258 



Operations on the park have steadily progressed since the 

 opening of the spring, and as many men as could be employed 

 to advantage have been kept at work. In addition to the en- 

 gineering corps in the service of the Commission, a statement 

 of the laboring force employed will be found in the annexed 

 report of an assistant engineer, from which it will appear that 

 the main part of the force has been employed two hundred and 

 ninety-seven days during this year. The largest number of 

 men working at any one time was in the month of April, and 

 consisted of thirteen hundred and ninety-two men, while the 

 greatest number during the preceding year was eighteen hun- 

 dred and forty. 



The results accomplished by this force will better appear 

 from the reports of our engineers, to which reference has 

 already been made ; but in general it may be stated that much 

 of the easterly portion of Prospect Park is now complete, and 

 has, during the latter part of the year, been in constant use by 

 the public ; and that the improvement of the residue of this 

 park, except in the extreme western district, where, for reasons 

 before referred to, nothing has been done, is in a very satisfac- 

 tory state of progress. 



The extent of ground which has been under treatment dur- 

 sng the year is over two hundred acres; the whole area finished 

 being one hundred and forty acres, exclusive of roads, walks 

 and waters, of which area one hundred and nine are slopes and 

 meadows, and thirty-one woodland. The finished drives now 

 amount to nearly three miles and a quarter, being a little more 

 than two miles in excess of that which we were able to report 

 last year. Of bridle paths, we have nearly a mile and a half 

 finished or well progressed ; and of walks three miles and three 

 quarters are completed, and nearly five additional miles in pro- 

 gress. The very large and continually increasing number of 

 delighted visitors show how thoroughly these walks and drives 

 are appreciated by them. A fine specimen of rustic work has 

 been erected near the main entrance to the park for a summer 

 house ; and a vine-covered trellis work, with seats overlooking 

 the children's playground, commands a beautiful sea and island 

 view, and when covered with the foliage and flowers of climb- 

 ing plants, will afford grateful shelter to all such as may be 

 disposed to linger in its shade. 



