CHAPTEE XIT. 



GOOD CITIZENSHIP HELPLESS. 



East Orange having completed the parkways' transfer, 

 the Park Commission having formally accepted both ave- 

 nues there, and the city of Orange having twice failed to 

 complete the transfer ordinance, the parkway situation, 

 early in 1899, might be compared to a well-equipped, safely 

 ballasted, strong coach with a balking team. Every facility 

 was at hand for the commission to mount the driver's seat 

 of that coach, to quietly and firmly take the reins, and with- 

 out resort to force, not even to the lash, to guide the load of 

 obligations and pledges, which the board had already made 

 to the public regarding the avenue parkways, to a safe and 

 successful destination. 



Not only did the Park Board possess ample power and 

 full authority for accomplishing this result, but it had the 

 press and the great majority of the people of the Oranges 

 and of the county then in its favor, to approve and support 

 any and every measure or action taken for the good and the 

 protection of the parks and parkways which the commis- 

 sioners were especially entrusted in their charter, by the 

 people, to create and defend. One of the leading papers on 

 January 7, 1899, voiced public sentiment in contending, 

 editorially : "It is probable that nine-tenths of the voters 

 of Orange are in favor of having Park and Central avenues 

 receive parkway treatment." 



PAEK board's evasive COURSE. 



Similar sentiments were at that time so frequently ex- 

 pressed that there could be no reasonable doubt as to the 

 attitude of the public generally upon this question. Instead 



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