( 4 2b) 



neer of the Department of Parks, am able to report that this 

 work will be taken up at the first opportunity. 



In order to effect satisfactory drainage of the swamps and 

 borders of the river in the northern part of the Garden, the 

 dam in the river at the Lorillard Mansion was lowered about 

 16 inches during the summer, and at the same time rebuilt, 

 furnishing a cascade instead of a water-fall. The effect on 

 the northern part of the grounds was immediately apparent, 

 large areas which have always been saturated being now 

 dry, except during periods of freshet ; this work was accom- 

 plished in accordance with the general plan adopted when 

 work was first begun. 



Water Supply. 



It has not been practicable, nor convenient, during the 

 year to extend the water-supply system of the Garden, but 

 grading and road-building in the northern part of the grounds 

 will be far enough completed during the next season, to per- 

 mit the laying of water-pipes over a large area. In the 

 building of the new driveway, north of the museum building, 

 several hundred feet of i-inch distribution-pipe was laid under 

 the roadway, in order to avoid tearing up the road-surface in 

 the future. 



The building of the 4-foot water-main through the grounds 

 by the City Department of Water Supply, referred to in my 

 last annual report, was entirely completed during the summer. 



Grading. 



The completion of the contract of the Park Department 

 with John B. Devlin, for roads, paths and grading about 

 the public conservatories, was essentially accomplished in the 

 autumn, there remaining the proper surfacing of parts of the 

 roads and paths, and the building of cut-stone piers at the 

 Southern Boulevard entrances to be completed before work 

 can be accepted. This contract is also months overdue, and 

 contains a time-penalty contract. The grading still remain- 

 ing to be done around the public conservatories, in addition 

 to that accomplished under the Devlin contract, is going for- 



