The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-05
SWAN POINT CEMETERY.
Report of the Directors for the Year
Past.

Following is the forty-eighth annual re-
port of the directors of the proprietors OF
Swan Point Cemetery for the year ending
Dec. 81, 1895.
The usual statistics of the work done
in the cemetery for the year are as fol-
lows:
Average number Of men employed per
month, b6; interments, including 80 to
the receiving tomb, 302; interments from
the receiving tomb, 10; removals from
other cemeteries, Fl; total number OF in
terments to Dec. 81, 1895, 13, 800; brick
and slate vaults built, ,Ol; plain graves
opened, 214; foundations to
and tablets built, PAS; hedges removed
from lots, none; curbing removed from
lots, 3; catch basins built, 4; linear feet OF
cutters paved, 5000; linear feet OF old
avenues, regarded, stoned and gravelled,
1000; linear feet OF new avenues made,
none; old lots OF proprietors regarded
cemetery graded, MANFRED and laid down
to grass, square feet, 80, 900; land sold,
square feet, S136; land given in ex-
change, square feet, 100; land purchased
in the cemetery and taken in exchange,
none; land thrown out into avenues and
paths, square feet, none; number OF lots
put under perpetual care and upon which
requests have been made, 1858; number
of lots under annual care, $40; number
of lots under partial care, ISL; number OF
lots not under care, 900; whole number
of lots sold to date, 1863.
Notwithstanding the depressed condi-
ton of business which always makes a
material difference In our receipts from
the sale of lots, there was no lack OF In
terest by proprietors In caring for them,
or making provision for their care In the
future, as our perpetual care fund has in
creased $40, 633 during the year, showing
''that respect and loyalty of the living
for their dead, and the perpetual care OF
their burial lots is a growing and sacred
sentiment of our people. f" 81 need only
visit (says Franklin) the cemeteries OF a
community to judge of the character of
its people"
improvements and the care OF the
grounds by the cemetery were not neg
lected or retarded by any condition Of
the times, as a force OF 20 men were EN-
ployed during the working season. That
the "modern cemetery" of the "City Of
the Dead" needs all the improvements
deemed so necessary and proper for the
City of the Living, such as good roads,
water works, sewerage, catch basins,
paved cutters and the decorative features
of the cemetery, are apparent in their
ance, but if people demand these things,
the cost must necessarily be large.
Five thousand feet OF cutters having
been previously prepared, were last sum-
mer paved and finished with Portland
cement, which gives e the appearance
of stability and neatness.
The center of many avenues being too
low and worn out, were re-surfaced with
gravel, nearly exhausting our old gravel
pit; in the near future il will be neces-
sary to have a stone-crusher, which Will
enable us to secure a better material, thus
making the roads more permanent.
A new group marked 1856, in the north
tLa a.,t.. .nl
ing toward the river road, and contain
ing SO, 900 square feet, was completed by
hlling, gradings, etc, during the sum-
mer, which gives a complete finish to that
part OF the cemetery: this practically Is
the last group TO be graded on the east
side OF Swan Point road, except b two
old gravel pits, and the side hills or banks
fronting the river.
ON the third day OF last January the
proprietors OF the cemetery suffered a
great loss by the death Of the Hon. Luz
cius ~. Darling, who, for a period of about
20 years, has served the cemetery faithful
ly The board of directors, at their first
meeting after his death, ordered the fol-
lowing minute to be entered on their re-
cords, thus:
Voted that the following minute be,
and the same is hereby adopted, thus:
The board of directors of Swan Point
cemetery, at this, its first meeting since
the death of its late chairman, the Hon.
Lucius y. Darling, directs its secretary
TO enter upon the records of the board
an expression OF its appreciation OF the
valuable service which Mr.. Darling has
rendered TO the cemetery in the dis
charge of the duties which have de-
volved upon him as the chairman OF this
board for n period Of IS years. He has
with untiring fdelity done his full share
TO bring 10 a successful issue the many
p~erplexing problems which have been
brought to the attention OF the board,
and by clear insight, firm decision and
delicate appreciation OF the rights OF
others and OF his own duties and obliga-
tions has rendered invaluable services to
the praprietors Of the cemetery.
AS n co-wbrker, as n personal friend,
and. as n presiding officer, he has won
the esteem and regard Of all OF us,and his
death comes 10 each as a personal bercave-
mcnt
The board tenders 20 his widow and
family It's sincere sympathy i'm this hour
OF trial and directs the secretary to send
n copy OF this minute TO her.
Eespectfully submitted In behalf Of
the directors,