19 



The somewhat comprehensive system of drainage and 

 water works required for use in this Park, has been well 

 advanced, and nearly four and a half miles of drain pipe, 

 with two and a quarter miles of iron and cement pipe 

 for water distribution, have been laid. 



The grading, paving, and planting of the interior of 

 the Piazza is mainly complete, and in the course of the 

 ensuing year, it is intended to construct the large fountain 

 basin which is to occupy the center of this important 

 feature of the Park design. Two archways, which were 

 in progress at the date of the last Report, have been 

 finished, one of them for the passage of the walk under 

 the main circuit drive near the entrance, and the other, 

 the east road arch near the head of the lake. Two others 

 are in progress ; large quantities of stone having been 

 dressed and prepared for the purpose of carrying on the 

 work early in the Spring. About twelve acres of the 

 lake have been completed, and the Assistant Engineers' 

 Report will show to what extent the ice formed thereon 

 during the season, has been enjoyed by throngs of merry 

 skaters, male and female. Early in the coming season the 

 lake will have been increased in its dimensions to the 

 extent of about twenty acres and filled with water, adding 

 a new and beautiful feature to the interesting scenery of 

 this neighborhood. 



In their last report, the Commissioners directed the 

 attention of the Common Council to the fact that a large 

 amount of taxable property had been added to the City 

 since the commencement of active operations on this 

 Park, and showed from the records of the Board of 

 Assessors, that the increase in the three Wards immedi- 

 ately contiguous thereto, to wit : the Eighth, Ninth and 

 Twentieth Wards, amounted to seven million, four hundred 

 and eighty-two thousand six hundred and ninety-two 



