THE PAEKWAYS 



193 



An aroused public sentiment in East Orange was, however, 

 doing its work. When the conference between the com- 

 mission and the ToY^-nship Committee as arranged for Feb- 

 rnary 26, 1897, already alluded to, was held, it was ap- 

 parent that something of a change had come over each 

 board. The commissioners had a meeting an hour before 

 the appointed time. All the members then recognized that 

 something more was demanded than the previous glitter- 

 ing platitudes as to the parkways. 



Commissioner Shepard was delegated to speak for the 

 board, and did so. A formal statement was agreed upon. 

 It answered directly most of the questions that had been 

 asked by the committee. Sketches were shown of the pros- 

 pective treatment of the parkways. There was to be no 

 obstacle to the construction or repair by the local authori- 

 ties of gas or water pipes. Sprinkling would be consid- 

 ered a part of the maintenance. The transfer "could not 

 in any way interfere with vested rights,^^ either of the 

 property owners or of the municipality. The question as 

 to trolley roads on the avenues "should be decided by the 

 property owners and the municipal authorities before the 

 proposed transfer," for, with the present width of the ave- 

 nues, "it would not be expedient for the Park Commission 

 to accept the care of the remaining part, with the attend- 

 ing expense, as it is too narrow to admit of parkway treat- 

 ment, and the expense attending the care would not be a 

 proper use of park funds." WillingTiess on the part of 

 the commission "to do ever}^thing in its power to add to 

 the existing attractions in East Orange" was expressed, 

 and a general spirit of co-operation on the part of the 

 board was extended. 



T7H0LE SITUATIO^T GOXE OVER. 



The Township Committee conferees were also to all ap- 

 pearances in a friendly and receptive mood. The whole 

 situation was quite fully gone over. The question of widen- 

 ing the avenues was adversely considered, owing to the 

 prohibitory cost. The poiiceing and lighting matters were 



