not 
 oftener than once a month, issue to the contractors certificates of 
 the amount cf work and materials done and furnished under such 
 contracts. The said Treasurer is hereby authorized and directed 
 to pay seventy-five per cent of such amounts to said contractors 
 or their assigns, and upon the final completion of their said con- 
 tracts, and upon filing a certificate thereof in the office of the 
 said Treasurer, he shall pay to the said contractors or their 
 assigns the balance of the several amounts due under their con- 
 tracts. The said Treasurer shall also pay to the Surveyor, Com- 
 misioners, Counsel and other persons to be employed upon the 
 said work, and upon the laying of said improvement, such amounts 
 for services and necessary disbursements as shall be specified in 
 the assessment reports after they shall have been duly confirmed 
 by the Court. For the purpose of furnishing the money required 
 to make all such payments, and for the payment of so much 
 thereof as may be charged or assessed to the county, including 
 the amount expended for the improvement of said concourse, the 
 county of Kings is authorized, and the proper officers thereof are 
 hereby directed, to issue certificates of indebtedness to the neces- 
 sary amount, not exceeding two hundred thousand dollars, bear- 
 ing interest at seven per cent per annum, payable on or before 
 the expiration of ten years from the date thereof, interest thereon 
 to be payable semi annually, and to sell the same for not less than 
 the par value thereof, and pay contractors and other persons 
 entitled to receive the same on the certificates of the Brooklyn 
 Park Commissioners. 
 
 § 14. The board of Supervisors of the county of Kings shall 
 annually make provision by tax for the payment of interest ac- 
 crued, and to accrue, on such certificates ; and so much thereof as 
 is chargeable against the several parcels of property assessed 
 shall be levied on the same as part of the general tax for the 
 improvement ; and in the year preceding the maturity of said 
 certificates, the amount of any assessment remaining unpaid, with 
 interest, if any, accrued thereon, shall form a part of and be levied 
 
149 
 
 and assessed upon the property chargeable with said assessment, 
 as part of the general tax upon said lands for the general ex- 
 penses of the said county ; and in ease there shall be separate 
 interests divided, or undivided, arising from a transfer of the prop- 
 erty assessed or any part thereof, at or at any time previous to the 
 making of said levy or sale therefor, and the same shall be made 
 to appear to the satisfaction of the said Park Commissioners, 
 they may apportion the amount assessed thereon between the 
 owners of the respective parts thereof, and all provisions of law- 
 applicable to the redemption of lands from sale for taxes shall 
 apply to the several interests and amounts so apportioned. 
 
 § 3. The second sub-division of section one of said Act is 
 amended so as to read as follows : 
 
 They shall also lay out and open and improve such concourse 
 or shore road at the southerly terminus of said highway hereby 
 extended as in their judgment shall be wise and proper, not ex- 
 ceeding three thousand feet in length on each side along the 
 beach, and not exceeding one thousand feet in width, exclusive of 
 such accretions or additions which may .be caused by the action 
 of the elements, or otherwise, on the southerly side thereof, 
 which accretions, if any, shall attach thereto and be under the 
 same control and care of the Brooklyn Park Commissioners as 
 the said concourse or shore road shall or may be ; and for this 
 purpose they may enter upon any lands that may be necessary, 
 and cause a proper survey and map of the said avenue, as well 
 as of the district of assessment therefor to be made. 
 
 § 4. This Act shall take effect immediately. 
 
 CHAPTER 546. 
 
 An Act to amend an act entitled " An Act to widen and improve 
 Ninth avenue and Fifteenth street in the city of Brooklyn." 
 
 Passed June 8, 1875 ; three-fifths being present. 
 
 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate 
 and Assembly, do enact an follows: 
 
 Section 1. Section six of chapter seven hundred of the Laws 
 of eighteen hundred and sixty-nine, entitled "An Act to widen 
 and improve Ninth avenue and Fifteenth street," is hereby 
 amended so as to read as follows : 
 
150 
 
 § 6. The said widened street and avenue shall be laid out ac- 
 cording to a plan to he devised or adapted by the said Park Com- 
 missioners ; the sidewalks thereof, which are contiguous to the 
 said Park, shall hi; thirty feet wide, and the opposite sidewalk 
 shall he twenty feet wide, and seven feet in width of said oppo- 
 site sidewalk adjoining the lots facing on said street and avenue 
 may be used for courtyards or areas within which to erect 
 porches or stoops to houses, provided the occupants will inclose 
 such courtyards or areas with good and sufficient iron or picket 
 fences, not exceeding five feet high. The said street and avenue 
 shall also be paved, curbed and guttered in such manner as the 
 the said Park Commissioners shall direct, and the said Commis- 
 sioners may plant the same with suitable shade trees on both 
 sides thereof, and construct such carriageways and walks, and 
 make use of such material of construction or pavements as they 
 shall deem best; and for the purpose of paying the contractors 
 and othe r persons employed in the improvement of said avenue 
 and street, including the amount already expended and advanced 
 on said work by the Brooklyn Park Commissioners, the usual 
 assessment bonds of the city of Brooklyn ^hall be issued and sold 
 by the proper officers of the city to an amount necessary to pay 
 the same, provided that no assessment bonds be issued to pay for 
 any work to be done on said street or avenue unless the consent 
 of the Common Council be first obtained thereto; and also pro- 
 vided that nothing herein contained shall authorize the issue of 
 assessment bonds beyond the sum now limited by law, and out of 
 the proceeds of the sale of the said bonds pay, on the certificate 
 of the Brooklyn Park Commissioners, the several parties or 
 persons entitled to receive the payments provided for in this Act. 
 
 § 2. This Act shall take effect immediately. 
 
 CHAPTER 307. 
 
 An Act to amend an Act passed May eleventh, eighteen hundred 
 and sixty-nine, entitled "An Act to layout and improve a 
 public highway or avenue from Prospect Park, in the city of 
 Brooklyn, toward Coney Island, in the county of Kings." 
 
 Passed May 16, lS7ft; three-fifths being present. 
 
 The People of the State of Nevj York, represented in Senate 
 and Assembly, do enact as follows : 
 
 Section I. The ninth section of the Act entitled "An Act to 
 lay out and improve a public highway or avenue, from Prospect 
 
151 
 
 Park, in the city of Brooklyn, toward Coney Island, in the 
 county of Kings," passed May eleventh, eighteen hundred and 
 sixty-nine, is hereby amended so as to read as follows : 
 
 § 9. All assessments made and confirmed, in pursuance of this 
 Act, shall be liens upon the land and premises upon which they 
 shall have been laid, and such lands and premises shall be subject 
 to be sold for the assessments referred to in the fifth and sixth sec- 
 tions of tkis Act, if such assessments are not paid within ninety 
 days after the confirmation thereof. All laws applicable to or 
 governing the returns of arrears of taxes or assessments on lands 
 of non-residenrs, made or to be made to the State Comptroller 
 by comity treasurers and the proceedings thereupon, shall apply 
 to all assessments to be laid under this Act, whenever they are 
 not inconsistent therewith, and when any duties are, by said laws, 
 imposed upon the Common Council of said city, they shall 
 devolve upon the said Park Commissioners, and when imposed 
 upon subordinate officers of the city, they shall be performed by 
 persons to be specialty appointed by the said Park Commis- 
 sioners. 
 
 § 2. Nothing contained in this Act shall affect any sales here- 
 tofore made for any assessment levied under said Act of May 
 eleventh, eighteen hundred and sixty nine. 
 
 § 3. This Act shall take effect immediately. 
 
 CHAPTER 336. 
 
 An Act to provide for the payment of an award due from the 
 city of Brooklyn to the Brooklyn Park Commissioners for 
 lands taken from Prospect Park for reservoir purposes. 
 
 Passed May 15, 1876 ; three-fifths being present. 
 
 The People of the State of Neio York, represented in Senate 
 and Assembly, do enact as follows : 
 
 Section 1. The Mayor, Comptroller and City Clerk of the 
 city of Brooklyn are hereby authorized and directed to make, 
 issue and sell the bonds of said city, to an amount necessary, and 
 pay from the proceeds of the sale of such bonds the amount of 
 the award made for lands taken about the Prospect Hill Reser- 
 voir by the referee's report on tile in the office of the Comp- 
 troller of said city, date June twentieth, eighteen hundred and 
 seventy-four, and amounting to two hundred and fifteen thousand 
 three hundred and sixty-five dollars, and interest on the same 
 from the date of said report. 
 
152 
 
 § 2. The Brooklyn Park Commissioners are hereby authorized 
 and directed to expend said moneys so received in liquidating any 
 indebtedness due, or for moneys borrowed, to improve the Park 
 lands of said city authorized to be sold. 
 
 ? 3. This Act shall take effect immediately. 
 
 CHAPTER 352. 
 
 An Act to amend chapter five hundred and eighty-three of the 
 Law s of eighteen hundred and seventy four, entitled, "An Act 
 to lay out and improve a public highway or avenue, heretofore 
 laid out from Prospect Park, in the city of Brooklyn, toward 
 Coney Island, in the county of Kings." 
 
 Passed May 16, 187(5; three-fifths being present. 
 
 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate 
 and Assembly, do enact as follows : 
 
 Section 1. Section seven of chapter five hundred and eighty- 
 three of the Laws of eighteen hundred and seventy-four, entitled, 
 "An Act to lay out and improve a public highway or avenue 
 heretofore laid out from Prospect Park, in the city of Brooklyn, 
 toward Coney Island, in the county of Kings," is hereby amended 
 so as to read as follows : 
 
 § 7. After the reports of estimate and assessment for taking 
 and opening the said avenue, and said concourse or lateral branch 
 or shore road at the ocean beach, shall have been confirmed, the 
 title to the concourse or lateral branch or shore road shall vest in 
 county of Kings in fee simple, absolute, and said reports, together 
 with the maps hereinbefore referred to, shall be filed in the office 
 of the Clerk of the comity of Kings, and the said Brooklyn Park 
 Commissioners shall be thereupon authorized to improve the 
 said avenue and said concourse, lateral branch or shore road 
 at the ocean beach, according to plans devised and adopted by 
 them ; and for that purpose they may cause the same to be graded, 
 paved, curbed, guttered and bridged, and shade trees planted 
 thereon, and may lay out and construct such carriageways, side- 
 walks and areas with such terraces, drives or concourses on the 
 ocean beach as they may deem expedient, and such improvements 
 may be made in sections, and from time to time if they shall so 
 elect. They shall have full and exclusive power to govern and 
 manage the Ocean Parkway from the circle at the southwesterly 
 angle of Prospect Park to the ocean, and direct the public use 
 
153 
 
 thereof, as also the circle* and concourse at cither terminus, and 
 of such parts of the several roads, streets or avenues as run 
 through or intersect the same, and to pass and enforce laws and 
 ordinances for the proper use, regulation and government thereof, 
 and for all the purposes of such government, management and 
 direction of public use, such parts of said roads or avenues as pass 
 through or intersect said circles, shall he deemed to be a part of 
 Prospect Park, and it shall he under like control and manage- 
 ment as said parkway. 
 
 § 2. Said Act is hereby amended by adding at the end there- 
 of, the following section : 
 
 <j 15. The said Brooklyn Park Commissioners are hereby au- 
 thorized to expend a sum not exceeding ten thousand dollars 
 without contract, in the payment of laborers' wages, and in the 
 purchase of such lands and materials as may be necessary for the 
 construction of said avenue or concourse, to be paid out of any 
 moneys they are authorized to expend tor said improvements and 
 upon their certificate, but nothing herein contained shall be con- 
 strued to authorize any expenditure in excess of the amount now 
 fixed by law. 
 
 § 3. This Act shall take effect immediately. 
 
 CHAPTER 458. 
 
 An Act to enable the city of Brooklyn to raise further means 
 for the improvement and sale of certain portions' of Prospect 
 Park, in said city. 
 
 Passed June 16, 1877 ; three-fifths being present. 
 
 The people of the State of New' York, represented in Senate 
 and Assembly, do enact as follows : 
 
 Section 1. The Common Council of the city of Brooklyn are 
 hereby authorized to raise a further sum, not exceeding two hun- 
 dred thousand dollars, for grading, draining, regulating and 
 otherwise improving the lands of Prospect Park, pursuant to 
 chapter three hundred and seventy-three of the Laws of eighteen 
 hundred and seventy, entitled "An Act to authorize the improve- 
 ment and sale of certain portions of Prospect Park, in the city of 
 Brooklyn, and the Acts amendatory thereof," and to make pro- 
 vision for the expenditure of the amonnt raised ; and for the pur- 
 
ir>4 
 
 puses of this Act the bonds of the city, known as Park Bonds, 
 and payable ont of the sale of park lands authorized to he t*old 
 may be issued in such fonh and payable at such times and in 
 such manner as the said Common Council may direct. 
 
 CHAPTER 362. 
 
 An Act to transfer the care and control of Bedford avenue, in 
 the city of Brooklyn, to the Park Commissioners of said city. 
 
 Passed May '24, 1878 ; three fifths being present. 
 
 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate 
 and Asxemhl ;/,,<lo enact as follows: 
 
 Section 1. 1'' rum and after the first day of January, eighteen 
 hundred and seventy-nine, the care an i management of Bedford 
 avenue, in the city of Brooklyn, throughout its entire length, 
 including the repairs of the existing pavement thereon and 
 cleaning; thereof, are hereby vested in the Park Commissioners of 
 said city and said Commissioners are Authorized and directed 
 from and after said date to keep the same clean and in good 
 repair, and to make such needful rules and regulations in respect 
 to said avenue, the preservation of its walks and roadway, and 
 the puclic use thereof, as they may deem proper to maintain the 
 same as a public drive or parkway, and the powers heretofore 
 vested in or exercised by other city officers or boards in said city, 
 in respect to said avenue, are hereby transferred to said Park 
 Commissioners, provided that no expense herein authorized shall 
 he met by the issue of Park bonds. 
 
 § 2. This Act shall take effect immediately. 
 
Communication to the Board of Supervisors of Kings 
 County, relative to the sale of a portion of the Concourse 
 at Coney Island. 
 
 Office of Pauk Commissioners, } 
 Brooklyn, February 25, 1880. ) 
 
 To the Board of Supervisors, Kings County : 
 
 Gentlemen : 
 
 The Board of Brooklyn Park Commissioners ben - leave to ask 
 your consideration to the following suggestions in reference to a 
 question upon which they were invited some time since tc give 
 their views by a Committee of your Board, as to disposing by 
 sale, of the portion of the property known as the Concourse at 
 Coney Island, which it is believed may be now parted with with- 
 out disadvantage to the public interest. 
 
 The tract to which this proposition is intended to apply 
 includes only that part of the seventy acres originally acquired, 
 which lies to the rear or north of the northerly boundary of the 
 present roadway and sidewalk, and contemplates the reservation 
 for public purposes of all south of this same line, and includes 
 the drives, walks and all the intervening beach to the lowest 
 water line. 
 
 The development of the Island to this date, and the clearly 
 defined tendencies of the improvements in the future would seem » 
 to indicate that the proposed curtailment of the present area 
 would in no material degree contract or otherwise encroach upon 
 the privileges and benefits which were originally contemplated by 
 the commission, to be derived from its use by the public. 
 
 Some further reasons in support of this proposition may be 
 found in the following: In view of the continued reluctance 
 manifested by the authorities to expend mone} 7 on other than 
 what they deem to be strictly utilitarian or unavoidable work, it 
 is of some importance to note that the sale of this portion of the 
 county property would do away with the ultimate expenditure of 
 
 18* 
 
156 
 
 a considerable amount of money required for its improvement, 
 any plan of which would involve a large amount of filling to 
 level up the area to such an elevation as would render its use 
 practicable in connection with the present drive, the Parkway, 
 and approaches to the beach. 
 
 A considerable outlay would also be needed to develope the 
 necessary features of the superstructure, such as soiling, walks, 
 roads, trees, shrubs, turf, &c. A further expense would be en- 
 tailed in the like necessary subsequent provision of a Maintenance 
 fund, which, as viewed by a portion of the public representatives, 
 would be probably characterized as a public burden. 
 
 The Concourse occupies a conspicuous position, and is, so to 
 speak, almost the centre of gravity of the Island, separating on 
 either hand the most extensively improved portions. In its ex- 
 isting barren and unsightly condition, it presents an incongruous 
 and undesirable intervening space, the prevailing feature of which 
 it should be your duty or ours to change and improve if it is 
 deemed desirable to retain it. If this property can be sold under 
 appropriate conditions and restrictions, such as may be without 
 difficulty arranged for, the remaining property to be reserved for 
 the public use, can, it is believed, be environed by a class of im- 
 provements, such as hotels and other structures, which, in the 
 matter of design and in the facilities afforded, will greatly enhance 
 its value, and by the accruing advantages add to the convenience 
 and interest of the community at large, who will continue to seek 
 recreation where it can be afforded at comparatively small 
 expense and obtained with such little sacrifice of time. 
 
 Not the least important of the reasons which are here advanced 
 is that of the fund to be derived from this sale, which fund, it 
 may be confidently expected, will prove in amount a very satis- 
 factory one. By far the larger part of this money may be by the 
 * County Treasurer invested in Kings Comity Bonds, the income 
 of which should be devoted to the care of the improved portions 
 of the property, and the balance of the fund might with propriety 
 be expended in improvements which would be found desirable, 
 and in providing and extending facilities in which the owners and 
 lessees of the Island and the public generally would share in 
 common, and with such a fund it will be possible for the Park 
 Commission to inaugurate a class of improvements, which, 
 with the education of experience, the growth of the public taste, 
 as well as a larger view of owners and lessees that it is hoped 
 will prevail, will be demanded in the near future, and will merit 
 and receive due recognition. 
 
 4 
 
157 
 
 Among such improvements as are here referred to as possible, 
 may be enumerate ! the extension in a substantial and attractive 
 form of the existing carriageway and promenade, together with 
 such other equally acceptable features as would be entitled to 
 consideration; the introduction and care of such trees and shrubs 
 as might be found upon careful inquiry and experiment to 
 promise permanent satisfactory growth and development on the 
 Island. 
 
 The enlargement of the facilities for providing pure water 
 would be found to be necessary, also a system of sewerage 'could 
 be devised and carried out in part and to such an extent at least 
 as would make certain its practicability and serve as a nucleus for 
 its extension to those parts of the Island where relief in this 
 direction will soon be a necessity. 
 
 The Park Commissioners fully appreciate and have carefully 
 weighed the advantages to be derived by the public from the use 
 of property so eligibly located as is the Concourse, and having 
 secured it, and thus completed a scheme devised by them more 
 than ten years ago, they would hesitate to make or consider any 
 proposition that would seem to be inconsistent with the past, yet 
 they have come to believe that the advantages to result from this 
 sale under such conditions as they would reserve the right in a 
 large degree to define, will ultimately inure to the substantial 
 advantage of our people. 
 
 In conclusion, we beg you to consider the substance of this 
 communication, with the view to enlist your co-operation in 
 securing the legislation necessary to carry out the purposes and 
 ends herein outlined. 
 
 By order of the Park Commission, 
 
 J. S. T. STRANAHAN, 
 
 President.