4S REPORT OF THE 



while others are inexperienced boys, a number of whom 

 last season 1 assumed the responsibility of preventing from oper- 

 ating upon the Concourse. 



The settlement of the middle part of the island contains many 

 buildings devoted to nefarious purposes and practices, upon which 

 the authorities impose little if any restrictions. The effect has 

 been to steadily depreciate the value and serviceableness as a 

 summer resort of a considerable part of the island. The con- 

 tinuity of two large race tracks where, during a greater portion 

 of the year, many rare horses are quartered, has had the effect 

 of making the beach quite prominent as a horse resort. These, 

 with the connivance of their owners, have so divided the use of 

 the beach with human visitors, as often to monopolize it to the 

 discomfort of the public, and while the benefits of sea bathing, 

 which the horses undoubtedly derive, need not be absolutely 

 denied them, it will be necessary next season to restrict the use 

 of that portion of our Concourse to limited hours and at such 

 times as will not interfere with its public use. During the 

 storm which prevailed on the 24th November, the ocean face of 

 the bituminous concrete upon the embankment of the Concourse 

 was carried away for a length of 250 feet by 15 feet in width at 

 the easterly end. This has been inevitable in consequence of 

 the gradual encroachment of the water under the influence of a 

 northeast storm, from which direction the greatest amount ot 

 damage to this shore results. The system of rectangular bulk- 

 heads or enclosed cribbing, composed principally of rough timber, 

 which had been adopted by the Manhattan Improvement Com- 

 pany and Brighton Beach Railroad Company, has long tended to 

 invite the attacks of the elements upon the easterly shore of the 

 island, and the distinct ion of that part of the beach has been so 

 general as to completely modify the configuration of that portion 

 of the ocean front between the Oriental hotel and the Concourse 

 property. The conjunctive effect of these artificial structures 

 and the influence of the elements, have resulted in shifting, for 

 the time being at least, the imminent danger of further encroach- 



