10 



of a particular date, specifying the same. The bills for the current 

 month then pass to the Auditing Committee, which examines the 

 same, and reports thereon to the Board at its next meeting, when 

 if found correct, payment is ordered. After payment is ordered by 

 the Board, checks are drawn by the President and Secretary, 

 specifying the particular object for which they are drawn, payable 

 to the order of the Comptroller, who endorses them over to the 

 persons respectively entitled to receive the same, taking proper 

 receipts thjerefor. 



The routine for the payment of salaries and the pay-rolls of engi- 

 neers and laborers is quite similar to that for the payment of bills, 

 except that the disbursement of the money is made by or under the 

 direction of the Comptroller. These formalities tend to establish a 

 strict personal accountability for every item of debt incurred on 

 Park account, while they guard against useless or improvident 

 expenditure. 



As to the amount of work performed thus far, the Commissioners 

 beg to refer to the report of the Superintendents, which accompanies 

 this report, and to the map thereto annexed, delineating its progress. 

 In general, however, it may be stated that their efforts have been 

 directed mainly to the drainage of the grounds ; to the grading of 

 the Plaza or principal entrance ; to the opening of the principal 

 drives from the Plaza towards the Coney Island road, and to the 

 collection of tree3 and shrubbery for future use. The actual 

 progress made in these operations will be readily seen upon the 

 map referred to, and by reference to the detailed statements in 

 the reports of the respective engineers in charge. 



An abstract of all the returns of labor made to the Comp- 

 trollers' office by the Superintendents, will show the actual amount 

 of labor bestowed upon the Park since the work began ; the number 

 of men employed, varying from time to time, averaging, however, 

 about 642 numerically, but in actual force 451 men for the whole 

 time. The abstract is annexed, showing the dates of the several 

 returns, the whole time made upon each, the highest number of 

 men reported, together with the average force employed at the 

 date of each return. 



Annexed to this report will also be found a copy of an ordinance, 

 which the Board adopted soon after the organization of the working 

 force, for its better regulation and government. Its penalty was 

 made to conform, to the existing law which established the Park, 



