The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-07
FAvORS A NEW CEMETERY.
MAYOR MELDRINs WANTS 1T OUT
SIDE TIE CITY LIMITS.

The Council VIII Not Act Hastily,
However, as a Number of sites VIII
Likely he ORered-BOnaventure
Too Small and Battery Park Too
Near the City, the Mayor Thinks.
Desirable Property Between the
City and ThunderboIt-Laurel
Grove Will Have to BE Closed
soon.
The question of a new cemetery is one
that will doubtless be formally brought
to the attention of Council at an early
date, Mayor Meldrim regards the idea
with favor and so do several of the al
dermen. Mayor Meldrlm is opposed to
any haste in the matter, however.
1--WE do not propose to be bamboozled in
TO buying anybody's land simply because
they want to sell to u.s. said the Mayor,
in discussing the matter, yesterday. There
is great deal of available land around
Savannah for cemetery purposes and this
discussion of the matter in the newspapers
will cause parties who have such land to
make offers to the city. If we can secure
an offer of a piece Of land that is desira-
bic in every way and at a reasonable price
1 have no doubt it will be accepted
Mayor N1eldrim is not inclined to look
favorably upon the purchase of Bonaven-
ture.
"Bonaventure is a beautiful cemetery"
he said, but it is hardly suitable to our
purposes. There is only about eighty
IA nd
portion, presumably the most desirable,
has already been sold to private parties. If
we should purchase Bonaventure we
should have to accept it less the portion
already sold. After allowing for walks and
drives, 1 should say at a rough estimate,
that only about half the area would be
available for lots. Laurel Grove contains
over 100 acres. We could perhaps obtain
additional land in the vicinity, but as the
tendency in such cases is to charge the
city exorbitant prices We might have to
pay dearly for it. There is no reason why
Bonaventure should not continue as a
private cemetery. Many of the best
known cemeteries of the country are own
ed by private corporations. With the
steady increase in our population it will
be more in demand for burial purposes. "
There is a tract of land between the
city and Thunderbolt," continued Mayor
Meldrim (which has struck me as an
ideal location for a cemetery. 1t is the
land included between the shell road which
leads direct to Thunderbolt and the arm
of the road which branches off to Bona
venture. Whether the tract is suf-
ticlently large for the purpose and
whether 1t can be obtained
! at a reasonable price I am unable to say.
IT iS a fine hn6U of land -,
natural woods, and, properly improved
could be made into a magnificent GENE
terry
Mayor Meldrim was asked if sufficient
land could not be secured In the neighbor-
hood of the Cathedral cemetery for city
| cemetery purposes.
There is sufficient land in that vicin-
ity of a very desirable character" he re.
| piled, but 1 doubt if it could be obtained
at price which the city would be willing
to pay
How about Battery Park? 1t is under.
stood that the property owners there are
| willing to SELL
II am in doubt whether there is suffi.
Gent land to be had in the neighborhooc
of Battery Park, and whether the lane
there adjoins Laurel Grove. Anyway, in
my rides in that section, I have observed
that the city is building up around The
GGAIStHlys anu the 1DQlcdUOIS are Cnat JtT.
ritory will be generally built up in few
years. Without knowing Just what LAND
may be offered US there, I should say it i:
| not good policy to continue the cemetery
within the city limits 1 am convinced thai
| the time has come to close Laurel Grove
! The supply of lois there is exhausted. BY
drainage we can add about four acres tc
the space available at a cost of about $7O(
per acre. The reclaimed area would suf-
flee for only a few years. AS better land
! can be secured elsewhere at a much less
| cost per acre, the advisability of the drain
! age work is doubtful"
mo matter where the new cemetery is
| located" said Mayor Meldrim a great deal
| of work will have to be done in the way
| of improvement. A landscape artist would
have to be employed to survey the land
and prepare plan of the cemetery and
this plan put into execution. 1t would be
a matterNf several years to bring the cem-
| etery to such a state as would make il
| suitable in every respect as a place of in
| terment"
| Alderman John w. Smith, who is chair
man of the committee on city lots. has
| taken great interest in the matter of a new
cemetery. Alderman Smith considers the
| Garrard land, about four and a half miles
southwest of the city on the Ogeechee
! road well suited for cemetery
! Alderman Smith said he had been in
formed that an offer would be made to
the city of the Battery Park property,
though on what terms he could not say.
Alderman Duncan, in speaking briefly OF
the matter. said he thought the city would
do well to acquire Bonaventure.
Judging from the interest that is being
taken, it is very likely that the site for a
new cemetery will be selected by the
! present Council.