The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-07
NO NEED FOR NEW CEMETERY.
LAUREL GROVE TO BE DRAINED
AND WILL LAST FOR TEN YEARS.

Public Health Committee and Park
and Tree Commission VIII Recon-
mend Such an Improvement In
stead of Buying a New Site-Prices
Asked for Lands Were High and
Committee Not Inclined TO Recon-
mend Further Tax Burdens.
The purchase of a new cemetery site
will probably be relinquished by the public
health committee and the Park and Tree
Commission, which have mad the matter
under consideration several days The
committee win likely recommend drain
ing the available lands in Laurel Grove,
which will answer all demands for some
time to come.
There has been an under current against
the purchase of a new cemetery site, en-
tertained by the members of the Park and
Tree Commission, but none have taken an
aggressive stand against the move, or 1t
tempted to throw obstacles in its course.
Since the agitation begun, however, offers
of land in different directions We're made
and the matter came to To-
Gus, resolving itself into ques-
ton calling for a positive reply Those
who had objections stated them. Not only
this considering all details relative to
buying land just now, it was believed the
financial status of the city does not admit
of contracting a heavy Indebtedness I'M
| less absolutely necessary.
From the start it has been uncertain
whether provision for additional buryng
space is a matter for the public health
committee or the Park and Tree Commits
sion. As both deliberate tremendously,
however, joint meetings We're held to dis
cuss the question. The meeting yesterday,
at the city exchange, was adjourned from
| Saturday, to give further time for deliber-
| ation and it was expected some definite
| action would be taken, either in the shape
! of a purchase or other provision. Pretty
| stiff prices were asked for most of the
| lands offered, and TO buy even a small
| area meant the expenditure of several
thousand dollars. This fact caused the
| committee to look for some provision
which would answer present needs and
save a large Indebtedness.
| When the available land in Laurel Grove
| is drained, there will be 500 lots, fourteen
| by twenty-seven feet, which, it is esti-
| ated. will answer the city for at least ten
years. 1t was Tor this reason that Com
| additional territory, for the reason il is
moi needed. 1T is my impression" he
| said, that it would be unnecessary to go
! to the large expense now of buying a
| cemetery, The city has to keep Laurel
! Grove perpetually, and since the city en-
| gineer estimates the land there can he
! drained for So 400, I believe this the best
thing to be done This will solve the
! problem for ten years, after which it will
| be time enough to buy" Other members
| of the commission shared the same belief.
| and insisted all along that it would be bet
! ter to occupy the land already owned. Tax
! burdens are heavy enough now, they
think, without adding to the cty's debt
! Besides, there is no available cash, which
would give rise to a serious impeachment
| in case it was attempted to issue Mayor s
| notes in violation of the statute requiring
| the municipality to keep their indebtedness
! within 7 per cent. of the assessed Valua-
| ton.
Alderman Duncan stated after the meet
| ing that no action was taken to recon-
mend a site, and it was likely there would
be none at present. He said the draining
| of Laurel Grove was recommended to
! Council some months ago by the Park and
! Tree Commission After thinking it over.
| he said many believed it the best thing to
| do. in view of the cost to drain in COM
| parison with that of buying land The
number of lots which would be added to
| the cemetery would satisfy all needs for
| several years, he said. While there was
no decision to that effect Alderman Dun
can is satisfied there will be no further
| steps to buy now. Upon the contrary,
efforts will likely be made TO have the
Laurel Grove lands drained very soon.
! 1t is not known how soon the draining
can be done, but as the matter is a press
| ing necessity, an appropria ton will prob
abIy De asked FOR at once, in order that
the work may proceed. AS stated, how
ever, this action is simply contemplated
and not definitely determined