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other brandies and auxiliary roads could be constructed, 

 connecting with this and uniting by less circuitous routes 

 the different parts of the park. 



An important consideration yet remains. It is, whether 

 the cost of a park such as has been described, and in the 

 locality indicated, is within the reasonable ability of the 

 city. I have taken some pains to ascertain the approxi- 

 mate value of the land to be covered by this improvement. 

 The city surveyor, Mr. Bingham, has, with great pains and 

 care, made accurate and extensive estimates. The results 

 are so much more favorable than I anticipated that I 

 was surprised. But it must be remembered that a great 

 part of the land to be used is almost utterly valueless 

 for streets and dwellings. The established grade of the 

 city is such that it is impossible, except at a ruinous 

 expense, to prepare the grounds for being built upon. The 

 city corporation has for years been offering three entire 

 blocks at a merely nominal price, on condition that they 

 shall be graded and improved. The steep hillside north of 

 Elk street, and sloping to Canal street, could never be 

 made available for building or cultivation. It would re- 

 quire twenty years, at the present rate of dumping, to fill 

 up the Canal street gorge to the level of the present city 

 grade. 



From the best estimates that can be made, the land 

 included within the boundaries indicated, lying south of 

 Clinton avenue, amounts to 75 acres, and is valued at 

 $100,000. 



That lying north of Clinton avenue amounts to 175 

 acres, and is valued at $75,000. 



The total being 250 acres, valued at $175,000. 



The valuation which the assessors have put on this same 

 ground is very much less than that above stated ; being 

 less than $150,000. 



Even if these estimates shall be found too low, and the 

 land shall cost much more than this sum, still what is this, 



