31 
Grading Operations —The first contract for grading was let 
on June 12, to John Connor, the lowest bidder.* On July 8 the 
Commissioner of Parks directed the contractor to begin work on 
his contract on or before July 14, 1913. Operations were actu- 
ally begun on June 30. The work was specified to be completed 
within 75 working days, and by these terms it should have been 
completed on October 16. It was not, however, completed until 
December 3, 1913, 143 days from the time of beginning. After 
allowing 25 days for extension of time granted, and after deduct- 
ing 36 days for bad weather, Sundays, and holidays, there re- 
mained (143-1360) seven days over time. 
This work has made about two-thirds of the Garden unfit for 
pedestrians, and has made it impossible to walk with comfort 
from the Local Flora section, in the northwest corner of the 
Garden, to the plantations at the southern end. On this account 
the number of classes and other organizations visiting the Garden 
has been noticeably reduced. 
Boulder Wall—In order to save a valuable tree (Pseudolarix 
Kaempferi) which was in danger of being smothered by the fill 
along the top of the embankment northwest of the lake, our own 
laborers constructed a retaining wall of boulders for a distance 
of about 60 feet, and with a maximum height near the center of 
about 7 feet. 
Work in Prospect Park.—It was agreed between the Institute 
and the Park authorities that the Garden laboring force would at- 
tend to all stripping of top-soil, and all tree cutting necessary on 
the embankment at the site of the fill in the park. This work has 
been cared for, and in addition some 18~-20 trees have been pro- 
tected by the building of boulder walls around the bases of the 
trunks. 
All of this work, not of course anticipated when the appropria- 
tion for maintenance for 1913 was asked for, has been a serious 
drain on our laboring force, as it has kept an average of 3-4 men, 
out of a total of only 8-10 laborers (besides a large part of the 
time of the foreman), busy nearly every day during August and 
September. As a result, much of the Garden work proper has 
suffered. 
* A detailed statement of the bids and payments for this work is given 
on page 73 infra, 
