The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-05-01
A City Cemetery.

All civilized people are noted Tor
the care they take of the dead. The
higher the order of civilization the
tenderer the care taken of the last
resting place of the mourned and the
honored dead. Indeed it is altogether
to the credit of humanity that some
of the loveliest spots on earth have
been given to the sepulture of the 81
lent hosts. Beautiful monuments,
monolithS rear themselves above the
dark vaults where rest the loved and
the lost. Daily pilgrimages are made
to the resting place, and daily tears
bedew it. 1t is sacred ground. Sor-
did calculations, ambitious purposes
or grovelings are left by common con-
sent, far from the sacred enclosure.
To silence, to lovely flowers, to the
bright sunshine and th5 songs
of the birds are committed the COM
partnership of those who have passed
over the river. Austin is the proud
capital of the proudest common
wealth of this union. 1t is, indeed, a
lovely city. Within radius of three
miles there are at least an hundred To-
cations far more lovely;than Laural
Hill, naturally. A glorious cemetery
could be had at the smallest cost.
Lovely trees, bright green swaId, and
a world of flowers, could be made to
adorn the spot almost without cost
A good landscape gardeners heart
would swell with joy to be
called upon to adorn either one
of the hundred available localities
in the near neighborhood of Austin
Water for irrigating purposes could
be abundantly and cheaply supplied
from the city water works, and q
deep, darkly green shaded, flower-be-
decked grove consecrated to the holy
purpose OF rest for the dead. Tht
civilization of the state and Of Aus
tin both demands that some such
step should be taken as will give II.
at an early day cemetery worthy
both the city and the great state O.
which she is the capital. This could
owing to the favorable condition.
surrounding, be had with such a tri
vial outlay of either time or money
that the only wonder is. we have no
had one already widely famed for il
beauty no less than its commandin.
situation.
We would see cemetery associ.l
tion formed with plenty of money T.
purchase the most desirable place, oil
at the very least, a hundred acres
see this improved as highly as natur
and art would admit. Let the prope
responsibility of the company to tn
city be cared for by intelligent an,
liberal regulations. Let the prices O
burial lots be fixed, and as man
grades as is thought proper, so tina
the poor as we'll as the rich would b
; secured sepulchre there. when tn
last dread moment came. Such al
association would not only aC
complish a useful and necessar,
= work for Austin in increasing its i'm
portance as well as it's values, but i
would prove a most profitable an
safe investment. The STATEsMAl
has no other purpose in view than t
forward this laudable object and 10
= the reasons and purposes above brief
and imperfectly sketched. 1t now re
mains for the property holders an
citizens interested in the permanen
good of the city as in it's reputation
and standing as one of the centers O
grace and refinement, to act in tn
matter promptly and with an 1ntelli
gent apprehension of the vast impor
lance of the matter.
In nothing else could an equal sum o
money be invested which would yiel,
nearly so great or so satisfactory
return. This city is plainly DIES
tined to have sixty thousand peopl
ere another quarter of a century o
time is passed, and anything done il
this matter should be done in tn
light of that assured fact. We will
be glad to receive any suggestion
from citizens having this interest I'm
selfishly at heart.