92 FIEST COUNTY PAEK SYSTEM 



I again wote Mr. Shepard on Xovember 22, 1895 : 



"Onr park enterprise was laid out and the preliminar}^ 

 work carried out on broad lines; successful because sec- 

 tionalism was avoided and the pledge made that the money 

 was to be expended for the benefit of all the county, rather 

 than with special reference to particular localities. 



"The majority sentiment at the meeting yesterday focal- 

 ized directly on the negative side of those principles. 'No 

 matter what argmnents or facts favor the successful original 

 scheme, it must now be superseded by a local policy plan, 

 as distinct in its aims and objects and as much at variance 

 with its former methods and policy as can possibly be. 



"Whether the cable tract is or is not taken is not more 

 vital, it seems to me, than this breach of faith with the 

 public — the change of policy with its natural sequence, and 

 the question of one's duty and obligation under such cir- 

 cumstances. 



"If the change be made, it will be extremely expensive. 

 It will tend soon or later to disintegrate any com- 

 mission or public body entrusted to carry out a great public 

 improvement, as surely as local and personal jealousies sep- 

 arate individuals and communities. If our enterprise can 

 be anything of a success under such a load it will be a mere 

 matter of good fortune. 



"Should not this matter of policy be outlined and agreed 

 upon before we go any further 



Again, December 1, I wrote: "If the majority plan is 

 adopted, the trust obligation we are under to the public is 

 ignored and the experience of other local commissioners 

 unheeded. Feeling as I do that nothing that you or I or 

 an}^ individual can do will prevent the final outcome and 

 result of these two fundamental policies, the thought still 

 uppermost in my mind is as to our duty, and the best course 

 under the circumstances." 



But further argument was useless. The work of tbe 

 commission in establishing the lines and acquiring the land 



