6 HISTORY OF THE 



With strong assurances that the citizens of Boston 

 will be interested to know something of the process, — 

 the mochis operandi, the scheme by which the great 

 West Roxbnry Park lands were obtained for luxurious 

 purposes, the indulgence of her own citizens and the 

 surrounding and rapidly increasing population, — the 

 writer felt that it became his especial duty, being one 

 of the foremost movers in the enterprise, as well as 

 owning the largest and most valuable interest within 

 the park area, consequently being the largest sufferer 

 by the several seizures, to expose the cupidity of the 

 city government in coveting and dooming these lands, 

 and then reducing the valuations to meet the small 

 appropriation made to pay for them. 



There were no doubt many obstacles to be overcome 

 before obtaining the appropriation, because of the 

 opposing action of some members who did not fovor the 

 park scheme from the first, but finally voted for it 

 grudgingly. 



These members did not choose to consider that every 

 great public improvement, whether for practical utility 

 or for luxurious purposes, gave instant employment to 

 a large number of the laboring classes, thus creating a 

 ready demand, and at the same time lessoning the sup- 

 ply, or surplus, of labor-seeking men. 



They should have borne in mind also, that the money 

 s]:>ent in either case comes out of the pockets of the 

 capitalists, or the enterprising middle classes mainly, 

 and not from those who are struggling for their daily 

 bread by the work of their hands. These are facts that 

 should not have been ignored in making a miserly 

 appropriation at first. 



