Year: 1870

The thirteenth annual report of the Central
Park COmmsiOners has been submitted to the Common
Council II is an interesting document showing the
improvements made in the great breathing place OF
New York. and the following brief abstract cannot but
be gratefully received as earnest Of what the Com.


issoners will yet do to make the Park the most delight
full pleasure ground on the continent:


Work has been steadily carried of tho Belvedere.
The massive foundations Of the Merchants Gate
nearly finished the house on the playground and the
Cmdren Cottage completed, and the dairy ready for
Summer trade. All that remains to be done to render
the Terrace Of the most delightful features OF the
Park the insertion of the glass panel that is to admit
the sOcned sunlight upon the statue TO be placed IN the
center. All tho work of covering the ceiling with en-
causc tile has been thoroughly done and the ornamental
ribs of iron that support ii are in their places and
curey botcd The Maze or Labyrinth is so entirely COM
pleted mat the ingenuity OF the acuest plzzler could
not add another perplexlng ntrcacy TO its numerous
windinrs and beautiful fountain has been set up in
Harlem Lake. The walls have been extended IN some
places and splendid bronze figure for the Terrace
fountain is now being cast at Munich, and huge blocks
Of granite from Westerly now on their way for the
base Of the fountain and house has been put up on the
Circle they are erecting large drinking fountain for
thirsty horses These faithful brutes will be pleased to
know that the Commissioners have introduced huge
steam roller Of Is tuns weight to render the roadbeds


The total amount expended by the Commissioners dur
ing The year was s3iO2Gj 81 portion OF which they de-
voted TO the purchase OF Vauaoe adDs Ut -1n 10 te u
and which several wealthy gentlemen have proposed TO
s further increase at their own expense The work on
the Geological Gardens is proceeding rapidly, and the
Meteorological Observatory is now in thorough working
operation The report suggests the establishment Of AS
Economical Observatory discusses the pavement subect
the complete success Of the carriage system
GS,j57 persons having been cheapy transported from
point to point at the cheapest possible rate and pays
special attention 10 the Improvement OF the Chidrens
Department During the year 80 contracts were given
The grounds ON the Lake l259sO carried by the
boats but skates much smaller number The report
further that in eleven 3G5,5n pedestrians,


G equestrian and lSiOG97 vehicles entered the Park
gates In the l3 years between l6 and 1863 the property
in the three wards surrounding the Park increased Ia
value Sl23y57s Proper mention Is made OF the intro.
ductOu Of little carriages drawn by goats the proposal
OF the Beethoven Centennial Association TO erect Con
serVatOry of Music in the Park and the presentation OF
The statue of CoIumbus and the bust of Humboldt The
number OF arrests in the Park during the was only 49,


THE EXTINCT MONSTERS.


Prof waterhouse Hawkins has shifted his quarters
from the Arsenal TO shed on Elghthave and Sixty
This place is fitted up with forge for the iron
work, and is in the immediate vicinity Of the future
PalUOntological Museum, for which excavations have
already been made This han will be l25 feet in length,
BREADTH and 80 feet in hight From the size Of
the restored animals this may appear too low, but the
position for viewing the groups will be gallery
the second OUr ana the objects themselves Will rest In
basement 10 feet below the ground that the gallery
will be nearly central The large group is fairly under
way The rough cast or rather sketch clay. very
animated. 1t the chase or the hadTOsauus
by the lRlaps-the former being species Of animal be-
tween a lizard and n bird, something like q kanga-
roo on an enormous scale ana with curious
bird-like head The lelaps was unqnestonably
carnivOrous and greatly resembles the English megaO-
saurus having rather longer eXremites and neck In
the cast aps devonrng the carcass OF hadro-
One figure represents the attitude Of the hadrO-
rcp0se The spirited nature OF the cast fits 1t
admirably for making abstract science interesting 10 the
general public for few can survey the finished group as
IL will be without gaining some insight into the wonders
the prehistoric world The question OF exposing them
in the open air decided adversely by the Committee
IL concluded alter full discussion that though the
open air exhibition was the more striking ana picturesque
no material save metal would stand The changes OF the
climate