32 HISTORY OF THE 



found east of Walnut avenue. In 1872 it was held at 

 22 1-2 cents, but finally sold at an ofter of 18 3-1 cents 

 a foot; the party, after some delay, not fuUilliug his 

 agreement, it was decided to hold it. 



JSTow nothing is more certain than that all the availa- 

 ble lands in the vicinity of a growing city like Boston 

 will gradually advance in price and will so continue as 

 the population increases. These lands were indeed 

 wisely chosen for the public park, but it must be remem- 

 bered that many of them are very valuable also for 

 dwellings, and they are the first to come into the market 

 as unimproved locations. 



After waiting all these years through business de- 

 pressions, all the time losing interest and paying taxes, 

 then came the long looked for day of improvement in 

 values; and while the patient owners are anticipating 

 the benefits of better times, you seize their property at 

 a moiety of its value with a firm grip, for the indulgence 

 and enjoyment of the citizens. 



If the city of Boston wishes to indulge in the luxury 

 of a park or parks, why not do justice to the ownei's of 

 these lands, and pay, without jewing, a fair equitable 

 price for them, but not act with such a miserly spirit in 

 making the appropriation? Six hundred thousand dol- 

 lars can not be made to pay for property woi'th two 

 millions of dollars without sacrificing the owners. 



On looking over one of the Park Reports I Avas sui- 

 prised to find the names of some of our worthy citizens 

 attached to a petition, dated November 29, 1871), urging 

 the Commissioners to secure park lands at once: "Be- 

 cause the lands required for the West Koxbury Park 

 can be obtained at far less prices than hereafter, as real 



