The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-05-23
Good suggestIon.

The forsaken and dilapidated APP
pearance Of tho old graveyard in the
upper part of the city, has so stirred
up our friend, John s. Goodge, for
merly Sexton of Oak Hill Cemetery,
as to induce him to take the initiative
in project which has our hearty ap-
proyal and concurrence. The yard
contains about two acres of ground.
Many of the parties who own the lots
in it have already transferred the
bodies of their deceased friends to
Oak and Locust Hill Cemeteries. Elk
perience has demonstrated that it is
impossible to protect the yard, as at
present, from the ravages of cattle,
swine, and desecration in other par
ticulars. Mr.. Goodge's proposition is,
that the city deed to the Orphan Asy-
lum all It's right and title in the GEM
etery, and that the parties owning
lots be requested to do the same, on
condition that proper respect be paid
the graves yet remaining. These
graves can be protected by laying
the marble slabs fiat upon them, or
in various other ways, and yet, at the
same time, give the children
of the asylum the use of the ground.
Having in this way secured the title
to the ground, Mr.. Goodge's idea is,
that the Trustees of the Asylum sell
the property now held in their name
for the benefit of the orphans, and
apply the proceeds. with such addi-
tional donations as might be made by
friends sympathizing with the institu-
ton, in the erection of handsome
and comfortable building in the GEN.
tire of the yard donated for that pur-
pose. This would insure an elegant
situation for the building, perpetuate
the sacredness of the cemetery, and
at the same time supply comforta-
BILE home for the orphans of the city.
Our people have always felt pride
in the success of their Orphan Asy-
lum. Though it was instituted on a
modest plan and without any -four
ish of trumpets, under the prudent
management of the Christian ladies
having charge of its affairs, it has
been instrumental in accomplishing
great good. We think the desire is
quite universal that its field of use.
fulness may be enlarged, as it would
be if the plan suggested by Mr.
Goodge is put into practical opera
ton.
It is his intention to wait upon the
various owners of lots in the GENE
terry and gain their consent, if posi-
Bile, to this new arrangement. We
do not think that any one who rightly
regards the project will hesitate tC
give it his or her approval. At the
present time the grave yard il
only the receptacle for stock, which
is continually breaking down the
fences and defacing the few graves
that remain. These would be pro.
tected from the time the grave yard
came under the control of the Orphan
Asylum. The erection of commo-
dious building in the centre of the
ground would also add much to the
attraction md value of property in
that neighborhood. The managers
of the Asylum could, with but little
expense, convert all that portion Of
the ground not occupied by buildings
into handsome little park, to which
the people of the city might have
access at stated, or at all, times.
The whole enterprise is most praise
worthy and should be carried out al
the earliest practical period. We do
not know whether there is any diff
Guilty witt .eference to the title ofthe
property in case it should be used fol-
the Orphan Asylum, but presume
there would not be. It would still
to all intents and purposes, be az
much of a cemetery as at present, on.
ly in far better state of preserva-
. l a..