26 HISTORY OF THE 



It seems that you have adopted identically the plan 

 I submitted, which I feel is complimentary to my judg- 

 ment and taste, but I can not consent to the bonding 

 or the jiarting in any way at present witli Montglade, 

 as it is the chief gem for elegant private dwellings of 

 all the estates around Boston. 



The lot of land on the eastern side of Walnut avenue, 

 called N^ewstead, being numbered 17 on the park plan, 

 was sold to a party in February, 1872, at 18 3-4 cents 

 per foot, while another stood ready to negotiate at 

 about the same price. Now by adding interest and 

 taxes to the present time (Sept. 20, 1876) it will stand 

 to cost 28 cents a foot, or $133,380.80. 



The city of Boston can purchase this strip of land by 

 paying a fair equitable compensation for practical public 

 uses, or it may be seized under the arbitrary right of 

 eminent domain for luxurious purposes as well, but con- 

 scientious citizens would scarcely enjoy roaming or 

 driving over these lovely grounds, knowing that they 

 had been wrung from the owner at one-fifth of their 

 value. 



This lot, containing 476,360 feet, I shall be willing to 

 part with at a f\iir price, in order to facilitate the accom- 

 plishment of the park project, but you can not reason- 

 ably expect me to sell this property at bankrupt prices. 

 K^o, I prefer to hold these estates until another wave of 

 prosperity reaches us; and moreover, I consider it a 

 sacred privilege to do with my lands as a merchant 

 would wisely do with his merchandize when the market 

 is depressed; viz., to wait, and store his cargo till the 

 prices improve. 



My charming estate on the western side of Walnut 



