PARK AND CEMETERY 
191 
and examination and the opinions of one another satisfy 
ourselves as regards what we ought to do and get. W e 
haven’t got swelled heads like the superintendent who would 
not join our society lest he would unawares teach us some- 
thing ; we want to learn. A case in point : This year we got 
three lowering devices and they work splendidly, but I would 
not buy one of them until after I had seen them in actual 
operation. In a cemetery I recently visited I saw a grave- 
marker that I liked, and now the Berger Manufacturing Co. 
are making 2,057 of them for us. We need several thou- 
sands more, but I am waiting until I see if there is anything 
else I like better. I bought a tent last year, but I don't just 
like it, and as soon as I see something else I like better 1 11 
buy it. We want a whole set of section markers, but I won't 
get any until I see the different kinds in general use, and 
then take what I like best. 
True, these things may be shown by illustrated printed cir- 
culars and lauded with testimonials, and there may be sam- 
ples of them on the tables in the convention hall, but the only 
place to show them to make an indelible impression is in 
actual use on the ground. 
Another thing I am interested in is uniforms for grave 
diggers. If the secretary were to ask the superintendents of 
several cemeteries where these are in daily use, each one to 
send a sample uniform to the convention, and there the local 
committee to provide a man for each uniform, that the man 
might dress in it, at the same time and place where the low- 
ering devices, markers, etc., were on exhibition and being 
examined, that we could study and compare these uniforms, 
what a valuable practical lesson it would be to us and prob- 
ably to some others as well. 
Now, if before the annual meeting all of these things — sub 
jects for discussion and materials for exhibition — were de- 
cided upon, gotten together and arranged for and all stated 
clearly in a circular and these circulars sent to the several 
members, and, too, to superintendents who are not members, 
with a personal letter to the latter, asking them to join with 
us and become members, I have an idea some good would 
come of it. Work! Of course it would mean work and lots 
of work, but no matter what business you embark in, even 
maintaining an association, it will fail if you do not work. 
William Falconer, 
Supt. Allegheny Cemetery, Pittsburg. 
(A number of other letters have been received, and zvill be 
printed next month.) 
Annual reports or extracts from them, historical sketches , 
descriptive circulars, photographs of improvements or dis- 
tinctive features are requested for use in this department • 
The Criminal Court of Common Pleas at New London, 
Conn., has fined Benjamin F. Scoville of that city $5 and 
costs for working on a lot in the New London cemetery 
against the rules of the association, which specify that all 
work shall be done by the superintendent. It will be remem- 
bered that Scoville was previously fined $5 and costs in the 
police court, but appealed the case to test the constitution- 
ality of the rule of the association. The victory of the ceme- 
tery in the Common Pleas Court, however, does not settle tire 
matter, as an appeal has been taken to the higher courts. 
* * * 
Citizens of Arlington, Mass., at a recent town meeting, 
passed the following by-law : * 
“No citizen nor citizens of the town of Arlington shall be 
denied the privilege of burial in any portion of any cemetery 
owned by the town of Arlington, nor be discriminated against 
in any manner with respect to the use of any such cemetery 
because not a member or members of a particular society or 
association, lay or ecclesiastical, incorporated or unincorpo- 
rated.” 
* * * 
The annual report of Superintendent O. W. Crabbs, of 
Beech Grove Cemetery, Muncie, Tnd., contains recommenda- 
tions that no burials be allowed on Memorial day, Christmas, 
New Year's and Sundays, except in case of contagious dis- 
eases, and that a section of Beech Grove be set apart for 
Jewish citizens. The erection of a chapel and receiving vault, 
to cost $10,000, is also recommended. The improvements 
have been more extensive than in any previous year and in- 
clude a new entrance gate at a cost of $5,000 and the com- 
pletion of a number of new driveways. The total expenditures 
for the year were $10,410.22. 
* * * 
St. Vincent’s Cemetery, Plymouth, Pa., has been notified 
by the Kingston Coal Company that there is danger of the 
cemetery caving into the old workings of the Gaylord mine 
of that firm. The coal remaining in these old workings is about 
to be removed and as the copper vein is not much more than 
thirty feet below the surface, there is grave danger that the 
cemetery will cave in. Apparently nothing can be done to 
prevent the company taking out the coal, as the church owns 
only the surface and the company has the right of mining all 
mineral deposits. 
* * * 
Lot owners of Woodland Cemetery, Des Moines, la., are 
opposing the plan of the city council to use the money de- 
rived from the sale of lots in Woodland for the development 
of the new Waveland cemetery. The subject will be made a 
special order of business at the general meeting of the Com- 
mercial Exchange, when a committee may be appointed to 
work for a law which will conserve the funds derived from 
the sale of lots in Woodland, to the maintenance of Wood- 
land alone. There is now $22,000 on hand from the sale of 
Woodland cemetery lots, and the present law regarding the 
disposition of the funds states that they shall be used only 
for cemetery purposes. Hence it is not specific enough to 
carry out the evident intention, in the opinion of those ac- 
quainted with the conditions, which were that the funds should 
he used for cemetery purposes in Woodland cemetery. 
* * * 
The New England Cemetery Association is taking up the 
eradication of the Gypsy Moth and Brown Tail moth pests, 
and recently issued a circular to its members and others in- 
terested. The circular requested replies to some twenty- 
questions, designed to secure information as to the prevalence 
of the two insects in the parks and cemeteries, knowledge of 
their habits and destructive tendencies, methods in use for 
destroying their nests and eggs, spraying devices and how and 
when used, and information possessed by those replying to 
the circular. The replies received are to be put in form for 
circulation among members of the association, with a view 
to co-operate with the state and civic bodies in the annihila- 
tion of these devastating insects. 
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