8 THE DESIRABILITY AND ACQUISITION OF PARKS 



to its present condition is over $30,000,000. The park 

 system now covers several thousand acres and includes 

 Prospect Park in Brooklyn, one of our oldest parks, the 

 Brooklyn Forest and Bronx Park with its Botanical and 

 Zoological Gardens. 



PHILADELPHIA. The original plan in Philadelphia con- 

 sisted of five small squares to which Independence Square 

 was afterward added. 



Fairmount Park dates back to 1812, when it con- 

 tained five acres. It was enlarged hi 1855 to forty-one 

 acres and in 1867 to its present proportions, mainly in 

 the interests of the public water supply drawn from the 

 Schuylkill River. The Park Commissioners were able to 

 prevent the contamination of the river as far as their 

 jurisdiction extended and to exercise a wholesome influence 

 upon the Councils in the matter of proper sewer construc- 

 tion to intercept the flow from the river. A very interesting 

 report made by a Special Committee of the Commissioners 

 o\ Fairmount Park upon the Preservation of the Purity of 

 the Water Supply, submitted October 11, 1867, and sent to 

 the author through the courtesy of Mr. Carleton E. Davis, 

 Chief of the Bureau of Water, and Mr. Thomas S. Martin, 

 Secretary, contains full information in regard to this matter. 

 In this connection it may be added that park lands may be 

 located so as to combine the park needs with those of the 

 water department. Several American cities have seen this 

 advantage. Surface water supplies as impounded from 

 small streams can be very satisfactorily guarded by the 

 acquisition of the catchment area by the park department. 

 This is one of the very best examples of municipal economy 

 that can be mentioned. 



The area of the Philadelphia parks is now over 5000 

 acres, 1000 acres of which is in Wissahickon Park, a beauti- 



