The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-04-11
TO GET THE OLD CEMETERY.
THE COUNCIL APPOINTS A COM
MITTEE TO CONFER WITH
CHRIST CHURCH.

The Purchase of BOnnvenfure Also
being Considered With a View 20
Closing Laurel GrOve-A PROPOSE
tiOn 20 Remove the Remains,
TOmbstOnes and Memorials From
the Old Cemetery and 10 Make the
Site n Public Park.
The city council has decided 10 take
steps for the Improvement of the old South
Broad street cemetery and also TO consider
the purchase of Bonaventure cemetery in
order to allow the closing of Laurel Grove.
At last nights meeting the following reso-
luton was offered by Alderman Garrari:
That committee Of three be appointed
by the mayor 10 confer with the parties
interested as compliments In the two
cases involving the old cemetery, and.
after such conference. to report to the
council some plan Of adjustment under
which the present unsightly and neglected
condition of the cemetery may be remedied
and the litigation terminated. That this
committee also take into consideration the
question Of the purchase by the city of
Bonaventure cemetery and report thereon
to council"
Z &c resalu.iO was unanimously adopted
and the mayor appointed Aldermen Gar
rard, Carolan and Watson the committee.
This move upon the part of council will
prove popular one, and its success would
give satisfaction to a large majority of
the people Of the city.
Mayor Myers is very anxious that the
committee shall be successful in its nego-
tiations.
I have no doubt" he said, when asked
about the matter, "that the people of
Christ church, who lay claim to a part Of
the cemetery, viii meet the committee
in a proper spirit When they are given
10 understand that the portion of the
cemetery which was formerly used by the
members of the church, and which is still
claimed by 1t will be converted into a
park and that the city is willing to re-
move the remains. tombstones and monu-
ments now occupying the cemetery to any
suitable place which may be designated. l
have no doubt they will be much more
willing to grant our request than they
have been heretofore. 1t has been
suggested that should the city acquire
BDnaventure cemetery as contemplated,
that the remains of those now Inferred in
the South Broad street cemetery, to-
gether with the distinguishing marks upon
the graves. should be removed to Bon
aventure, either to the present cemetery
proper or to the ten acre lot Immediately
adjoining which is equally desirable. This
proposition, II seems. should meet with
favor. 1t would be much better than 90
allow the graves to remain in their present
neglected condition. However, i do not
desire TO torestall the work of the COM
mittee. II may have other suggestions to
make, after looking into the question"
Laurel Grove is now the only public
cemetery owned by the city. The burial
room there IS not only about exhausted,
but. IS well known, the cemetery Is
now in the city the district around ii al
ready being thickly populated and becom-
ing more 50 every year. Its early closing
is a necessity which has been pointed out
by the health officer In his reports for
several years. Some years ago the COM
pany which owns the Evergreen cemetery,
commonly known as BonaVenture, offered
the property to the city and doubtless
there Will be no obstacle offered now by
any of the stockholders of the company
stock is owned by a lady, formerly resid-
ing in Savannah, but who has been living
in New York for number of years past
The cemetery proper embraces seventy
acres, about one-tenth of which has been
sold off in lots Tor burial purposes. Ad-
joining the cemetery IS ten acres which
could no doubt be acquired also, as 1t be-
longs to the same company. 1t has
been suggested that this portion be set
apart exclusively for the Interment of
the remains now resting in the South
Broad street cemetery, and that the city
should undertake, with the consent OF
those interested, to remove, care for and
properly designate the resting places Of
these remains The old cemetery can then
be converted into a public park and thus
protected from being divided up into build
ing lots.
The plan outlined is not new, with the
exception of the proposition to remove the
remains to Bonaventure. 1t was proposed
at one time TO turn the old cemetery into
a park and build the county court house
in the center OF the square. The improve
ment now proposed would necessarily
include the public pound property south
OF the cemetery and would admit of open
ing Lincoln street through to Liberty
street, and the opening Of McDonourh
street from Abercorn street through TO
the police barracks. By changing the To-
cation OF the police stables McDonough
street could be opened through to Haber-
sham street, thus making il a continuous
street.
More than one public spirited citizen
has already cast his eyes upon the old
cemetery lot as the proper site for the
new city hail. when the city gets ready
and able TO erect there building in keep
4ls WIN us pIosfess during the last
growth.
The purchase of Bonaventure. and the
Improvement Of the old cemetery as out
nhed, would not require very great ont
lay OF money. In fact, from what ia
known, there is good reason to believe that
the cemetery can be bought at a reason
aple ngure, and on very extended credit
as the investment makes a very small re-
turn 10 the stockholders Of the companv
II Inc present council is successful In lis
eHortS to secure Bonaventure and Improve
the old South Broad street eenoeterv ~
will accomplish something to which its
members can refer with pride in future
years. and which will earn for them he
gfaltude OF the present generation of Sa
vannahians- - 90