The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-09-20
THE CREMATORY ASSURED.
NsyOr EllySOn Signed the Resolution and
Work VIII Now Begin.
HISTORY OF ITS TROUBLES IND TRIALS.
How it Originated in the Brain Of Dr. Open
hliner and tho Hard Road II haS 'A" 10
Travei-Thc Expense Of Waiting.


81 Paul-street site and work viii at once be
commenced on the furnace foundation.
The approval was made after mature con-
Alteration Of the loyal points involved in the
exchange Of the Buohanan-stroet property
for the present location. The Mayors deci-
sion was based on tho following letter 10 him
from c. v. Meredith. City Attorney, which
GAYS
I'm reply TO your inquiries. Grst. whether
tho ordinance authO. ling the exchange Of
tic Buchanan-street lot for the So paul-street
lot for the site for the crcmatory should have
been passed by a two thirds vote. and, second,
whether section 81 chapter ig " tive CITY Or
Giulncos prohibits such an exchange. beg
leave 20 reply IN the negative 20 both Ques-
tious.
I'm lss9. when 70 was proposed that the
CITY should exchange che Clark Spring prop
erfy for certain laais o.. Major James n.
Ioo.ey. gave an opinion O. the Committee on
Grounds ami Buildings fhot there - no
charter provisions requiring twothirds
vote upon Au ordinance making an exchange
az real estate. in January, l,,p. when the
fanc matter was under consideration. / gave
tie committee an opinion that tie provision
e.. O. the sinking fund contained ID section >.
chapter IT, Of the City Ordinances had no
bearing upon on excl anre OF real estate bY
Size eity. / have since seen no reason 20
Yepiy above gwen
THE FIFsT OF IT.
Tho ides of establishing cremat0ry 10 this
CITY was first conceived uv DR.. Opnenhimer.
the president OF the BoarI of Health about
ESQ years ago and recommended O. tho CITY
Council Mayor Ellyson IN his annual mes
ssge last year 90 the Council advocated that
proper steps De taken b. secure "a furnace
'or the burning of garbage and other refuse.
> =
.ratel by the Finance Committee in this
YEARS. bUdgge; fOrthe erection OF "a crematory.
fle City Council then passed O. resollt OH au-
tNur.ziuE the Committee on Health 10 consider
tle subject IN conjunction with the Board Of
Health and 90 select q site for the crem0tOry
and have Che same erected in accord With the
plans and specifications issued by the City
Engineer
TnE sITrs.
Tho committee and the Board Of Health
lal quite e number ~ sessions and visited
shout dozen sites ia this city They finally
lecame convinced that the site on Buchanan
street would BEST answer the purpose. Alr. J..
q Christian. tho chairman OF the committee.
communicated with the authorities of several
other critics where creMatories had been suc-
c,sstuly operated for some time past. Z he
committee then went into contract with the
Fnsel Company. # Dos Moines Iowa. who
have an Office i'm New ork and who have
constructed oil the crema.ories Io existence 10
tle several cities of the nlted States.
lu order t0 secure the site in the cheapest
way. Mr. Christian bought 10 the Buchanan
street IOt ln his own name tor about
s1 and transferred the same for the
same amount % the city Superintendent
Moss. of tire Engcl Company. who had 0s-
sisted the city in c.ecting the site, soon after
brought bis mon here and the excavation for
tae foundation If tho iurnance was ut once
begun 81 the direction If the committee
who simply exercised the power granted
item by tie Council
RAISED OBJECTIONS
When the residents i'm the neghborhood of
Buchanan street became aware of the fact
tint the cremat0Iy was about 10 60 up ia
their midst they raised seyions objections,
AND the natter was taken up AZ the Board or
Aldermen. That body passed q resolution re
oue.ting the committee % stop the work "a
tie obstruction ~ the crematCry until the
after could be further ventilated.
Out IF Difference 90 the wishes OF the
Board the committee did stop the work. a
ring was granted 20 tho Interested pro
perry owners by the cD mrittee, and the lat
fer finally agreed on tLe lot OH north Second
street. IAis site was adopted 10y both branches
Of the Council after the resolution mad been
RmeDded 40 the suggestion ot blr. Glover
as to provide TINT the stack Of TIE furnace
be erected to 81 height at level with tho apex
OF tho almshOUse.
IIE MAYORS VITO.
While the resolution was before Mayor
Llyson awaiting ms approval the prop
e-ty-cWDers Of Harton Heights raised
their objection o. the now site The Mayor
subsequently returned the resolution with
veto to tte Council The Board VI AZ
dermen passed The resolution over the
veto Of the Mayor and the Common
CC.lcil was Just about o. take tho same
action when, al the eleventh hour. sir. w.
J. White. of Madison ward, asked for further
delay, stating that another ste was % be Of
isred o. the Council 10y citizens who had an
option on the property ~ question
week later the Common Council met
igain and adopted thcTep0rt presented by tho
committee which recommended the ST. Paul
stree, ste. which had been secured boy several
Ir0perty-Owners OF Barton Heights. This
s..e was 10 be exchanged Tor the Buchanan
street site. and the owners also agreed 90 pay
g. the city ia addition the sum ~ $500. The
Council adopted the resolution after striking
out the clause in regard 20 the 500.
AcoSrrRENcE COMMITTEE.
When the resolution came before the Board
II Aldermen for concurrence that body DO /
cuued 20 do so. and asked for the appoint
Meut NJ q conference committee 70 agree on
site. Tins committee recommended the /
same identical site Just adopted by the Com I
mon Council. two of the three members OF
the Board OF Aldermen voting against II.
When the report was laid before the Board
'AAt DoQy referred 81 BACK 10 thc committee !
with instruction e. ascertain the assessed
valuation of the two sites in question
This was done and on Thursday last the
Board Of Aldermen in open session con
CARED in the adoption of tho site by a vote
Of .tO 6. The resolution having been APP
proved by the Mayor. the work on the exca-
Walton for the foundation of the furnace will
oe begun during the coming week and the
material now at tho Buchanan-street lot vii
Dr. transferred % the new site.
The delay caused by the change OF sites
cost the city the sum Of about Zoo. which
amount viii have ~ be paid 10 the Engel
Company iu addition % the price stipulated
u tle contract for the erection OF the creina-
tory