DEPARTMENT OF PARKS. 45 



which is so thoroughly impervious to water as completely to 

 retain the contents of all these concave lake basins. This clay 

 fortunately was found in the pari? at a spot known as the lake 

 in the deer paddock. There is no outlet to this large lake. 

 In warm weather the amount of water pumped into it is just 

 about evenly counteracted by the amount of water lost l>\ 

 superficial evaporation, in hot, dry weather the evaporation 

 reaches from three to four hundred thousand gallons in twenty 

 four hours. There being n< > < >utlet to this lake and, consequently, 

 no means by which its feculent impurities might he cast off, 

 parts of it have for a lone, time past been growing steadily 

 worse and worse. This process of stagnation has progressed 

 to such an extent as seriously to endanger the lives of those 

 who breathe these noxious exhalations. While the amount of 

 money appropriated for the purpose was not sufficient to 

 enable the commissioners to undertake the cleansing of the 

 large lake, they did, however, cleanse thoroughly the whole 

 water course system above it. In these beds and pools, and 

 smaller lakes, an accumulation of debris had gathered, choking 

 their channels. This debris was composed of the detritus of 

 sand from the drives and walks, the ordure of sheep, horses 

 and water fowl, the green sap of grasses and clots of leaves. 

 The lakes and pools were stagnant, and unsightly and noxious 

 to health. The mass of vegetable matter that had accumulated 

 on the bottoms sent up a rank breath. Such a morbid state 

 of things was, to say the least, detrimental to the health of all 

 those who visited the park, particularly to little children. 

 The public recognized the fact, several notable physicians 

 interfered, warning the people of danger ami advising them to 

 shun this locality. As a consequence it lapsed largely into 

 ill-favor. During all this time, strange to relate, the pumping 

 engine was taxed to its utmost capacity, pumping water at the 

 rate of over 10,000,000 gallons per month. And yet the water 

 courses were scarcely more than mere dried up beds. It may 

 throw light on the whole subject in hand to state just here 

 that when Coney Island came to be a metropolitan resort and 

 needed fresh water, this beautiful water course was robbed of 



