The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-01-20

CoMfAAY-iHE fROPOSED PURCHASE. OF
HOLLYWOOD. BY TIE. .C1TY-At the last
meeting of the President and Directors of
the Hollywood Cemetery Company, held at
| the Office of the President, resolutions were
adopted expressive of the sorrow of the
Board and their sense of the loss the com,
pany has sustained in the death of the late
Gustavus A. Myers, Esq. This death, we
learn, is the first that has occurred among
the directors Of the company since it's or
ganization, morethau twenty-five years ago.
Mr.. Robert IL. Maury was elected to FIJI the
vacancy on the Board caused by the death
Qf Mr.. Myers, 80. . ~~ "
The special object of the meeting, how
ever, as explained by the President, was to
consider what action might be proper In
view of the recommendation of the City
Engineer embraced in his late report to the
City Council that the Hollywood Cemetery
should at once be taken charge Of by the
six acres on it's western line.
As this is q. subject deeply interesting
to large number of our citizens, we think
it proper specially to invite their attention
to it, and at the same time to submit few
observations Of our own. y
Last-summer, when the question of in
creasing and Hmproying the water supply
Of Richmond was takenup with 30 much
| earnestness, and there seemed to be pro-
liability that the city would construct a new
| reservoir on elevated ground some distance
from the present reservoir, the President
and Directors of the Hollywood Cemetery
Company proposed to purchase from the
city, with the view to an enlargement of
their cemetery, so much of the old
Clark's Spring property as might not
be required for purposes connected
with the City Water Works. This pro-
position, together with the report of the
special committee on the subject of obtain
ing an abundant supply of water, was re-
ferred to the present City Engineer for con-
sideration and report; and now he recon-
Inends that the city, instead of selling its
vacant land, shall itself become the cemc-
terry company, and shall hereafter manage
Hollywood land the addition Of thirty-six
acres which he proposes) as corporation
affair. His reason for this recommenda-
ton is, "that when the present generation
shall have passed away, and but few are
left who have known and loved those who
are now filling one by one the silent tombs
of Hollywood, the care of that cemetery
must devolve upon the city," He believes
also that the sale of lots would IN few
years yield not less than sl50,000.
a brief statement of facts derived from
officials of the company seems to be neces-
sary to full understanding of the case.
First. The surplus fund (amounting to
between fifty and sixty thousand dollars)
which this company had accumulated be-
fore and during the war was lost by opera
ton of the war. Hence the company is
unable to meet the urgent necessity of
erecting substantial enclosure around the
cemetery; nor can it rely, except to very
limited extent, upon interest for the pur-
pose of paying its current expenses; and
rs the number of lots remaining to be sold
of course gradually diminishes, the COM
pany will, in all probability, after time,
have to resort to an annual assessment
upon the lot~owners in order to keep the
grounds in proper repair and comply with
the requirements of burial.
Second. The city has never made an ap-
preparation or expended dollar of its mo-
ney upon this cemetery. But, on the con-
trary, the cemetery has, by its existence,
saved the city large expenditure which
would otherwise have been necessary in
providing suitable burying-ground for the
citizens. Some idea of the accommodation
thus afforded may be derived from the fact
that there are ,544 lot-owners in Holly
wood. and that the number of interments
is 1852.
Third. 1t is O fundamental law of the
Hollywood Cemetery Company that all
money received by it shall beapplied to the
preservation and improvement Of the COM
pany's grounds and buildings, and nc
officer of the company has ever received
one dollar of compensation for his services
fA an officer except the secretary and trea-
surer, who for several years past has been
allowed small salary, which he expends
We believe, in employing book-keeper and
accountant under him.
As far, then, us we understand the case
now, three alternatives may be presented
| |. II no addition is to be made to the
cemetery the company must rely upon
such private subscriptions as it can obtain
aided, perhaps, by all appropriation from
the city, for erecting substantial ant
suitable enclosure of stone, brick, or iron
around the entire ground and eventually
must resort to an annual tax upon the lot
owners for the purpose of keeping up thu
property.
2. If the cemetery is surrendered to th'
city the Council will have to incur th'
whole expense of this enclosure $50 far a
required), as well as the expense Of laying
out, improving, and enclosing, the proposed
addition of thirty-six acres, and the trou
bic of management for oil time to come
From estimates obtained by the company
three years ago it would require abou
$50, 900 to enclose the present ground.
3. If the proposition of the company il
accepted, and the city sells to the company
on easy terms the thirty-six acres of neV
land, the company will thereby be furnish
ed with basis of support for many years
to come, and can, in reasonable time
make arrangements for erecting an enclo
sure and carrying out plans of ornamental
ton and improvement which it greatly de
sires to make:
The City Engineer supposes g. that when
the present generation shall have passed
away" there will be none left to care foi
those who are now filing, one by one, thu
silent tombs of Hollywood" 1t is sadly
true that the dead are but too often soor
forgotten; yet we apprehend that each
succeeding generation will have its owl
freshly loved resting there, who will elici
from surviving friends the care which w
bestow upon those we have lately known
and, therefore, that we need not seriously
fear neglect on their part. The conjecture
of the Engineer is rather applicable to {
cemetery completely filed than to one which
| is to receive, it may be, daily accessions fol