THE PAEKWAYS 



191 



reach their business or emploj'ment in Newark day by day 

 in the same short time and at the same low cost/' 



As these were almost the identical ^'^argiiments'^ that 

 were then being "used to secure a franchise by the traction 

 company's representatives in East Orange, and as used 

 before the freeholders, two years before, for the same pur- 

 pose, and as it seemed as though any person in reading 

 such a statement might have — as of some of the utterances 

 on the same subject by the commission later — some doubt 

 as to whether the commission really wanted the parkways, 

 in preference to having the trolley on the avenues, there 

 was immediate objection. Even Commissioner Murphy 

 thought the statement needed modification. As I»was de- 

 cided that such a reply would increase the feeling of in- 

 definite uncertainty as to the attitude of the commission, 

 rather than alleviate it, I there wrote out and presented 

 the following: 



"Eesolved, That a full and explanatory statement of 

 the position of this board relative to the care, custody, and 

 control of Central and Park avenues be transmitted to 

 the governing bodies directly interested." 



Commissioners Murphy and Shepard at once objected 

 to the resolution. Finally, after a lengthy informal dis- 

 cussion, the following reply, as a compromise answer to 

 the Stanley committee's inquiries, was agreed upon, and 

 it was promptly sent to Chairman Stanley. 



REPLY TO STANLEY COMMITTEE. 



'^The object of the Park Commission in asking for the 

 care, custody, and control of Central and Park avenues 

 was to incorporate them in a system of public parks, and 

 avoid the necessity of creating new and costly parkways 

 to reach the mountain parks. They recognize the fact 

 that these avenues are already great public thoroughfares, 

 and they do not propose to interfere with the existing 

 rights of property owners and municipal governments, but 

 to put the avenues on a more decided parkway footing 

 than can be done as long as they may be outside of the 



