159 



The construction of over seventeen thousand feet in length 

 of walk lias been advanced, and about five thousand feet of it 

 completed. Excavation has been commenced for the ponds 

 over a surface of more than fifty acres, and the work is com- 

 plete over about six acres. About twenty thousand cubic yards 

 of masonry, twenty-four thousand feet of curb stone, and 

 seventy-one thousand feet of Belgian pavement have been laid, 

 and seven hundred thousand cubic yards of materials cf all 

 kinds moved during the last year. 



These few statements will, in some degree, suggest the ex- 

 tent and variety of the subjects which have occupied the atten- 

 tion of the Commissioners during the past year ; but for a more 

 detailed and exact explanation of these several operations, the 

 Common Council is respectfully referred to the accompanying 

 maps and reports of our employees. The prosecution of these 

 extensive operations has necessarily required the purchase of a 

 large and varied supply of material, the greater portion of 

 which has already been made use of. But the rollers, derricks, 

 trucks, and other tools and instruments of construction and of 

 engineering, are still on hand, and in good condition for any 

 work that may be required of them for years to come. 



Large quantities of stable manure, night soil, lime, phos- 

 phates, and other fertilizers, have been collected and composted 

 with extensive beds of muck, found on the park, and now form 

 rich and valuable deposits, from which constant drafts are 

 made for planting trees and shrubs, and enriching the soil for 

 turf. 



Many fine trees, found upon the ground, have been trans- 

 planted to more conspicuous positions, and more will follow. 

 Over seventy-three thousand trees and shrubs have been set 

 out upon the Plaza mounds and walks, and upon the finished 

 slopes and meadows ; and the park nurseries now contain an 

 excellent stock of about fifty thousand carefully selected and 

 greatly varied trees and plants. 



An abstract of the financial statement of the Board, which 

 is hereto also annexed, will show the expenditures of the Com- 

 mission for the year, amounting to nine hundred and seventy- 

 three thousand nine hundred and three dollars and sixty cents. 

 The largest item, it will be observed, is for actual labor bestowed 

 upon the ground ; while the materials of construction, tools, 



