brious, the surroundings exceedingly superior, and the 

 entire array of considerations, whether sanitary, social, 

 or financial, can not be excelled — if, indeed, they can be 

 equalled by any similar galaxy of facts of any other 

 locality. 



CHARACTER AND VALUE. 



The Parkway district possesses many and varied 

 charms that can not be detracted from by any accidents 

 of the times. Very prominent in this regard is the 

 fact that it had a character established before the 

 public improvements had been commenced. A large 

 number of the best known and most desirable citi- 

 zens of Brooklyn, including prominent business men 

 or retired merchants and capitalists, nearly all of them 

 of large means, had invested extensively in lands, laid 

 out streets and avenues on a scale of extraordinary 

 grandeur, and erected themselves magnificent resi 

 dences. Of these may be mentioned New York, Kings 

 ton, Nostrand, and Brooklyn avenues, Pacific, Baltic 

 and Dean streets, and St. Mark's place ; all of which 

 especially the latter, are lined with costly, substantial 

 and grand family mansions, environed with lawns, gar 

 dens, parterres, terraces, flower beds, and shade trees of 

 the most beautiful variety. The public roadways are 

 well paved ; the sidewalks are well flagged, sodded, and 

 planted with trees, thrifty and umbrageous in their 

 season ; and everything is maintained in the most com- 

 plete and ample order; thus rendering the vicinity a 

 marvel of enchantment to all who view its many attrac- 

 tions. All this is a sample of what the Parkway and 

 the Boulevards, in close proximity, are soon to be. In 

 reality, the Parkway is an arm or extension of the Park 

 itself. 



