centre of the Flatbusli road, stood the Dongan Oak — a famous 

 landmark — which was felled on that morning to obstruct the 

 passage of the enemy between the hills. This location will be 

 easily recognized, as the roadway immediately in front of the old 

 Valley Grove Tavern, leading southerly into Flatbusli. The battle 

 pass, with the site of the redoubt, will be carefully preserved and 

 distinctly marked for the veneration of future generations. 



Soon after the organization of the present Board, the attention of 

 the Commissioners was drawn, to the extravagant expenditures that 

 frequently attended proceedings to perfect the title to land taken 

 for public purposes. They found that the fees and expenses of 

 Commissioners of Estimate and Assessment were entirely unchecked 

 by any legislative enactment, and they determined to correct the 

 evil as far as possible. For this purpose they caused a provision to 

 be inserted in the act of 1865, which reserved to themselves the 

 selection and the consequent adjustment of compensation, of the 

 clerks, surveyors, and attorney to examine titles, necessary for the 

 use of such Commissioners ; and also required them to have their 

 fees and expenses taxed by the Supreme Court. This taxation can 

 now be done only after giving ten days' notice of the application 

 therefor in two of our public prints ; thus giving every taxpayer in 

 the city an opportunity of appearing before the court on the taxa- 

 tion, and stating his objections thereto. A provision was also 

 inserted in the act dispensing with the services of the City Counsel, 

 who had usually acted for Commissioners of Estimate and Assess- 

 ment on the presentation of their report for confirmation, and who 

 filially certified to the City Comptroller for payment, their awards 

 for damages, after confirmation. These duties were by the same 

 act devolved upon the counsel to this Board, who being a salaried 

 officer, now performs the service without additional charge. A 

 similar provision was inserted in the act of 1866, under which the 

 Commissioners of Estimate and Assessment, appointed to value the 

 recent additions to the Park, are now acting, and the result has 

 already been, the saving of many thousands of dollars to the city. 



Immediately after the adoption of the plan of improvement, 

 arrangements were made for active operations upon the Park. 

 The Board had previously distributed its general administrative 

 duties among three standing committees. To the first, it entrusted 

 the duty of supervising its finances, of providing from time to time 

 the means required for the prosecution of the work, and of report- 



