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PARK AND CEMETERY. 
ance in a very practical manner. He laid particu- 
lar stress upon the importance of drainage and 
recommended the adoption of a rule that all wagons 
for carrying tombstones or other heavy material 
should have tires 4 or even 6 inches in width. In 
his interesting paper, Mr. Stone made a plea for a 
more liberal use of the old time favorites of our 
grandmothers gardens and gave an exhaustive list 
of aquatics that could be easily grown in ponds. 
A letter was read from Mr. Charles Nichols, 
Newark, N. J., expressing his regret at not being 
able to attend the convention and reciting some of 
his efforts to make the meeting a success in point of 
attendance. 
Third Day. 
Two papers were read at the closing session of 
the third day, viz: “The Importance of Placing 
our Cemeteries under Perpetual Care” by George 
M. Painter, Philadelphia, Pa., and “The Advan- 
tages of the Lawn System in Cemeteries in our 
Western States,” by S. W. Rubee, Marshalltown, 
la. “Truly Perpetual Care has done much and will 
do more for our cemeteries,” said Mr Painter, ‘‘the 
advantages are manifold. It was a grand idea and 
will be a grander monument to the one who con- 
ceived it, than any ever created from stone.” 
Judge C. A. Baldwin, President of Prospect 
Hill cemetery, Omaha, made an impromptu ad- 
dress to the convention in which he extolled the as- 
sociation for the good work it was accomplishing. 
The nominees for officers for the ensuing year 
were as follows: For President, A. W. Hobert, 
Minneapolis, Minn.; George H. Scott, Chicago; for 
Vice-president, William Stone, Lynn, Mass., Mat-* 
thew P. Brazill, St. Louis, Mo.; for Secretary and 
Treasurer, F. Eurich, Detroit, Mich. The ballot 
resulted in the election of Messrs. Hobert, Stone 
and Eurich. 
New Haven, Conn., was chosen as the place for 
holding the next annual convention and the follow- 
ing members were appointed on the executive com- 
mittee: Frank A. Sherman, “Evergreen,” New 
Haven; Robt. Scrivener, “Cedar Hill,” Hartford', 
Conn.; T. McCarthy, “Swan Point,” Providence, 
R. I. 
Appropriate resolutions were adopted on the 
death of Mr. Lindsey J. Wells, formerly superin- 
tendent of Greenwood cemetery, Brooklyn, and the 
first treasurer of the Cemetery Superintendents As- 
sociation. Mr. Wells died at his home in Brook- 
lyn, Aug. 8. 
Mr. Craig, presented each of the members and 
their friends with tickets of admission to the Trans- 
Mississippi Exposition, where the afternoon and 
evening of the closing day of the convention was 
passed very pleasantly. 
THE QUESTION BOX. 
The Question Box was unusually productive 
of timely topics on various phases of cemetery work 
which were profitably discussed. 
“Is it an advantage for a superintendent to live 
on the grounds?” The prevailing opinion was in 
in the negative. Near the grounds, but not on 
them, was thought to be best. 
The discussion of the interesting subject of 
“Perpetual Care” developed the impracticability of 
cemeteries adopting a uniform system of charges, 
owing to the variety of conditions to be considered. 
In a cemetery conducted strictly on the lawn plan, 
the cost of caring for lots is considerably less than 
where lot enclosures and the promiscuous use of 
iron and stone work is permitted. Perpetual care 
in some cemeteries applies to the care of grass 
only, in others to grass, shrubs, trees, etc., and in 
some instances it is made to cover the care of the 
monumental work as well as everything on the lot. 
Provision is made for the cleaning of monuments, 
etc., and if need be, their repair in the event of 
disintegration. The rate' of interest on which es- 
timates of income was based, varied from 3 per 
cent, to 6 per cent; the former being regarded as 
the safest. Several members spoke of the good 
results accomplished by issuing circulars to lot 
owners, calling special attention to the perpetual 
care plan. In a number of cemeteries, signs are 
used to designate the lots under perpetual care; 
they are made of iron, and when placed close to 
the ground are not so conspicuous as to be ob- 
jectionable. Mr. Rudd doubted whether corpora- 
tions were justified in contracting with laborers to 
do certain work extending so far into the future, 
considering the fluctuating interest, changing labor 
conditions, etc., upon which perpetual care agree- 
ments are contingent. 
The Sanitary question of the pollution of water 
in cemetery wells brought out some interesting in- 
formation. In Rosehill cemetery, Chicago, there 
is a well in close proximity to several thousand 
bodies, the water of which has been frequently 
analyzed and found to be uncontaminated. It is 
the best of drinking water and in daily use as such. 
Several other cemeteries have wells which show no 
signs of contamination. 
Elms were considered objectionable for ceme- 
tery planting, at least on burial sections, because 
of their spreading fibrous roots. The roots often 
spread much farther than the branches. As an 
ornamental tree the white elm was highly recom- 
mended. 
Rules governing the stone work in cemeteries 
are becoming more strict. “Mt.' Greenwood,” 
Chicago, prohibits the use of sandstone, blue 
4 J 
