CHAPTEE VI. 



THE FIRST $1,000,000. 



With the great mass of people, to wliom the matter of 

 income vs. expenses is a present and ever-recurring problem, 

 there are, perhaps, few characters in fiction more interest- 

 ing or that have attracted wider attention than Wilkins 

 Micawber. His object lesson in correct finance, showing 

 the happiness that may follow from an income of "twenty 

 pounds a year" and expenses of "nineteen pounds nineteen 

 shillings and sixpence," when compared with the misery 

 resulting from a like -income and the expenditure of 

 "twenty pounds one," illustrates in a few words a principle 

 of very general application. 



Thus, in the park enterprise, each of the commissioners, 

 favoring the policy of being pecuniarily forehanded in pub- 

 lic matters ars in private afiairs, was of one mind as to the 

 desirability of providing ample funds before incurring lia- 

 bility for land purchases or other financial obligations. 



After the organization of the department was completed 

 and the first requisition for $5,000 on the Board of Free- 

 holders in May, 1895, had been made, the commission then 

 took up the subject of a bond issue for a large amount. 

 This was arranged through a joint meeting with the 

 Einance Committee of the freeholders on June 17. At this 

 conference it was agreed that, as the proceeds of the bonds 

 were under the law to be turned over to the park board, the 

 commission should take the initial and active steps in the 

 negotiations for the bond issue. 



TO CONSULT WITH BANKERS. 



The meeting was entirely harmonious, and I was ap- 

 pointed a committee, with the counsel, to consult with some 



94 



