The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-10-08
THE CITY GRAyE-RARDS.
A Tour OF Inspection Made by the Cemetery
Committee-Their Condition.

Tour OF Inspection Made by the Cemetery
Comlnittee-Their Condition.
The Committee on Cemeteries met yester-
day in the Council chamber OF Z. NJ. and
from there started on a tour Of inspection
through the cemeteries under their juris-
dicu0n. The members Of the committee who
undertook the trip were Messrs. John X.
Grimes. W l.. Carneal, A. G. Houston. 4. ii.
CARRIER and X. L. Davis.
OakwoJd was fret visited and the CON-
mittee were met at their arrival by Mr. W. A.
Dickinson the superintendent of the ceme-
terry The burying ground was found 10 be
kept in very good condition throughout. and
especial attention was paid to the new part.
which has lust been leveled down and laid
out in sections. The latter nave been sOwed
in grass and the walks between them
have been grayeled as lar as the means
reached at the disposal OF the committee.
The Finance Committee has just been asked
for an appropriation of 1900 10 complete the
improvements in that part of the cemetery.
There are nearly II 900 Confederate soldiers
buried in OakwOOd cemetery, and for the
maintenance OF their sections the committee
Is allowed the sum Of $3.50 per year. For the
past few years the committee have out Of this
amount improved the condition of that part
Of the cemetery vt the rate Of one section per
wear ORIGINALLY the bodies were buried IN
trenches. and in the course of time the graves
had sunk in IN many places. 10 give
the whole plot better appearance each sec
ton has been ieyeied and covered with
GRASS. The unsightiy head-boards. which in
many instances were partly rotten, have been
removed after a careful map OF each section
had been drawn indicating the position OF the
body of every soldier he getting up Of the
map is a very difficult and tedious work,
which costs the committee from :l25 10 : l5o
per section. At present there IS only one sec
ton lett in its original condition. whAcn the
committee expect TO overhaul next year.
After the inspection of the burying ground
the committee accepted the invitation Of
SUPERINTENDENT Dickinson, who treated them
TO an elegant lunch at his residence
The next visit was 10 the Shock0e i'm
burying-ground. where superintendent IL.
Carter undertook 10 show the COMMITTEE
around. There the impression created by the
appearance of the several sections was not
quite SO favorable, the owners OF tue sew
eral lots not paying the same attention 10 the
taking care of the graves OF their dead. SeV,
eral of the walks and roads also heca
gravelng. ., -.
Riyerview cemetery was visited last.
There some discussion arose as TO the auVlsa-
bility of reducing the price of the several lots
in order TO attract greater number OF puI-
chasers. but no definite decision was arrived
at. Superintendent French, who had been
living at some distance from the cemetery in
a dilapidated house. for which the city had 10
pay the rent. suggested TO the committee
some time ago the advsabiiity of erecting a
frame dwelling within the boundaries OF the
cemetery. The committee agreed to this and
recently applied to the Finance Committee
for an appropriation of fl. 500 for that pur-
pose, but their request was rejected. Since
then the committee has been able TO rent
another dwelling for the superintendent.
which is located nearer to the cemetery, and
besides the committee is saving IS per
month on the rent of the same.