248 FIRST COUXTY PARK SYSTEM 



enlarged the whole question to a point where it would seem 

 that something must be done by the commission to clear np 

 its past record and present attitude as to Central avenue. 



"The counsel not on! 3^ gives his own consent for a rail- 

 road, but both in word and action gives an entirely different 

 view and statement from what Mr. Shepard informs me is 

 still the attitude of the commission, and some of the county 

 papers — clippings enclosed — aecept editorially the counsel's 

 view as representing the position of the commission/' 



A FREEHOLDER'S STATEMENT. 



No reply to this letter was received. On July 15, 1902, 

 by request of Commissioner Brewer, I wrote him officially ; 

 and as a member of the J oint Committee on Parkways, giv- 

 ing the statement of one of the freeholders, made to me in 

 the presence of a witness in Branch Brook Park the day 

 previous. This freeholder, as quoted in that letter, among 

 other things, said, he "was favorably impressed by what was 

 said in favor of keeping Central avenue for a parkway (the 

 afternoon the trolley resolution was passed), and, wishing 

 to know the present attitude of the commission before vot- 

 ing, went to Counsel Munn and asked him direct, ^Does the 

 Park Commission want the avenue for a parkway?' Mr. 

 Munn replied, ^Xo, not that I know of.' A similar inquiry 

 was then made of ^Wally' Ougheltree, of East Orange, the 

 chairman of the Road Committee, who replied : ^^0. the 

 railroad ordinance was before the East Orange City Council 

 a long time, and no word of objection was ever received 

 from the Park Commission, nor did any one appear there 

 from the commission opposing its passage. Had they 

 wanted the avenue they would have so stated to the East 

 Orange authorities. The commission had made an indefi- 

 nite statement some time ago, but their actions had not 

 corroborated it.' " 



"The statements quoted from Munn," I added, "are, as 

 you will recollect, in entire accord with what members of the 

 East Orange City Council positively stated aild restated 



