44 
ure; one or two more than that. We will 
not accept an endowment of less than $100 
on any lot, no matter how small it is, nor 
less than $50 on a single grave. Some one 
may cry out “4%! Why, we give 5% or 
6%.” Well, you may, but our endowment 
funds are trust funds and we are not per- 
mitted to handle stocks of any kind. 
About the detail of endowments I can- 
not do better than let you print from our 
cemetery book, page 28, what is there 
written on this subject. 
“The amount of endowment necessary 
for a given lot depends upon the size and 
location of the lot, the number of graves 
in it or that are likely to be in it, the num- 
ber, size and character of the headstones 
or other monuments ; also, whether or no 
any floral embellishment is required at 
Christmas, Easter, Memorial Day, or anni- 
versary, or during the summer months, and 
so forth. An endowment should always be 
sufficient to keep the grass clean and in 
good order, to sod level and free from 
sinkages, to rejuvenate or renew the sod 
at intervals of a few years, should this be 
necessary; to keep open-faced tombs filled, 
to maintain headstones or markers plumb, 
in line and firmly fixed on their founda- 
tions, and to have all granite stones — 
markers, tomhs, sarcophagi, shafts or mau- 
soleums cleaned once a year and to lead 
or cement opening or defective joints. 
Sometimes mounded graves are preferred 
to flat ones and this has to be borne in 
mind. ]\Iany like to have their graves 
planted with sedum over winter and filled 
with pansies in spring and alternanthera 
in summer, and this adds to the cost. And 
often flower beds have to be filled, say with 
bedding plants in summer, tulips or nar- 
cissi in fall and pansies in spring. An- 
other favored item is the use of palms on 
the lots in summer. In an endowment all 
of these, some of them only, or any one of 
them may be included. Lot owners con- 
templating an endowment should consult 
with the superintendent, explain to him 
what they would care to cover in their en- 
dowment, and he can tell them promptly 
and e.xactly the necessary sum required in 
their case. William Falconer, 
Supt. Allegheny Cemetery. 
Pittsburgh, Pa. 
We have had this to happen several 
times at iMount Peace Cemetery; it has 
been our rule in such cases to expend the 
excess interest in planting flowers and 
extra gardening; also in placing suitable 
designs at Easter and Christmas. 
C. G. Simon, 
Supt. Mount Peace Cemetery. 
Philadelphia. 
We have a small lot endowed with a 
sum one hundred dollars in excess of the 
amount mentioned ; there is a monument 
which we clean every spring ; also a flower 
bed that we plant twice a year with the 
PARK AND CEMETERY. 
best bedding plants and bulbs obtainable, 
and give everything on and around the lot 
the best of attention, keeping account of 
everything done, showing the surplus. 
Over endowed lots are more the excep- 
tion than the rule, and in an old cemetery, 
where so many lots are under endowed, 
the surplus causes no worry. Our rule 
provides “that the said Trustees shall never 
be responsible for their conduct in the dis- 
charge of such trust, except for good faith 
and such reasonable diligence as may be 
required of mere gratuitous agents.” 
We find that where a lot is given an en- 
dowed look we have no inquiry as to ex- 
penditure. 
We have other lots that we term well 
endowed and wherever possible spend all 
the income. Any surplus we have from 
any source whatever goes into our general 
maintenance fund. Sydney Youden, 
Supt. Union-Dale Cemetery. 
Pittsburg. 
This inquirer does not state what the 
person leaving the legacy intended having 
done with the interest on $800. Should 
think the income could be spent on the 
care of the lot, monument and headstones, 
if any; planting of flowers in the summer, 
Christmas and Easter Decorations, bulbs 
in the fall and pansies in the spring. 
While this might not be within the 
meaning or intent of the legacy, I do not 
see how he could very well return it to 
the estate, as it was left for the purpose 
of being spent on the lot. I know of one 
or two cases similar to this w'here it is 
being done. I am not aware of a law in 
regard to cases of this kind. 
Geo. M. Painter, 
Supt. Westminster Cemetery. 
Philadelphia. 
The answer to this question depends 
greatly on the wording of the endowment 
clause in the will of the creator of the 
endowment or whether the cemetery cited 
is a modern lawn plan cemetery, where all 
lots receive perpetual care alike, or whether 
the cemetery is run on the old plan and 
lots are given special care for a yearly con- 
sideration. 
Then, again, different cemeteries have 
different ideas of just what perpetual care 
should consist of. 
In Laurel Hill, we have divided perpet- 
ual care into the following: 
Endoivmcnt Imperative, includes cutting 
grass, seeding, weeding and resodding lot 
when necessary. 
'Renewal of perennial plants and bushes 
in lot or on graves. 
Flozuer beds and planting, requiring 
yearly renewal. 
Cleaning stonework, resetting and re- 
pairing. 
Anniversary decorations. The last four 
conditions are considered optional and may 
or may not be provided for, just as the lot 
holder desires. 
Where we have an excess income, we 
plant flower beds in the lots or place anni- 
versary decorations, first, however, con- 
sulting any living member of the family or 
heirs; in the event of there being no heirs 
or relatives we use our own discretion, 
having in mind, however, that if any of 
the monuments are old they will eventually 
need to be replaced. 
Following is a copy of a report on a 
burial lot for a fund for its perpetual care 
and trust : 
LAUREL HILL CEMETERY. 
Report on Burial Lot for a Fund for its Perpetual 
Care 
Made by 
Lot No. 2Sy-2bO. 
Section 10. 
Owner: Geo. W. Reader, Mrs. Russell Bayley, Dr. 
Wiston D. Bayley and John G. Taylor. 
Dimensions: 27' x 20'' x 31' 3" x 20". 
Enclosure: Wall at back of lot. 1 granite sill. 
Condition 
Cost of Cleaning or Repairing 
Stones, Graves, etc.: 9 granite cmdles, 2 granite 
tombs, 1 marble tomb. 1 marble cradle, 2 terra 
cotta vases. 
Description 
Condition 
Cost of Cleaning or Repairs: $00.00 to clean stone 
work each 10 years. 
Plants, Bushes, Vines, etc.: Cradles planted with 
Loventangel, 1 ivy mound, 1 grass mound, (2 
vases.) 
Number and Description 
Cost of Replacing: $5.00 to plant 2 vases each 
year. 
Sodding Cost: $30.00. 
Yearly Cnrc — Charge per Year: $15.00. 
present Condition of Entire Lot 
Cost of Putting Lot in Good Order 
Fund for Perpetual Care of Lot as per items fol- 
lowing: $1,025.00. 
Special yearly care of lot, care of grass 
and general attention, not including re- 
newal of plants or cleaning of stones — 
Endowment imperative, $475. 
Renewal of perennial plants and bushes, 
and perennial plants on graves (not yearly 
plants), income accumulates until needed — 
Endowment optional, $100. 
Flower beds and planting, requiring year- 
ly renewal, as now on lot — Endowment 
optional, $125. 
Care of stone work, resetting and re- 
pairing, income accumulates until needed — 
Endowment optional, $100. 
Care of wall — $75. 
Cleaning stone work, income accumulates 
until needed — Endowment optional — $150. 
Anniversary decorations, bouquets, cut 
flowers, plants in pots, wreaths, immor- 
telles, evergreen emblems, for birthdays, 
anniversaries, Easter, Christmas and Me- 
morial Day, as may be specified — Endow- 
ment optional. 
Laurel Hill Cemetery Co., 
Wm. J. Proud, Supt. 
Philadelphia, Pa. 
THE OBITUARY RECORD. 
Alex. Miller, assistant superintendent of 
Forestdale Cemetery, Holyoke, Mass., died 
Alarch 14 and was buried in Forestdale 
Cemetery March 16. Mr. Miller had been 
employed there for a little over twenty 
years. 
