74 REPORT OF THE 



THE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PARKS. 



The action of the Board of Supervisors in July, 1895, creating 

 a County Civil Service Commission, and continuing Mr. Frank 

 Squier as Commissioner of County Parks, until the completion of 

 the work necessary to make the new parks available for public 

 use, rather complicated affairs upon the appointment of Mr. 

 Timothy L. Woodruff the first of February to succeed Mr. 

 Squier as Commissioner of the Department of Parks of the 

 City of Brooklyn. 



Mr. Squier had declined to become his own successor because 

 of private affairs, and he also wished to be rid of the work inci- 

 dent to the County Parks for the same reason, although his 

 personal inclinations were in the direction of completing, as far as 

 possible, the great work he had begun for the city of Brooklyn, by 

 providing the means and purchasing nearly all the land required 

 for the extension of the system of parks and parkways. Legal 

 minds differed as to the standing of Mr. Squier and his right to 

 relinquish the control of the County moneys remaining in his 

 possession. To secure himself against possible responsibility, he 

 inaugurated a friendly suit, which, while not deciding the main 

 question at issue, which was his right to hold office, would result 

 in passing into the possession of his successor the funds for the 

 County Parks and other County improvements. In accordance 

 with this idea, and upon consultation with the Corporation 

 Counsel, the following letter was sent to Commissioner Wood- 

 ruff by ex-Commissioner Squier: 



THE LEGAL PROCEEDINGS. 



" New YORK, February 17, 1896. 

 " Hon. Timothy L. Woodruff, 



" Commissioner of Parks, Brooklyn, N. Y.: 

 " Dear Sir — It is apparently impossible to come to any defi- 

 nite conclusion in regard to the parks and roadways known as 

 the County Parks and Parkways. I do not see my way clear to 

 take charge of them under present circumstances, and I propose 



