152 FIRST COUNTY PARK SYSTEM 
I have examined, were made; but rather a subdued feeling 
of disappointment and of disapproval permeated more or 
less the mental atmosphere throughout the county. This 
sentiment was forcefully expressed in the editorials of the 
Newark News, January 6 and February 13, 1897, the 
former referring directly to Commissioner Murphy’s state- 
ment above quoted. 
As these articles then embodied a clear and evidently cor- 
rect expression on this subject, the salient portions may here 
be of interest. Under the caption “The Cost of the Parks 
and the People’s Power Over the Outlay” it was stated: 
“The letter, the spirit and the intent of the law under which 
the Park Board is acting require that, with the expenditure 
of $2,500,000, all the parks and parkways which they have 
the right to establish, shall be completed and turned over to 
the county of Essex. The commissioners, presumably acting 
with forethought and good intention, have chosen to set up 
a law for themselves by purchasing large tracts of land, to 
be held for future development, with increased cost to the 
people. * * * The park commissioners are going to 
spend $2,500,000 in the development of a few parks in 
Newark, and the purchase of certain lands outside. To im- 
prove these lands very large additional expenditures will be 
necessary. The present board, or its successors, will prob- 
ably make an appeal to the Legislature for authority to 
issue more bonds. If the practice sought to be established 
by the present board be allowed to stand, and be imitated 
in the future, the legislative restrictions regarding public 
expenditures for parks will have no meaning. If the parks 
of Essex County are going to cost more than $2,500,000, 
who may say what they are going to cost? Will the total 
run up to $5,000,000 or $10,000,000 or $20,000,000 2” 
In commenting upon the report of the commission for 
1896, issued early in Febrnary, 1897, the News, February 
13, said: “The scheme of parkways is not discussed in the 
report. The commissioners have not yet determined as to 
the character and the scope of those great avenues which 
are to connect the various parks, and which are to add new 
