White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1869-05-13
Public Cemetery,

Public Cemetery.
We learn that the City Council are
considering the project of purchasing land
at convenient distance from town. for
the purpose Of Cemetery. and that some
members favor the Issuing Of several
thousand dollsrs of City Warrants. to
dsfrsy the expense Of purchasing and fit-
ting up the grounds.
There is no doubt that suitable bu-
rying-ground is badly needed. The pres
ent ons ia no credit to the town, snd is
not in . suitable place. The matter
should be attended to soon. as there is On.
improved land in the vicinity. containing
besutiful Cemetery sites. which msy not
be the case year or two hence.
Bot there are several objections to the
scheme Of the City undertaking it. II
the Council issue any amount Of warrants
for the purpose. they are compelled to
levy Q tax sufficient to cover the amount.
Ifthsy were not compelled to. and should
not do so. the warrants. having no money
to back them, would at once dspreciats
to low figure, and would not purchase
anything near the valae they represented.
They would be payable on demand, and
nothing to pay them With; while the
holders would keep an eye on the City
Treasury, and shove in their warrants for
payment whenever little money came
10, thus keeping the Treasury depleted.
leaving nothing for necessary public i'm
provements. To issue bonds for the pnr-
pose, would require . vote of the people.
Indeed, most cities are required to sub
NIT the question of tax for such extra
ordinary purposes to vote of the peo.
pie. Whether our City Charter requires
this or not, We csnnot say. But consid.
sring the burden of taxes which We will
have to carry for the next year or two,
this addition would be more than the
people ought to be asked to stand.
1t has been argued that the Cemetery
lots could be sold. and the money realized
in that way, without levying q tax
Still. the City would become responsible,
ssd in any uutowsrd event, would have
to be taxed to pay the bill. Poor peo-
pie would have to pay their proportion;
and then. if they were not able to pur.
chase lot. wonld have to be buried,
when dead, in the portion set apart as
''Potter's Field" with strangers, pau
pers. and outcssts. Country people,
who pay no City taxes. would be enti,
tied to choice lots. by paying for them.,
while many town people. who are taxed.
would not be able to purchase lots. Be-
sides, City Government should avoid.
ss much possible. entering into joint
stock company speculstions. 1t opens
the way to many abuses, and to q great
deal of unplesssntness.
Many of the finest Cemeteries in the
country have been the work OF individual
stockholders, and this seems the most
preferable way to do it. Kansas has
laws regulating such compsuies. They
would pay the expenses. and get their
return by selling lots. No person would
be taxed except those who voluntarily
purchased lots; and there would be
''Pottsr's Fisld" set apart for the rscep-
tion ofthose who did not own lots. othat
the pnblic wants would be accommodated
BY this plan. without the objections ex
listing against the other proposition. Ear
ly in the Winter. several gentleman of
this place were anxious to form a Gene
terry Association, and talked of the mst-
ter. But presently it was dropped
whether for want of encouragement. or
for some other cause, we did not learn.
II taken hold of in earnest, we believe
the project would succeed. and that
Cemsetry could sooa be prepared that
would be credit to our people, so that
the greatest agony in dying would not be
the idea Of being hid away in the bons-
yard among the brush, as must now be
done.