The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-04-13
CITY CEMETERY'S SAD NEGLECT
A Place of Burial Going to Wrack,
and Ruin.

snail IL BE Cared For and Protected
From vandalism OF Abandoned aa
Cemetery and the Bodies Reinterreaq &
Numerous complaints having been
made by the lot owners of the CITY
Cemetery and by householders in its
immediate vicinity in regard to lack OF
care bestowed upon that property and
the number Of depredations which ara
constantly taking place, TIMES re.
porter investigated the subject yester-
day in order to find out what provision
was made by the city for it's care.
The cemetery was originally part
OF p. l.. Terry's farm and was sold BY
him to Big Lick corporation on April Q.
1877, for the sum of S54l97 and passed
into the hands OF this city upon the re-
ception OF the city charter in 1852.
W1thln the enclosure rest the remains
OF many OF the founders Of the present
city OF Roanoke, and by their sides the
mothers OF the city's prominent citi-
zens. John Trout, the father of the
present mayor, Joel Asberry and wife,
the father and mother of tbs present
postmaster; DR.. ]. w. Webb and wife,
Il. Il Fishburne, brother of T. II. Fish
bnrne; DR.. Kent, Mrs. Ferdinand Rover
and many moro who were CLOSELY ideu-
titled with Big Lick and its successor.
Roanoke, are occupants of this con-
tracted home of death. Among the
representative citizens who own lots
are found DR.. ID. b. Gray, Col. John e.
Penn, j. Nj. bill, p. L. Terry. n. =.
Trout, T. t. Fishburne, A. S. Asberry.
w. &. Saunders, Joseph H. Earman, L.
Didter and John Engleby and Joseph
L. Engleby.
A full lot in tho cemetery is aoxso
feet, but the average burial lot is 15x15
feet. P. l.. Terry and II. S. Trout have
lot 3Ox6o feet tetween them. The
city at the present time does not own
any OF the lots, all having been disposed
of to private Individuals
On the 18th OF last August a recon-
mendation by the public property com
mittee was made in reference to the
cemetery, which reads as follows:
I'm the matter OF clecting u superintendent OF
the city cemetery, WHICH Twas referred to this
their Judgment the election OF superintendent
OF the city cemetery would incur unnecessary
Following re solution: " 80
Resolved, that the board of public works he,
and are hereby. instructed to.havc the city ccme.
terry put in good condition at once and il shall be
the duty OF said board to keep the city cemetery
force as may be necessary"
ON motion OF Mr.. Eckloff this recommendations
was adopted. Ayes, unanimous.
Whereupon the city council set aside
the sum OF $3.50 for this purpose. Upon
investigation the reporter ascertained
that but eight dollars had so far been
applied to the care of the cemetery,
and that there is still S742 which can be
applied.
There is some doubt expressed by the
board Of public works as to whether
they can use this money for the laying
out of the pathways and general
renovation OF the property without
special permission to expend the rest of
the fund from Council.
Ihe cemetery was visited by the re.
| porter to ascertain the truth of the re-
ports as to its neglected condition, and
found out that THE TINES informapts
had not exaggerated in single parti-
cular. He found that it is being used
as playground by dogs who scamper
over the graves by day, while at night
it is little better than park OF recrea-
| ton. The owners of plots, who decorate
the graves of their dead friends and
relatives, have only TO return the next
day to find that their offerings have
been removed or mutilated by trangres.
sors. Nearly all signs of pathways
have been oblirerated Patched here
and there is the yellow earth without q
vestige OF verdure, while o pile OF
bricks, tool chest AMI broken down
enclosures add to the inharmonious UNI
tidiness.
1t is stated that it is desired that the !.
cemetery be abolished and the bodies
removed, but even if this is true, Is is
proper that the city should see to its
| care, as in It's present condition it is a
scar upon the face OF the city and q re.
proach.
The board of public works have placed
warnings in different parts of the
grounds, and every depreciation upon
this property should be summarily pun
ished. The lot owners have made FREE
quent protests against the present state
of affairs, ard would gladly spend
money, II the cemetery is tc BE main
tanned, in improving their lots.
However, the cemetery might have
been large enough for Big Lick, but the
city OF Roanoke has entirely outgrown
it, 1t is now thickly surrounded with
houses anc. acts as check upon the
development of this section. II it were
closed the ground itself would more
than double in value and al iacant prop
critics correspondingly increase. The
city would be largely the gamer by tho
| change.
Don't fail 20 see Charming Mabel Paige
tonight in Uncle Danl." Prices, 10, go
and 80 cents.
Want the Central Reeesvership Annuled.
SAVANNAH, April t2.-ArGuments on
the motions introduced by the Rich
| mond Terminal to annul the receiver
| shin OF the Centrol and thu Nva orc Of