Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1890-03-05
NEW BURIAL SCHEME.
Our Bodies to be Dried and Put
Away IN Vaults.

Away IN vaults.
A new disposition OF the dead as pro-
posed may be called the "latest thing in
life-o Ground for new mausoleum''
is to be broken, il Is said by the New
York Sun, in the spring. The idea un-
derly ing the new mausoleum Is based
on the fact that a current of dry air
viii preserve a body from decomposi-
ton, and change 1t into a condition re-
sembling life, in which it Will remain
for an indefinite time. This process is
applied by nature 10 the unfortunate
traveller and his beast who succombed
upon the great deserts In the Smith
sonian Institution are many bodies
thus desiccated by nature which have
been brought from the battledelds of
Mexico and Peru. f.om Southern plains
and Indian districts Of the far West.
Tie ancient ColchIans and Tartars sus-
pended their 6ead from branches Of
tTess TO be dried by air and sun. The
Peruvians first dried their deceased
friends and then buried e EN- In q sitt-
ing posture. Savsyes Of South Aus
Lrialia place the dead body on the top of
the hut till perfectly dried, when IL is
audaged and hidden among the
branches OF the treeA The body re-
aims its form In the process, and the
skin, though it becomes hard and dry
Ike leather, remains white, while the
face, though more or less emancipated.
remains life-like and recognizable.
Modern science and skill are TO be ap-
piled to the original preservatIve power
Of the atmosphere. Experiments have
recently b en- made by specialists, first
jn animals and later on human bodies.
In the course of one recent experiment
oajucted by a sanitary engineer in
Washington, in nine weeks a pig was
reduced IN weight from % 10 z. pounds,
and renamed just rs plump and round
Is in life In laboratory in this city
the body OF a man Weighing 164 pounds
was subjected to the process in 1888,
and the effect was marvellous.
The arrangement for the interment
# desiccated bodies In the new mauso-
leum will be similar to that of the draw
sr5 in safety der osit vaults, while the in
terror plan of the building will resemble
that OF a well-appointed public library,
with main corridors and diverging halls
leading to different sections These
drawers or sepulchers will be of solid
concrete four inches thick without
Joint or seam, Of certain sizes, and ar
ranged IN tiers of six or on either side
Of the hallway. The opening into each
sepulchre will be provided with two
doors, the inner one of glass hermeti-
cally sealed as soon as occupied, through
which the body may lie viewed 10y those |
holding the keys; the outside of iron,
wrought gold, silver or bronze, decor |
Itei and adorned according to the abil- |
ty and taste of relatives.
70 Ixy tI, I,a |
lnd distinct CONF artments OF various J
sizes, with sets OF suites OF sepulchers |
adorned as desired and having but a |
Jingle entrance.
The space that holds the casket will |
De a cell of concrete permitting neither
he escape nor admission OF moisture.
In the erection of the walls hollow pipes
'r conduits VIII be formed over moulds,
o that no destructable material, as
ron OF metal will be needed.
Through these conduits will be made
o pour into the hermetically-sealed Sc
'ulchers currents of dry air, which,
"a sing rapidly and repeatedly around
he body, will extract therefrom every
rGce of moisture, yapor or fluid and
unvey it to a huge furnace, where,
Sithout possibility of escape, all noX-
Gus matter will be stroyed. Gradu-
lily the body becomes hard, smooth and
Try, with little or no change of appear
nee. and once done preservation is se-
ured forever.
Provision is to be made against pre-
nature interment 10y tie adjustment of
'ectrical appliances TO the body, so
hat the faintest motion will be instan-
conveyed to the guard by
means of alarm signals.
The mausOleum will occupy compare
lively little space. A building cover
ng 100 feet square could inclose 1O, 900
epulchres, and one that occupied an
ere would provide as many resting
'laces as cemetery of thiTty-five acres.
1t IS intended that ample and suitable
rounds shall surround the building.
nd that adornment inside and out Will
e made as perfect as taste and wealth
an dictate.
The sepulchers will be numbered and
egistered as lots in a cemetery, and a
und will be provided for the perpetual
are Of all treasures of art or nature
hat may be provided. All records of
nierment viii be kept in the mauso-
cum A chapel will be provided for
he discharge of the last rites.
The cost OF siagle sepulchres Will
'rotably range from $40 to 5000, while
amily compartments will vary from
u o 10 $4,000. Burial lots In cities
ange from s400 10 s., 900 for space to
How SIX graves to which must be
Idded the cost of headstone, monument
tatuaTy, inclosure and care.
Concrete Is the material of WI ich Il Is
'TopoSed TO build the mausoleum. Re
earch, ancient and modern, establish
he quality Of this material for impene-
liability, insolubilIty and consequent
even an earthquake being
'owerless to destroy buildings made of
t This substance VIII no doubt be
aced by ornamental materials.