CHAPTER IV. 
A CHANGE IN THE CURRENT. 
‘As the rivulet becomes a stream, and the stream broadens 
into the river, the current moves on until the course is 
changed, or completely reversed. So the movement for the 
Essex County parks, from a small beginning, rapidly 
widened and deepened on its course, and although not di- 
rectly obstructed, the current became entirely changed by 
the appointment of the second commission on April 18, 
1895. 
This commission then had everything a public board 
could possibly have in its favor: An extremely liberal char- 
ter, conferring ample authority, approved by almost unani- 
mous action of the Legislature and by a large majority vote 
of the people of the county as well; a generous appropria- 
tion; and more, the good will and confidence of its constit- 
uency and the cordial support of public opinion throughout 
the State. 
While the plans of the first commission were, during the 
early part of the year, maturing, the favorable comments 
and commendatory articles in the local papers were reflected 
in the press of other cities. The New York Tribune, Times, 
World, and Evening Post all had a good word for the Essex 
parks, during the month of January of that year, and be- 
fore the new commission was appointed, had given a resume 
of the movement and of the friendly support extended it. 
The Tribune of April 8, 1895, under the caption “A Fine 
Park System,” dilated at length on the subject, favorable 
alike to the report and the bill to be voted on the following 
day. An editorial in the same paper gave an interesting ac- 
count of “A Great Park Project in New Jersey ;” described 
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