THE MODERN CEMETERY. 
5 
RULES AND REGULATIONS. 
Every cemetery should be governed by certain rules and 
regulations, which should be printed in pamphlet form for distri- 
bution among lot owners. While this has been done in most of 
the large cemeteries, where the rules are very much alike, we 
will, for the benefit of the smaller cemeteries, publish in this de- 
partment such rules as commend themselves for general adoption. 
Contributions are solicited. 
Extracts from the Rules and Regulations of Forest 
Lawn Cemetery, Omaha, Neb. 
The sub-division of lots by the lot owner is not al- 
lowed. 
The joint purchase of a lot is not recommended, but 
when it occurs, the board of trustees, on application in 
writing if deemed expedient may allow a transfer duly 
executed by either owner to the others, but to no other 
persons. No transfer is valid until entered on the cem- 
etery records, and no transfer of a lot by sale or other- 
wise by a lot holder, without the consent of the board 
of trustees, will be recognized by the association. 
To prevent the excessive and unsightly crowding of 
tombstones, not more than one monument, grave stone 
or mark exceeding two feet in height above the surface 
of the ground, shall be permitted in any entire lot. 
Grave stones or marks must be placed at the head 
or foot of the grave, and must be placed upon founda- 
tions not less than four feet deep, and not less than 
twelve inches square, unless the stone be a single piece, 
in which case a depth of three feet below the ground 
will be sufficient. No grave stone or mark can be set 
in a socket. 
No fence, coping, or enclosure of any kind will be 
permitted on burial lots. Boxes, shells, toys and simi- 
lar articles scattered upon the graves and lawn, are in- 
consistent with proper keeping of the ground and will 
not be permitted. 
Every lot holder should have a diagram on the back 
of his or her deed, or other convenient place for reference 
and mark every interment thereon. This method will 
enable them to point the precise location for each 
grave, without going to the grounds, and thus prevent 
misunderstanding and mistakes, which occur from an 
imperfect description of location. One interment only 
should be made in the same grave, unless at a great 
depth or when necessity seems to require it. 
The land marks or corner stones indicating the 
boundaries of the lots will be set even with the surface 
of the ground, by the superintendent at the expense of 
the lot owners. 
No elevated mounds over graves will be permitted, 
as it is impossible to mow the grass or keep it alive and 
green on mounds. No lot shall be filled above the es- 
tablished grade. All family burial lots and all single 
graves will be sodded and kept in good order by the 
association, and without charge. 
The superintendent will plant trees and shrubs in 
accordance with the general plan for the ornamentation 
and embellishment of the grounds. No additional 
planting by the proprietors of lots will be permitted, ex- 
cept by consent of the superintendent. 
All preparation of flower beds, planting and trim- 
ming, must be submitted to the superintendent, and all 
work done by the gardeners of the cemetery, the charges 
for which will be as follows, payable in advance: 
For digging up and planting flower beds, gardeners 
per hour 30 
Teams, when hauling is necessary, per hour 50 
Care of flower beds after planting; for the season. . 
Beds filled with geraniums, verbenas, etc., jjer 
square foot 10 
Mixed beds of geraniums and foliage plants, per 
square foot 15 
Fine foliage beds, per square foot 20 
No flower beds to be dug up in the cemetery larger 
than the plants furnished will plant properly. 
No horse must be left on the grounds unfastened. 
Drivers must remain on their seats or by their horses 
during funeral services. Carriages will not be allowed 
to turn upon any avenue. 
Except in cases of emergency when lots aie required 
for immediate use, the superintendent will not attend to 
the selection or sale of lots on Sunday. 
Some Suggestions Regarding Stone Work. 
Every monument or marker should have a founda- 
tion extending below the frost line, and the foundation 
should be put in by the cemetery at the expense of the 
lot owner. A substantial foundation ensures the per- 
manency of the superstructure. Foundations should be 
the same size as the base that is to rest upon it, and 
should be laid nearly flush with the surface. Bottom 
bases should be level enough to set true on the founda- 
tion without requiring to be brought up to a level by 
the use of chips. Such work is not substantial and 
should not be allowed in any cemetery. 
If headstones are used, footstones are superfluous, 
one mark at a grave is sufficient. Tall marble slabs 
should be prohibited. Dowelling marble slabs to sand- 
stone bases, or setting the markers in socket bases is 
unstable and is prohibited in some cemeteries. If a 
family monument is to be erected, a low granite marker 
in one piece is the best possible means of marking the 
grave. 
Coping and railing around lots should not be al- 
lowed. Aside from the f^ct that in time it will become 
unsightly, it, even when new, detracts from the sur- 
roundings, and is entirely out of place. Modern ceme- 
teries prohibit such enclosures, and many of the older 
cemeteries are gradually taking them out and adopting 
the continuous lawn plan. 
There should be but one monument to each lot and 
the graves around it should be marked in a manner that 
will harmonize with the monument. Lot-owners should 
be encouraged to keep in mind the surroundings of their 
lot, and not their lot only, when selecting a design for 
a monument. Too much care cannot be exercised in 
making such a selection, and duplicating designs on 
adjacent lots should be avoided. 
Quality, rather than quantity, is most desirable in 
monuments as in everything else; therefore sandstone 
bases (so often used to secure greater height) should 
give place to a material that will be more in harmony 
with the monument. Variety in color may be desirable 
on a section, but it is in poor taste in a single monu- 
ment. 
