PARK AND CEMETERY. 
■75 
2. Watkr Margi.vs, Gracki.and Cemetbry, Chicago. 
of the Association of American Cemetery Superin- 
tendents, paid a visit to Mr. Burton H. Dorman, 
superintendent of Mountain Grove cemetery, 
Bridgeport, Conn., and in a communication gives 
the following notes on that cemetery: 
“ It was organized August i6, 1849, contains an 
area of about 40 acres, which cost $5,000 and is 
under the control of nine directors. 
My first visit to Mountain Grove was made some 
20 years ago, and the present appearance of the 
grounds has so completely transformed their former 
appearance that first impressions were obliterated 
in the change from former neglect to their present 
beauty. The grounds are naturally gently rolling 
and diversified, being well adapted for burial pur- 
poses, with good soil for digging and improving. 
The cemetery is now conducted strictly on the 
lawn plan and no lot enclosures of any kind are al- 
lowed. A large number of iron railings have been 
removed, a few however still remain which Mr, 
Dorman hopes soon to be able to remove. I con- 
sider iron railings or any other enclosure to lots is 
superficial and worse than useless, and aside from 
giving protection the lots are marred by their pres- 
Description on opposite illustration also applies to this. 
ence. I urge every member of the A. A. C. S., to 
oppose enclosures of any kind to lots, and by co- 
operating in this reform we shall be able to edu- 
cate lot owners to our views on the question. 
A stroll through the grounds shows many fine 
monuments, sarcophagi!, etc., some of them of con- 
siderable beauty and many massive in proportions. 
I viewed with interest the lot of Phineas T. Bar- 
num, the well-known “Great American Showman,” 
a fine granite monument marks his resting place. 
Near by is the lot and grave of his protege Tom 
Thumb, also marked by a granite monument. Dur- 
ing their lives. P. T. Barnum and Tom Thumb were 
intimately connected. 
There is a plentiful show of flowers scattering 
and in beds, throughout the grounds. Most of 
these were raised from seed sown by the superin- 
tendent, and the results are very creditable to him 
as a florist. We gained much information from him 
on the planting and propagating of flowers. 
The general appearance of Mountain Grove 
cemetery reflects great credit on Superintendent 
Dorman, and gives strong evidence of his ability 
for a larger field than his present limits.” 
