Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-02
The soutn Broad street GRAVEYARD

The South Broad Street Graveyard.
Public sentiment in favor Of removing
the remains of those buried in the old
South Broad street graveyard, together
with the tablets, memorials, and mOnu-
ments which mark the graves, to some
other locality, and OF using the graveyard
for public purposes is growing stronger.
Even those whose ancestors are buried
there, AID who all along have been rather
disposed to oppose any attempt to disturb
the graves of this ancient burying ground,
now begin to see that tue proposed inn
provement is advisable from every point
Of view that it IS possible to consider it,.
The fact that if the city continues to
grow as 1t promises TO do, it will not be
possible to maintain the sacred character
of the place many more years helps to
overcome whatever feeling of opposition
to opening it to public uses which may
still exist.
Even now 1t is not cared for as it should
be. The graves are uncared for and there
is general appearance Of neglect about
it. II Will not be very long before the
walls which enclose it, which even now
are beginning 10 he unsightly, will have
TO be repaired to prevent it from becom-
ing resort for cattle. The money for
that purpose will not be easily obtained,
If, in fact, it can be obtained at all, be-
cause the opposition to continuing it as a
graveyard VIII be much stronger than at
present.
The number of those who feel much
interest in the place grows less each
year, and the time is not distant when it
will not be an easy matter 10 find any
body who even cares whether or not the
remains of the dead are removed before
the grounds are devoted 10 other uses.
Realizing, therefore, that it is not pro-
bable that the place will always be n ain
tanned as a graveyard, would it not be
wise for those VIII are in ierested In the
dead there to consent to their removal TO a
place where there Is a certainty
that they will be cared for? Would
they not show by conserving that their
professed interest in the graves is sim
cere? Why should they not perform the
duty which their children will have to
perform, il it is performed at all, at no
very distant day2
There is a reservation in Laurel Hill
Cemetery, under the control of the city,
to which the dead of the old graveyard
can be removed at the city's expense. 1t
is much more attractive burial-place
than the South Broad street graveyard.
The city doubtless will undertake the
work OF transferring the remains, the
tombs and the monuments from one place
to the other, and If there are those who
desire to assist the city in this work, or TO
perform any part Of it themselves, their
desire doubtless Will be gratided. There
may be, and dou btless are, some who would
prefer to undertake the entire work of
removing the remains in which they
have an interest. The city, doubtless,
will be ready to render them any assist
ance in its power.
While the remains are being removed,
however, there is no reason why the work
of Improving the grounds should not be
begun. The walls should be taken down
at once and other improvements made as
soon as possible. There Is no doubt that
the action of the City Council ordering
the old graveyard to be changed into a
public square and improved would meet
with general favor.