390 
PARK AND CEMETERY 
Pirie cited a United States supreme court decision to 
the effect that the right of interment can be exercised 
only once, that is, that a lot cannot be transferred while 
there is an interment in it. Messrs. Pirie and Scorgie 
brought up other interesting legal points and decisions. 
When this discussion was concluded the Convention 
listened to a brief paper on the “Best Methods of Con- 
structing Gutters,” by James C. Parkinson, superin- 
tendent of Green Mount Cemetery, Baltimore. Mr. 
Parkinson described the manufacture and use of as- 
phalt blocks for gutters and walks, which has been 
very successful in his cemetery. Pie told of the 
construction of two different kinds of blocks and 
showed examples of some which had been in use. 
One of the blocks is constructed of niggerhead stone, 
which is heated and molded and pressed into block 
form. There is also a limestone block which gets 
whiter with age. Gutters of this kind cost about 
$1.25 or $1.70 per square yard, according to the grade 
of material used. Weeds and grass do not cause 
trouble in them and the blocks are not affected by 
frost. Mr. Parkinson showed some photographs illus- 
trating the use of these blocks in Green Mount Ceme- 
tery. 
Mr. John R. Hooper, of Hollywood Cemetery, Rich- 
mond, Va., gave a short account of some aquatic plant- 
ing which he had recently made. Mr. Hooper had 
constructed a pool 30 x 12 ft. and 18 inches deep, and 
planted it with four clumps of Nymphaeas, Nelumbiums 
and other small aquatics. It has a natural bottom, did 
not require any special preparation, and does not de- 
mand nearly so much water as is commonly supposed. 
It was so successful that he decided to construct an- 
other pond, about one-half acre in size. It is divided 
into two parts — one for tender and one for hardy plants. 
He germinates and grows his own Victorias and was 
very successful with both tender and hardy Nymphaeas. 
The president appointed William Stone, William 
Falconer, and William Crosbie, as a Committee on 
Resolutions on the Death of Members, and then called 
on the Committee on Location to report. Mr. Pirie, 
the chairman, reported the selection of Detroit, Michi- 
gan, as the next place of meeting. There was also 
an invitation from Niagara Falls. 
Fourth Day, Friday, September 22nd. 
Friday was devoted entirely to an excursion to Mt. 
Vernon and Arlington. The party took special cars 
on the Washington & Mt. Vernon R. R. at ii a. m. 
and reached the home of Washington about noon, 
after a ride through some historic towns and scenes in 
Virginia. Before starting on the tour of the grounds 
an appetizing Southern luncheon was served under the 
trees at the entrance to Mt. Vernon. After luncheon 
a brief meeting for winding up the official business was 
called witli members standing under the trees. The 
report of the Committee on General Resolutions passed 
a cordial vote of thanks to all who had assisted in 
making the Convention a success, mentioning in par- 
ticular officials of the local cemeteries. Commissioner 
West, Major Sylvester, Dr. Galloway, Rev. Thomas 
C. Easton, Rev. Charles E. Buck, Mr. George H. 
Brown, Major Drum, superintendent of Arlington, and 
the untiring executive committee. The retiring offi- 
cers made brief speeches of thanks and President Car- 
ter performed his first official duty by appointing an 
executive committee for the Detroit Convention. It 
consists of Messrs. Prank Eurich, of “Woodlawn,” and 
John Reid, of “Mt. Olivet,” Detroit, and one other 
member to be selected by them. 
The party then entered the grounds and spent over 
an hour admiring the old mansion, its grounds and 
gardens. The view toward the river, a hundred and 
fifty feet below, and the great growth of ancient trees 
on the riverside, the old-fashioned garden, with its 
formal walks and hedges of box, and the rose garden 
where the roses named after Washington’s mother 
and Nellie Custis were originally grown were objects 
of particular interest and admiration. The special 
train was boarded for Arlington about 3 o’clock and 
at the entrance to this cemetery the party broke up 
into groups and strolled about at their leisure. 
Arlington is the largest of the National cemeteries, 
of which there are 83. It contains 408 acres and 
more than 19,000 soldiers are buried there. The en- 
trance from the river reveals a scene of majestic nat- 
ural beauty, with great slopes and ravines covered 
with immense oaks, tall cedars, and a profusion of 
other ornamental trees and shrubs. The grounds are 
rarely well kept and the art of the landscape gardener 
has added much to the work of nature. Near the 
Arlington Mansion, formerly the residence of Robt. E. 
Lee, was seen the circular Temple of Fame, sur- 
rounded by flower beds and rich lawns. Nearby is 
the vine covered Druidical Amphitheatre where the 
open-air services are held on Memorial Day. The 
cemetery has three entrance gates, which were dedi- 
cated to the Generals — the main entrance being the 
Sheridan Gate. The McClellan Gate, seen in one of 
the illustrations, is a picturesque arch of red sandstone, 
overgrown with Ampelopsis. The rest of the after- 
noon was spent amid these impressive surroundings, 
which formed a fitting close for the most successful 
meeting in the history of the organization. 
About half of the members visited Baltimore the 
next day on invitation from Green Mount and Loudon 
Park Cemeteries. Green Mount is Baltimore’s historic 
cemetery and contains the tombs of many famous 
Maryland families. The little Gothic Chapel of red 
.stone, on a hill near the entrance with open lawn 
about it, is one of its most interesting features. From 
this cemetery the party took cars to Loudon Park, 
