BROOKLYN (ante), the capital of Kings co., N. Y., with 554,696 inhabitants; com prising, under the act of consolidation which went into effect Jan. 1, 1855, Brooklyn, Williamsbtirg, Green Point, Wallabout, Bedford, New Brooklyn, Bushwick, Gowanus, and South Brooklyn; situated in the northern part of Long island, embracing an area of 16,000 acres, or 25 sq.miles. The city is 8 m. long, with a breadth from 2 to 5 m., averaging 31 tn.; it has a water-front on the East river and bay of New York, 81 m. in 'length; is bounded on the n. by Newtown creek; on the s. by the towns of New Lots, Flatbush, and New Utrecht; on the e. by the Queens co. line; and on the w. by the East river and bay of New York. The s. and e. borders are occupied by a broad range of low hills extending into Queens county. Along the shore opposite the lower point of New York, is an irregular bluff known as the " Brooklyn Heights," on which are many handsome residences; it has a very picturesque appearance, especially when viewed from New York, while the rays of the setting sun fall upon the houses. A large portion of the southern part of the city is low and level. Its waterfront is entirely occupied by wharves and warehouses. Williamsburg, now called Brooklyn, E. D. (eastern district), includes the thickly-settled portions n. of the Wallabout bay, contains a large number of manu facturing establishments, and has its entire water-front devoted to commercial purposes. Greenpoint lies between Bushwick and .Newtown creeks, and occupies the extreme north western part of the city; it contains large ship-yards and manufactories. South B., lying s. of Atlantic street, has an extensive water-front, and contains large wood, coal, stone, and lumber-yards, numerous planing-mills, distilleries, breweries, plaster mills, foundries, and machine-shops. B. is connected with New York by 13 steam ferries, and the Annex boats leave the foot of Fulton street every 20 minutes for Jersey City and Hoboken. With the remoter part of Long island it is connected by the LongIsland and the South Side railroads, and with Coney island, a popular seaside resort, at the s.w. extremity, by a number of steam-car lines during the summer season, while sonic 26 lines of city railroads, using horse-power, radiate from the ferries to the bounds of the city in every direction. An elevated railroad, on the plan of those erected recently in
New York, is now in course of construction, to extend from Fulton ferry to East "New York. a post village of New Lots township, on the Long Island railroad; a distance of 51 miles. The East river bridge, to connect B. with New York, is described under the article BRIDGES. The estimated cost of the bridge is $13,708,026, and the expenditures up to 31st Dec., 1879, were $11,216,431, of which amount the city of New York con tributed its quota of $3,800,000. B. is well supplied with pure, soft water, derived from Hempstead hook, Valley, and Springfield creeks; is thoroughly lighted by gas companies; has a large and efficient fire department; and its sanitary and police matters are cared for by the metropolitan boards of health, of excise, and of police, respectively. The total number of deaths registered by the board of health in the 11 months ending Nov. 30, 1879, was 10,651, representing an annual death rate of 20.57 in a thousand. During the same year there were registered 2898 marriages and 9013 births; there were 23,441 arrests; the number of buildings completed was 1128, and 399 were in course of erection. The assessed valuation of taxable property for 1879 was $232,925,699, and the annual tax levy, $5,929,629, making the average rate of taxation $2.55. The city debt is $37,565,369.89. The city government consists of a mayor, controller, auditor, treasurer, corporation counsel, tax collector, registrar of arrears, 3 commissioners of city works, 3 commissioners of police and excise, 3 commissioners of fire and buildings, and a board of health; and each of the 25 wards is represented in the board of aldermen. The report of the board of education shows that during the school year ending Sept. 30, 1879, the number of licensed teachers employed in the public schools was 56 males and 1346 females. The whole number of children of school age who attended the 60 public free schools of the city was 98,823.