128 



tion of the superintendents, at the prices named in the bill ; 

 third, a certificate of the officer charged with the safe keeping 

 of the property of the commission, that the articles in question 

 have been received in good condition, and that the bill has been 

 compared with the register of bills kept in his office, and the 

 extensions and footings examined and found correct; and, 

 lastly, a certificate of the comptroller that the expenditure has 

 been authorized by a resolution of the Board of a particular 

 date, specifying the same. The bills for the current month then 

 pass to the Auditing Committee, who examine the same, and. 

 report thereon to the Board at its next meeting, when, if found 

 correct, payment is ordered. After payment is ordered by the 

 Board, checks are drawn by the president and secretary, speci- 

 fying the particular object for which they are drawn, payable 

 to the order of the comptroller, who endorses them over to the 

 persons respectively entitled to receive the same, taking proper 

 receipts therefor. 



The routine for the payment of salaries and the pay-rolls 

 of engineers and laborers is quite similar to that for the pay- 

 ment of bills, except that the disbursement of the money is 

 made by or under the direction of the Comptroller. These for- 

 malities tend to establish a strict personal accountability for 

 every item of debt incurred on park account, while they guard 

 against useless or improvident expenditure. 



As to the amount of work performed thus far, the Commis- 

 sioners beg to refer to the report of the Superintendents, which 

 accompanies this report, and to the map thereto annexed, de- 

 lineating its progress. In general, however, it may be stated 

 that their efforts have been directed mainly to the drainage of 

 the grounds ; to the grading of the Plaza or principal entrance ; 

 to the opening of the principal drives from the Plaza towards 

 the Coney Island road, and to the collection of trees and shrub- 

 bery for future use. The actual progress made in these opera- 

 tions will be readily seen upon the map referred to, and by 

 reference to the detailed statements in the reports of the respec- 

 tive engineers in charge. 



An abstract of all the returns of labor made to the Comp- 

 trollers' office by the Superintendents, will show the actual 

 amount of labor bestowed upon the park since the work began; 

 the number of men employed, varying from time to time, aver- 



