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PARK AND CEMETERY. 
ing, in place of W. F. Hutchison, who 
was unable to be present. New Orleans 
was selected as the place for the 1916 
meeting. The delegates were the guests of 
the local florists on an auto trip through 
the city park system. A steamer trip was 
taken up the Detroit River. Among those 
present were : 
Paul Fluebner, Philadelphia, Pa. 
Charles E. Lowe, Pittsburgh, Pa. 
I. K. Wingert, Chambersburg, Pa. 
John Rinck, New Orleans, La. 
John Gigner, Niles, Mich. 
J. A. Byrne, Relay, Md. 
John Foley, Philadelphia, Pa. 
I. T. Worthley, Philadelphia, Pa. 
W. R. Wingert, Chambersburg, Pa. 
Levi W. Burdge, Lakewood, N. J. 
P. Foy, Roanoke, Va. 
E. Steibner, Champaign, 111. 
F. W. Vail, Dunellin, N. J. 
E. Engelman, Altoona, Pa. 
S. Silber, Mifflintown, Pa. 
R. J. Rice, Niles, Mich. 
F. Sagsworth, Ypsilanti, Mich. 
N. Castic, Pittsburgh, Pa. 
C. B. Little, Sewickley, Pa. 
TWELVE YEARS’ GROWTH of a SMALL CITY CEMETERY 
Inquiries that frequently come to Park 
and Cemetery indicate that there is a con- 
stantly increasing interest in developing 
modern cemeteries as business enterprises. 
The modern cemetery, whether operated 
by a stock company or an association of 
the lot holders, has unlimited possibilities, 
and those who are planning such ceme- 
teries should understand that no such cem- 
etery can succeed unless it is managed on 
the highest business principles, on the 
most modern principles of development, 
and with the interests of the lot holders 
always uppermost. The conditions and 
problems connected with the organizing of 
such cemeteries to best meet the needs of 
each individual community have seldom 
been systematically studied and there is 
especial need for the study of this aspect 
of the cemetery business as applied to 
towns and small cities. 
It cannot be too strongly emphasized 
that the selection of the land and the plan- 
ning and platting of the ground should be 
studied by cemetery landscape architects 
of long experience and the grounds devel- 
oped and managed by a trained cemetery 
executive. In no other way can a pri- 
vately owned cemetery be made a success. 
The development of a cemetery is a highly 
technical business enterprise and one that 
demands a high type of expert knowledge, 
experience and executive ability. 
The study of the history of every suc- 
cessful cemetery over a period of years 
will invariably contribute something to the 
sum of knowledge and practice in ceme- 
tery affairs. The review of twelve years 
of development in Belmont Park Ceme- 
tery, Youngstown, O., is an interesting- 
study in what can be accomplished by 
steady and conservative growth and care- 
ful management. 
With the demands of a rapidly growing 
population in mind the projectors of Bel- 
mont Park Cemetery, after a careful sur- 
vey and examination of all the available 
sites in the vicinity of Youngstown, se- 
lected a site that is beautifully rolling, 
with lagoons, lily ponds, stately trees and 
all requisites for the development of an 
ideal cemetery. 
The buildings and improvements in Bel- 
mont Park Cemetery have been made with 
a view of permanence and convenience. 
Deep wells have been sunk and a com- 
plete water system installed ; a sewer and 
drainage system was devised and carried 
out in a thorough manner, through which 
all surface water is carried off, thus pre- 
venting water-cuts, or washouts, and also 
insuring dry places for sepulture even in 
the wettest season. Artificial lakes have 
been formed, stocked with water lilies of 
various varieties and colors, and the ad- 
jacent grounds planted with shrubs and 
flowers, thereby adding greatly to the pic- 
turesque and park-like appearance of the 
cemetery, and breaking the monotony or 
stiffness so often displayed in the older 
cemeteries. The avenues, drives and walks 
have been improved to render them per- 
manent and lasting in every respect. 
'Belmont Park is no longer a new cem- 
etery, and the results of its careful de- 
velopment are now readily apparent. It 
was established in August, 1903, and since 
then more than 2,100 burials have been 
held. The cemetery is half a mile north 
of the city limits, just far enough to be 
away from the smoke and activity of the 
city. A substantial brick pavement, as 
good as there is anywhere in the city, 
leads up to the gate, so that walking is 
not difficult, and a motor car runs from 
the end of the car line to the cemetery on 
Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Fre- 
quently on Sunday afternoons there are 
three or four hundred visitors. 
This year an iron fence, with pickets 
three-quarters of an inch thick and six 
feet high, has been erected along Bel- 
mont avenue. The entrance, forming a 
half circle and flanked by imposing stone 
pillars, is a pleasant introduction to the 
beauty of the grounds. The ground is 
rolling, the drives wind about so that the 
view is gradually unfolded, and most of 
them are bordered by shade trees which 
have attained a considerable height. Fine 
old elms and oaks add to the dignity of 
the place. All of the roads lead from the 
entrance to the four lagoons that have 
been constructed near the middle of the 
park. 
SHOWING ROAD AND TREE DEVELOPMENT, BELMONT LAKE AND BRIDGE, BELMONT PARK CEMETERY, YOUNGS- 
PARK CEMETERY, YOUNGSTOWN, O TOWN, O. 
