The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-06
TALK OF A NEW CEMETERY.
A CHANCE FOR THE CITY TO Sc
CURE BONAvENTURE.

The Stockholders Ready to Consider
an Ofer-MnyOr MeIdrim Thinks n
New Cemetery viii BE Necessary
in the Early Fufure-LaureI Grove
Can Only he Used u Few Years
Longer at Best.
No formal consideration has been given
by the City Council as yet to the
question whether the city shall purchase
another cemetery or whether it shall make
such improvements in Laurel Grove as
will permit it's continued use. The matter
is under consideration, however and is be-
Ing discussed individually by the members
of Council.
A proposition is understood to have been
made to sell the city 500 acres of land on
the Ogechee road, about four and one
half miles from the city, near the site re-
Gently purchased for the new powder mag
azine, for S25O00,, or $50 an acre, the pres
ent owner of the property being willing
to accept the city's notes for term of
years The property is said TO be well
situated for cemetery purposes. Some OBJ
jections are likely to be made, however
on the ground that the area offered is
much larger than is necessary for the pur-
pose, and that a considerable expenditure
would be required to put the property in
suitable condition for cemetery purposes.
The agitation of the cemetery matter
has brought up again the question of the
city's purchasing Bonaventure. The
city has in past years made several
attempts to buy the cemetery, but no pro-
! gress was made in the negotiations be-
cause it was impossible to secure the con-
sent of a majority of the stock to the sale
except upon the condition that par value
be given, to which the city
would not consent. AT the last meeting of
the Evergreen Cemetery Company, how
ever, the representative of the lady who is
the owner of the majority of the capital
! stock of the company, stated that she was
! willing to dispose of her interest to the
city. All the other holders of the cemetery
| stock are said to be of the same mind,
| with one exception. AS result of this in
formation from the majority stockhelder
resolution was adopted by the board of
managers of the cemetery, instructing the
president to receive any bid the company
might make for the property, and to call
a meeting of the stockholders to consider
the same should one be made.
Mayor Meldrim when notified of the ac-
! ton of the owners Of the cemetery, said
he did not. think it likely that Council
would make any offer for Bona
venture but that any offer which
might be made for the sale Of the cemetery
would be considered by Council.
THE selection of the site for a new
cemetery" said Mayor AIeldrim, SIS very
| important matter and one worthy of the
serious consideration of Council While
Laurel Grove Cemetery may be made
available for a few years longer by the
drainage of some of the lowlands, it is
question of whether the results will jus
tify the expenditure. AT the lowest esE-
mate the drainage work would cost about
! 81 500 The lots made avilable by this
work would not be especially desirable
and at best the question of selecting a
new cemetery would be postponed for only
a short time
"A new cemetery it must be remem-
! bered, would require several years of de-
velopment to place it in a desirable condi-
ton for cemetery purposes. 1t is proper,
of course, that the surroundings of a GEM
etery should be made as attractive as pos
| sible, and to this end it would be neces-
sary 20 do considerable work in the way
| of planting trees and shrubbery and lay
ing out walks and drives. Hence, nothing
would be lost by an early selection of a
location. The question of whether we shah
make such improvements in Laurel Grove
as will permit of its further use or wheth-
er We shall seek new location elsewhere
is one which will require the early con-
sideration of Council"
DR.. George H. Stone, chairman of the
Park and Tree Commission. which has the
charge of Laurel Grove cemetery, when
spoken to said: THE plans for increasing
the area available for burial lots at Lau-
rel Grove by thorough system Of drain
age have been prepared by the city engin-
eer and bids secured for the work. The
lowest bid is $500, BY this expenditure
enough land can be made available to
continue Laurel Grove as a cemetery for
ten or twelve years. The only question
is whether the city desires TO continue the
use of Laurel Grove, or to invest in a new
site. To place new site in condition for
cemetery purpose would require a con-
! siderable expenditure.