134 FIEST COUNTY PARK SYSTEM 



It was, therefore, largely a matter of Hobson's choice 

 with the commission as to which horn of the dilemma should 

 be taken. The matter was held in abeyance and left unde- 

 cided for years. Commissioner Bramhall, who had pre- 

 viously taken an active interest in the question, afterward 

 wrote a formal letter to the board protesting against the 

 lake raising level plan. That plan was, however, adopted, 

 and, at the Park Board meeting August 9, 1904, bids were 

 received for removing the bogs and other growth from the 

 lake. These bids were for amounts from $32,000 up to 

 $97,500. The contract was awarded to P. Sanford Ross at 

 his bid of $32,000, and the work began in October, 1904. 

 The lake water is now at the raised level and the bog clean- 

 ing contract is practically finished. This lake and the sur- 

 rounding bog marsh comprise about eighty acres. When 

 dredged and portions of the borders filled in, the lake area 

 proper will be between fifty and sixty acres. 



The old race track of the fair association is used under a 

 nominal lease by the Road Horse Association. The "play 

 stead" is used, as was intended (mosquitoes permitting), 

 for athletic sports. 



The cash expenditures for land for the Weequahic reser- 

 vation, including the $75,000 to the fair association, grew 

 from the estimated cost in 1895 of $180,900, to the cash 

 expenditure up to December 31, 1901, of $243,563. The 

 improvements up to that time had cost $67,258. Large ex- 

 penditures have since been made, and must continue to be 

 made, before this park of 265 acres can well or effectively 

 answer, to any marked advantage, the purpose for which 

 it was acquired. 



