PARK AND CEMETERY 
AND LANDSCAPE GARDENING 
Vol. XXII. Chicago, September, 1912 No. 7 
Mausoleum Construction and Maintenance 
The most important matter taken up at the Milwaukee 
Convention of the Association of American Cemetery 
Superintendents, of which a report will be found else- 
where in this issue, was undoubtedly that of the private 
mausoleum. In a paper read by Mr. Frank Eurich, Su- 
perintendent of Woodlawn Cemetery, Detroit, Mich., on 
the Endowment of Private Mausoleums, he drew attention 
to the many years of attention that had been given to the 
problems of mausoleum construction, and to their utter 
failure, even to this date, to promise any fair degree of 
permanency. From his experience, which has been var- 
ied and broad, no general plan of construction can be 
made to fit all cases, in fact it would appear that every 
case requires special treatment and that under 
the circumstances, and viewing the question from all sides, 
cemeteries cannot afford to allow mausoleums to be built 
to become burdens in later years from the lack of funds 
to keep them in repair. The only recourse “is in rigid 
rules governing the erection of the buildings and then 
making it compulsory that every building be endowed 
sufficiently to keep up repairs.” A valuable discussion 
followed the reading of Mr. Eurich’s paper, in the course 
of which many of the most prominent cemetery superin- 
tendents in the country gave of their experience. But the 
mausoleum was condemned on the whole, unless an en- 
dowment was arranged which would yield sufficient re- 
turns for yearly repairs; for the opinion was expressed 
that the repair bill begins within a season or two after 
dedication. It has frequently been mentioned and urged in 
these columns that in mausoleum construction the two 
most important elements to be absolutely provided for, 
were drainage and ventilation, which even the greatest 
of our architects have to a greater or less degree failed 
to provide; and beyond this, these elements vary accord- 
ing to locality and the climatic conditions pertaining 
thereto. The problem of keeping currents of air con- 
stantly moving and in such a degree as to overcome con- 
densation, a serious matter, appears to be a puzzle to all 
concerned in mausoleum construction and maintenance. 
And again the proper adjustment of the materials of con- 
struction, adjustment, so to speak, as to their varying 
qualities of expansion and contraction seems to us a 
detail that has scarcely attracted the attention it demands, 
especially in the lower cost structures that are designed 
and built too much on the rule of thumb principle. The 
whole question is a big one, and it seems probable that 
either the near future will see a material reduction in the 
number of mausoleums erected, or the science of mau- 
soleum construction will receive an impetus from the 
rational demand now made by the cemetery officials of 
the country for assured permanency in this class of cem- 
etery structures. In any case the endowment policy must 
be put into practical operation, or mausoleums be pro- 
hibited, if the appearance of the cemeteries, and the in- 
terest of the general lot holders, are to be considered. 
N? 
The Boy Scouts and Public Service 
The object of the “Boy Scout” movement is still a 
question in the minds of many, and the necessity 
for such a movement considering how many op- 
portunities for the active service of the young are now 
open, the enquiry is a natural one. The “Boy Scout” 
idea differs materially, however, from all the others, from 
the fact that it is not only national but international in 
character, and its duties and obligations are kept “pro- 
gressive” under leadership, active and advisory, which com- 
prise leading men of prominence and experience. Now 
that its organization has become established, lines of 
public usefulness are being sought to supplement its 
constitutional disciplinary work, and one of the latest 
proposition worked out is a plan of co-operation between 
the “Boy Scouts of America” and the game and fish de- 
partments of the States of the Union. This will give the 
boys greater opportunities for real scouting and the dif- 
ferent states will be greatly aided in their conservation 
programmes. One of the important sections of the scout- 
ing arranged for the boys is the study of bird life and 
every opportunity will be extended by the several states 
to help the boys scout for birds, and this does not mean 
killing but economically protecting them. The boys will 
first learn the habits of the birds and other available 
knowledge and will then scout for them with their cam- 
eras. They will be taught the economical value of the 
birds to both the farm and the natural resources of the 
country, and they will be led to understand the impor- 
tance of saving the birds instead of slaughtering them. 
Woodcraft will also be taught and studied, and so it 
appears to us that the scout leaders have struck a path 
that will lead to most beneficent service and immensely 
contribute to the service of the country. Much encour- 
agement has already been received for the plan by the 
officials of the “Boy Scout” army. 
^ ^ ^ 
Federal Plant Quarantine Law 
On August 20th, 1912 , President Taft approved an act 
of Congress entitled, “An Act to regulate the importa- 
tion of Nursery Stock, and other plants and plant prod- 
ucts,” etc., and by this act the Secretary of Agriculture 
is directed to quarantine any State. Territory, or District 
of the United States, or any portion thereof, when he 
shall determine the fact that a dangerous plant disease 
or insect infestation, exists therein. Before promulgat- 
ing his determination on this point he shall give a public 
hearing, at which any interested person or his attorney 
may appear and be heard. The Secretary may also pro- 
hibit importation whenever he shall deem it necessary 
to prevent the introduction into the United States of any 
tree, plant or fruit disease or insect pest. At the pres- 
ent time there is imminent danger of the introduction in- 
to the country of two dangerous plant diseases, and one 
insect, viz., a fungus disease, the white pine blister rust, 
w-hich injures four important species of pine in European 
countries; and a potato fungus disease, known as the 
potato wart, potato canker, black scab, etc., which occurs 
in many parts of Europe, and in several islands not far 
from our Atlantic Coast. The menacing insect pest is 
the Mediterranean fruit fly, which is even now known 
to be established in the Hawaiian Islands. In accordance 
with the above the Secretary of Agriculture gave hearings 
in the Department of Agriculture at Washington on Sep- 
tember 16 , 18 and 20. This is a very important mat- 
ter and all interested in the importation of stock or 
plant dissemination, should give close attention to this 
law and hold up the hands of the Secretary in his efforts 
to keep out dangerous plant enemies. 
