8 HISTORY OF THE 



cral parties and obtain plans of their estates was the 

 arclnons work of a whole winter, and to have these 

 plans (many of them in a ragged condition, and nearly 

 all di-awn on different scales,) so arranged as to form 

 one large, perfect plan or map of the whole area com- 

 plete, was finally accomplished by the sldll and carefnl 

 arrangement of William A. Garbett, civil engineer, at 

 the writer's expense. This plan was dated April 9, 1874. 



These preparations having been snccessfnlly accom- 

 plished, the writer next called together several of onr 

 prominent citizens, to whom was presented the project 

 of establishing a park. These gentlemen were the 

 Hon. Marshall P. Wilder, Hon. Alexander II. Rice, 

 Colonel William Y. Ilutchings, and others who were 

 known to be interested in every movement or snggestion 

 looking to the advancement, prosperity and nltimate 

 welfare of the city. 



On the submission of the plan to them, together with 

 a letter descriptive of the location of the property and 

 its availability for park purposes, the project was highlj-^ 

 and unanimously commended and approved, and the 

 earnest hope expressed that the suggestions would be 

 speedily adopted; and this anticipation finally became 

 a reality. 



The following is a copy of the original letter which 

 was sent, with the plan made by Mi'. Gai'bett, to the Park 

 Commissioners as soon as they wei'c appointed, Avhich 

 was in 1875, togetiier with the names of the several 

 OAvners of the lots according to the plan submitted. 

 It will doubtless be of interest to the jniblic: 



