The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-05-06
Shall PeDffenffary COnvfcts BE Em
pIoycd to Work the Soldiers Section
at Hollywood?
RICHMOND, May 3, 1882.

hthhOND, Dlal %, lcc-'
To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
In your highly readable article in to-
days paper on Hollywood YOU speak OF Il
working force soon TO be put on the sol
diers' section. Have you reference TO con-
vict force? II so, please allow me to sug-
gest that volunteer force OF young men
be organized, say some time next week, to
90 out there and devote half or a whole
day TO such 4 noble deed. for one will
willingly lose day from labor for this
purpOse-each volunteer to provide him.
self with pick, spade, or other necessary
utensil. Hope it win meet with your en-
cOuragement.
An EX-CONFED. MECHANIC.
The writer expresses Il sentiment which
is very widespread in this community.
The idea Of employing penitentiary con-
UictS to care for the dust Of 1900 men
who fell doingiglorious battle in defence Of
Richmond and for cause we deemed
sacred is repugnant to the feelings Of our
people, and will only be rcsorted to as a
last extremity.
The soldiers section comprises twelve or
thirteen acres. Some OF the roadways have
been washed by rains some Of the walks
are oyergrown with grass; some OF the
graves are sunken; some OF the head
boards have rotted away; some OF the
shrubbcry needs attention; and there is
one marshy spot that should be ditched
and drained Without income, with
out money in their treasury, see
ing all this work before them, the
noble ladies OF the Association asked and
obtained from the General Assembly per-
mission to use a force OF labOrers from the
penitentiary. They have not yet been put
to work, and if the spirit that animates
q" An Ex-Confcd Mechanic" is rs general
as we believe, they never will be.
/ 4 volunteer force would hardly do the
work as it should he done. 4 paid force
Of skilled labor is the thing needed, and to
get it will not require above three or four
/ hundred dollars. That sum can be easily
raised. Contributions should be made to
the Ladies' Hollywood Association, and
without a doubt the state and Wig, as
well as the Dispatch, will take pleasure in
receiving, forwarding, and acknowledging
sums thus intended.
For the benefit OF those who live far away
from Richmond, and who have the inter-
est OF kinship in the dead here buried, let
Us say that the soldiers section is within
| the general enclosure Of Hollywood, which
is confessedly one OF the lOyeliest ccme,e-
ries in this country, and is well situated
and properly laid off. Some years ago
| 81 600 was spent in trees and shrubbery
planted there. These have now attained
considerable growth. and the section
always looks well and is fast growing in
( beauty, and will ultimately be as attractive
as any portion OF the grounds. II is I'M
/ der the charge Of the Ladies' Hollywood
! Memorial Association. II we but help
them with money they will see that the
"graycs are kept green" and that on each
recurring Decoration Day, at least, the
minds of this people shall be turned from
the busy cares Of the hour and think OF
these heroes as they were when they
stormed Gettysburg, or as they met Oul
friends the enemy in the weary days OF
siege and battle before Richmond.
Let the S400 be raised right off