The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-06-15
EVERGREEN CEMETERY.
somethiug a bout the Comp Iaints Which
Have Been Made.

There is scarcely person in the city who is
not directly or indirectly interested in the ap-
pearance of Evergreen Cemetery, that beaut-
full city of the dead situated in Deering. The
great interest taken in it make complaints in
regard to its condition of more vital import
ance. The public attention has recently been
called to the condition of this cemetery more
than once. The complaints have been chiefly
confined to the walks and avenues. OF all
places it is the most natural that any apparent
want of care and attention should be noticed
is place of this character. Proper criticism
is not objected to, but there is great liability
that such criticism will be made without cor
rect information. Notwithstanding the fact
that there are SO many interested in this prop
erty, there are few who know much in re-
gard to its management. For the purpose of
looking into the existing causes, if any, for
these complaints a representative OF this paper
visited the grounds yesterday in company with
Hon. G. E. Jose, the chairman of the Board of
Trustees, and spent an hour looking about the
premises.
This cemetery embraces as area of 1888 acres
of land. There are at present 2400 different
OWucIS Vi ttUU lOtc VI cuCioouICcs IuClO uAO
about 40 miles of avenues to be kept in repair,
and just at this season they require 10 little at
tention. The large amount of driving on
pleasant days require that they should be
cleaned up quite often to be kept tidy in ap-
pearance. 1t will be apparent to all that to
keep this number of lots and the entire length
of avenues in good condition very large force
of men would be required In fact 30 men
could scarcely do the work properly. With the
means at command it is only possible to en-
ploy about one fourth of that force and conse-
quently it is an utter impossibilty to do more
than is done. Owing to the Strengthened con-
dition of the city finances it would not be
practicable to increase the appropriation. Re.
lief can only come from personal efforts on the
part of those owning lots. By an ordinance of
the city any one can have their lot taken care
of perpetually by the payment of $25 into the
city treasury. All those who have paid that
sum will find their lots in good condition, as
will those who have paid So per annum for the
same service. There are, however, large num-
Der of lots uncared for by private individuals,
the funds in the hands of the trustees will not
allow them to be cleaned up at the city's ex-
pense, and they are allowed to remain neglect
ed. Strange IS it may seem the graves of
some of Portland's best known and wealthiest
men have not had the grass cut for years. Out
of large number of such cases solitary one
is mentioned. In the centre of the grounds
will be seen the last resting place of man
who died number of years ago. leaving
property estimated to be worth 100000. He
40 To n,,6 oil go hopa IL
societies, but neglected himself. If he or his
friends had deposited $25 with the city his lot
would have been kept clean and beautiful. the
very opposite of what it is now. A great many
gentlemen are taking this precaution ard more
should do it.
While at the cemetery attention was called
to the piles of rubbish in the walks and ave-
ues, deposited there by persons who cleaned mp
lots and threw the grass and dirt into the
walks One gentleman trimmed up large
tree and threw the branches into the avenue,
blocking it up SO that it was difficult for car
riages to pass.
The Superintendent, Mr.. Ramsey, is efficient
and the trustees are untring in their efforts to
make the grounds pleasant and attractive but
they cannot make bricks without straw. If
every person who owns a lot at Evergreen
Cemetery would keep it in order the trustees
would be able to take care of the avenues nice
ly with their present foerc.
In addition to the work of keeping the exist
ing lots in repair, the demand for new ones re-
quires that number of men shall be kept at
work preparing them. Much has been done
this season in this direction and when COM
pleted the improvement will be very marked.