The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-01-14
iNCINERATION is lNCREASlNG.l
Cremation of Corpses Growing More Pop
ular Every Day.

ular Every Day.
Cremation, as means of disposing
the bodies of the dead, when first tried
in New York state, on December 1, 1879,
attracted 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 incin-
Grafton. People were at first loath to
| give consent to this disposition OF the
| bodies of their friends and relatives.
| Those who favored the Few method
urged its adoption, giving as their rea-
son for the change that it was cleaner,
cheaper, and did away with the necessl-
ty for elaborate funerals. 1t was also
urged that the incarceration 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
| incarceration.
AS an aid to the adoption of the new
method, indorsementsw were securedt from
ministers and from others, in which
they said there was nothing unScrlp-
tural in disposing of the dead by means
of fire, and advocating the method as
more clearly than burial.
The first incarceration in this state
was at the New York Fresh Pond crema-
tory, on Long Island, facing the Luther
an cemetery, just north of Fresh Pond
station and the Long Isl nd railroad.
This was on December +, 1855. Since
that time, despite assertions by some to
the contrary, incarceration has grown Ill
popularity, and it is said that there IS
: an increase of so incinerations year.
The number of cremations at Fresh
Pond up TO the beginning of the present
year is given as 1881. OF this number
1918 bodies were those of men, 9S of boys,
496 of women, and Is were the bodies OF
$ girls. Thirty-tive dollars is charged for
D the incineration of body This charge
I is only for the mere consuming of the
= body by means of heat, the body being
: placed in an alright compartment OF
an immense furnace. Enough aShes
: are left to fill small-szed urn. IL
= takes several hours to dispose of body,
after which the ashes are collected amt
Il placed in an urn which has previously
( been purchased. Often the ashes are
/ taken away by friends, and at other
II times they are deposited in alcoves IN
" the walls of the columbarium where
the body has been incinerated. 10y the
Is request of friends endeavoring to carry
y out the peculiar wishes of the departed,
u the ashes are often taken and thrown
- to the four winds.
IL There is a charge for the door when
,s nlaced in front of the niche. The urns
NAV be bought for from $3.50 up to $40
q while the niche in the wall costs from
- SIS to $50, according to its location III
~ the wall. To the cost of the iHcinera,
90 ton, which is S35, must be added the
cost of the urn for the ashes and the
niche for the reception of the urn. NEeI
the body is borne to the columoarlun
nd in carriages there is extra charge, ae
cording to the number of carriages
tie, brought into service. With this metho'
he there is no necessity for the purchas
las of a burial lot although many peopl
ny bury the ashes The maximum cost 10
re- incarceration, including the purchase
ny an urn, the leasing of niche TO recelV
lSt the urn, the door of the niche, ana al
OF expenses, not including the hire OF cal
or RACES. need not exceed $l25, or Sl5
Ms ut most-N. y. Tribune.