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PARK AND CEMETERY. 
CONSTRUCTION OF BOULDER LAWN VASES 
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THREE STYLES OF BOULDER VASES USED IN RIVERSIDE CEMETERY, THREE RIVERS, MICH. 
W. H. Sloan, superintendent of Riverside 
Cemetery, Three’ Rivers, Mich., has con- 
structed several different types of boulder 
or cobblestone vases that form an interest- 
ing feature of that cemetery. 
The vases vary in size from 3^2 to 4 
feet in height and from 5 to 5 l A feet high, 
and the shapes and decorative outlines have 
also been varied in the three vases illus- 
trated here. They are all octagonal in gen- 
eral shape, and the difference in the color 
of the stones used gives considerable va- 
riety in color effects. 
They were constructed by the use of 
wooden forms as in concrete work, and all 
stand on three-foot foundations. 
In constructing the vases Mr. Sloan first 
built a substantial foundation extending be- 
low frost level ; above ground he placed the 
stones against a form and filled in with 
concrete consisting of equal parts of ce- 
ment and screened gravel. The vases are 
drained by lLt-hich galvanized iron pipe 
from the bottom on an angle to the base at 
one side, or by making four small holes at 
the bottom of the vase through the sides. 
POPULARIZING OUR NATIONAL PARKS 
Secretary of the Interior Lane, in his 
forthcoming annual report, calls attention 
to the national parks as a valuable and un- 
developed asset of the country. He says : 
“The United States furnishes play- 
grounds to the people of this country which 
are, we may modestly state, without any 
rivals in the world. Just as the cities are 
seeing the wisdom of the necessity of 
open spaces for the children, so, with a 
very large view, the nation has been sav- 
ing from its domain the rarest places of 
grandeur of the world. 
“And this fact has been discovered by 
many only this year. Having an incentive 
in the expositions on the Pacific Coast, and 
Europe being closed, thousands have for 
the first time crossed the continent and 
seen one or more of the national parks. 
That such moutains and glaciers, lakes and 
canyons, forests and waterfalls were to be 
found in, this country was a revelation to 
many, who had heard but had not be- 
lieved. It would appear from the ex- 
perience of this year that the real awaken- 
ing as to the value of these parks has at 
last been realized, and that those who have 
hitherto found themselves enticed by the 
beauty of the Alps and the Rhine and the 
soft loveliness of the valleys of France 
may find equal, if not more stimulating, 
satisfaction in the mountains, rivers and 
valleys which this government has set apart 
for them and for all others. 
“It may reconcile those who think that 
money expended upon such luxuries is 
wasted — if any such there are — to be told 
that the sober-minded traffic men of the 
railroads estimate that this year more than 
a hundred million dollars usually spent in 
European travel was divided among the 
railroads, hotels, and their supporting en- 
terprises in this country. 
“During the year a new national park of 
distinction and unusual accessibility has 
come into existence. It crosses the Rockies 
in Colorado at a point of supreme mag- 
nificence; hence its title, the Rocky Moun- 
tain National Park. Through it, from 
north to south, winds the Continental Di- 
vide — the Snowy Range in name and fact. 
Two hundred lakes grace this rocky para- 
dise, and bear and bighorn inhabit its fast- 
nesses. It has an area of 350 square miles 
and lies only 70 miles from Denver. Many 
hotels lie at the feet of these mountains 
and three railroads skirt their sides. 
“This is Colorado’s second national park, 
the other being Mesa Verde, where this de- 
partment, with the assistance of Dr. Jesse 
Walter Fewkes, of the Smithsonian Insti- 
tution, has uncovered during the last sum- 
mer prehistoric ruins of unprecedented 
scientific Interest. 
“Oregon has but recently completed a 
great highway along the Columbia River. 
This should be connected by road with 
Mount Hood and a portion of the present 
forest reserve converted into a park. The 
limits of Sequoia Park, in California, the 
home of the great redwoods, should be so 
extended as to include the Kern River Can- 
yon, a most practicable project today; but 
tomorrow may be too late, because of the 
lumber interests. The Grand Canyon is 
not yet part of the park system, although 
as part of a national forest it comes under 
the control of the Department of Agricul- 
ture. 
“There is no reason why this nation 
should not make its public health and scenic 
domain as available to all its citizens as 
Switzerland and Italy make theirs. The 
aim is to open them thoroughly by road 
and trail and give access and accommoda- 
tion to every degree of income. In this 
belief an effort has been made this year as 
never before to outfit the parks with new 
hotels which should make the visitor desire 
to linger rather than hasten on his journey.. 
