212 FIRST COUNTY PARK SYSTEM 
message to the City Council beginning: “At this time, 
when you have before you for consideration the ordinances 
in relation to the transfer of Park and Central avenues to 
the Essex County Park Commission, I would respectfully 
call your attention to the following: 
“Now that the courts have decided legal the proposed 
issue of park bonds by the Park Commission, and the same 
are about to be sold, and the work suspended by the com- 
mission on account of the lack of funds will no doubt be 
pushed, it would seem to be an opportune time to direct the 
attention of the Park Commission to the desirability of the 
establishment of a park, centrally located, within the limits 
of the city of Orange. There are at the present time several 
desirable sites which could be purchased at moderate cost, 
upon which there are few, if any, buildings.” 
The appointment of a committee is then recommended 
“to confer with the Park Commission with this end in 
view,” and the message closes with a commendation of the 
Street Committee “for the good work the street department 
is doing on the streets.” 
EFFECT OF THE MAYOR’S MESSAGE. 
Excepting the opening paragraph quoted, not a word was 
mentioned regarding the real question then before the coun- 
cil—the disposition of the avenues transfer ordinance, 
which was then “put over.” The Orange park was at that 
time well under improvement, and the Mayor knew, when he 
wrote that message, the difficulty and objection in the com- 
mission to locating even that favorable site for an Orange 
park. The practical effect of the message was to show the 
intention of the opposition to still further create discussion 
and issue over the main question. It had this effect on some 
of the members of the City Council. The document had, 
however, with the other influences referred to, the effect on 
the Park Commission of inducing that board to give out an- 
other statement. This was presented by Commissioner 
Bramhall at the meeting of the Orange Common Council 
July 8, 1898. There were also present Commissioners Shep- 
