40 
PARK AND CE:ME.T£RY 
Annual reports or extracts from tkeniy historical sketches^ 
descriptive circulars^ photographs of improve7nents or dis' 
tinctive features are requested for use in this departme?it. 
VALUE OF CEMETERY ASSOCIATION REPORTS. 
Editor Park and Cemetery : One indication of the im- 
portance attained b}' the work of the A, A. C. S. is the fact 
that its reports are sought hy prominent educational institu- 
tions and are- regarded as authoritative upon the matters of 
which they treat. 
This is interesting for several reasons. It teaches us that 
the reports should be • improved to the utmost and made as 
valuable as possible, so as to fulfill the expectations of those 
who place confidence in them. It furnishes a new standard of 
value for the reports themselves, as well as for the associa- 
tion, inasmuch as its work can no longer he regarded as con- 
fined to the membership but must be regarded as broadly 
educational. This is as it should be and places greater re- 
sponsibility upon the society as a whole and its influence in 
this direction should he extended. Whenever a college or 
library exists with which one of our members is in touch, he 
should furnish the institution with a copy of the current re- 
port, if acceptable, which it doubtless will be and thereafter 
he should see that the' report reaches their files regularly each 
year. 
Not the least significant aspect to this new interest of ours 
is the necessity which it should convey to every cemetery man- 
ager of affiliation with our organization. Is it not worthy of 
his support? Will it not benefit his cemetery? 
Edward G. Carter, President A. A. C. S. 
* * * 
State Senator McKee, of New Jersey, has introduced a 
bill into the Legislature of that state, providing for the taxa- 
tion of all cemeteries except those owned by a church or 
religious association. 
* * * 
At a recent meeting of the lot owners of the Congressional 
Cemetery, Washington, D. C., charges were made against the 
management of the cemetery by the vestry of Washington 
Parish. It was declared that money from a trust fund of 
$50,000 belonging to the cemetery, had be'en used for the 
support of Christ’s Church. A committee of five was ap- 
pointed to investigate. 
* * * 
The new state law of New York regarding the digging of 
graves to a depth of nine feet, three feet deeper than formerly, 
is creating consternation among gravediggers in many sec- 
tions of the state. In many cemeteries it would seem to be 
impossible to observe the law on account of the nature and 
depth of soil, — water, quicksand and rock often interfering 
with digging operations even at the former depth. In many 
soils also this depth would increase the danger to the grave- 
digger from the earth caving in. 
* * * 
The Superintendent of Cemeteries of Toledo, Ohio, has re- 
ported that hundreds of lots in Forest Cemetery have not 
been paid for. They were purchased on the installment plan 
and about $4,000 is still due on them. The Secretary of the 
Board is reported as saying that the Board will feel called 
upon to avail itself of a provision in the contracts which 
necessitates a disinterment and removal of the bodies to the 
common ground unless the graves are paid for. 
^ ^ ^ 
The City Council of Providence, R. 1 ., has passed an ordi- 
nance creating a sinking fund for Oak Grove and Mineral 
Spring cemeteries. The ordinance provides that all receipts 
from cemeteries except that received for trust funds shall 
be turned into a sinking fund until such time as the annual 
revenue from the fund is $6,500. When the revenue equals 
that any receipts over and above that sum shall be turned 
into the general treasury as other receipts of the city. 
^ * 
The congregation of St. Vincent’s Church at Plymouth, Pa., 
has won its legal fight to prevent the Kingston Coal Company 
ruining its cemetery by mining the coal which now supports 
the roof of the workings directly beneath the cemetery. Judge 
Ferris delivered a long opinion on the subject and ordered 
a permanent injunction preventing the coal .company mining 
beneath the cemetery or to restrain it from doing any mining 
that will affect the cemetery. 
^ ^ ^ 
A correspondent notes the discussion in our last issue con- 
cerning the destruction of dandelions and recommends the 
Fairmount Weed Killer, which is advertised on another page 
in this issue. He writes: “Apply a little of the killer in 
concentrated form to each plant by means of an oil can and 
you will positively get the result desired. I have had con- 
siderable experience with dandelion and plantain and find 
the application of the killer easier than any root cutter and 
the results more definite and certain.” 
* * * 
It is reported that all the available interment space in Cal- 
vary Cemetery, Chicago, is filled and the only place except 
Mount Olivet where the remains of Roman Catholics can 
find uncrowded quarters is in the new Mount Carmel Cem- 
etery. Calvary has been the chief of the Catholic cemeteries 
since 1859. It comprises sixty-seven acres and has over 
200,000 interments. Mount Olivet, the other general Catholic 
burying ground, has eighty acres, and it is now more than 
half filled. Mount Carmel, which is located in beautiful roll- 
ing ground about fifteen miles west of the center of the city, 
has 450 acres, and it is believed that it will suffice for at 
least 1,000,000 interments. 
^ ^ ^ 
The cemeteries, undertakers, florists, ministers and livery- 
men of Wichita, Kans., have determined to co-operate to 
abolish the Sunday funeral. 
The Ministerial Union of Millville, Pa., has decided that 
its members will not officiate at Sunday funerals. 
The Grand Lodge of Masons, of Illinois, is endeavoring to 
discourage Sunday funerals, and is also reported to be in 
favor of doing away with the laying of corner stones of '• 
Masonic buildings on Sunday. I 
The clergy of the Episcopal Church of Cleveland and To- 1 
ledo, have joined in open letters to their parishioners recom- 
mending the abandonment of funerals on Sunday. 
* * * 
The commissioners of the Burlington, Vt., City Cemeteries 
have recently published an attractive, illustrated pamphlet, 
containing a historical sketch of the cemeteries and their rules' 
and regulations, etc. The illustrations show an excellent con- 
dition of care and maintenance and the beauty of the sur- 
rounding country lends additional charm. The rules and regu- 
lations have only once before been printed and the commission- 
ers after a careful study of other up-to-date cemeteries have 
remodeled their code to meet modern conditions. Burials 
