12 
PARK AND CEMETERY. 
A. A. C. S. CONVENTION SUGGESTIONS WANTED 
The executive committee of the Association of. American Cemetery 
Superintendents has announced the selection of September 14, 15 and 
16, as possibly the most suitable dates for the annual convention to be 
held in New York City, and are already at work on the program which 
they are determined to make as practical, profitable, and original as pos- 
sible. To this end they invite, and cordially welcome any suggestions of 
topics for discussion, methods of procedure, or new features that would 
tend to add to the interest of the sessions. The younger and newer 
members are especially urged to use all of their wits and energies to 
make some live and practical suggestions as to ways of making the meet- 
ing more useful or more pleasant. 
Merely to direct your line of thought the committee is sending out 
these suggestions to members ; 
“What subjects or topics would you prefer to have discussed? 
“Can you be induced to prepare a short practical paper? If so, please 
state subject. Please consider this earnestly. 
“Can you suggest some plan or method for increasing our membership? 
“What in your opinion are the reasons for members dropping out? 
What remedy would you suggest? 
“Would you consider a change or a modification of the name beneficial 
to the future of the Association?” 
Every member and every ought-to-be-member is to consider this a 
personal request to think and act on these suggestions or any others that 
will help to make the convention bigger and better, and to get into com- 
munication with SECRETARY FRANK EURICH, Superintendent 
Woodlawn Cemetery, Detroit, Mich. 
CEntTERY NOTES 
NEW CEMETERIES, IMPROVEMENTS and ADDITIONS 
done. When an organization holds 
services in the cemetery, those present 
are called upon at an early date. Then, 
too, generally speaking, those present at 
funerals are known by one canvasser 
or another, and are made the object of 
a professional visit. The canvassers 
make dates during the week to show 
off lots on Sunday. They ofttimes, too, 
take the prospective purchaser to the 
cemetery behind a high-stepping team, 
or a shiny automobile. A line of talk 
is alwa)'s in mind which can never of- 
fend the most fastidious. Personality 
is the strong point with these cemetery 
lot salesmen, and right cleverly they use 
it. Their methods go in this city, and 
will go anywhere if the cemetery offi- 
cials know how to do their part. The 
sales of lots in this particular cemetery 
exceed $50,000 annually. 
“It has been my experience,” says a 
cemetery superintendent, “that the com- 
mission usually allowed an undertaker 
on lot sales is wasted money. These 
men seldom, if ever, attempt to make a 
sale, but if a preference is expressed for 
any particular cemetery by the intend- 
ing purchaser, down comes the tele- 
phone book and a call is made for the 
commission. In an eastern city the 
cemeteries have united in cutting the 
undertakers’ commission one half and 
are seriously considering eliminating 
that item of expense entirely. In the 
nature of things, they do not expect 
there will be any fewer interments.” 
MISSOURI PARK and CEME- 
TERY MEN to ORGANIZE 
S. M. Hyer, superintendent of Elm- 
wood Cemetery, Kansas City, A. E. 
Todt, of S. S. Peter and Paul Ceme- 
tery, St. Louis, and William Mittel- 
bach, secretary Walnut Grove Ceme- 
tery, Boonville, Mo., have undertaken 
to organize a Missouri state associa- 
tion of park and cemetery superin- 
tendents, and have issued a call to 
cemetery and park officials to meet at 
Boonville, April 8. 
A state organization is of great as- 
sistance in focussing local attention 
on park and cemetery matters, as well 
as an aid to the national associations 
in promoting the work of park and 
cemetery improvements. There are 
many points of common interest to 
park and cemetery men, to make a 
joint meeting profitable, and both 
classes should give the movement 
their earnest support. 
Boonville is centrally located and 
easily reached, and there are enough 
park and cemetery superintendents in 
Missouri to make a strong associa- 
tion. A good response to the first 
call is confidently expected. 
Bids have been called for by the 
management of the United States 
Cemetery in the city of Mexico for 
the work of improving the cemetery 
under plans adopted by Congress, and 
which will be paid for out of the ap- 
propriation of $50,000 set aside by 
Congress for that purpose. Plans for 
the improvement of the cemetery call 
for the construction of a massive gate, 
over which will be placed the word- 
ing, “United States National Ceme- 
tery.” Surmounting the gate will be 
a large globe supporting an eagle. 
The globe and the eagle will be of 
iron. A house for the superintendent 
is among the improvements. A new 
fence will surround the entire prop- 
erty. The United States National 
Cemetery in Mexico was established 
at the close of the war in 1847, when 
750 American soldiers were buried 
there. Major John H. Thomas, the 
present superintendent, has been in 
charge for a year and a half. He 
came from San Antonio, Tex., where 
he held a similar position. 
Women of Pavilion, N. Y., have or- 
ganized a society for the improvement 
of the village cemeteries. Mrs. Bessie 
Franklin is president and Mrs. Ella 
White secretary. 
The Graceland Cemetery Associa- 
tion of Abbeville, La., has been in- 
corporated at $2,000 by J. N. Greene, 
W. W. Edwards, and others. 
Oakdale Cemetery, Davenport, la., 
has bought a four-acre addition for 
$3,500. 
Hannah D. Proctor has conveyed 
to the city of Gloucester, Mass., five 
acres of land for an addition to Beech 
Brook Cemetery. 
Mount Olivet Cemetery, Salt Lake 
City, Utah, has been donated 52 acres 
of adjoining government land and 
will expend $20,000 in improving it. 
Russell L. Tracy is manager of the 
cemetery. 
The Plainville Cemetery Associa- 
