PARK AND CEMETERY, 
”7 
CEMETERY NOTES $ 
M- HW - M -' H - M - IH I - t- M - W-H - H - 
The Union cemetery trustees, Navarre, O., have removed 
the last landmark of the cemetery, a large locust tree that has 
stood for the past 50 years as a shade tree. A local paper says 
the cemetery now presents the appearance of western prairie 
lard and as such indignant citizens express themselves. 
* * * 
At the instance of the selectmen of Danvers, Mass., in co- 
operation with the Improvement Society and private individuals, 
mmh needed improvement is being made in the town burying 
ground. Scores of headstones and markers which were prostrate 
and broken have been raised and restored as far as possible and 
set in their bases on top of rock foundations where it could be 
done: while those so beyond recovery that they cannot be set up 
again are put together and laid on the ground over the graves. 
There are many old stones in this cemetery, some dating back 
ne irly 100 years. 
* * * 
It is hardly to be realized that a town of the importance of 
Meriden, Conn., should have no receiving vault in its city ceme- 
teries, yet such is the case. The necessity has been brought 
home to the selectmen, by the fact of a death occurring, in which 
removal to a distant towa was not immediately possible, and 
actual burial was for the present obligatory. This would have 
been obviated had there been a receiving vault in any of the 
city burial grounds. The want of such a public convenience 
has long bsen felt, and the incident referred to has awakened 
the town authorities to action. 
* « * 
Much improvement is under consideration for Oak Ridge 
Cemetery, Spiingfield, 111 . Dr. Henry Wohlgemuth, who has 
retained the confidence of the city authorities through many 
reappointments to the office of president of the board of 
managers, has recently returned from a trip of inspection of 
ma»y of the leading cemeteries, and is zealous in the object 
of keeping up the improvements of the cemetery to the 
most recent^psactice. Oak Ridge has now over 2000 lot owners, 
comprises some 1 10 acres in area and has a total of about 12,500 
interments. The Lincoln national monument is in Oak Ridge 
cemetery and attracts many visitors to the beautiful grounds. 
* * * 
In a report just made by the landscape architects relative 
to the development and maintenance of Aspen Grove cemetery ? 
Ware, Mass., occurs the following on the subject of cemetery 
trees: ‘‘Evergreen trees should be used very sparingly if at all, 
and where now of mature growth they should be reduced in 
number to single isolated specimens or small clumps, thus ad- 
mitting the sun and giving the desired warmth to soil and vista. 
Deciduous trees can be planted much more freely than ever- 
greens, but the elm and willow must be left out entirely on ac- 
count of the immense root growth which attaches to both these 
varieties. Oaks, maples and poplars with a rare beech make a 
good selection for cemeteries. While one hesitates to sacrifice 
trees that are well grown, this step is yet absolutely essential in 
many cases, and if the work is properly done, will add materi- 
ally to the attractiveness of the grounds. It is often desirable to 
plant young trees close together, but always with a clear under, 
standing that they are to be removed later.” 
* * * 
One of the most honored graves in the Congressional Ceme- 
tery at Washington is that of the Choctaw Chief Pushmataha, 
whose influence with his race in the early years of the republic 
was of inestimable value. His tombstone is of sandstone, once 
white, but now dark, with age. It is a rectangular block, about 
four feet in height, restir g on a pedestal and surmounted by a 
pyramid. The inscription on the north side is as follows: 
“Pushmataha, a Choctaw Chief, lies here. This monument is 
erected by his brother chiefs, who were associated with him in a 
delegation from their nation in the year 1824 to the General 
Government of the United States.” On the south side of the 
monument appear these words, from a eulogy' pronounced upon 
him in the United States Senate by John Randolph, of Roanoke: 
“Pushmataha was a warrior of great distinction. He was wise 
in counsel, eloquent in an extraordinary degree, and on all oc- 
casions and under all circumstances, the white man’s friend.’ 
On the east side is the statement that “he died in Washington 
on the 24th of December, 1824, in the sixtieth year of his age.” 
On the west side is his pathetic request: “When I am dead, let 
the big guns be fired over me.” 
* * * 
Among>the enactments of the last legislature of New Jersey 
was an act amending section 8 of the law of 1875 relating to the 
incorporation of trustees of religious bodies. It provides for the 
purchase, holding, conveying and disposing of real estate which 
the denomination taking advantage of the act may deem neces- 
sary or expedient, but for religious purposes only, and it also pro- 
vides: That it shall be lawful for such religious society to hold, 
and also to convey and dispose of land, not exceeding fifty acres 
heretofore conveyed to such religious society for the purposes of 
a cemetery and a burial of the dead, and to sell the same in lots 
or plots for the burial of deceased persons, subject to any and all 
laws of this state governing cemeteries and the burial of the dead 
and to devote the moneys derived from said sale to the laying 
out, care and maintenance of said cemetery or burial ground, 
and for no other purpose, and when the moneys received from 
sales of lots shall be in excess of the wants of such religious so- 
ciety for the proper care and maintenance of its burial grounds, 
it shall be lawful to invest such surplus in safe and suitable se- 
curities, and the interest derived therefrom shall be devoted to 
the care and maintenance of its burial grounds, and for no other 
use. 
* * * 
The report of the 54th year since the charter was granted 
the Allegheny Cemetery Corporation, Allegheny, Pa., dated 
June 29, 1898, is just issued. According to this docu- 
ment, the invested capital of the cemetery now amounts to 
$471,750.21 to which is to be added the lot owner’s endow- 
ment fund of 147,254 42, a gain in the invested capital for 
the year of $2 5 437 85 of which $ 11,244 is due the endowment 
fund, — an amount in excess of any year since i860. The total 
revenue for the year was 158,850.66, which included $17,245 from 
sales of lots. The total expenditures were $38,320.39. Although 
91 lots were sold as against 47 of the previous year, the average 
price per lot was only $190.60 as against an average $449 for the 
previous year. With the exception of the lot sales there was an 
increase in receipts-in all departments over last year. The es- 
timated cost of the monuments erected during the year was $88,- 
000, which included 22 monuments, 79 tombs, 331 head marks, 
2 vaults and 5 sets of steps. They were 884 interments during 
the year making the total number in the cemetery 40,457. A 
number of fences, curbs and other enclosures were removed, and 
indications are that a very few years will witness the removal of 
all these objectionable features from the grounds. As is the 
general observation in the majority of improved grounds the na- 
tive forest trees are rapidly disappearing, over 400 having been 
removed for cause during the year. To replace these as far as 
possible 300 deciduous trees of different varieties and 500 ever- 
greens were planted. 
