Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1897-03-30
CREMATION POPULAR.
Incineration Is Being Looked Upon
.. with More Favor.
Tho New Method of Opposing OF the
Dead In Commonly Employed
In Now York-Cost OF
the Procoah

the bodies of the dead, when first tried
in New York state, on December 4, 1885,
attracted a great deal of attention, and
there was also considerable discussion
as to the relative merits of the new
method as compared to the usual GUS
tom of underground burial. Many peo-
pie were superstitious regarding ihcin-
Grafton. People were at first loath to
give consent to this disposition Of the
bodies of their friends and relatives.
Those who favored the new method
urged its adoption, giving as their rea-
son for the change that it was cleaner,
cheaper, and did away with the necessi-
ty for elaborate funerals. It was also
urged that the incineration of bodies
of persons Who had died from conta-
gious diseases would lessen the dangers
of contagion and would be the safest
way in which to dispose of such bodies.
On the other hand, the fear of burial
alive caused some strongly to advocate
ineineration.
AS, an aid to the adoption OF the new
method, Endorsements secured from
ministers and from others, in which
they said there was nothing unscrip-
,"r"l i'll disposipg OF the dead by means
. - fire, and advocating the method as
Hiore clearly than burial.
-. The first incincration in this State
,.as at the New York Fresh Pond crema-
Dry, on Long Island, facing the Luther
TX Cemetery, just north OF Fresh Fond
alton and the Long Island railrrad.
i!!; was on December 4, 1885. Since
,':,iL t:nie, despite assertions by some to
g." contrary, incincration has grown in
lapularity, and it is said that there is
n increase of so incinerations year.
ie number Of cremations at Fresh
''ond hp to the beginning Of the ptegent
,far is given as 1881! OF this 1!umber
+ ,,.:A3 bodies were thoseof men, OS of boys,
'06 o? women, and 73 were the bodies OF
!':ii.s. Thirty-five dollars is charged for
~: ;Ecineration of body. This charge
:: nnIy for the mere consuming Of the
body by means Of heat, the body being
laced in an airtight connpartmetit of
N immense furnace. Enough ashes
.:e left to fill n small-sized urn. It
akes several hours to dispose of body,
liter which the ashes are collected and
|. .;aced in IN urn which has previously
zen purchased. Often the ashes arc
AIKEN away by friends, and at other
,imes they are deposited in alcoves in
The Walls of the coluinbarium where
The body has been 'liciuerated. BY the
request Of friends endeavoring to carry
cut the peculiar wishes of the departed,
the ashes are often taken and thrown
to the four winds.
There is a charge for the door which
IS placed in front of the niche. The urns
nay be bought for from $3.50 up to $45,
nile the niche in the wall costs from
fl5 to S25, according to It's location in
! he wall. To the cost of the incinera-
ION, which is $35, must be added the
"cst of the urn for the ashes and the
nichc for the reception of the urn. When
nc body is borne to the co1umbnrium
IN carriages there is extra charge, ac-
rording to the number Of carriages
Drought into service. With this method
theTc is no Necessity for the purchase
Of burial lot, although many people
bury the ashes. The maximum cost for
;ncineration, including the purchase of
an urn, the leasing of niche to receive
the urn, the door Of the niche, and all
expenses, not including the hire of car
riages, need not exceed $125, or $50
ut most.-N. Y. Tribune.