DEPARTMENT OF PARKS. 49 



sprayed to a height of a hundred feet or more, would be 

 cleansed of its impurities by aeration. In this way the whole 

 sheet of water would be thoroughly sifted. Added to this 

 refrigerating and rarefying process the geographical features 

 of such a. fountain would not be by any means insignificant. 

 A fountain placed on this body of water, throwing up streaming- 

 jets to a great height, could be seen at longer distances than 

 from any other spot in the park. The view of it from the long- 

 meadow leaching to the plaza would be in direct line from the 

 proposed site of the Beecher monument. 



From the Fifteenth street entrance, over the long meadow, 

 it could also be seen, as well as from the high ridge of wood- 

 land that crosses the park to the south. 



This powerful force pump could be driven by the same 

 engineers and firemen that operate the pumping engine at the 

 well, the only additional expense being the coal bill for the 

 siimmer. Moreover, such a large volume of water added to 

 that of the pumping engines passing through the water 

 courses and over the cascades with increased volume, would 

 be a most refreshing spectacle in the park. 



Three objects would thus be accomplished by the simple 

 purchase of a force pump and the laying of the pipes, viz : the 

 purification of the lake, the fountain view on the water from 

 the long meadow and surroundings, and the propulsion of the 

 water in greater volume through the water courses, thus not 

 allowing the green scum to form on the surface and preventing 

 any impurity from condemning this most beautiful resort of the 

 people. 



The next question which presents itself for consideration is, 

 how to cleanse the large lake of its existing impurities. The 

 question is by no means an easy one. The process of emptying 

 and rilling this lake would in itself require at least a year for 

 its accomplishment, with all the facilities now at hand, while 

 to suffer its bed to be exposed to the bleach of the sun with 

 its foul lining of feculent matter, might cause a pestilent 

 epidemic. The bottom, being of puddled clay, as before 

 mentioned, there would be danger of injuring it and thus ren- 



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