After my conversation with you I thought it better that the questions of the South Park should not be brought before the public any more than would be necessary until “after election”, and I am sorry to hear that the Express has had a mechanical reduction made of our lithographed plan and will bring it out tomorrow. In my absence my son was asked to furnish electrotypes of the little cuts of our reports to be printed with it but could not do so.

”Design Map of South Park,” F. L. & J. C. Olmsted, Landscape Architects, 1888

But 100 copies of our reports have been printed. We are now having them consolidated and shall have a thousand printed with some addition of a statistical character; particulars of estimate, distances, areas &c. We have also been preparing with a view more particularly of your use of it, a new drawing of the plan, opening the lines, simplifying details, enlarging the lettering &c. of which we shall send you an electrotype suitable for rapid newspaper work. If there is anything else that we can do by which discussion of the subject will be aided we shall be glad if you will advise us.

What is wanted is not so much a favorable presentation of our plan as a rousing of the attention of the people of the city to the importance of the purpose of the scheme and to the problem, to the solution of which our plan is an essay. The problem has a number of branches but centrally it is, how to secure now, before it is too late, a place of popular diversion, healthful and enlivening, on the Lake Shore, the only place available for the purpose being of such a character that no ordinary type of a “park” could, at any reasonable expense, be formed upon it.

The Commissioners are little likely to take action, the Common Council much less, by which the opportunity can be saved, unless under conviction that there is some present public interest to have it saved. They will not do much against an apparent public apathy.

Yours Truly