The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-02
THE NEW CEMETERY QUESTION
COMMITTEE MAY MAKE ITS RE-
PORT THIS WEEK.


Looking TO the Securing of a New
Cemetery Site-HeaIth Officer
Brunner Says That the Purchase
of New site Would Not Mean the
shutting Up of Laurel Grove to
Lot Owners There-Severnl AvaiIa-
BILE Sites to Be Had Around Savan-
nah--OnIy the New Ground Now
Left at Laurel GrOve-sarah Street
Might BE Opened Across the Col
Ored Portion.
Acting Mayor Tiedeman has announced
his intention Of calling the special COM
mittee on cemetery, OF which he is chair
man, together this week, Tor the purpose
of making a visit of inspection to Laurel
Grove and obtaining information on winch
to base a report to Council as to whether
or not the city is in immediate need of a
new cemetery.
Alderman Haas is the only member OF
the committee so far, who has expressed
himself on the subject. He has visited
Laurel Grove and decided for himself that
a new cemetery is one of the things of
which the city stands in need. There
need be no surprise should the commit
tee take the same view of the matter. The
members of Council who have been sound
ed on the subject seem inclined TO the idea
that a new cemetery is one of the city's
needs, and that now is as good a time
to provide it as any. Mayor Myers has
also expressed himself to this effect.
In fact, it was during Mayor Myers for
mer administration that the movement in
favor of securing a new cemetery site was
begun. There was some opposition to the
movement. however, and, as Council had
incurred about all the Indebtedness 1t car
ed to- nothing was done in the matter Of
the cemetery. The agitation was resumed
under Mayor Meldrim's administration,
and it was thought at one time that a
deal would be consummated. The proper
ty which Council had in view was the
large tract of land owned by Col. William
Garrard south Of the city, and considered
by many to be very eligibly situated for
cemetery purposes.
Pretty much the same causes which pre-
vented a deal under the former admins
| tration operated to prevent one under May
or Meldrim. There was opposition on the
part of some Of the members of Council
| and, what with the house. drainage con-
tract and other indebtedness incurred by
the city, there was an indisposition to fur
Their increase the city's debt
Should the special cemetery committee
report that in favor of securing a new
cemetery site it is likely that something
tangible will be accomplished. The COM
mittee viii have the backing of the opin-
ion of Health Officer Drummer. who has
for several years advocated the securing
OF new cemetery site. When asked last
I oil Fau~n
! ner replied: Il advocated the purchase of
a new cemetery in 1891, '93 and "a, and I
certainly have no reason to think other
wise in 1899"
THE impression that I advocated the
abandonment Of Laurel Grove is an er-
ror," said DR.. Drummer MANY peonla
who have lots in Laurel Grove are on
posed TO the selection Of a new cemetery
because they think it would mean that
they would be denied permission to make
further use of these lois and that they
would not be allowed to inter other mem
bers OF their families or be inferred there
themselves. This is a mistake While
1t would be well from a sanitary stand
point of view to close Laurel Grove entire
| ly, both sentimental and practical reasons
forbid such a course The lot owners will
necessarily be permitted to use their lots
at Laurel Grove for q number of years
! to come.
1T should be borne in mind" said Dr
| Drummer, that it win require at least two
| years 10 put any site which NAV be on
| tanned in suitable condition for cemetery
| purposes and the use of Laurel Grove will
necessarily have to be continued until the
new cemetery can be gotten in condition
! LOT use. There Is none too much room left
in Laurel Grove now for this purpose -
Asked as to whether he thought it would
! pe possible for the city to obtain a suffi-
clehtly large tract of land eligible for Gem
etery purposes and within convenient dis
lance, Dr. Brunner said: There are prob
| ably half a dozen suitable sites in tba
neighborhood of Savannah l was desir
| Gus at one time thai the city should mr.
! chase Bonaventure The trouble there is
| however, that Bonaventure is not Iarge
enough and the lots have already been
parity sold off. Bonaventure only con
| talns seventy acres and the new GENE
terry ste should nor contain less than 500
acres. Ample provis on should be made
IN Its purchase for an Indefinite number
or years to come. There IS ample ground
Wen suited for cemetery purposes between
bonaVenture and the city along the Tnun-
oero0it smell road. The ground is suffi-
clenlly nigh, partly wooded and easily nc-
cessiDle, as well as being susceptible OF
| considerable Improvement"
Dr. Drummer said that he had also visited
the tract of land owned by Col. GarrarI
SCUM OF the city. The land is located
iieai .lS intersection OF the Ogeechee road
| and the Florida Central and Peninsr-ar
Railroad The tract contains about 0O
acres, much of which is high ground. a
considerable portion of this tract is niue,
| higher than is generally supposed" said
Or. Drummer, some of ii being as muco
as thirty-eight feet above low water mark
which is higher than the bluff upon which
the city is located.
A gentleman who is familiar with
the conditions of Laurel Grove in dis
cussing the matter with a Morning
News reporter, said that with the execution
of the new ground in the southwestern nor
ton recently improved by the Park and
Tree Commission, all the available space
for whites has been exhausted The
strangers burying ground and The portions
allotted to children have been exhausted
ana aiotments must be made for these
purposes in the new portion. The stran-
gers ground is now being buried over for
second or third time. There are only two
or three lots left in the Hebrew portion Of