MIDDLESEX FELLS. 



201 



13, 1880. In this account we find mention of Mr. Wilson 

 Flagg's article entitled " A Forest Preserve : A Proposition to 

 State and City Governments." Mr. Flagg alluded to the wild 

 region extending from Stonehain to Salem as a good site for 

 the location of one or more of these preserves. 1 In 1869 Mr. 

 Wright published a pamphlet entitled " Mt. Andrew Park," 

 in which he recommended that the Fells region, then known 

 as " The Five-Mile Wood," be converted into a park. He 

 advised the preservation of the forest upon the hills, and the 

 establishment of Schools of Natural History in connection 

 with it. In the last chapter of " The Woods and Byways of 

 New England," published in 1872, Mr. Flagg recommended 

 that " The Five-Mile Wood " be selected as a site for a 

 " Forest Conservatory," and in 187G an unsuccessful attempt 

 was made by Mr. Flagg and others before the Massachusetts 

 General Court to secure legislation favoring this project. In 

 1879-80 appeared Mr. Baxter's article, and three open letters 

 by Mr. Flagg to Col. T. W. Higginson. 2 



The Middlesex Fells Association was organized in the early 

 part of 1880, with Mr. Wright as President. At one of its 

 meetings two interesting communications were presented, — 

 a statement by Mr. Flagg showing the public the objects of 

 the Association, and a letter from Mr. Frederick Law Olm- 

 stead giving his advice on the Fells project. 3 Under the 

 auspices of the Association a mass meeting was held in the 

 Medford Town Hall, Jan. 26, 1881, the principal speakers 

 being Governor Long, Prof. B. G. Northrop of Connecti- 

 cut, Col. T. W. Higginson, Hon. E. S. Converse, John Owen, 

 and Elizur Wright. 4 The most important work accom- 

 plished was the passage by the Legislature of the Public 

 Domain Act, chapter 255 of the Acts of 1882, "An Act 

 authorizing towns and cities to provide for the preservation 

 and reproduction of Forests." This act empowers a town or 

 city to take or purchase land for the preservation and culture 

 of forest trees, or for the preservation of the water-supply, to 



1 Charles M. Hovey's Magazine of Horticulture, Jan., 1856. 



2 Transcript, Dec. 31, 1879, Jan. 13, 23, 1880; see also Dec. 11, 18, 30, 1880. 



3 Herald, Nov. 14, 1880. 



* Transcript, Jan. 27, 1881. 



