MORE BONDS AND “HIGH FINANCE” = 153 
charm to the beauties of the county. It is reasonable to 
expect that the improvements of these broad avenues will 
involve a large expenditure, and that this work, taken in 
connection with the improvement of the great areas already 
secured in the Orange Mountain district, will necessitate 
an expenditure of at least $2,500,000 more, and perhaps a 
sum in excess of that amount.” 
The correctness of this prophetic statement as regards the 
application for additional funds for the parks, was vindi- 
cated within a year by the issuance of the commission’s re- 
port for that year (1897), in January, 1898. In the clos- 
ing paragraphs of that report appears (page 18) the 
following statement: 
MORE MONEY NEEDED. 
“The Park Commission can expend the balance still on 
hand in completing as far as is possible the land purchases 
within the areas already selected, and in bringing the city 
parks to such condition as will make them useful, in a 
measure, to the public. But for more perfect development 
of the parks, for the acquirement of some further lands to 
improve the outlines of these parks, and especially for the 
expense of parkways, the need of which becomes more ob- 
vious as the system is developed and appreciated, the com- 
mission estimates that the further sum of $1,500,000 is 
needed. And this sum is, in the estimation of the commis- 
sioners, all that ought to be expended for acquirement and 
development of the system as laid out and designated.” 
This official intimation of the needs and the intention of 
the commission was put into practical shape by the prepara- 
tion of a bill, which, at about the same time, early in 1898, 
made its appearance in the Legislature. This bill, contain- 
ing a referendum clause providing for its submission to the 
electorate of the county in April, was soon passed by both 
houses of the Legislature, and was approved February 21, 
1898. At the election of April 12, following, the vote stood 
for the law, 14,737; against, 9,954; or a majority in favor 
of only 4,783, although the Newark Board of Trade, the 
