TOY OFFICIALS 



247 



sion could not, and would not, develop Central avenue as 

 a parkway." 



park: commission's eeiterated statements. 



About this time the false rumors, put in circulation, as to 

 the attitude of the public and the current unfavorable re- 

 ports as to the Park Cjommission became so frequent that, 

 on June 28, members of the joint committee wrote the com- 

 mission as follows : 



"The purpose and intent of those tr}dng to make it ap- 

 pear that the people are behind a scheme to appropriate for 

 private gain another enormousi}' valuable county road fran- 

 chise at the expense of one of the great connective features 

 of the park system is becoming well understood, and both 

 the conditions and the facts are so clear in this instance they 

 cannot long be misconstrued. 



"We have acted in confidence on your reiterated state- 

 ments that you have not changed your position in desiring 

 both avenues for parkways, and we will be glad either to 

 confer with you, or submit further data regarding the 

 subject.'^ 



On July 1, 1902, there was a conference between the New- 

 ark Board of Works and the Park Commission at the latter's 

 office regarding the Park avenue transfer by the city of 

 Newark. Commissioners Eugene Yanderpoel, Eobert F. 

 Ballantine, and William A. Brewer were appointed a com- 

 mittee on parkways. Commissioner Garrison, of the New- 

 ark board, favored the transfer. 



On July 4, I went over the parkway situation quite fully 

 with Commissioner F. M. Shepard. He assured me that 

 "the commission had not changed its position as to the 

 avenues" and suggested that I should "see Mr. Brewer. 

 The day following I wrote Cyrus Peck as president: 



"The proceedings in the East Orange City Council and 

 the freeholders, and the way the deal to confiscate the ave- 

 nue was carried through, have accentuated and materially 



