250 



FIEST COUXTY PAEK SYSTEM 



was, however, very cliary as to making an}^ specific comrait- 

 ments. On K'ovember 11, 1902, he wrote the Park Com- 

 mission to know if, "in the event of the ordinance's becom- 

 ing effective, you intend to improve Central avenne west 

 from Centre street, it having been rnmored that, should the 

 avenne be turned over to you, you would not improve it be- 

 yond the point mentioned ; also is it your intention to open 

 up the avenue, in a line from its present terminus at Valley 

 road to the top of the mountain 



The reply was equally elusive, although the commission 

 had, in March, 1901, already formally approved a similar 

 ordinance containing the same conditions. The substance 

 of the response was that "the commission has not seen the 

 proposed ordinance, and before maldng any statements con- 

 cerning it would like to have a copy/' 



PEARLS^ MINUS A STRIXG. 



The sources of public opinion continued to reflect the 

 general desire for favorable action on the parkway ordi- 

 nance. This sentiment was well expressed in a published 

 letter, written on November 2, 1902, by Monsignor G. H. 

 Doane, in which, in referring to the Essex County parks, 

 he said: "Little has been done as yet in the direction of 

 parkways. \Ye have the parks, but we want to connect 

 them ; we have the pearls, but we want to string them, and 

 that is what the park^^ays would do.' 



Mayor Stetson vetoed the ordinance. The message was 

 received by the City Council December 1, 1902, This third 

 "hold-up" of the action favored by the public, and as passed 

 by the City Council, was, according to the veto, based on 

 "two facts which became apparent ; one, that your body has 

 no power to make the proposed transfer, and, two, that the 

 Park Board cannot consent to it. Ideally I think your pro- 

 posed action would be very praiseworthy, were it practica- 

 ble, but my opinion, as well as that of manv other judicious 

 people, is, that it is now impossible, for the reasons stated. 



