128 FIEST COUN-TY PARK SYSTEM 



there appeared to be little interest in the snhject;, either 

 within or without the commission. During the autumn 

 (1895) it conti]p.ued to be a frequent topic for discussion at 

 the board meetings. The land agents were requested to as- 

 certain at what prices land that might be needed could be 

 secured. Their reports indicated that the cost would be 

 large, and that, if a park was established there, it "would 

 come high.^' Finally, on October 28, the report from the 

 architects and engineers was received. It was very moder- 

 ate in tone and conservative in character. Of Weequahic 

 Lake they wrote : 



"We feel that it is our duty tO' say that this lake and its 

 surroundings can, in our opinion, be made an attractive and 

 valuable adjunct to the park system, at a moderate cost, and 

 that it will, when so improved, provide what is desirable 

 in this section of the county.'^ 



This was, I believe, the first expert opinion making any 

 favorable reference to that park site which had been re- 

 ceived. It seemed to modify the convictions of some of the 

 board who had entertained adverse ^dews on the question. 

 I am free to admit that the report brought up in my mind 

 the question as to whether I had not been mistaken in the 

 conclusions I had before formed from the examinations of 

 the tract and of the surroundings. The project still made 

 slow progress in the commission, notwithstanding this re- 

 port and the urgent advocacy of Mr. Murphy. 



In November, 1895, it was decided to acquire some of the 

 propert}^ — the Cooper tract, the Ougheltree farm and land 

 belonging to Daniel Price — in the Waverly district, but not 

 including Weequahic lake, upon which the land agents had 

 obtained options. The estimated total cost of the land 

 within the lines of the architect's map that had been tenta- 

 tively agreed upon was, at this time, $180,000. 



FAIR ASSOCIATIOJT's STOCK. 



One of the stumbling blocks in the way of making prog- 

 ress in either direction toward any definite result was the 



