I I 2 
PARK AND CEMETERY. 
MEMORIAL DAY AT MUSKEGON, MICH. 
TJNVEII.ING THE STATUES OF LINCOLN, GRANT, SHERMAN 
AND FARRAGUT. 
Philanthropy finds many forms of expression, 
but not the least beneficial of these, by reason of 
its far-reaching effects, is the gift of statuary of 
noted men to stand in public places as example 
and suggestion for the present as well as for future 
generations. Happily we appear to be in the 
midst of an era of such pubbc-spirited generosity, 
and from all points of the compass there comes in- 
formation relating that this or that monument has 
been either erected or presented by some citizen of 
broad-minded intelligence and liberality. But of 
all the cities that have been more than ordinarily 
endowed in such manner, Muskegon, Mich., must 
occupy a leading place; for it would be difficult to 
point to a town where public benefits had been so 
liberally bestowed, of so varied a character, and 
all of the highest consequence, as this Michigan 
city has received at the hands of Mr. Charles H. 
Hackley. Mr. Hackley in a long residence and 
business activity in the place had amassed a large 
fortune, and it has been his habit for some years 
past of periodically presenting to his fellow citizens 
some valuable public mark of his regard for his 
fellow men. Thus Muskegon has a park area, a 
soldiers’ and sailors’ monument, a public library, 
a high school building, a manual training school, 
and now four monuments of great men of the Civil 
War period, besides other features, all gifts of Mr. 
Hackley, whose unostentatious bestowal and wise 
selection has marked him as one of the broadest 
philanthropists of his state, if not of the country. 
On the opposite page are given illustrations of 
his latest gift, viz: bronze statues of Lincoln, Grant, 
Sherman and Farragut, men whose lives and his- 
torical connections with the greatest crisis of the 
country, will point an example and moral to every 
citizen for all time. The location of these monu- 
ments on Hackley square or park, in a measure, 
completes an inspiring benefaction. 
The method of the donor in providing these 
last gifts was very simple. On March 22, 1898, 
the then mayor of Muskegon received a letter in a 
plain envelope, asking permission to erect in Hack- 
ley park statues of Lincoln, Grant, Sherman and 
Farragut, and promising, should the permission be 
granted, to commit the execution of his design to a 
committee, which he named, with authority to ex- 
pend $20,000 in carrying it into effect. 
The contract for the monuments was placed with 
the Harrison Granite Co. of New York City, who 
are to be congratulated on the suceessful execution 
of so important an undertaking. They commis- 
sioned Mr. Chas. H. Niehaus to make the statues 
of Lincoln and Farragut, and Mr. J. Massey Rhind 
those of Grant and Sherman. The pedestals were 
designed by Mr. W. L. Cottrell, architect for the 
company. They are artistically proportioned, cut 
from Barre granite and are embellished only with 
wreaths, containing the name, date of birth and 
death of the man surmounting them. The bronze 
figures are life-size. The Abraham Lincoln stands 
at the southeast corner of the square facing south, 
and the others at opposite corners. All four stat- 
ues are represented in characteristic attitudes, such 
as are well known to the majority of the present 
generation. 
The monuments were unveiled on Memorial 
Day, and it goes without saying that the day was 
one of the most marked in the annals of Muskegon. 
LIMING THE SOlL. 
The best, as well as the cheapest, form to ap- 
ply lime to the land is in powdered phosphate of 
lime, procured in the low grade powdered phos- 
phates at a lower price than for lime, with the ad- 
ditional value of the phosphoric acid, as much in 
quantity as is contained in the commercial fertiliz- 
ers termed superphosphates, and very much more 
than is contained in woed ashes. Powdered phos- 
phate of lime moistened with a little water yields to 
water a considerable quantity of soluble phosphate 
of lime, and the solubility rapidly increases by the 
addition of organic matter. Hence wherever earthy 
phosphates of lime exist with organic matter, water 
will invariably dissolve a portion, progressively 
with the decomposition of the organic matter by 
fermentation. This fact is of the greatest impor- 
tance to agriculture. 
Boston. Andrew H. Ward. 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
Chicago, June, 1900. 
Editor Park and Cemetery. 
In a recent number of P.vrk and Cemetery Mr. H. A. 
Caparn says “Let those who have gravej ards or single graves to 
plant get their attention off the short list of artificial bedding 
plants and look with cleared eyes on the lengthv arra^- of per- 
ennials, ainnua's and green flowering bushes in and out of nur- 
sery men’s catalogues. 
Given a grave space one and one-half b*}' four feet, w'th 
others on each side which must not be encroached upon nor 
overshaded, will Mr. Caparn say how he will plant it with per. 
ennials, annuals and bushes? Can Mr. C. select from the whole 
list of hardy subjects and annuals one single plant which will 
give so much satisfaction to the p'anter of the above described 
grave and be, from all points of view so unobjectionable, as a 
single plant of a white or delicate pink geranium? 
W. M. Rudd. 
