BROOKLYN PAKE COMMISSIONERS. 13 



borders of the unsightly neighborhood to the south of Fifth 

 avenue, combines to a notable degree, in its sloping surface and 

 the character of the underlying material, conditions in every 

 way favorable for a permanently healthy dwelling place. The 

 few irregularities in the surface which have served in the past 

 to impede temporarily the passage of the surface water, have 

 almost all been removed, and will soon entirely disappear by 

 reason of the improvements in progress or of those soon to 

 follow. 



The completion of the streets by suitable pavements and a 

 perfected sewerage will entirely remove the possibilit} r of 

 annoyance which often arises from arrested ground water per- 

 colating through the surface. The numerous excavations that 

 are being made from time to time for the foundations of buil- 

 dings, disclose to the most casual observer, the fact that the 

 substratas of gravel and sand afford the most favorable con- 

 ditions for the rapid carrying off, by natural drainage, of any 

 water that may find its way through the surface, and that dry 

 foundations in cellars must of necessity be the rule. 



The geological structure of the Park, as would seem quite 

 natural, is in the main a counterpart of that just referred to. 

 The system of drainage and the care of surface water is prob- 

 ably as complete as can be found in the country, while it is also 

 the fact, to be demonstrated at any time, that no deleterious 

 influences to health exist upon the Park that could be charged 

 with affecting in any degree, disadvantageously, the healthful- 

 ness of the circumjacent territory. The waters that flow into 

 the lake of the Pai'k, and the water in the lake itself, throughout 

 any season of the year, is more suitable for potable purposes 

 than the water supply that exists to-day for several communities 

 of people not many miles from this city. The presence of 

 vegetation during the summer months in portions of the lake 

 is entirely natural, and is common to bodies of fresh water and 

 streams everywhere. This vegetation consists of a minute and 

 inferior plant believed to be of the Lemna order, commonly 

 known as duckweed, and is blown over the surfaces from the 

 shores, where it is first developed, into the inlets and narrow 



