52 
PARK AND CE/nCTERY. 
CEMETERY NOTES. 
A New York syndicate has been organized for the purpose 
of establishing cemeteries in different cities, and are preparing 
plans for a new cemetery at Erie, Pa., to be known as Lakeside. 
It is to be carried out on the modern ideas of cemetery de- 
sign. 
* * * 
The perpetual care idea is growing in the smaller cemeter- 
ies. In the report of the Pittsfield Cemetery, Pittsfield, Mass., 
the deposits for perpetual care were larger than usual last year. 
The total amount is now 116,309.71 . 
» * * 
Riverside Cemetery, Defiance, Ohio, has contracted with 
its local dealer for some 6000 feet of water pipe, which will be 
laid at once. The system will be connected with the city water 
works and the water will be free to the cemetery. Mr. Frank 
Enrich, of Woodlawn Cemetery, Toledo, Ohio, prepared the 
plans for the improvement. 
* * * 
Work on “Fairview Cemetery” Mattawan, N. Y., that was 
commenced last fall, under the supervision of B. P'. Plathaway, 
but discontinued during the winter months, has again started, 
and is being pushed rapidly forward. When these grounds are 
completed they will be among the finest on the Hridson River, 
as their natural location is unsurpassed. 
* * * 
The general drouth of last year has had certainly one good 
result for the smaller cemeteries, it has imperatively demonstrat- 
ed the necessity of providing a water supply, where the manage- 
ment is alive to the essentials of a properly cared-for burial 
ground, and water is decidedly one of the essentials. It is no- 
ticeable all over the country this spring that the water question 
is a leading one. 
* * * 
The leading article in this issue on “Useful Memorials” is 
emphasized by the proposed gift of Mr. John T. Brown, of New- 
buryport, Mass., to Oak Hill Cemetery of that town. If the 
trustees desire to make a carriage entrance from Parker Street, 
he proposes to erect entrance gates. The trustees have accept- 
ed the gift and the work will be carried out this summer. 
* * * 
Oak Grove Cemetery, Delaware, Ohio, sends out to the lot 
owners a postal card upon which is printed the items connected 
with the annual care of the lots and at the foot is a blank order. 
The lot owner specifies the items he wishes taken care of, signs 
the order and returns the card, which is addressed to the super- 
intendent. This reminder in the early spring is a good thing 
both for the cemetery and the lot owner, and the postal card 
method commends itself. 
* * * 
Twenty years ago a small century plant was set upon a new- 
ly made grave in the lower Kings River graveyard, Fresno Co. 
Cal. This little cemetery, neglected and forlorn, is now com- 
paratively desolate, but amid all the ruin and decay, and in spite 
of the elements, the century plant grew until its flowering period 
a short time ago, when it sent its flower stalk high into the air and 
bloomed in its splendor in marked contrast with its surround- 
ings, where weeds hold high carnival. 
* * * 
The officials of Cave Hill Cemetery, Louisville, Ky., have 
inaugurated a special carriage service for transporting lot own- 
ers and visitors through and about the cemetery, a work which 
has hitherto been done by the Transfer Co. An attractive 
and commodious stable has been built and horses and specially 
constructed carriages, have been purchased. The carriages are 
driven by appropriately uniformed coachmen. Cheap rates 
and frequent service is expected to meet with great favor and 
liberal patronage. 
» * * 
The first Confederate burying ground in Georgia was start- 
ed by Miss Mary Green, who, soon after the battle of Resaca, 
from seeing so many graves scattered about, conceived the idea 
of establishing a Confederate cemetery at that place. Her fath- 
er lived on the spot, and she, with other members of the family, 
went boldly to work and succeeded m organizing the Resaca 
Memorial Society. Many trials and tribulations were encoun- 
tered but the Resaca Confederate Cemetery attests the persever- 
ance and devotion of the ladies to the work. 
* « » 
The following extract from the address of the Mayor of 
Grand Rapids, Mich., to his council, displays the relations city 
councils should hold with their cemeteries: “Under the wise 
and efficient management of the Board of Cemetery Commis- 
sioners, our cemeteries have become an ornament to our city as 
they furnish a suitable and proper resting place for the honored 
dead and it is hoped that the same spirit of liberality in this di- 
rection will continue in the future as in the past, for 1 consider 
it one of the greatest honors to our city or community to have 
their cemeteries properly arranged and nicely taken care of.” 
* * * 
Tne records of burials in the cemeteries of Chicago since the 
settlement of the city has recently reached 500,000. Not all of 
these are burials in the city proper but are within the limits of 
Cook county. There are 32 cemeteries in Cook county. There is 
much interest attached to the early history of Chicago’s ceme- 
teries. Before 1835 the city had no settled place for the burial 
of her dead, and they were interred in most cases in convenient 
spots near the homes. The following table compiled by the 
Chicago Tribune shows the distribution of burials m Cook 
county: 
Area in 
Estab- 
Inter- 
Cemetery. 
acres. 
lished. 
ments. 
Calvary 
1859 
128,000 
Rosehill 
i860 
55,000 
Graceland 
1859 
65,000 
Oakwoods 
182 
1865 
50,000 
St. Boniface 
36 
1865 
30,000 
Waldheim 
1873 
20,000 
Concordia 
1872 
1 8,000 
Forest Home 
1878 
1 1,000 
Mount Olivet 
1885 
12,000 
Bohemian National 
50 
1877 
I 1,000 
St. Maria 
1888 
9,000 
Mount Olive 
1886 
8,000 
Mount Greenwood 
1880 
5,000 
Mount Hope 
1887 
1 ,000 
Estimate in the remaining 
cemeteries 
eighteen 
77,000 
T otal 
500,000 
* «- 
Any radical measures of burial reform have a prejudice to 
contend with, the most deep-seated in our natures, says The 
Fmieral Director's Journal. All burial customs, little as many 
good Christians think it, turn upon the primitive fear lest 
the dead should rise again, and come and molest their relatives. 
This, it is said, was the origin of mourning apparel, to disguise 
themselves, that the ghosts might not know them. This, we are 
also told, first prompted men to have lead and other impregna- 
ble coffins, that the dead might not be able to get out, the most 
recent instance of which is, perhaps the phosphor-bronze fit- 
tings of Lord Randolph Churchill’s coffin, which, it is said, will 
keep the body as fresh 500 years hence as to-day, and, for all 
practical purposes \^ill be impregnable. In the same way arose 
