23 



The force employed exclusively upon earth excavation has cost $100,600, 

 of which 43 per cent, has been paid to cart gangs and 57 per cent, to 

 barrow gangs. 



The average cost of excavating, moving and disposing of material of all 

 kinds, since the commencement of work in June up to the present date, has 

 been nearly five cents less than the average up to the 1st of September. 



The average haul has been greater since the 1st of September than before, 

 but there has been a less proportion of difficult excavation, such as of clay, 

 for deep sewer trendies, &c. The reduction of the average cost is in part 

 due to this last fact, but chiefly to the belter discipline of the labor force. 



Such sewers have been laid as were required to conduct away the water 

 from the surfaces being graded. It is not advisable to determine the details 

 of the system of sewerage until the grades of a larger surface are definitely 

 established. 



Owing to the peculiar conformation of the ground selected for the Park, 

 giving as it does, deep valleys or hollows with no natural outlets, the cost 

 of drainage will necessarily be large, both in trenching for sewers and in 

 shaping the ground for proper surface drainage. 



Several thousand feet of roads and paths have been sub-graded, but no 

 portion has yet been surfaced with road metal. A force, however, is now 

 being organized for breaking and preparing the stone for that purpose. 



In the upper portion of the Park, in order to lessen the amount of exca- 

 vation, the roads have been graded for short distances as steep as one in 

 twenty -five. Still, ow T ing to the comparatively low grade of Flatbush 

 avenue, from which it was necessary to start, and to the elevation of the 

 Park ground opposite the reservoir — owing also to the very rough condition 

 of the adjoining ground, caused in part by the excavation made for clay used 

 in the construction of the reservoir — the expense for grading has necessarily 

 been large. On the west side the amount of excavation has been still 

 further increased by the existence of a peat bog over which the drive passes. 

 To secure a good foundation, this peat has been taken out, and its place 

 supplied by material taken from a broad, low hill that obstructed the view 

 over a considerable portion of the Park, from near the entrance. 



In the general management of the matters entrusted to my charge, I have 

 been very efficiently aided by Mr. Bogart and Mr. Culyer, in their respective 

 departments. 



Respectfully submitted. 



JOS. P. DAVIS, 



Engineer in Charge. 



