Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1890-03-11
NEW BURIAL SCHEME.
Our Bodies to Be Dried and Put
Away in Vaults.

n nc" uiSpOSlllon OK the dead as pro-
posed may BIO called the --latest thing in
life" Ground for "new mausoleum"
is to be broken, it is said by the New
York Sun, in tho spring. Tho idea
underlying tho now mausoleum is based
on the fact that a current of dry air will
preserve body from decomposition,
and change it into q condition resem-
bling life, in which it will remain for an
Indefinite time. This process is applied
by nature TO tho unfortunate traveller
and his boast who succumb upon the
greet deserts. In the Smithsonian In
stitution arc many bodies thus desiccated
by nature which have been brought
from tho battlcfields of Mexico and
Peru, from Southern plains and Indian
districts of the far West. The ancient
Colchians and TartGrs suspended their
dead from branches of trees to be dried
by air and sun. Tho Peruvians first
dried their deceased friends and
then buried them in sitting posture.
SavaGcs Of South Australia place tho
dead body on the top of the hut till per-
fectly dried, when it is bandaged and
hidden among the branches of the trees.
The body retains it's form in the proc
ess, end tho skin, though it becomes
hard and dry like leather, remains
white, while the face, though moro or
less emaciated, remains ife-liiIe and
recognizable.
Modern science and skill are to be ap-
Piled to the original prcservative power
of tho atmosphere. Experiments have
recently been made by specialists, first
on animals and later on human bodies.
In the course of one recent experiment
conducted by sanitary engineer in
Washington, in nine weeks q pig was
reduced in weight from % to "a pounds,
ard remained just as plump and round
as In life. In II laboratory in this city
the body of man weighing 1G4 pounds
was subjected to the process in 1888, md
the effect was marvellous.
The arrangement for the interment of
dcSjccatcd bodies in the newm ausolcum
Will be similar tC that of tho drawers in
safety deposit vaults, while the interior
plan Of the building will resemble that
OF Well-appointed public library, with
main corridor and divcrging halls lead
ing to different sections. These draw
ers or scpulchcrs win be of solid con-
crete four inches thick without Joint or
seam, of certain sizes, and arranged IN
tiers of six on either side of the hall
way. The opening into each sepulcner
Will BIO provided with two doors, the
inner ono Of glass Theoretically sealed
as soon as occupied, through which the
body may be viewed by those holding
the keys; the outside Of iron, wrought
gold, silver or bronze, decorated and
adorned according to the ability and
tasto OF relatives.
Inc EP..uo that holds the casleet will
DC cell OF concrete permitting neither
tho escape nor admission of moisture.
In the erection of the walls hollow pipes
or conduits will DO formed ovor molds,
so that no drstructible material, as iron
or metal, will be needed.
Through those Conduits will be made
to pour into the nermctically-sc Sc
butchers currents Of dry air, which,
passing rapidly and repeatedly around
the body, Will extract thc-efrom evcry
trace OF moisture, vapor or fluid and con-
Vcy 1T to huge furnace, whcrc, without
possibility of escape, ak noXious matter
Will DO destroyed. Gradually the BODY
becomes hard, smooth and dry, with lit
Ito or no change Of appearance, and once
dono preservation is secured forever.
Provision is to be mado against pre-
AiiOoillCiiC ny VIC auJuSIment OF
electrical appliances to tho body, SO
that tho faintoSt motion will be instan-
tancously conveyed to the guard by
means of alarm signals.
The mausoloum will occupy compare
lively littio space. A building covering
100 feet square could incloso 10000
sepulchcrs, and one that occupied an
acre would provide as many resting
places as a cemetery Of thirty-hve acres.
1t is intended thaG ample and suitable
grounds shall surround the building,
and thai adornmcnt inside and out will
be made as perfect as taste and wealth
can dictate.
The sepulchors will DO numbered and
registered as lots in q cemetery, and o
fund will be provided for tho perpetual
care Of all treasures of art or nature