347 



as especially suitable for a principal entrance to the park, and in- 

 duced us to apply to the Legislature at once for the provision of so 

 much additional land as was necessary to form what is now known 

 as the Plaza. Had the Central Park Commission exercised the 

 same forecast, in regard to the comparatively contracted vestibules 

 which they arc now about to lay out at their principal en- 

 trances, it would have saved at least a million dollars of their 

 expenditures. 



Turning, then, to the general question of boundaries, we had 

 convinced ourselves that the ground we had was not all that was 

 wanted in respect to extent or opportunity for improvement, with 

 reference to the problem before us. But, although we obtained a 

 report which very clearly demonstrated in what direction we should 

 look for an enlargement of our borders, we determined, before 

 recommending the acquisition of any new territory, that we would 

 have a complete and well matured proposition to lay before the com- 

 munity. 



We therefore next employed Messrs. Olmsted & Vaux to design 

 a general plan, taking another year for its preparation, and for our 

 deliberation upon it. When at length we were satisfied that we had 

 matured a plan adequate to the purpose we had in view, we printed 

 our design, with a report very fully setting forth its character, and 

 circulated it diligently among our fellow citizens, inviting, through 

 the newspapers and otherwise, their judgment upon it. 



Being satisfied with the general expression of public opinion thus 

 obtained, we then went to the Legislature and asked for the addi- 

 tional territory required to carry out the plan. We at the same 

 time asked for power to sell the land not covered by our plan on the 

 east side of Flatbush avenue, so that we might have money to pay 

 for the additional land which we needed to carry out our design. 

 The power to buy the largest part of what we wanted was given us, 

 but although our request for permission to sell was backed by three 

 thousand petitioners, and the bill for the purpose passed the Senate, 

 it failed to receive the assent of the Assembly, and its discussion was 

 postponed. 



Still, the larger part of the necessary land was provided for, and 

 we were now prepared to commence active operations with an in- 

 creasing confidence that our scheme was a sound one, and that as it 

 became better understood it would prove more and more acceptable, 

 and eventually would be fully carried out. We at once, then, set 

 about the improvement of a part of our ground, with a clear fore- 

 knowledge that the result would be taken by the public as a sample 

 of what Brooklyn was going to have in the way of a park. 



