QUESTIONS OF POLICY 



81 



proceed in an undertaking of that magnitude, and that is to 

 have the whole scheme laid out in advance before any com- 

 mitments are made. In this way you can see the end from 

 the beginning and at least approximately know at the start 

 where you are coming out/^ 



Those statements are now as clear in my mind as though 

 Mr. James had made them but yesterday. At the next 

 meeting I reported the conversation to the board. Mr. 

 Murphy reiterated the answer: 



"I am here to spend that two millions and a half of 

 dollars as I think best. Newark pays about three-fourths 

 of the county taxes, and, as one of the representatives of this 

 city,. I propose to be free to favor such parks here or in the 

 county as I wish." 



On May 20, 1895, a conference was held with Landscape 

 Architects and Engineers Messrs. N. F. Barrett and John 

 Bogart, who had made the most original and suggestive 

 plans for the first commission. On the recommendation of 

 the committee on landscape architects — Mr. Shepard and 

 myself — these gentlemen received their appointment and 

 went immediately at work on data for the preparation, 

 later, of landscape plans. Mr. Bogart was chosen with the 

 view of his having especially in charge the various engineer- 

 ing problems which it was soon recognized the commission, 

 in carrying out the plans for such varied topography as ex- 

 isted in Essex County, would have to solve. 



About the same time, Messrs. Murphy and Meeker acted 

 as a committee in conferring with Mayor Lebkuecher to 

 obtain his views in regard to the transfer of lands belonging 

 to the city of Newark which might be desirable for use in 

 the new park locations. Requisitions for funds were made 

 on the freeholders — one for $5,000 on May 9 — and promptly 

 honored, and that board was advised that the commission 

 ''would probably require the current year $750,000." On 

 June 17 a conference with the Finance Committee of the 

 freeholders was held. This was followed a week later by 

 another requisition for $50,000, which amount was prompt- 

 ly forthcoming. 



