UO J^IEST COIJNTY PAEK SYSTEM 



discussion of the subject/' replied Chairman William 

 Cardwell. 



^^The members of this City Council are our servants," was 

 Mr. Scarrett's answer. 



"Yes, 3^ou have rights," said Mr. Cardwell. 



^^Then you decline to receive our protests. Are we not 

 permitted to speak again inquired Mr. Scarrett. 



'*^It has been decided by a majority of the council that 

 you cannot," was the chairman's response. The city clerk, 

 in an almost inaudible, monotonous voice, then read the 

 written "suggestions" formulated by the full joint commit- 

 tee on parkways, 



POINTS IN THE LETTER. 



The communication cited the various official statements 

 of the Park Board regarding the parkways ; referred to the 

 fact that a railroad on either of the avenues "would at once 

 and permanently prevent the eighteen acres of parkway im- 

 provements on that side of the city ; would effectually de- 

 stroy the continuous features of the crosstown parkway, 

 thereby preventing nearly one-half of all the park and park- 

 way improvements possible in East Orange; and would dis- 

 integrate the park system past recovery. Whereas a trolley 

 road farther south would be a desirable improvement and 

 furnish convenient communication between that section and 

 Newark, and give us direct access to the parks." 



Attention was also called to the ordinance before the 

 council as being "surprisingly defective in not properly safe- 

 guarding the interests of the city." It was also pointed out 

 that neither public opinion, nor the test of the future, nor 

 your unbiased judgment upon a fuller understanding of the 

 facts, can approve of the terms as now proposed in the fran- 

 chise grant of any important street." 



The facts as to the fabulous profits made out of the South 

 Orange avenue line (a parallel avenue) were then stated. 

 It was also shown how, on that perpetual franchise, and for 

 less than five miles of double track, $21,000,000 of securities 

 of the North Jersey Street Eailway Company had been 



