m FIRST COUXTY PARK SYSTEM 



of the Park Commission talking any advantage of its op- 

 portunities at this critical juncture of its parkway affairs, 

 it was content to sit in secret session, month after month, 

 for several years, and give out statements or promulgate 

 manifestoes, restating its position that it had "not changed'" 

 its attitude regarding the parkways ; and at last, "declined 

 to take a partisan stand'"' on this matter, upon which the 

 board itself had taken the initial action in preparing and 

 publishing its plans, and had even secured appropriations 

 with the promise and understanding that the avenues were 

 to be made parkways. And this question as to whether 

 these results should be secured, or the collusive corporate 

 interests should appropriate one or both of the proposed 

 parkways for private gain, was no more a "partisan'^ ques- 

 tion than was the action of the Legislature in passing the 

 Park Commission's charter, or were the innumerable official 

 acts of the commission in locating the parks and parkways, 

 or in acquiring the requisite land, or in formulating rules 

 and regulations for the administration of the park 

 department. 



But while the commission was for 3'ears resting upon its 

 declared intentions as to the two principal parkways, the 

 traction compan}^, before the close of 1898, had its scheme 

 for securing at least one of the parkway avenues well in 

 hand. And, at the time indicated, it was in possession of 

 both the reins and lash of the parkways' coach. This con- 

 dition had been, in the meantime, very materially strength- 

 ened by Counsel J. L. Jiunn, by his assistance in keeping 

 actively alive the controversy, not only in Orange, but also 

 with the Board of Freeholders. 



In this board, some action was usually taken about the 

 time the Park Commission would issue another statement 

 of good intention, which would in effect nullify the com- 

 missioners' claim that they wanted the parkways, by creat- 

 ing still farther obstacles in the way of the avenues' transfer 

 being completed. 



After the parkway-avenue resolution of the Park Board 

 of November, 1896, had been sent to the Board of Freehold- 



