48 REPORT OF THE 



pools supplied with a periodical change of fresh water, by 

 rising the overflow of the plaza fountain on stated occasions. 

 The water should have passed through these pools on its way 

 to the lower lake system. Thus a circulating current of fresh 

 water would pass through them, cleansing them. 



This matter cannot be neglected— it must be met. For- 

 tunately, so far as health and life are concerned, this section of 

 the park has been abandoned by the people and allowed to 

 go to ruin for a number of years. 



The past season has been somewhat remarkable for its rain- 

 falls — the precipitation being as large as has occurred for a 

 number of years. This, taken in connection witli the constant 

 flow of water from the well, through the water courses to the 

 large lakes, has raised its level to a height greater than is 

 remembered to have occurred since the completion of the 

 park. There being no natural outlet to this lake and no sys- 

 tem of sewerage through which to drain it off, the only remedy 

 within reach of the Commissioners, in case of high water, is to 

 allow it to overflow its banks and settle down in the gravel. 

 It is not a wise thing to allow water containing vegetable 

 matter to flow into a lake that has no outlet, with no chance to 

 throw off its impurities. It is dangerous to the last degree. 

 The Commissioners have been met by this engineering prob- 

 lem, viz: how to purify this body of water and then preserve 

 its purity. A current of fresh water should flow through the 

 entire length of the lake to cause the necessary circulation 

 that nature requires in a body of water in order to precipitate 

 and get rid of its impurities. 



To accomplish this result we would therefore beg to suggest 

 that a powerful force pump be placed near the large well, that 

 a suction pipe connected with this pump be introduced at the 

 extreme end of the lake, that the water of the lake be taken 

 up through this suction pipe and forced through a force pipe 

 to the head of the water system at the upper pool, placing in 

 this body of water the nozzle of the pipe. By this means the 

 upper pool becomes the bed of a large fountain. The water 

 being thus driven with sufficient force to cause it to be 



