90 FIEST COUXTY PARK SYSTEM 



direct!}' affected, after the loan has been made, the confi- 

 dence reposed and powers conferred, based npon these state- 

 ments ? 



"Sureh^ there was nothing in the report that indicated 

 there was the remotest thought or intention of adopting 

 a piecemeal, sectional policy. On the contrary, every 

 statement and inference was that a ^system^ of parks was to 

 be created; that they were to be laid ont on the general 

 plans as outlined in the report, for the good of the whole 

 county, free from local entrammelmejits. 



"If this view be the correct one, it seems to me that it is 

 incumbent npon onr board to change its policy, and instruct 

 our architects to at once proceed and lay out a comprehen- 

 sive plan for the county before we decide upon any other 

 large areas, besides the Branch Brook tract, as a starting 

 point already agreed upon. 



"You will recollect I suggested to you this plan soon 

 after the organization of the present commission. It has 

 been m}^ conviction from the first that it was the proper 

 way, and, indeed, the only way, that we could make effective 

 progress and lay out a system that would meet the obliga- 

 tions entered into with the public on the acceptance of our 

 statement and charter, or that would avert adverse criticism 

 and keep the work of the commission on broad lines, ac- 

 ceptable to the people of the county and the State. . 



"I have not more strongly advocated this plan before 

 because I have deferred to the feelings and judgment of the 

 other members of the commission who, I felt, would, sooner 

 or later, from their own convictions, arrive at the same 

 conclusion. Very truly yours, 



"Frederick W. Kelsey.^' 



The reasons why it seemed desirable to carr}^ out the 

 policy of the first commission, as above indicated,~a.nd many 

 others, had been repeatedly stated at the board meetings, 

 where, as I have already mentioned, the discussions, al- 

 though earnest, were always in good nature. Believing 

 that there was a vital principle involve^j, I .'^Iso wrote Com" 



