480 



DRIVES. 



The completion of the circuit drive of the park being one of 

 the most desirable results to be attained within the year, a con- 

 siderable force was early in the season set-at work upon the unfin- 

 ished portion known as the south and west lake drive, nearly one 

 mile in length. The work proceeded vigorously, and the drive was 

 finished and opened to the public on Saturday, October 25th, thus 

 completing the system of park drives, with the exception of a small 

 piece on the west side. 



The total length of the circuit drive, as now constructed, is three 

 and a half miles. 



The south and west lake drives are built entirely of park gravel, 

 with the except ion of a length of GOO feet, which is McAdamized. 

 The metal for this piece of road was obtained from stone which had 

 accumulated during the excavation of the lake. The method of form- 

 ing the "ravel drive was as follows: at a level of one foot from grade 

 care was taken to use none but good sharp gravel for the filling ; 

 the larger stones were raked forward, and the drive partially rolled, 

 the top course was composed of finer gravel, which had been passed 

 over screens with one inch meshes, and which contained sufficient 

 loam to pack well. The surface was then moistened and thoroughly 

 rolled. 



The gravel found upon the park and in its vicinity is a drift for- 

 mation, and is not homogeneous in texture. It is largely made up 

 of inferior material, not well constituted to withstand the action of 

 the weather, so that while it may be used to good advantage in road 

 construction where special regard is paid to thorough draining, it 

 lacks the durability of the North river gravel, which has been exten- 

 sively used on the Brooklyn and Central Parks. It has the advan- 

 tage, however, of forming a bond under the roller with much less 

 rolling than the other gravel, and when not subjected to heavy traffic 

 it maintains a firm surface, is neither exc dusty in dry 



weather nor muddy after ordinary storms, and is readily repaired. 



CONCOURSES. 



The carriage concourse, four and one-tenth acres in extent, was 

 sub-graded last year. In the spring the surface was finished in the 

 same manner as the south and west lake drives, and the concourse is 

 now complete, with the exception of the proposed carriage shelter on 

 its summit. 



A portion of the water wall of the pedestrian concourse has been 

 built, and is ready to receive its coping. The concrete for the main 



