160 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 



siouers, appoiuted every five years by the Supreme Court to fix 

 the proportions thus to be paid. lu this way no actual outlay was 

 required on the part of the Commonwealth, and the burdens 

 imposed upon any one community were not heavy, while the 

 expenditure was distributed over a long period of years. As it 

 was estimated that Boston would be very largely the gainer 

 through the attractiveness of its surroundings which would thus be 

 promoted, even though takings to be made should be chiefly 

 outside of the city limits, the proportion to be paid by that city 

 was fixed at fifty per cent for the first five years. 



The range of activity contemplated for the new Park Commis- 

 sion thus constituted, as set forth in the report of the preliminary 

 Commission, was very great indeed. It is desirable that the best 

 features of the landscape that characterize the surroundings of 

 Boston should be preserved and made available for public recrea- 

 tion, to an extent that should bring their typical elements within 

 easy reach of the great mass of population occupying the metro- 

 politan district. It could not be expected, of course, that every 

 beautiful feature, deeply cherished though it might be, should be 

 retained. Considerations of utility and public convenience must 

 of course prevail, while any plan that should prove too expensive 

 and involve too great a cost would of course be impracticable and 

 defeat its own ends. The demands of business, of commerce, 

 and room for the expansion of a growing population, would have 

 to be given due and careful consideration. But it was 

 essential that the future growth should be an intelligent one in 

 these respects, and in the report of the preliminary Commission 

 great stress was laid upon the fact that through lack of intelligence 

 and lack of foresight in considering the needs of posterity, 

 elements of beauty have been destroyed for merely temporary 

 advantage, and often indeed for no advantage at all, which would 

 now be of inestimable benefit in giving to various sections of the 

 metropolitan district the environment needed, not only for the 

 proper enjoyment, but for tlie sanitary welfare of their population. 

 For instance, Avater fronts have been occupied in a way to bar out 

 their use by tlie public, and rivers have been polluted and made a 

 menace to the health of large communities while their banks have 

 been mutilated and disfigured by private occupancy, when a 

 proper system of development might easily have utilized the 

 natural advantages conferred by these featui-es in a way to make 



