THE FUTURE PROBABILITIES 13 



traveling expenses of the members of the Commission. 

 The first Commission completed its work in 1895, after 

 having reported favorably to the plan for parks, and sug- 

 gested a practical plan. 



A new bill was passed by the Legislature in 1895 for the 

 creation of a second Commission to be appointed as before. 

 This bill carried an appropriation of $2,500,000 of county 

 funds and a referendum clause. At a special election the 

 bill soon became operative. The necessary moneys were 

 obtained by county bond issue by the Board of Freeholders 

 and turned over to the Commission. Subsequent issues of 

 bonds were authorized, the outstanding indebtedness now 

 amounting to $6,000,000. 



There are now five principal parks in the system with 

 a total area of 3200 acres, most of which is mountain 

 reservation. 



THE FUTURE PROBABILITIES 



The park movement is thus observed to be of recent 

 origin. The United States hi many respects has passed 

 out from the period of mushroom growth into one of com- 

 parative stability. There are many evidences of this. 

 Flimsy bridges are being replaced by permanent masonry 

 structures; wooden buildings by those made of fire-proof 

 materials; cheap city pavements by those of a permanent 

 character; railroads are being straightened, and elevated 

 or depressed where they pass through large cities; railroad 

 property line fences are being replaced by hedges after the 

 English custom; and far-sighted business corporations are 

 making provision not merely for the present, but for several 

 decades to come. The policy of municipal wisdom calls 

 for the immediate setting apart of park lands to be paid 

 for by money raised on bond issues. This policy in many 



