Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-21

Although this act of Congress would seem
to give the District Commissioners ample
power to proceed with the work, the ad-
vancing hosts of the Engineer Commits
s!oner, armed with pick and ak, may meet
with opposition. The Prospect Hill Gene
terry Society appears to be ready to offer
! battle to the authorities. A spirit of oppo-
sition to the proposed street extension was
exhibited al the recent meeting of the So
ciety. The executive committee, consisting
OF Messrs. George Wagner, j. A. Cries
bauer and j. Rick. submitted on behalf of
the board of directors through the first
named member, a report upon the present
status or the society's affairs. When the
subject Of the street extension was reached.
air. RICK exhibited a large map. showing
the proposed street as cutting a wide swath
through the broadest part of the cemetery
grounds, which have the shape of a some
what irregular Keystone lying upon one of
Its sides, with the base toward the east,
and the top piece cut of by the projected
street.
The line of the latter, being true north
and southWardiy. runs at slight angle Ia
the established lines of :ne cemetery thus
narrowing the large western tract 6etach.,j
by the street from the main porrlun, CAD
ually toward the north 1t was also assert
ed that 1t would be necessary to xh;une
ami RENTER the bodies contained within the
graves now directly in The rath Of The street
me general sentiment was one o. hostility
to the opening of the street although the
SouiiHsl Oh tnOSe prev alled. ShO .lylscl The
lotholders to abide by he result of the
appralsenent of the Jury som 10 he an
pointed, should the award of damages be nj
all reasonable, rather than enter u,)cn ccstIy
and long continued litigation. especially as
1t is expected that by the time the next
annual meeting will be held march 1:) the
appraisemcnt Will, in all I.-oba billy lave
been made. The board of directors y,.re
empowered to act as heretofore, according
to their best judgment in the matter II
seems very likely, however that ihc views
or the cemetery folks and those of the 3D.
praisers as to what Is a reasonable, n-ic,
for the ground Will differ. One D; the ie,d-
ing members talking to a Sta re,orter
argued against the proposed opening of the
street.
He said its completion would involve
heavy expense. the Mrs. J. l.. Barbour
tract being literally cut TO pieces and ruin
ed and the life OF the cemetery being
practically shortened by fifteen years or
mere. Ali this, he claim ed would have to
be paid for. He thought there was reason
10 question the urgency or even desirable!
Of the proposed improvem ant. ITO us
he said. this spot is sacred is hallowed
by the tendereSt associations for thirty
six years past. We have faithfully done
our fli2l duty by those who passed away
before us and have instilled in the minds
of our own children spirit of awe and
reverence for this consecrated land that
they may follow our own example.
For any rude Interference with us in this
res pect there can be no adequate compen-
sation. no award of damages from any
source. Bat there are well detinahle pecu-
mary losses for which approximate compen-
sation can be eXacted. Ignortns Just fer
the moment. the distinct charter Inhibition
Of defeating or using any portion OF the
grounds for other than cemetery purposes.
and sUpposing, In the same way that our
members were strongly In favor of this
alleged improvement as they are in reality
Inclined the other way. what would We
find then? That we have paid over and
over again, for this ground in the way Of
original cost, improvements Gnciud.ng land
Scape Sardening), walks and drives, ex-
pense of taking care, etc, SO much that
the sum total devoted to this purpose by the
single individuals during the past thirty six
years would pay for many q fine building
Site in the very heart OF the city. Are We
now expected to surrender well established
constitutionally guaranteed property rights
without an adequate return? AS stated be-
fore, the life of our cemetery Is greatly
shortened.
"A cemetery. supposed to be permanently
established, must possess ample ground to
provide for the natural growth of a city
and future demands likely to be made Upon
1t. The tendency of modern times is to
spread ones self. even in the way of pur-
chasing larger sites for family burial lots
With forty per cent of our available re-
sources taken away from us. how LONG
would 1t be before we will have to close our
gates forever"