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MIDDLESEX FELLS. 



make appropriations in money for such taking or purchase, 

 and to receive donations in land or money. The title of such 

 land is to vest in the Commonwealth, and be held in perpetuity 

 for the benefit of the town or city in which it is situated. The 

 State Board of Agriculture, acting as a Board of Forestry, is 

 to have the management of all such public domains, and to 

 make regulations for the preservation of timber and the plant- 

 ing and cultivating of trees ; it may also appoint keepers and 

 lease buildings. The income from leases and the sale of pro- 

 ducts is to be applied to the management of the domain, the 

 surplus in any year being paid to the city or town in which 

 the domain is situated. No land can be taken or purchased, 

 or liability incurred under this act, until an appropriation 

 sufficient to cover the estimated expense shall have been made 

 in a town by a vote of two thirds of the legal voters present 

 and voting ; or in a city, by a vote of two thirds of each branch 

 of the City Council. To defray the expenses, bonds may be 

 issued, denominated on the face "Public Domain Loan." 

 These are the leading features of the Act. 



To encourage favorable action by the five municipalities, a 

 subscription was started, and a Board of Trustees formed to 

 receive and hold " conditional obligations " which were to be 

 collected and paid to the municipalities, when by their con- 

 current votes the title of the real estate should vest in the 

 Commonwealth. Although no canvass was made, about 

 115,000 was subscribed. The passage of the new Forest Law 

 was celebrated June 17, 1882, on Bear Hill, by a meeting 

 of the Fells Association, the Essex and Middlesex Institutes, 

 and other friends of the project. Among the speakers were 

 Hon. George B. Loring and Hon. Daniel Needham. 1 The 

 Medford Public Domain Club was organized Dec. 17, 1884, 

 to enlist the active co-operation of Medford citizens ; and the 

 meeting was addressed by Rev. Edward Everett Hale and 

 Mr. Wright. 2 Many other meetings have been held, in public 

 halls and at various points in the Fells. 



On Nov. 21, 1885, the Hon. Elizur Wright died suddenly at 

 his residence in Medford. He was the originator and chief 



1 Massachusetts Ploughman, June 24, 1882. 



2 Globe, Dec. 18, 1884. 



