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asked our attention, with reference to the several conditions we have 

 thus indicated ; that is to say, with reference to — 



1. Convenience of its shape. 



2. Amplitude of its dimensions. 



3. Its topographical conditions, and the surrounding circumstances, 

 in relation to which the value of its topographical conditions must in 

 part be estimated. 



The fact which first claims attention is the complete bisection of 

 the site by a broad and conspicuous thoroughfare, much used for 

 ordinary and indispensable public travel, between Brooklyn and an 

 important suburb, that connects it with a large district of agricultural 

 country. It is obvious that this division must seriously interfere 

 with the impressions of amplitude and continuous extent, that the 

 general dimensions of the ground assigned for a park would other- 

 wise convey. To establish convenient communication between the 

 two parts would involve a considerable outlay in bridge construc- 

 tion, which would not be called for if the public highway skirted the 

 ground instead of traversing it. A thoroughfare crossing the park 

 might be a useful and even necessary adjunct, if it were so situated 

 that it served to connect two districts of the city that were likely in 

 future to be closely built up, and that would otherwise be widely 

 separated. Such, however, is not the case in the present instance, 

 and a glance at the map of Brooklyn is sufficient to show that the 

 line of travel, accommodated by the park section of Flatbush avenue, 

 could be diverted, without much inconvenience, to Warren street and 

 Washington avenue. If cross-roads for business purposes are re- 

 quired at all, it is in a direction nearly at right angles to Flatbush 

 avenue. The city, however, is so laid out, that no real necessity is 

 apparent for any merely traffic-roads across the property. 



Proceeding to consider the two main divisions of the site sepa- 

 rately, the Reservoir is found to encroach so seriously on the smaller 

 section east of Flatbush avenue, that it is in effect subdivided again 

 into two portions of very insignificant dimensions for park purposes. 

 The formation of the ground is, moreover, of a character that would 

 make its improvement very expensive, and when the best possible 

 had been done, it would always present a cramped, contracted and 

 unsatisfactory appearance. For these reasons, we think it our duty 

 to advise, that so much of the site as lies east of Flatbush avenue 

 should be abandoned for park purposes. 



The great reduction which we have thus suggested in the dimen- 

 sions of the park site, as originally provided, would oblige you either 

 to be content with a much smaller park than has hitherto been con- 



