124 



riEST COUNTY PAEK SYSTEM 



at a cost not exceeding $65^000 tlie 121 acres in tliat tract. 

 There was considerable discussion. Two of the commission- 

 ers expressed the view that, with the needs of the Xewark 

 and other parks then practically agreed npon, the purchase 

 conld not be afforded. This was answered by a reference to 

 the fact that that park wonld be "at the very door'"'" of, and 

 directly convenient to, most of the people of the whole 

 connty, and wonld be in reality a corner-stone of the chain 

 of parks, and, like Eagle Eock, the mountain key to the 

 western portion of the park S3^stem. 



It was also pointed ont that the whole 121 acres, extend- 

 ing for snch a long distance on the mountain crest back to 

 the proposed South Mountain reservation, would cost far 

 less than the single city block of the Branch Brook Garside 

 street extension east of Clifton avenue. In view of all this 

 it was asked how could we afford not to acquire it. 



As Commissioner Peck had all along been one of the most 

 earnest supporters of the mountain park and parkway 

 projects, it vras thought by at least some of the commis- 

 sioners that he would without a question of doubt favor the 

 resolution. Mr. Shepard and myself were known to be in 

 favor of the plan. Mr. Shepard called for a vote. It was 

 lost. Two a3^es, Messrs. Shepard and Kelsey; three nays, 

 Messrs. Peck, Murphy and Meeker. The options were al- 

 lowed to expire, and as the subject had been gone over very 

 fully, it has never, so far as I know, been brought up for 

 consideration since. The following day, in sending to the 

 park board's office the return of the papers, I wrote Com- 

 missioner Peck as follows : 



"jNTothing that has occurred since the inception of the 

 enterprise has been such a surprise to me as your action and 

 statements on this subject yesterday.'^ 



In March, 1896, the commissioners paid Mr. Child $250 

 for his services and expenses in obtaining the options, and 

 the proposition to acquire this most accessible of all the 

 mountain locations was then most regretfully closed. The 

 opportunity of obtaining this magnificent park site, the 

 most direct in communication with xs'ewark and the nearest 



