The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-07-15
Augusta Memorial Association.

| [
was held at the city council rooms on Monda
at 10 o'clock. The President of the associs
ton, Col. Jas. II. Skinner read his repol
which on motion was adopted.
1 A committee was appointed to examine til
Treasurer's accounts and report at the hex
meeting of the Association and another com
miltee appointed to draft suitable bylaws TO-
the government of the Association.
I The report OF Col. Skinner states that ther
| had been much difficulty experienced i'll pre-
curing the funds necessary for the proper dis
charge of the sacred duty of earring TO
| tie Soldiers graves ard also in adoptin
| a plan for the permanent Identifying Of til
| ground, and after q careful consideration 0
| the various plans those whose duty it was
had concluded that the only plan open to then
and which they would be likely to accomplish
with such means us they could gather, woult
be to dispense with mounds, and cultivate tht
land with q view of getting it set in all even
grass sward, which could be kept short during
the summer by the use of scythes, OF if.foun(
practicable, by the use Of a lawn mower, an(
at all expense OF not more than from forty tc
fifty dollars year. This therefore they order
ed to be done, and it was begun as soon as
they had assurance of the necessary means to
carry it on to w.t. in the spring of 1878. 1t
has been sown twice in lawn grass and also
in grain at the same time to shade the, grass;
| there have been three liberal applications made
OF phosphates and other fertilizers. But the
seasons have proved in each instance very TN
propitoUs, and, notwithstanding all the skill
full cultivation heretofore bestowed, it is not
certain that this work will not have to be gone
over again.
The plan which is thought of for marking
the graves. after the cemetery is once we'll set
in grass, is by means of iron posts about two
and half feet in heigth. cast in the form OF an
inverted torch, surnounted by u Grecian cross,
and connected together by swaying chains.
These posts and chains are placed along the
heads of the lines OF graves at proper distances
aud upon the chains there will be over each
grave.a metallic tag stamped with the number
of the grave and attordiny by reference to the
record, the name Of the soldier buried be-
meath. 1t is believed that this plan will. pro-
duce very beautiful and appropriate effect,
and will be the most durable that could posi-
bly, be adopted. 1t is estimated that it will
cost about fifteen hundred dollars, and it will
be seen, hereafter, that there are ample means
i'll hand for this purpose.
The raising of money TO accomplish the ends
in view has been by no meals the least diff
b. ell confined mainly to the undersigned who
has toied necessarily in this behalf. He has
suggested fairs, set OIL foot concerts, aud lent
his aid and made applications to individuals at
home and aboard. and in many other ways
labored to increase the funds of the Association.
Several excellent ladies of the country, and
very many in the city OF Stanton, have been
Jealous coatljutors in the cause, and to their
eAertons we are largely indebted for such
render our hearty thanks. There is herewith
laid before you the Ere;surer's Report and also
a statement showing in detail all the moneys
which have been collected for the association.
From this it appears that the sum OF $2349.67
has been gathered from different sources.
This money we have loaned out from time to
time on good security and at profitable rates
OF interest. We have realized on interest ac-
count SSl5.03 making total to our credit
OF $3lG3.59 Our expenditures on all accounts
have amounted to SSl5.92, and there is shown
to be i'll the hands of the Treasurer as Of the
LIST inst, cash and negotiable notes amo@nt-
ing to S2796.56. We estimate this q handsome
balance though not as much by some seven
hundred dollars, as we wish to raise.
After procuring Il plot and record of the GEM
etery, our policy was to spend nothing until
we could see our way cleal. financially, to
the completion Of permanent improvement
also been to secure Il slslI--over and above the
necessary mprovements-whlch should con-
stit;:te Il reserre fund. from an annual interest
on which the ground could be kept in proper
order. We think that $4,000 will suffice for all
the work which we wish to do. It is estinnl-
ted as aforestated that $500 will furnish the
iron posts and chains for marking the graves,
and we think that $500 in addition will proba-
bly, cover all other expenses. A reseroe fund
OF 81 800 would perhaps be sufficient. As we
already have at Our command s., 1866, it will
be seen that our means are ample for the i'm
provements which we wish to make, but that
we have besides 579G.56 in part of the reserve
fund which we are seeking to accumulate. We
hope our fellow cti1ei4s will aid lis cheerfully
in raising the further sum OF 500 which we
still lack, as us obvious that unless we intend
to keep the cemeterf in becoming ORDER the
sum which we purpose to expend in improving
it will be spent in vain. The city of Staunton
has thus far contributed ut least three-fourths
Of the fund which we have raised, and we re-
spcetfully and earnestly appeal to the people
Of Augusta to lend us a further helping hand
The ladies and gentlemen Of Newport have
aided us by one entertainment to the extent of
5000, and we are sure if similar efforts are
made at other points i'll the county they will be
with like gratifying success.
STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS.
Receipts Of the Augusta Memorial Associa-
ton for the Confederate dead on all accounts
aud from all sources from June 18th, 1870. to
July LIST, 1875:
~ H Bush $3.50; Mrs: G. D; Mccoy, ssl25 Mi
sNell S2425; Mrs DR.. Eyster $50; Miss T. Phillips
FL; Miss Trout, Sl50; Miss L. Turk Sl3; Dr. Berry
SIG: Mrs s. w. SWoope, $4l25; Miss Moffett 81 10:
Mr.. Hogsheads8,25 Miss McGutfn 4 Smith SIS: Miss
MEG ufin, $l465; w. A. Abney, 81; E. C. Kinney 5;
MI. Smiley, -; A. w. Hartman, SIS; Miss Hamrit.k
S2S.25; Kate Mills. $40 OF JAS. II. Skinner IS: Miss
L, $780, NJ: j. San Iii, OF New Orleans, Sl0O; J.
W Gilkeson, s.; z Gr;Ntan. $3.50; c. II. Fulton $40;
VIM. Frazier, IS; Miss L. " Taylor 1922; N g. Nv,
man, 81; MI Lyon II; T. Crowder, s27 MI Bell, sio;
Miss Caldwell. $780, Mrs D, Kunke. $685.; Mrs A.
Z. seo G, t. 81 Mrs NJ H Efnger IS; j. a. Bumgard
w, Corcoran, OF Washington city, Slo0 Refresh
nent tables at county Fair, s366,8O Memorial Con
cert in Saunton $l5l,25; receipts at Cemetery Gate
sS4, proceeds OF sale of hooks of stanton Crcu
atng Library sl0l 10; ladies' emorial Fair in Staun
tom $o27,o2; entertainment at New Port, $50 so; Nc
mortal Concert in Staunton $1l9,50; Cash, &9: Con-
cert by Mrs Mas s2 20, amounting in the aggrega te
interest ape. .......................... ol5.z2
:, Total receipts 3,lG559
On hand July LIST, l. 75............... S. 1916 Sc
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