382 FIRST COUNTY PARK SYSTEM 
committee of the board, after passing upon the various ap- 
plicants, recommended Alonzo Church—the present secre- 
tary—and he was appointed at the meeting of July 12, 
1894. 
One of the first matters looking to results that was de- 
cided by the commission, was as to the desirability of get- 
ting in touch with the various governing bodies of the 
county. It was felt that, not only was each locality entitled 
to be heard regarding its preference or recommendations, 
but that the board would be strengthened, and in many 
ways assisted, by calling out the wishes and suggestionsfrom 
various parts of the county. It was agreed that the most 
feasible and effectual way of doing this would be through a 
communication addressed directly to each of the local au- 
thorities and associations interested in municipal improve- 
ment. This plan was agreed upon, and on June 28, I was, 
by resolution of the board, requested to prepare a letter from 
the commission on the lines indicated. After referring to 
the powers conferred by the Park act, and to Judge Depue’s 
selection of the commissioners, “two from Newark, one from 
Belleville, one from Orange, and one from South Orange,” 
the letter was as follows: 
THE COMMISSION’S LETTER. 
“The outlining of a plan that will result in the greatest 
good to the greatest number, by the most direct methods 
and at the least cost, necessitates wide research, and the 
fullest suggestions as to localities and their availability. 
To these ends, and in the spirit indicated by the law, and 
the court, we invite your co-operation in according fair 
consideration to every portion of the district. 
“That the prompt location and acquirement of a compre- 
hensive system of parks in this county is desirable, if not 
imperative, for the health and prosperity of the people, ap- 
pears to be generally admitted. Indeed, that this commun- 
ity is belated in this important public improvement is quite 
too apparent. 
