The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-16
CREMATION GETTING POPULAR
The Prejudice Against Incarceration
Disappearing.

Cremation, as a means Of diSpOSing
of the bodies of the dead, when first
tried In New York state, on Dec 4,
1885, attracted a great deal Of atten-
ton, and there was also considera BILE
!, discussion as to the relative merits of
the new method as compared with the
usual custom of underground burial.
Many people were superstitious regard
ing incarceration. People were at first
loath to give consent to this DISPOSE
ton of the bodies of their friends and
relatives. Those who favored the new
method urged it's adoption, giving as
their reason for the change that it was
cleaner, cheaper, and did away with
the necessity for elaborate funerals. 1t
was also urged that the incarceration Of
bodies Of persons who had died from
/ contagious 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 incineration, says the New
/, York Tribune.
AS an aid to the adoption Of the new
method, Endorsements were secured
from ministers and from others, in
which they said there was nothing I'M
scriptural in disposing of the dead by
means of fire, and advocating the meth
cd as more clearly than burial
The first incineration in New York
state was at the New York Fresh Pond
crematory, ON Long Island, facing the
Lutheran cemetery, just north Of
Fresh Pond station, on the Long Island
railroad. This was on Dec. 4, 1885
Since that time, despite assertions by
| some to the contrary, incarceration has
grown in popularity, and, it Is said,
| that there is an increase of fifty in
| cinerations a year. The number Of
cremations at Fresh Pond up to the be-
| ginning of the present year is given
as 1881. Of this number 1918 bodies
| were those Of men, SO Of boys, 1876 Of
women and 73 were the bodies of girls
| Thirty-f1ve dollars is charged for the
incineration Of a body. This charge
| is only for the mere consuming of the
| tody by means of heat, the body being
| placed in an alright compartment of
/ an immense furnace. Enough ashes
ale left to fill small-siZed urn. II
! takes several hours to dispose of a
| body, after which the ashes are collect
eel and placed in an urn which has
! previously been purchased. Often the
ashes are taken away by friends, and
| at other times they are deposited in
| dlCOVSS III the Walls Oh the COlunOarlufn
where the body has been incinerated.
By the request of friends endeavoring
to carry out 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 may be bought for from $3.50 up
to $45, while the niche in the wall costs
from SIS to $25, according to it's loca-
ton in the wall. To the cost of the
incineration, which is f35, must be add
ed the cost of the urn for the ashes
and the niche for the reception of the
| urn. When the body is borne to the
| columbarium in carriages there is ex-
ira charge, according to the number
of carriages brought into service. With
this method there is no necessity for the
purchase of a burial lot, although
many people bury the ashes. The
maximum cost for incarceration, includ-
ing the purchase of an urn, the leasing
of a niche to receive the run, the door
of the niche, and all expenses, not
including the hire of carriages, need
not exceed SIPS, or $3.50 at most