8 REPOET OF THE 



The Committee beg to refer the public to the following 

 financial statement, with some degree of gratification, inasmuch 

 as the footings result in something new, thus far, in the his- 

 tory of the Department. .For the first time in the management 

 of the park, so far as the Committee has been able to learn, 

 all bills rendered for the current year have been paid. The 

 books will show that the appropriations have not been ex- 

 ceeded, and consecpiently there remains no deficiency to be 

 accounted for, while, on the contrary, the statement shows a 

 balance left to some of the accounts at the close of the year. 

 The statement, as submitted, further shows that $29,303.01 

 were expended in making good deficiencies of 1885 and 1886. 

 The Board has changed the commencement of the fiscal year 

 from the first of December to the first of January, so as to 

 occur in consonance with the date observed by the other city 

 departments, and also to conform to the date of the annual 

 appropriation. 



The Superintendent's report is necessarily abridged in 

 some particulars, from the fact that many of the topics pre- 

 sented have been covered more or less in detail by the report 

 of the Committee. The superintendent, however, has given 

 some valuable information concerning the trees, vines and 

 shrubbery, with which subjects, together with flowers, he is 

 thoroughly familiar. 



The Chief Clerk's, Paymaster's, Police and Meteorological 

 Reports follow. 



Maintenance of Parks. 



WITH A GEADUAL CONSTEUCTION TOWAED COMPLETION. 



The maintenance of Brooklyn's parks for a number of years 

 past has been highly discreditable to the city. The reason 

 hitherto assigned has been an insufficiency of funds. Be this 

 as it may the time has come (and there should be no further 

 delay) when a proper amount should be appropriated for the 

 suitable and systematic maintenance of such parks. 

 These popular resorts should be maintained, not with Avaste or 



