PARK AND CCMCTCRY 
303 
The reports of the Allegheny Cemetery, Allegheny, Pa.; 
show total receipts $68,356.80 and total expenses $30,277.50. 
The receipts included interest for invested capital $22,684.53. 
The amount added to endowment fund was $7,907.41, the 
actual net cost of keeping the cemetery for the year was $19,- 
420.25. The perpetual care fund now amounts to $32,710.42, 
and the total endowment fund, or invested capital, from which 
the interest is derived, exclusive of the above for perpetual care, 
is $456,090.38. The greenhouses have a little more than paid 
expenses after providing all the plants used on the grounds. The 
aggregate sale of lots amount to $27,477.50, making the total 
number to date 5,138. There were 401 memorials erected at an 
estimated cost of $82,000. The total number of interments are 
38,717. Considerable work has been done in grading new sec- 
tions and building stables and gardener’s house. Owing to the 
heavy grades in the cemetery much expense is incurred in re- 
pairs of roads, etc., the past year the use of limestone screen- 
ings was experimented with, and with so much success that this 
material will be adopted for all new roadways. 
* * * 
The plan adopted by the management of the Flushing Cem- 
etery, Flushing, Long Island, of securing a perpetual care fund 
on the installment plan has worked well . The necessity of per- 
petual care was acknowledged in 1888, since which an extra 
charge of ten cents per square foot was added to price of lots. 
The charge was made small to encourage the lot owners to take 
advantage of it, whatever balance being required was assumed 
to be paid out of the general fund for the care o? the entire 
grounds. Every effort has been made to induce purchasers pre- 
vious to above date to take advantage of the perpetual care plan 
and with gratifying success, 64 lots having been added in 1895. 
During the past year and in order to make perpetual care more 
popular, and to place it within the reach of all, an installment 
plan covering a period of ten years has been established, care to 
commence with payment of first installment, and the scheme is 
quite popular. A large addition was made to the property last 
year, which is being rapidly prepared for sale under a design 
and rules embodying the latest ideas both on landscape garden- 
ing and the lawn plan of cemetery practice. 
* * * 
The supreme court of Missouri has declared that, the char- 
ter amendment adopted by Kansas City, at a special election 
last summer, providing for the condemnation of lands for parks 
and boulevards, is constitutional, and all proceedings by the 
park board under the amendments are legal. This means much 
to the city and will enable trie Board to raise funds for the long 
delayed park improvements. 
•}f * 
An effort at floral architecture is that of a reproduction of the 
peristyle of the World’s Fair at Garfield Park, Chicago. It is 
sixty feet long, twenty-five feet to the top of the gateway, and 
fifteen to the top of the colonnade, but there is one row of col- 
umns to the colonnade. The framework of bark is made in 
skeleton form to leave room for the earth for the growing plants. 
The dirt is held in place by a wire netting, and in the apertures 
red and yellow alternanthera are set closely together. Echeveria 
are also extensively employed. Over all vines run riot. Where 
the quadriga stood in the original a mammoth century plant is 
used, and four others are placed on the colonnade to relieve its 
outlines. 
* ♦ * 
The City Parks Association of Philadelphia who commenced 
years ago to obtain for the city open spaces, large or small, 
whereon trees may be planted, gardens laid out, and playgrounds 
for children of the poorer classes, held its annual meeting in 
May. The Association has done much good and is continuing 
its activity to meet the increasing demands for small parks, 
caused by the growth of the city. The report says; “It is hoped 
that Councils, coming to fully appreciate the value of the As- 
sociation’s friendly assistance, will continue to aid in the future 
as in the past. More open spaces are needed in the crowded 
districts, and it is desirable that properties may be taken front- 
ing upon either of the rivers, affording easy access to the pleasure 
of the waters.” Some 30 small parks, ranging in acreage between 
a fraction of an acre and thirty acres have been acquired by the 
city since 1888. Play grounds for children is a special feature of 
the association’s work and one highly to be commended and 
encouraged. 
* * * 
In the pamphlet recently issued by this Muncy Cemetery, 
Muncy, Pa., there are a number of pertinent suggestions offered 
to its lot holders. Speaking of Perpetual Care, it says ; “The 
Problem of Perpetual Care now demands serious consideration. 
The cemetery may be beautifully laid out and embellished, the 
lots and avenues may now be well kept, and there may 
be room for interments forhundieds of years, but how long will 
vigilant superintendence preserve the grounds and memorials 
from diapidation ? Protection is the paramount question to 
everyone who has friends buried in a cemetery. But what as- 
surance has the lot-holder that the graves of himself and kin- 
dred will long be cared for after all have gone to their last sleep? 
What has he done or what w'ill he do to stay the ravages of 
time, and to restrain the hand of lingering barbarism ? Can he 
reasonably expect that posterity will do what he himself neglects 
to do.” 
':^}©orre^ponelence.!^ 
Franklin, Pa., June 29, 1896. 
Editor Park and Cemetery, 
Dear Sir: I was very much encouraged to hear from 
Brother Stone, in the June number of the Park and Ceme- 
tery, I am always inspired by such correspondence. I know 
however that we do not do our duty in this line as we should, but 
writing is something that can be put off, and how often it is done. 
We all must envy Friend Stone’s lilly pond; how he must 
enjoy it, and the work, surely it is a pleasant task to care for 
them, for Solomon in all his glory, did not compare in beauty. 
Thishas been the most pleasant summer with our com- 
murity for many years. No late frosts; warm and pleasant 
showers of rain; with health and comfort and an abundance of 
fruit and flowers to bless us. Rosebushes were beautiful, hav- 
ing no bugs for the first time in many years. Our Yuccas are in 
their prime at present and do very well here; wintering without 
covering, in fact all plants have done well this year. 
In regard to Sunday funerals, they are much less frequent 
than in former years; we have very few, and nearly all are pri- 
vate. Much good can be done in this line as well as others by 
enlisting the undertakers in the good work. Heads are seldom 
uncovered at the services except during the benediction. I 
would like to know if all the Superintendents throw earth in the 
grave during the services, at the pronouncing of the words 
“Earth to Earth, Ashes to Ashes.” 
I hope to be able to meet you all at St. Louis, in September. 
By the way, why not have the next meeting in Franklin, and 
try the hospitality and kindness of the good people of this part 
of Pennsylvania. Think of it, we will give you a pleasant recep- 
tion. I wish to return thanks to Park and Cemetery for its 
help in our work, and the many good things we get from that 
paper. I think I would fail in my work many times without it. 
Supt., Franklin, Pa. C. D. Phipps. 
