The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-01-11
CARE OF Cemeteries
Hhat it Costs to Keep Soldier
Boys Graves Green.
OF THE SUPERINTENDENTS
How the Places are Filled and
What They Pay.

dent McKinley's gracious proposal that
the United States government should now
assume the maintenance of the Confeder-
ate cemeteries, or, at least, share with the
states of the South in the expense of
properly caring for them, it may be inter
esting TO inquire how large an undertake
ing this would be. Fortunately, We have
a fairly good guide in the appropriations
now made for our national or federal
cemeteries. If the South mad lost about
the same number of men as the North
ii is fair 70 assume that the care of the
Confederate dead would about double the
present expense; and few persons realize
how large that is. Congress makes three
appropriations annually for the national
cemeteries. There are eightythree nation
al cemeteries, seventy-fve of them hav-
ing superintendent exclusively their own
while the other eight are parts of private
cemeteries, where a sum is allowed TO
the civilian superintendent for the care OF
the soldiers graves. For the seventy-five
public superintendent the annual appro-
priation is now s61SS0. For the mainte-
nance of the cemeteries, which includes
repairs u IOuStS. gates anu ICutcS. plI
chases of tools, labor, etc, an appropri-
alton of 100000 is regularly made. In adj
dition. the government is now putting up
about $4,000 head-stones annually, large
part of which go to outside cemeteries,
and this expense is born by a special ap-
preparation. Lodges in which the superin-
tendents live are now given out by con-
tract at about 5000 each, whenever a new
one has to be built
The first cost of the erection of seventy
five lodges. the building Of stone and iron
fences. and in some cases the purchas of
the land, was very great. In the case OF
the Arlington national cemetery, the sum
paid the Lee heis for the land was some
where about $4,000. Very valuable sites
are used for this purpose also in other
cities particularly at Vicksburg. Miss, at
Gettysburg, Pa, and at Hampton, Va.
1t thus appears that the annual cost Of
the national cemeteries-and this expense
will continue for generations after the
last civil war pension has been paid-is
about double the cost of maintaining the
work Of humanity and civilization. The
Presidents proposal for the South would,
then. be equivalent TO maintaining two
more Hampton Institutes, and the first
cost of putting the cemeteries into good
condition would obviously be several times
as great as the establishment of such edu-
cational plants. OF course this is a choice
between the needs of the living and of the
dead. Some persons believe, moreover
that like amount of money. perhaps
100000 year, would do more good applied
to the Homes for disabled Confederate
veterans through the South, which now
have to depend upon the state govern
ments with their not too redundant trea-
suries. The inquiries now making by the
War Department indicate that the Presi-
dent is in earnest about his proposal, and
that something is sure to be done in the
near future in the way of recognition Of
the valor of the Confederate soldier. with
out reference to the purpose for which he
fought. The chief question concerns the
manner in which this recognition can best
be made, and this phase of the matter win
certainly bear a little investigation.
There are some interesting facts con-
nected with the national cemetery system
which ought not 10 be overlooked There
were no such cemeteries before the civil
war, although Congress by special act
cared for the graves of some Of our SOL
der dead. notably those buried near the
City of Mexico. After the civil war this
Mexican burial-place was made one Of the
national cemeteries. and until short time
ago American citizens dying in Mexico had
been buried there whether they were SOL
diers or not. At last the cemetery be-
came so full that the Secretary of War
issued an order combining It TO the pur-
poses intended by statute, and since then
the American residents have purchased
cemetery OF their own.
It is an interesting fact, moreover. that
the national cemeteries have gradually en-
larged their scope. and. of course. the ex-
pense Of their maintenance, since the ORR
ginal act establishing them was passed
They We're first intended for soldiers dv-
ing IN the service. This was in the act
approved IN 1862. A few years later II was
provided that the bodies of persons who
had served in thu civil war. and who died
in destitute condition, might be buried
IN the national cemeteries. Still later. all
honOrably discharged soldiers and saiiers
OF the United States. whenever they might
die, were entitled to the privileges Of bur
iaI there. The expense has grown with
these engagements The annual apDro-
priation of 10000 for the maintenance
dates back 70 1873. Previous to that time
$4,000 had been the sum. and before 1896
the amount appropriated was still smaller
IN the matter Of head stones. there has
been some decrease in pric. They origin
ally cos, ab5u, s. each. but the p-essn.
contract is for $1-35 They must Of white
American marble. thirty-siD inches long.
ten inches wide. and four inches thick
They are inscribed with the name and with
the rank Of the solder i above private.
and n all cases win the title Of MS COM
pany and regiment The stones are ser
into the ground 50 that but sixteen inches
OF them i above the surface. THIS gives
a uniform appearance 20 al national GENE Z
teTies- although in the arrangement of the
stones there Is some room for individual
tas-e. A. Chattanooga they are laid out IL
halt-circ.es Ike an smphitheatre. while AZ
Arlington and Hampton they are placed
II straight Lines with monot0nous regu-
laritv The average number Of in-e-ments
IL ;ae national cemeteries : about 100
annually.
The total uunber q persons buried in
national cemeteries - . date Is - ~
unknown About {. 80 are those q Coated- +
craze soldiers. mainly al camp Butler.
Illinois; Cypress His and Woodiawn-N5
York. Eir1's Point. NsE Jsrseye Fort
Smith. Arkansas. Hampton Virginia AID
jefferson Barracks Missouri. In Ea2Ey u
these cases tAe soldiers were Coafede-stes
Mo died IN our prisons TIE largest are
those a. Nitss5urg. Nashville Fralerickz-
burg. and Arlington. each co1taloiug the
remains o. more than 80 soldiers A.
VsckshurE only ! % are knSEn. as against