The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1899-10-28
! THE MODERN FUNERAL CAR
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QFrom the Catholic Universe, CleVeland.)
The funeral procession of our fore
fathers, with their bier borne by strong
hands and the mourners slowly atoot,
were tediously narrowing affairs. How
these staid folk of another century
would have opened their eyes could
they have looked forward to the day
when the dead should be borne to their
last resting place by swift-going cleo
tricity! Even a quarter of a century
ago, we would have shaken our heals
incredulously. But the world
has made great strides since then, and
its progress is broadening every day
and adapting itself to every need. one
of the latest improvements upon OLD
methods is found in the new funeral
car which has recently been constructed
in Cleveland While its use did not
originate there the idea having already
been acted upon with great success in
San Francisco, Rochester and other
cities. it has never been fitted up with
such elaborate elegance and such great
regard for comfort as the model design
ed for use in Cleveland
To Catholics it will be especially in
teresting to know that the funeral car
is the idea and design of Rev. @. F..
Houck. chancellor of the diocese. For
a car of this kind would be of inesti-
mable value aus a saver of money and
time, besides serving the comfort of the
public in a way impossible in the old
carriage system. Many obstacles have
conspired to defer the realization of his
long-cherished plan until the present
time. No expense has BEEN spared
by the management of the street
railway company in carrying out
Father Houck's design, and the result
is even better than his hopes.
The exterior of the car is plain black
with a gold border, with the words in
gold letters, Funeral Car on the front
and sides The interior is divided into
two compartments; the one in front,
twelve feet in length, reserved for the
corpse, is draped throughout in heavy
broadcloth. If necessary, there is room
for four collins in this repository 1t is
fitted with drop doors on each side, and
rubber rollers for greater ease and ia
cility in removing the casket. Shelves
for floral offerings have also been pro-
vided The second compartment, which
will seat twenty eight persons, is fitted
out with the greatest taste and ele-
gance. The seats, for greater durability
and healthfuIness, are made of split
rattan and the windows are artiStically
draped with green tapestry and yellow
silk The draping throughout the car
is worthy of special attention. In the
clear the car is twenty EIGHT feet long
and eight feet wide.
The principal object of the new car
is economy. The hearse will be brought
into requisition only for carrying the
remains to the church. The car will run
on all street railway systems in Cleve-
land and its suburbs. The problem OF
the disposition of the car during church
services was long a difficult one and
one of the chief obstacles TO its con-
struction. This difficulty has now been
obviated by setting aside certain sta
tons, thirty-six in number, where the
car can be switched off until the SER
vices are concluded. For convenience
at the cemeteries, hand hearses have
been provided TO which the remains
are transferred from the car and car
ried to the grave. The members sof the
funeral party will return to their homes
on the ordinary cars.
1t cannot be doubted that this new
departure will meet with much encour-
agement in Cleveland. The worlds adj
vancement means the greater comfort
and convenience of the people. All
these things are signs of progress that
cannot be put aside. Perhaps they will
also mercifully help to do away with a
foolish system of show and sham that
follows us even to the graves of our
dead.