19- 

 enjoyment of all the people. We naturally cite 

 the Metropolitan Park System of Massachusetts as a 

 splendid example of accomplishment in this line . 

 The Metropolitan District of Boston is a 



region of marvelously commingled waters, marshes, 



11 

 gravel hanks and rocks, and scenes of the highest 



natural "beauty lie at its very doors. But, thought 

 was not given to their acquisition and preservation 

 for the public and ifaga* they were rapidly "becoming 

 ah sorted and destroyed hy the unguided growth of the 

 suhurhs. Through interest on the part of the 

 Appalachian Mountain Club, this unfortunate state 

 of affairs was brought before the public in 1890, 

 when Charles Eliot commenced his exemplary labors in 

 introducing and building up the Preservation Scheme. 

 Through his untiring efforts the suhject underwent 

 the proper investigation and plans and recommendations 

 were presented. 



Within a surprisingly short period of 

 time this program became a live issue and action 

 was rapidly taken, culuminating in the estahlishment 

 *of a system proportionally supported hy the thirty- six 

 separate political units of the Metropolitan District 

 of Boston. Within the short space of seven years all 

 this was accomplished and at the death of Charles 

 Eliot in 1897 the system consisted of an outer ring 



