Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-08-15
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT
HAVE BEEN MADE THERE.

Clearing Out the Ravine and Cleaning
Up the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS the En-
cIosnre-ImprOFem In the COIored
Cemetery.
Persons who have visited Laurel Grove
Cemetery during the past two or three
weeks could not fail to notice that the
keeper, Mr.. A. F. To-Day, assisted by
number Of wOTkmen. was making many
decided improvements in the appearance
Of the place, and especially in that por-
ton which fronts the visitor i'm
mediately after entering the enclosure
on the Anderson street side. All the
lawns have been carefully mOwn and have
a growth Of grass Of uniform height that
attracts the eve, while the principal ave-
nues have been thoroughly cleaned, and
the piles d leaves and other trash re-
moved 70 the extreme southwestern pOr-
ton Of the cemetery and burned.
During the prolonged rainy season a
quantity Of superfuOus vegetation shot
forth all through the cemetery. and the
men were kept busy in combining it within
proper bounds, particularly in the amphi-
theatre shaped rayine lying west Of the
entrance aud extending TO the fence
on the west side. Here a lit
tie stream Of water. fed by a
number Of smaller water courses and
bitches, flows towards the west. A num-
Der Of narrow paths and foot bridges lead
across il from the higher ground on the
north and south sides.
This part Of the cemetery has never
been, and probably never Will be. used for
burial purposes, and hence was in a meas
ure permitted 70 assume natural growth
Of vegetation. Here nearly all the trash
collected in other portions Of the cemetery
was also thrown, 50 that one Of the most
picturesque looking retreats in this city
Of the dead had wild, neglected and I'M
inviting appearance.
At the suggestion Of Alderman Thomas.
Of the City Council Committee on Health
and Cemeteries, and who is acting Chair
man Of that committee during the
absence Of Alderman Wilder, Mr..
TOrlay undertook to improve the spot.
He trimmed Of all the lower branches Of
the trees. cleaned out all the bitches.
moved the grass and removed the heaps
Of rubbish. The main stream Of water
was furnished with better outlet at its
western extremity, and since then all the
slopes Of the raYine have been COMPARE
lively drier, the surface water having
better facilities for discharging the vol
ume promptly.
The visitor can now have no hesitation Of
crossing the Tavine or the foot bridge, Tor
fear Of getting his feet damp or in dread
Of finding "a snake in the underground.
The work done at this point has trans
formed the spot into an alluring valley
where the green slopes terminate at the
margin Of a riyulet Of clear water.
The fences forming the enclosure to the
cemetery have also been rebuilt, and
large number Of cedar posts substituted
i'm place Of those which we're TOtted at the
foot. The new posts were obtained IN the
vicinity Of Darien and shipped by sailing
vessel 10 this city, the bark having been
previously removed. The old posts bein.
decayed only az the base, have been utll-
lied as turning posts at the corners Of the
avenues.
one Of the most noticeable improve
meuts has been made on the west bound
ary line Of the cemetery. The fence was
originally constructed in a crooked
fashion about feet east Ofthe line which
formed the boundary Of the cemetery on
the west side. The entire line Of fencing
has been moved west, care being taken
i'm the setting Of the posts to insure
straight fence from the northwest to tn
southwest corner. The whole Of the
fencing has also been newly whitewasheC
aud forms a pleasing contrast with the
dark green foliage.
The work Of rebuilding and Of white
washing the fence to the cOlOred cemetery,
adjoining the southeastern corner Of Lau-
rel Grove, is also abogt completed.
The need Of these improvements was
urgent, and Alderman Thomas gave them
his personal supervision with the view Of
having the work well but economically
performed. He stated 10 a MORNING
NEWS reporter that several suggestions
had been advanced for the further i'm
prOvement Of the appearance OF the "a
vine in Laurel Grove, but the committee
had not decided what plan to adopt.