PAEK SITES CHOSEN 



125 



to the centres of population of the coiint}^, was thus lost 

 to the public ; and the value and loss to the park system is, 

 1 believe, difficult to estimate. 



SOUTH MOUNTAIN" RESERVATION". 



Large reservations of natural scenery have become one of 

 the attractive features of a modern park system. Nor is 

 the movement confined to localities especially acquired or 

 reserved for park uses. The general government, and many 

 of the States, have of late years included in their forestry 

 reservations large areas of timbered lands, with the object 

 at the same time of conserving also the feature for recrea- 

 tion and attractive natural environments. The movements 

 toward the preservation of the big trees ( Sequoia Washing- 

 toni^) of California; for a natural park and forest re- 

 serve along the Appalachian Mountains; and the White 

 Mountain forest reservations in New Hampshire, are some 

 of the better known efforts m this direction. In the Massa- 

 chusetts Metropolitan Parkas system the great Blue Hills 

 reservation, with its more than 4,000 acres of beautifully 

 wooded slopes and valleys ; and the Middlesex Fells on the 

 other side of Boston, with its 1,800 acres of timber lands, 

 lakes, open fields, etc., are recognized as special attractions 

 there, as have become Van Cortland and Pelham Bay Parks 

 in New York, Epping Forest, outside of London, and the 

 many other outlying natural reservations lying wholly 

 without the large cities. 



The Essex Park Commission of 1895, like the preceding 

 commission, was in favor of a liberal acquirement of these 

 lands in such a reservation for the park system here. There 

 was but one location which in size, relative convenience, 

 varied topography and attractive natural and wooded feat- 

 ures, seemed to meet the requirements. That was the exten- 

 sive tract between the apex of the First and Second Moun- 

 tains, and principally south of the Northfield road. Former 

 Commissioner G-. W. Bramhall had always advocated this 

 proposed reservation. In September, 1895, he was requested 

 to assist the commission. Up to that time it had not been 



