THE METROPOLITAN PARK SYSTEM. 173 



right of emineut domain. In Philadelphia there is a system under 

 which the authorities not only project streets for future needs, but 

 in connection therewith select lands for permanent open spaces. 

 All building upon the ways and lands thus laid out is prohibited, 

 but the owners can have the use of the land, for other and tem- 

 porary purposes, until wanted by the public. By such a system 

 there is a saving of an enormous amount of expense which would 

 be incurred if the authorities neglected to act iu the matter until 

 public convenience demanded it. In Boston the recent institution 

 of the new Board of Survey gives us a system whereby a plan of 

 street improvement may be fixed upon for undeveloped territory, 

 thus securing a well considered system of street building for the 

 future. Boston has thus only just begun to do what New York and 

 Philadelphia did, early iu the century, in fixing their lines of street 

 building, although, to be sure, their seemingly simple, but really 

 costly and inconvenient rectangular systems, adopted without 

 regard to surface contours, would not commend themselves today, 

 especially in Boston. But it would be well if Boston and the 

 metropolitan district should adopt the Philadelphia idea of laying 

 out future open spaces for recreative use in connection with the 

 work of the Board of Survey. 



The Chairman said that he attended the meeting of the American 

 Forestry Association which was held at Albany, N. Y., in con- 

 junction with other organizations for like objects. In that con- 

 nection he visited the Adirondack Park, or portions of it. This 

 great forest reservation is laid out with fixed boundaries, including 

 many thousands, if not millions, of acres of land ; it covers large 

 portions of several counties, and of many towns in the north- 

 eastern quarter of the State. The establishment of this Park was 

 proposed by the State Forestry Commission, who formulated the 

 plan, and are custodians of the property. At the meeting in Albany, 

 Mr. Appleton found that, in common with himself, those present 

 felt deeply the lack of public interest in forestry, and the great 

 need among our people of more knowledge of the science involved 

 in forest culture, which knowledge would beget an increased 

 interest. The chief point in regard to lands which the State 

 cannot own, is that the State should have control of the woods 

 and waters throughout her domain, for the conservation of com- 

 tnercial and healthful interests. In connection with his observa- 

 tions at Albany aud the Adirondacks, he would have been much 



