PARK AND CE/AETERY. 
164 
instances have occurred which draws attention to 
the possibility of making such gifts the means of 
perpetuating the memory of the departed in a broad 
and permanent fashion. In one case a water supply 
has been provided, and a stone structure in connec- 
tion therewith serves to emphasize and make of 
permanent record the gift. In another case a dona- 
tion has been left, the income from which after car- 
ing for the lot of the donor is to be devoted to the 
general care of the cemetery. These benefactions 
carry with them lively suggestions, on which could 
be founded memorials which would speak all the 
life of the cemetery and attract the gratitude and 
respect of many generations. 
T he death of the noted landscape architect, 
Calvert Vaux, which occurred under such sad 
circumstances the latter end of last month, 
was a shock to all who knew him personally. Hi,s 
body was found floating on the water at Bath Beach, 
N. Y., near the home of his son, with whom he was 
staying; and it is probable that in a moment of un- 
consciousness he must have fallen off one of the 
small piers in the vicinity. He was seventy-one 
years of age and had been in feeble health for some 
time. Calvert Vaux was a remarkable man, and 
had advanced knowledge in his chosen calling in no 
small degree. He was born in London, England 
December 20, 1824, was educated at the Merchant 
Tailor’s School, and then took up the study of 
architecture. Coming to this country, at twenty- 
four years of age, he was engaged by Andrew Jack- 
son Downing to take the architectural part of the 
work of American landscape gardening, of which 
Mr. Downing was easily the founder. The firm of 
Downing & Vaux became celebrated. Its name has 
been prominently associated with the grounds of the 
Capitol and Smithsonian Institution at Washington, 
besides numberless other works of greater or less 
magnitude. Central Bark, New York Prospect 
Park, Brooklyn, Chicago, Buffalo, Niagara Falls, 
and many places bear witness to Mr. Vaux’s pro- 
fessional ability. He was a most energetic and in- 
dustrious man, continuing at work associated with 
his son and other partners, until his sad departure 
Practical Work in the Cemetery. 
In the recent conv^ention of the As.sociation of 
American Cemetery Superintendents held in Rich- 
mond, Va.,and as a fact at all its conventions, perhaps 
the most valuable features have been the discus- 
sions of practical matters connected with cemetery 
work. With superintendents from all over the 
country, it is certain that a discussion on any sub- 
ject will present a diversity of practice, from which, 
however, much information can be gathered and 
from which also can be generally obtained some idea 
of the practice most likely to be the best under or- 
dinary conditions. 
In the recent meeting, following a paper on 
“Road Drainage,” a discussion ensued on the joint- 
ing of the pipes, hinging principally on whether it 
were best to use cement for making the joints. The 
concensus of opinion showed a decided advantage, 
as to permanence and security, in favor of the ce- 
ment jointed pipes. But the practice was varied, 
traceable to both experience and lack of experience, 
as well as to the variable conditions attaching to 
the work to be prosecuted. Then, too, the cjues- 
tions of soils, climate, lay of the land and individ- 
ual knowledge were potent factors in the results ob- 
tained. Many of the experiences were interesting. 
Where the joints had not been made of a perma- 
nent material, pipes were frequently found choked 
with tree roots, though not in all cases, the soil ap- 
pearing to have much to do with whether the roots 
concentrated an attack on the pipe joint or kept to 
the soil in preference. Another e.xperience was 
that in passing through a short stretch of quick- 
sand the sand crept through the pipe joints to such 
an extent as to choke the pipe for a long distance 
beyond it. The practice in another cemetery was 
to make cement joints on the main drains, but not 
on the laterals, a better drainage being secured and 
no trouble had been experienced from dirt or roots 
for many years. 
One evil arising from uncemented joints was 
that the water would escape from the joint, and in 
its working around presently displace the pipe al- 
together. In certain soils this would surely result, 
as well as under certain conditions of grade and 
careless workmanship. 
Even in clay joints in many recorded expe- 
riences tree roots had worked out the clay and 
found their way into the pipes to the utter demor- 
alization of the drainage. I'he trees most given to 
pushing their roots into the drains are the Willow 
and Elm, though, as has been said, soil has much 
to do with their persistency in this direction. 
There is no question but that all such work as 
the main drains of a cemetery should be carried out 
from the first with a view to permanent results; in 
which case as much care is necessary, both as to de- 
sign, workmanship and materials, as is required in 
sewer work anywhere. Strict supervision is cer- 
tainly called for in laying sewer pipe, the short 
lengths requiring absolutely good work to make 
such a sewer perfectly satisfactory. Where the 
grades are light, with a consequent limited speed of 
flow, the best of conditions, both as to quality of 
pipe, laying and jointing must prevail to prevent 
obstructions from accumulations of sediment. The 
