70 



FIRST COUNTY PARK SYSTEM 



mented upon by tlie press. The imexpected liad happened. 

 The plan of laying ont "the best park system that could be 

 devised^' for the whole county irrespective of local and sec- 

 tional lines, which had been the keynote and the foundation 

 structure of the work of the first commission, and the rea- 

 son for its popular approval, had been by this act of the 

 court — where the appointing power had been placed for the 

 express purpose of minimizing the chances of failure in the 

 execution of the plan — completely reversed. And, in that 

 enterprise, a new principle and prerogative was then and 

 there established, T^dth two-fifths of the board of new mater- 

 ial, one new member an active and ambitious politician, 

 both representing large corporation interests — men who 

 had had nothing whatever to do with the f ormulative plans 

 or the work of the first commission, and who were not con- 

 versant with the causes that had led to the popular success 

 of the undertaking up to that time. 



FORMER POLICY REVERSED. 



Whatever may have been the intentions of the court, this 

 reversal of policy was the practical effect, as was conclu- 

 sively shown at almost the first meeting of the new commis- 

 sion and has been more fully demonstrated since. The Daily 

 Advertiser referred briefly, though kindly, to the new com- 

 mission. The News w^as editorially non-committal, as were 

 many of the other papers, both in and out of the county. 

 The Call, while having a good word for the new board, in 

 an editorial note, referring to the appointments, expressed 

 this sentiment : 



^^The omission of Mr. Bramhall from the park commis- 

 sion is incomprehensible. It was hoped and expected that 

 his valuable services would be retained in the interest of the 

 public throughout the county." 



In an interview about the same time Senator Ketcham 

 said: 



"In appointing the permanent commission I am sorry 

 Judge Depue could not continue in office the original 

 commission." 



