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Commissioners are satisfied that, if the Legislature concur in 

 a sale, there can be no difficulty in making title. There is 

 of course, no longer any other outstanding interest, unless 

 it be that of the bondholders ; and their interest will be 

 effectually protected by placing the whole proceeds of sale 

 in the hands of the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, for 

 the redemption of their bonds. 



As part of the history of our proceedings during the year, 

 we are here obliged to refer to a proposition made to the 

 Board, on the part of some gentlemen residing in the Ninth 

 and Twentieth Wards of the City, to enter into a contract 

 with them for the improvement of this portion of Park land. 

 Their proposal, with the report of the Committee to whom 

 the matter was referred, is appended to this report, and fully 

 explains the reasons of the Board in declining to enter into 

 such a contract. 



The Commissioners cannot take leave of this object with- 

 out again expressing their thorough conviction of the pro- 

 priety, if not the necessity, in view of the City's extended 

 financial obligations, of making a fresh disposition of the 

 land on the east side of the Avenue, so that it may be laid 

 out and sold under their direction, in a way which they 

 think will not only benefit the Park by giving it proper 

 approaches from the North and East, but will, at the same 

 time, add largely to the value of property in its vicinity, 

 and establish the secular character of this wmole quarter of 

 the city upon an entirely new basis. 



During the j)ast season, the work of construction has gone 

 forward upon all the Parks under the control of the Com- 

 missioners, with as much rapidity as was practicable, and 

 they respectfully refer to the rej>orts of their landscape 

 Architects and Engineers, which are hereto annexed, for a 



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