35 



In addition to the principal entrance, provision is made for gates 

 to the park on Flatbush avenue, near the Willink property; on 

 Franklin avenue, near the southeasl corner of the proposed bound- 

 aries; al the junction of Franklin avenue, with the Coney [sland 

 road; at the junction of Sixteenth streel and the Coney [sland 

 road, and from the junction of Ninth avenue and Fifteenth street. 

 Another entrance is indicated on the Ninth avenue, opposite Third 

 street, which can either lead into the park or conned simply with 

 the zoological garden, as may be ultimately determined. 



Improvement- are suggested, in connection with three of thi >e 

 entrances, which seem to be necessary, for the purpose of Becuring 

 easy and agreeable approaches; and the advantage proposed to be 

 sained in each case will he so readily understood, by reference to 

 the plan, that we deem further explanations in regard to this part 

 of the design unnecessary. 



Although the ground now held by your Commission, east, of 

 Flatbush avenue, {\oc> not appear to us desirable to be retained for 

 the purpose for which it has Ween assigned, it will nevertheless he 

 an advantage to the park, if a small section of it, abutting on Flat- 

 bush avenue and facing the park, remains in the possession of the 

 city. We therefore desire to offer a suggestion as to the use to 

 which it may be appropriated. 



It i> undesirable that any duties or responsibilities should be as- 

 sumed by legislative bodies that can be equally well undertaken by 

 citizens, either individually or associated in their private capacity. 

 The exact limit of judicious legislation in this way cannot however 

 be defined, and while there are many public responsibilities that 

 clearly cannot be assumed by individual citizens, and many more 

 that can. there are some few that are of an intermediate character. 

 and that require special consideration. It is generally conceded 

 that a system of popular education is an essential part of a repub- 

 lican government, for instance, but it is by no means determined 

 what means of education should be secured to all, and to what 

 extent the public can be taxed, with reasonable assurance of a 

 saving to the taxpayers through a reduction of taxes for courts, 

 police, prisons and poorhonses, and the general cheapening of the 

 necessaries of life by the increased capacity for productive labor of 



