New-York tribune., 1867-04-08
PROSPECT PARK.

SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORr or THE BOARD or COM
MIssIONTES
BruollIyn-COncerniHg whose great hitnre 50 many
cxtlavagant predictions have been hazGrdods soon TO
rejoice I'm public park in every way commensurate with
greatness. The sitc which is that Of the Revolution
ary battle in which the iupulsiyc and patriotic Cen
sullivan lost caste with Washington is not inferior 10 that
of picturesque Greenwood and in many respects superior
10 that o. our boasted Central Park Its boundaries
Nintlarc from Flatbushave to Fifteenth-st tlfteentl
luave- Fianblin-ave Flahusl-ave and thence back
10 the junction Of Ninth and Flatbusl-ayes-lncosin
Tor a public park II is within easy walking
distance Of the present denSely populated portions
hence viii probably find it in he gcCaphca center OF
the great clty whose lung IS intended to be ~ y apply
named Prospect Park any person VIII testify VINO VIII
stand on the crest its CHEST h and with good glass
sweep me asant mo- hEf1on or Ing ~ m
doSpitSiy dcem}ned that BROOKLYN shonid have park
Of dimensions nearly rvag those OF our Central PARK,
and the general plan Of the landscape architects esfs
omstead yanx &C1 has been put G a more 1
he unable TO get clear idea OF NE Parh Gi acSadf
The Park COmm sioncrS, just out of press ana to be
zoo hnea feet of drives 375 nca feet OF brderOads,
and 1875 lneal feet of walks had been
graded, an not an ounce Of road r meal
had been done to the lake bed and shubbcy or
the enccsall important features in landscape alGttc
But. standing on the summit of Lockout Ill., near
the COncy Island road the visitor at glance
shat Prospect Park, being compact square ne instead
OF y paraclOelgm nowhere more than haiI-lhllc III
width may in time become q finer pleasure ground tllh
onrs I'm eNcavating for rOadhcds in that part ot tie
grounds which is known Battle Pass the Iabocts EaNe
turned up mingled balls and bones, showing II TO nave
been The precise spot where the patriot forces ana the
H0>Sans met IN the shock OF batue ana hu In IIoi c
spot whence these relics dug the architects nave
found the VcIitahc ICdOubt which was thrown hp ny
SuiNans men. The commissioners VIII. II u unheccs-
sary TO say, preserve this historic mlOcR intact. Al
The Park grounds 70 hC tOuchcu Dy tue
hand Of inc artist. The whole he nderlaid with an
elaborate OF dTainS considerable valley "a 10 ne
converted into M Dad lake; undcbuSh - no longer lo
dSfIgC the pleasant groves trees ana shruDbtll are
bc planted where the Agricultural las gwen nature
clean shave cascades TO he constructed and bridges
bnh and an ornate ana impo>iBg gate at the principal
entrance. az the junction of Ninth aid vanderbilt d\Ss,
is 10 crown the whole.
The incumbent Commissioners report That soon Altcf
their organization their attention was drawn 10 the
"cNIVagaHt expenditures tht frequently attended pro-
cCedmes perfect the title To land taken for public pur-
poses They found that the fees and expenses uI tom
miSSiuueIs of Estimate and Assessment were entirely M
checked by any legislative enactment and they deter
mined To correct the evil as far rs possible FOR ls puF
they caused provision 10 bC inserted m Inc ac ul
1863 which reserved 10 themselves the selection ana lhc
consequent adjustment OF compensation OF the clerks,
Surveyors ana attorney 10 examine titles necessary lot
the of such Commissioners, and also required them 10
lave their fees aud expenses taxed ny Inc supreme
Court. 4 provision was also inserted IN thc act,
dispensing with tc services Of the city counsel VINO had
usually acted for Commissioners Of Estimate and Assess
mcut the pTcseiatlun of their report Tor continuation
and who finally certified 10 the City Controller, Tor pay
ment. their awalds fOr damages, after COuifihalun
counsel so the Board 1f Commissioners VINO, DcilS
ssUaed Wsiccr, now performs the service without au-
dOna Charge" Other economies have been practsed,
and he rcSGt is that tine Commission has materially re-
duccd be expenditures These were last year, S022 sl
The financial exhibit for 1896 is as follows:
II