24 LANDS AND SURVEYS 



Direct Purchase. Property to be taken over for park 

 purposes on which no option has been obtained can almost 

 always be purchased at a fair market price, it being to the 

 advantage usually of the owners to sell, since, if they refuse, 

 the matter can be taken before a condemnation commission 

 and a forced sale brought about. The cost of litigation is 

 sometimes great and the part borne by the owner fre- 

 quently a total loss. Purchases are made through the 

 purchasing agents. 



Condemnations. The resort to this method of pur- 

 chase is somewhat rare, since, as before stated, it is almost 

 always to the advantage of the owner to sell. Condemna- 

 tion proceedings for park lands are carried on about as 

 follows. The method given is for the State of New Jersey: 



1. A notice to one of the justices of the Supreme Court 

 that agreement cannot be reached for the purchase of the 

 property, together with an application to said justice for 

 the appointment of a condemnation commission of three 

 men to examine the land and make a just appraisement. 

 This notice is endorsed by the justice, who assigns a time 

 and place for the appointment of the commissioners. 



2. A notice from the park commission to the owner 

 and parties interested of the previous application for the 

 appointment of condemnation commissioners, together 

 with a copy containing the affidavit of the person who 

 served the notice on the owner and parties interested, 

 which copy is kept on file in the office of the Commission. 



3. A notice from the Supreme Court justice to the park 

 commission of the appointment of a condemnation com- 

 mission together with directions in regard to the notifica- 

 tion of all parties concerned in the property sought to be 

 acquired. This document also includes the oaths, before 

 a person duly authorized to administer them, of the 



