226 FIRST COUNTY PARK SYSTEM 
serious importance, or matters that could not be readily, 
and with comparatively small expense, adequately and 
satisfactorily treated. 
This Olmsted report was received and was before the Park 
Board for consideration on August 8, 1899. I am not aware 
that its contents have before this ever been made public. 
Soon after the report was received, and remained in secret 
in the Park Board archives, one of the traction company’s 
representatives, with a smiling countenance, stated to me 
that the Park Commission had “an expert’s report, which 
was decidedly against Central avenue.” That the com- 
mission for some reason concluded it was not desirable 
to give out the report appears from the board’s official 
action. At the meeting of March 5, 1901, in passing upon 
the matter for the annual report, it was agreed “that the 
Olmsted Brothers’ report in regard to Park and Central 
avenues,” should be included; and then, at the meeting of 
March 19, on motion of Commissioner Shepard, seconded 
by Mr. Murphy, the “motion of March 5, which included in 
the annual report the report of Olmsted Brothers in regard 
to Park and Central avenues,” was rescinded, and a motion 
of Mr. Shepard, that that report be omitted, was then 
adopted. 
A PARK BOARD HEARING. 
When, during the latter part of 1899, and early in 1900, 
it was found that the Board of Freeholders was, on the 
parkway subject, immovable, an effort was made to secure 
from that board, if possible, its official approval of the 
transfer made by the East Orange authorities March 15, 
1897, and thus have the full control of the East Orange 
portion of each of the avenues vested in the Park Commis- 
sion. The Park Board gave a hearing, March 1, 1900, on 
this question. A large and representative delegation was 
present. The commission was reminded of “what were con- 
sidered the promises to the Hast Orange committee three 
years before,’ and of “the condition of unrest that was 
growing out of the delay, in the absence of some action or 
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