THE ECONOMIC ADVANTAGE 



neering operations and subsequent planting into the most 

 attractive of parks, the channel itself providing what is an 

 especially pleasing and refreshing feature, a beautiful water 

 course. 



The accompanying illustration shows a piece of swamp 

 land, almost worthless, which is now a part of the 

 Weequahic Reservation of the Essex County (N. J.) Park 

 Commission. The swamp has been dredged and the water 

 level has been raised. It is now a very picturesque lake, 

 surrounded by attractively planted uplands. 



There are in almost every county spots of natural beauty 

 which it is the duty of the present generation to preserve. 

 The national government recognizes this principle in its 

 great reservations, among which are the Yellowstone, 

 Yosemite and Mount Rainier National Parks. One of the 

 most unpardonable losses in this connection was the cutting 

 of the " Sherwood Forest " at Philadelphia, a tract of 

 forty acres of virgin timber actually within the city limits. 

 This land, which afforded natural advantages of very un- 

 usual merit for park purposes, passed into the hands of real 

 estate operators and now is part of the two-story dwelling- 

 house district of West Philadelphia. 



The Economic Advantage. The laying out of parks 

 increases the desirability of a town as a place of residence. 

 Municipal boards of trade are realizing this principle in 

 increasing measure. Park development enhances the value 

 of neighboring real estate. New parkways and boule- 

 vards afford very desirable frontages, the very best to be 

 had for residential purposes. Much might be written on 

 the subject of real estate appreciation due to park develop- 

 ment; suffice it to mention here only a few illustrative cases. 

 Real estate operators testify that the increased valuation 

 in the vicinity of a properly regulated park will very soon 



