The Council owned a great deal of land, primarily in the middle of the island, away from the Hudson and East Rivers, as a result of grants by the Dutch provincial government to the colony of New Amsterdam. Although originally more extensive, by 1785 the council held approximately , or about 9% of the island. Unfortunately, the land was not only of such poor qualitybeing either rocky and elevated or swampy and low-lyingthat it was not suitable for farming or residential estates, it was also difficult to get to because of both the lack of roads and access to waterways.