The San Francisco call., 1896-11-15
A VITAL QUESTION.


Be a Menace to Public Health.
The question OF whether or not the
cemeteries should be allowed to continue
within the corporate limits OF this City is
an important one to the people of San
Francisco. Arguing on general principles
alone, proof enough of the undesirability
OF burial grounds in the midst of thickly
populated community is in evidence.
Specifically the residents of the western
part of the City are interested in their re-
moval, because they are direct detriment
to the more rapid upbuilding OF that sec
ton. Every natural sense, every idea OF
progressiveness, argues in favor of remov-
ing the acres of tom bstones standing guard
over the gateway to the beautiful suburbs
of this City. Mock sentiment alone says
it would be desecration of the dead. Not
so; the bodies are but the dust of the
earth, to which they have returned. The
living souls have fed and live in another
sphere and scorn the mortal clay.
1t is time some notice should be taken
of the matter OF removal and when it
does come up it will be found TO have for
its supporters some of the best element of
our City.
The death-dealing cemetery ridge is fast
becoming the center of populous dis
trIct, and health and property rights alike
demand that something shall be done at
once.
A few wears ago there were no suburban
tracts availa BILE for burial places, but now
in sh adow of the San Bruno mountains
lie the San Mateo County cemeteries
which will probably be made the receptacle
for all the dead of this City in the very
near future.
MOUNT oLIvET CEMETERY.
Situated just over the county line of San
Francisco in San Mateo County, is the
Mount Olivet Cemetery, the nearest OF
[ be new burial grounds to San Francisco.
nd consequently the most easy of access.
Mount Olivet is a tract of 217 acres, being
The largest cemetery on the coast and in
fact one of the largest in the country. This
cemetery site, however, is G com paratively
new one. being established but two years,
and consequently does not yet contain
many of the more pretentious improve
ments that are to be found at some of the
older San Mateo cemeteries. Mount Olivet
Cemetery possesses, nevertheless, feature
unsurpassed proba bly, by any of the others,
and that is in the contour of the land.
which is particularly well adapted to cem-
etery purposes by reason of the location
| and drainage.
The Mount Olivet Cemetery Association
is an incorporated society having for its
officers some of the most prominent of
San Francisco business men whose inten-
! ton it Is to so beautify the site that in
| course of time it will eclipse by far any
other cemetery in the country.
Already number of prominent societies
have made reservations of plots in Mount
Olivet for the burial of their dead, among
which are the Native Sons, the Improved
Order of Red Men, the Knights of Pythias
and the Ancient Order of Foresters and
| several other benevolent associations are
at present negotiating for the reserva-
| tion of plots as q final resting place for
| their deceased members.
| Mount Olivet IS, however, non -sectarian
in its burial rights, its privileges extend
| ing as they do to all creeds or denom-
nations. In the laying out of the grounds
the plans of European and Eastern ceme-
| teries have been followed. Great care and
| attention was given In selecting site for
| this cemetery, which resulted in the
choosing of most beautiful spot, located
as it is far from the busy hum of the din
| OF city life and where nature and art con-
| spire TO surround the burial places OF the
| dead with beautiful trees and flowers en-
chanting scenery and works of monu-
mental art.
At Mount Olivet quite evident is the
striking contrast of the gloomy, somber
and unhealthy churchyards of our fore
| fathers, and the latest development in
cemeteries with ali their harmonizing and
elevating influences.
The lawn plan at Mount Olivet has been
|
as CLOSELY as practicable this plan, with its
beautiful: carpet of green, its stately mon
| uments and graceful statues, its back
| ground of native trees and towering shrub
| berry, all combine to move the heart and
elevate the mind to Him who is the author
| of all nature and bring to mind the loved
ones departed.
CYPRESS LAWN CEMETERY.
1t would be difficult indeed to find spot
1 lwx-l. L.. IL
| posed of her gifts than in and about the
tract of land occupied by the Cypress
Lawn Cemetery.
| No expense has been spared to make
this cemetery one of the finest in all the
| country. which has been laid out on the
lawn or park plan now so popular in the
East.
| Cypress Lawn is situated in San Mateo
| County, ten miles from San Francisco,
on the western slope OF the San Bruno
hills. The land is rolling, and rises
gently from the county road to the
rear line. 1t has been the intention
to make the Cypress Lawn Cemetery
peaceful resting-place for the dead
as we'll as attractive and pleasing for the
meditating of the living. In its burial
| rights Cypress Lawn in on-sectarian in
| its privileges, extending as they do to all
creeds and denominations.
| For q cemetery of only four years, Cy-
press GdWn mas Iuduc Idpiu SIIiueS IN the
| way of Improvements. It's stately entrance
| and imposing gateway; its quiet chapel,
| surrounded with beautiful trees and shrub
| berry; its green and extensive lawns, bor-
dered with ever-blooming flowers-all of
which add to the beauty and park-like ap-
| pearance of this cemetery.
MONUMENTAL AND MAUsoJEUM ART.
| When mausoleum and monumental work
such as has been mplisned in many OF
| the older cemeteries of the State, has been
erected at the cemeteries in San Mateo
| County, lending stately graces to the
surroundings, these younger and more
expansive cemeteries will exceed by far
many others IN the State.
| The Towpe. Stanford and Kentfiel6
monuments and the E. H. Miller and
| Simeon Wenban mausoleums at Noun
| tain View, and the Phelan mausoleum at
| Holy Cross, all of which works bear credit
TO the well-known contractor, G. I'll. Jones
of this city, are among the finest cemetery
| work of modern times.
] THESE MONUMENTS ARE PRODUCED.
| One OF the largest wholesale granite and
marble dealers and furnishers of supplies