20 



while they felt reluctant in any way to delay the progress of 

 so important a work, urged on by the great mass of the citi- 

 zens of Brooklyn, they deem it but common prudence, and 

 eminently due to the taxpayers of the city, that their actions 

 should be cautious and their movements well considered. 

 Much attention was given to the subject of the boundaries, 

 and an earnest investigation as to whether those designated in 

 the act, were the best which, under the circumstances, could 

 be adopted. They directed their inquiries also to the practical 

 bearing of the laws relating to the park, and endeavoring to 

 ascertain whether their provisions were sufficiently guarded 

 for the interests of the city, and at the same time ample 

 enough for the purposes of the contemplated improve- 

 ments. 



As the law expressly forbids the adoption of " any plan for 

 the laying out, regulation and government of said park, of 

 which the entire expense, when funded, shall require for the 

 payment of the interest thereon, a greater sum than $30,000 

 per annum," it became necessary for the Commissioners, at the 

 very commencement of their duties,' to obtain some definite 

 information on the subject of the ultimate cost of the improve- 

 ment. To this end, the services of an accomplished and ex- 

 perienced engineer were secured, and instructions were given 

 for minute and accurate surveys, general plans and careful 

 estimates of the entire work. 



The report of the engineer, to which the careful attention 

 of the citizens of Brooklyn is earnestly invited, is embodied 

 herein and submitted as a part of the proceedings of the Com- 

 missioners. 



The application for the appointment of Commissioners of 

 Estimate and Assessment is now pending in the Supreme 

 Court. Some question having arisen as to the constitutionality 

 of the law in relation to this subject, the Commissioners sug- 

 gest the propriety of such an alteration in the act as will meet 

 the real or supposed constitutional difficulty. 



This delay on the part of the Supreme Court need not be 

 regarded by the friends of the park improvement as in any 

 way injurious or detrimental. It has given to the Improve- 

 ment Commissioners ample opportunity to consult with the 

 property holders and taxpayers of the city, from whom they 



