CHAPTER III. 



PEELI^illXARY WORK CO:^IPLETED. 



The inspection and selection of park sites within a terri- 

 tory possessing the varied topography and variety of nat- 

 ural scenery found in Essex Connty was a most agreeable 

 and interesting experience. 



Three of the commissioners at this time, 1894, belonged 

 to that numerous contingent in Northern New Jersey, who, 

 in common parlance, "live in New York and sleep in New 

 Jersey.'^ They knew, from everyday experience, something 

 of the practical workings of "the strenuous life," having 

 passed the years of business activity under the exacting con- 

 ditions imposed by close application to commercial affairs 

 in the metropolis, yet, in common with many well-inten- 

 tioned citizens of this class, they had felt some degree of 

 interest and pride in their locality and in the county at 

 large. It was, therefore, a pleasure for them to become 

 better acquainted with the beauties of their own county by 

 the personal contact and observation required in looking 

 over possible park sites. 



It is one of the unfortunate elements in all the 

 matters pertaining to good citizenship that Essex 

 County, and, in a greater or less degree, the entire 

 State of New Jersey, should be deprived of the local 

 interest of so many of her most active residents and voters, 

 as results from so large an egress from their homes of busi- 

 ness men and workers every day, excepting Sundays and 

 holidays, throughout the year. 



In roaming over "green fields and pastures new," all the 

 commissioners were deeply interested in what they saw. 

 One day they were looking at the then very unattractive 



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