The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-12-14
CEMETERY IMPROVED.
New York Bays New Vaults
Add to Its Beauty and
Utility = Architects
Controversy.

The new receiving vault of the New
York Bay Cemetery has been completed
and this afternoon it will be turned
over formally to the Board of Trus-
tees by the builders, James Dickson d
Bro. The new vault was erected upon
an order of the County Board of Health,
the old one having outlived its useful
ness to an extent which rendered it
dangerous to the health of the residents
of Greenville The new vault was de-
signed by Mr.. James Dickson, who is
one of the trustees, his plans having
been prepared six years ago, when there
was a possibility of their being utilized
Although the plans have lain idle for
that length of time, a number of urch1-
tects who were asked recently to sub
nit plans for the vault have charged
Trustee Dickson with appropriating
their ideas. The trustees of the ceme-
terry, however, are highly indignant that
one of their members should be ac-
cused of such a mean offense and have
vindicated him.
THE absurdity of this CHARGE said
one of the trustees, yesterday, is ap-
parent when we consider that Mr.. Dick
sons plans, We're the first submitted.
They were accepted because they were
the best, Mr.. Dickson's long expert
ence at vault building standing him in
good stead"
DESCRIPTION OF THE VAULT.
The new vault is erected upon the
site of the old one. and is decided
ornament to the pretty cemetery. 1t
is built entirely of Maine granite, the
roof being a shade darker than the
walls and forming an agreeable con-
trast 1t measures eighteen feet three
inches by fourteen feet six inches, and
contains eighty-nine catacombs. There
are two large entrances in the front,
each of which is guarded by a hcavy
iron bronze gate of pretty design. One
round window in the front and four
oblong windows in the rear furnish
light and ventilation.
The interior of the vault is finished
throughout with italian marble. The
catacombs are arranged in tiers, thirty
on each side and twenty-nine in the
centre, at the rear wall These are
also of italian marble The roof slopes
from the centre down on each side
and is composed of fifteen separate
pieces of stone. MIR. Dickson takes
great pride in the roof from the fact
that the stones which comprise it are
the largest pieces of granite that have
ever been brought to this State, each
stone weighing between six and seven
TONS The placing in position of these
immense slabs was a task which was
attended with considerable difficulty.
They were finally raised however, and
the vault completed in contract time.
In the front wall of the vault. between
the two entrances, is a large tablet of
Maine granite, upon which will be carv-
ed the names of the trustees.
NEW MANNERS VAULT.
Mr.. Dickson has just completed another
vault for Edw. Manners, son of ex-Mayer
Manners, in the private vault portion
of the cemetery. The vault is built
entirely of granite, and is one of the
prettiest in the cemetery. On the roof
and directly over the entrance is a large
cross of granite
At the meeting of the Board of Trus-
tees tonight Mr.. Dickson will tender
his resignation. Mr.. Dickson has been
a member of the board for many years,
and is compelled to resign because his
business demands his entire time.