THE PARKWAYS 



183 



living in East Orange, had come to talk with him about 

 the parkways, and had said, during the conversation, that, 

 should the Park Commissioners be given control of Cen- 

 tral and Park avenues, they would "have gates put up so 

 as to keep the poor people out," when they thought it ad- 

 visable or desired to do so. 



These specious and misleading statements were quite in 

 keeping with methods which were rapidly arousing an 

 adverse public sentiment. New consents were finally se- 

 cured and filed by the traction company, February 7, 1897. 



MANY MEETINGS HELD. 



The comments and rumors current did not tend to 

 smooth the fighting ground of the traction contingent. 

 There had been lively discussion and some warm words 

 at the three well-attended meetings of the Township Com- 

 mittee, December 8, 14, and 21, held in Commonwealth 

 Hall, as also at the citizens' meeting in the athletic club 

 rooms, January 26. At these meetings the parkway claims 

 were well presented. The friends of the parkways had 

 not been idle. Committees having the subject in charge 

 had sent out appeals. Meetings were held, and Commis- 

 sioner's Shepard's co-operation invited. In January, 1897, 

 after Orange had declined to make the transfer, he wrote, 

 unofficially, "as a citizen," expressing "regret that the 

 Town Committee should take abrupt and final action con- 

 cerning the request of the Park Commission for the care 

 of the avenues," adding : 



"The commission made this request, believing it was 

 for the benefit of every citizen of the county that it should 

 be granted, and supported in this view by a written com- 

 munication signed by a large number of the citizens of 

 East Orange. 



"If the Town Committee declines to co-operate, in all 

 reasonable ways, with the Park Commission, it will pre- 

 vent many things being done which will beautify the town 

 and add greatly to the pleasure of living in it. That resi-- 

 dence or business streets can be made attractive as park- 



