THE FIRST COMMISSION 



29 



favorably to those selected to perform the preliminary work. 

 The Xewark Xews editorially^ on June 18, 1894, ac- 

 credited Judge Depue with having "wisely sought to give 

 every locality proper representation." 



"Not in this country, if in the world," said the News 

 at that time, "is there another place where the eye can look 

 upon the dwelling places of so many people as may be seen 

 on a clear day from Eagle Eock and other good points of 

 observation on the Orange Mountain/' 



"The ease with which the park bill passed the House, 

 Senate, and Governor is proof of the wisdom and popularity 

 of the measure," is the way The Daily Advertiser put it 

 in an editorial of June 19; following an editorial of the 

 day previous referring in a complimentary ^-ay to the per- 

 sonnel of the commission and expressing confidence that 

 "these men will do their work faithfully and well." 



At the same time the commissioners were each asked if 

 they intended to accept the appointment and for their views 

 for publication. Mr. Bramhall said: 



"There should be a series of parks and parkways so de- 

 signed that at least a part of them could be reached by walk- 

 ■^jjg^ * * :5s Within the county there are many excel- 

 lent locations for parks." One of the other commissioners 

 referred to "public parks as a common possession in which 

 the poor and the rich share, and share alike." 



On June 23, 1894, Judge Depue made the formal an- 

 nouncement of the commission's appointment in a brief 

 statement, again referring to the action of the Board of 

 Trade committees, and to the act authorizing the appoint- 

 ment; and renaming "the commissioners — Messrs. Jackson, 

 Peck, Kelsey, Meeker and Bramhall — to be known as the 

 Essex County Park Commission, to hold office for the term 

 designated in the act, and to execute all the powers, and 

 perform all the duties, mentioned in said act." 



FAVORABLE CONDITIONS. 



The reader may now readily appreciate the favorable con- 

 ditions under which the first park comamission began the 

 discharge of its duty on the organization of the board that 



