THE METROPOLITAN TARK SYSTEM. 159 



action was necessary which would enable the metropolitan region 

 — that to various intents and purposes constituted one great city, 

 just as metropolitan Loudon constitutes one great city — to be 

 treated as a unit for this purpose. 



Through this meeting the subject was brought before the legisla- 

 ture of 1892. In consequence of the marked interest shown, an 

 act was passed establishing the preliminary Metropolitan Park 

 Commission. The Commission appointed under this act to 

 investigate the subject consisted of Charles Francis Adams of 

 Quinc}', Philip A. Chase of Lynn, and William B. de las Casas of 

 Maiden. Charles Eliot was made Landscape Architect, and I 

 was appointed Secretary to the Connnission. The Commissioners 

 visited personally every p(jiut of interest connected with their work 

 within ten miles of Boston, and the results of these investigations 

 were embodied in the report submitted to the legislature early in 

 1893. 



This document attracted exceptional attention, and the extraor- 

 dinary approval with which it was received, not only throughout 

 the State but all over the country and in various other parts of the 

 world, gave its recommendations a favor that caused their adoption 

 by votes that very nearl}' approached unanimity. The result was 

 that a permanent Commission of five members was established, 

 with power to ci'eate a system of public reservations in the cities 

 and towns comprised within the Metropolitan Park System. 

 These were the twelve cities of Boston, Cambridge, Chelsea, 

 Everett, Lynn, Maiden, Medford, Newton, Quincy, Somerville, 

 Waltham and Woburn, and the twenty-five towns of Arlington, 

 Belmont, Braintree, Brookline, Canton, Dedhani, Dover, Hingham, 

 Hull, Hyde Park, Melrose, Milton, Nahant, Needhani, Revere, 

 Saugus, Stoneham, Swampscott, Waketield, Watertown, Wellesley, 

 Weston, Weymouth, Winchester, and Winthrop. 



By the census of 1890 these communities contained a population 

 of more than 888,000, or nearly forty per cent of the population of 

 the Commonwealth. 



For the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this act, the 

 credit of the Commonwealth was advanced to the extent of one 

 million dollars, the interest and annual contributions to the sinking 

 fund necessary for meeting the bonds at maturity to be contrib- 

 uted by the various cities and towns of the district in proportion 

 to the benefits received, as estimated by a Board of three Commis- 



