DEPARTMENT OF PAKKS. 43 



highest priced lots in the whole city are here. We feel per- 

 suaded that if, in accordance with this recommendation, the 

 whole Ninth avenue line of the park between the points 

 already designated, were improved in the way above indicated, 

 thus making- the approaches to this beautiful retreat safe, 

 sightly and commodious, instead of leaving them as they now 

 are, repellant to all who visit the park, the rise in adjoining- 

 real estate would of itself, in taxable equivalents, far more than 

 justify the expenditure of money necessary to such an improve- 

 ment. It will be enough, in support of these views, simply to 

 state in conclusion that the testimony of the residents living 

 in the immediate neighborhood of Central Park, New York, 

 fully verifies the statements which are here made in this 

 review of the whole subject. 



Ih,' Water System. 



The water system of Prospect Park is unique, picturesque 

 and extensive. It traverses the highest ground in Brooklyn 

 and is entirely artificial. The water courses which form the 

 conduits of such a system are composed of sand and gravel, 

 interrupted at intervals by pools and shelving declivities of 

 overhanging rock, over whose clustering ledges the water in 

 fantastic forms streams down for several feet. Great care and 

 large expense, together with no little ingenuity, were required 

 in the construction of this system, it being found necessary 

 that the beds of the water courses and the basins of the lakes 

 should be rendered impervious, as, without such a precaution, 

 the thirsty earth would greedily absorb the water as fast as it 

 could be pumped. The source of this intended water-system 

 is a large well, 50 feet in diameter and 60 feet in depth. This 

 well is situated at the foot of Look Out Hill, on the southerly 

 side of the park. The spring which feeds it rises out of the 

 gravel strata, along whose streak the spring water flows through 

 the entire island. In this well is placed a large duplex pump- 

 ing engine, that forces up the water 160 feet into the large 

 reservoir on the top of Look Out Hill. The capacity of 



