88 REPORT OF THE 



The city is striding forward at an almost spectral rate, 

 laterally as well as longitudinally. She will soon knock at 

 the doors of Jamaica. Her whole area will he traversed by 

 a system of elevated railroads, to be itself in turn traversed 

 by another lateral system of iron roads connecting North 

 and South Brooklyn. Thesurface cars will be moved by better 

 motors. Tim East river will lie spanned by bridges at 

 important points between the upper ami lower parts of 

 the two great cities. All avenues of communication and 

 intercommunication that can be opened to facilitate traffic 

 and travel, will he opened. Brooklyn has the room in which 

 to grow. There is nothing in her way. Tim whole of Lone- 

 Island is the landscape garden of her dreams. Coral isles have 

 not risen out of the water in asingle nightwith more astonish- 

 ing celerity than has been the growth of this great city of the 

 sea. 



The important question is Hoiv shall she grow? Shall her 

 growth he an adventitious graft or shall it be rather as the re- 

 sult of a germinal plan, a definiteand well devised construction. 



Nothing really worthy of the name of art is ever attempted 

 until the artist has first clearly conceived in outline the whole 

 plan or plot of his undertaking. 



There are no accidents. There is no amateur art. Precisely 

 such a topographical prospectus applies to a great city. A 

 large tract of territory should he acquired in advance of its 

 growth. A topographical commission should lie appointed to 

 surveyits area and study it in all its features and surroundings. 

 The proper sites for parks, squares, commons, broad boulevards 

 and line drives, should he selected and reserved. Proper 

 restrictions should he placed on property. In short, all that 

 has not been done in the old city should be done in the new ; 

 and this: should all be done in advance. 



Should such a plan he pursued Brooklyn would become the 

 first residential watering place in this country. Thither would 

 flock persons of leisure, who would spend their incomes on the 

 island and add to its wealth and general well being. 

 In their train would follow those permanent public institutions 



