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which has cost so much more. The; great body of visitors will 

 alw.uvs enter at the Plaza. Once within the park it matters little 

 where they travel. It was, and is, therefore, true economy to elon- 

 gate ami narrow the park toward the city, and to spread it out on 

 the cheap land on the Flatbush side as we have, done. 



Bui to return to the main question: keep your mind fixed upon 

 the end we had in view. With certain obvious natural advantages 

 over New York, but as yet with confessedly less wealth and popula- 

 tion, we wanted to guard against the danger that Brooklyn would 

 take the character of a second-rate suburb of New York; wewan ted 

 to aid in establishing for Brooklyn in the minds first of all of our 

 own citizens, and afterwards throughout the country, the character of 

 a first-rate quarter of the great metropolis. 



And who will say that we have not thus far done our part to- 

 wards this end 1 



Although our park is incomplete, only about 200 acres being as 

 vet fairly improved, it is unquestionably the fact that it is talked of 

 to-day all over the United States, by those whose opinion is of most 

 value, as equal, and in many respects superior, to Central Park. 

 And what has been the consequence 1 It has been said by those who 

 should know, that the clay we opened the park saw a rise in value of 

 the real estate of our city of ten millions of dollars. 



We submit, then, that so far we have served our city well. But 

 we think that we can do more. We are convinced that the city, by 

 a lucky chance, has the opportunity of gaining a still better reputa- 

 tion. We not only think that the impression can be established 

 that Brooklyn offers j)laces of residence as good in respect to park 

 privileges as any in New York, but we also believe that an under- 

 standing can be established that the very finest sites for city resi- 

 dences, in connection with a noble park, need not be looked for in 

 New York ; they must be sought in Brooklyn. 



It happens thus : New York was laid out years ago, when the 

 price which great numbers of people are now willing to pay for 

 luxurious residences was not dreamed of; when five or six hundred 

 dollars per year was considered, even by a wealthy merchant, to be 

 a great rent to pay. Now, on the other hand, there are numbers of 

 people to whom five or six hundred dollars a year, more or less, is 

 felt to be of little consequence in the rent of a house, provided it be 

 so much finer and more luxurious. 



In laying out the city this condition of things was not thought of; 

 consequently the people of New York, through the Central Park 

 Commission, are now seeking to improve their plan in that part of 



