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the head of the bridge proposed to be carried across the East River 

 where it is divided by Blackwell's Island, by which the whole system 

 would be brought into direct relation with the Central Park and the 

 new trunk lines of residence quarters now being laid out in connec- 

 tion therewith. 



One other question of design remains to be referred to, having 

 relation to the proposition lately urged upon your attention, and 

 which is now before the Legislature, for an appropriation to pleasure 

 ground purposes, of a tract of land situated at the junction of Atlantic, 

 Washington and Underhill avenues. 



So far as this proposition is designed to give more importance 

 to the approach to the park from Washington avenue and Williams- 

 burg, we think its object would be more satisfactorily accomplished 

 by widening Underhill avenue, as shown on the accompanying plan. 

 There would be a clear advantage to the. city in this modification, 

 whereas the interruption of communication with the principal en- 

 trance to the park, of the streets that would be closed if the proposi- 

 tion referred to were carried out, would be a positive detriment to 

 public convenience of a serious character. 



In other respects the scheme is one of the same class with others 

 that have from time to time been urged on your Commission with a 

 view to secure the improvement as a public pleasure ground of the 

 whole of the city property lying east of Flatbush avenue, contrary 

 to our general design and to the recommendations set forth in our 

 reports of 1865 and 1866. 



In all propositions for dealing with this property, there are two 

 distinct questions involved, one of the legal obligations of the city, 

 the other of its interests. It is with the latter only that we have to 

 do in a study of plans. A fair judgment in this respect can, how- 

 ever, hardly be exercised without a consideration of the fact, that 

 although the land in question was originally taken by the city in 

 good faith for a public ground, and although the city has since 

 acquired land by the side of it, also for a public ground, it is never- 

 theless demonstrable that the views which governed the selection of 

 the one, and those which led to the selection of the other, were so 

 different, that the first taken can not now be realized without a sacri- 

 fice of the advantages secured with the last. 



We consider, therefore, that all plans for using the grounds north 

 and south of the reservoir as a garden or park. must involve a weak 

 and wasteful compromise, and should be persistently resisted. That 

 our meaning may be fully understood, it may be desirable to recall 



IS 



