PLA2s^ FOE ESSEX COUNTY PARKS 15 



Storrs, of the district covered by these natural parks, should 

 formulate a bill, which could be supported in both Senate 

 and House of Assembly. If your board will suggest some 

 particulars, naming, for example, certain areas to be set 

 apart, I shall take great pleasure in urging the matter upon 

 the attention of the Legislature. The time seems to be 

 propitious for a movement of this kind. I shall be glad of 

 any suggestions which the Orange Board of Trade may be 

 pleased to make." 



The resolutions of the New England Society had been 

 adopted at the March (1894) meeting, and, while favorable 

 to the park project, did not outline any definite plan of 

 procedure. The plan was not for certain mountain areas 

 as was evidently in Senator Ketcham's mind, but rather for 

 a comprehensive scheme of parks and parkways for the 

 whole county. These responses, however, indicated that the 

 legislative coast was apparently clear for favorable action 

 there, and, therefore, all that was needed was a concise and 

 readily understood plan that would not only unify all inter- 

 ests throughout the county and districts more directly 

 affected, but would also directly appeal to the Legislature, 

 without the action of which no plan, even of the most at- 

 tractive outline, could be carried out. With an appreciation 

 of these underlying conditions, the Orange committee went 

 quite exhaustively into the subject, as to how the desired 

 results could best be accomplished. 



The formulative plans and accompanying legislation of 

 many established park systems were considered. The in- 

 tent was to select the more desirable features of each, based 

 upon practical experiences elsewhere, to simplify the most 

 effective and practicable, and then to formulate a plan that 

 would be in every way adaptable to the municipal, taxable 

 and topographical conditions, and unified into one system 

 for our "home county." 



Our committee from Orange was, therefore, in a measure 

 - at least, prepared for the meeting of the joint committee on 

 April 14, above mentioned, notices of the conference having 



