The Oskaloosa herald., 1900-05-31
THE SOLDIER DEAD.
Their Resting Place in Forest
Cemetery Beautifed.

pr0vement this spring in Forest
nemetery the work on Gods half
acrer-the soldiers Iot-ranks above
ali. It is almost beyond belief that
40 great a change could be made,
Yon must see to fully realize what
We say.
Some fifteen years ago the ceme-
terry association set apart the lot in
which has been buried twenty-three
soldiers Of the war of the Rebellion.
The lot lies just across the way from
the "center CIRCLE lot-a fine loca-
tion-but for want of funds.and gem
eral neglect little Improvement has
every been made or the same.
This spring Capt. Woodruff, F. d.
Reid and Col. Mcneil decided to
make extensive Improvement on the
lot. Mr.. Reid prepared a plata
miniature facsimile Of the famous Ar
Hngton National cemetery at Wash
ington, d. @. The survey was made
Of the lot byConnty Surveyor Caven,
all lines squared, stakes driven.
Then began the misunderstanding
old trees, grading, filling, sodding,
re-lettering some of the monuments
and re-setting the same. A new hy-
drant was put in on the lot. The
surface has been brought up to a
level grade, monuments lined up
each way, no raised places for the
graves, all smooth and level. "Quiet
sleep the brave"
Col. Mcneil, Capt. Woodruff and
n. d. Reid have directed the work
Mr.. Reid has been on the ground
most of the time. The ''men behind
The guns are: B. F. Wright James
Grant, Theodore WiIloughby and
Esekial Bogard, aided by John Beck
and VIM. Tarr, transfers. The men
all praise VIM. Cunningham, super
intendent of cemetery, for his many
acts of kindness.
The soldiers lot squares so feet
east to west and 66 feet north to
south, In front the parade 10 by Sc
feet. Then four in ''fours'' fronting
east with four files deep.
In preparing the plat Mr.. Reid
aeviated from the Arlington plat
where the openings are called by
@numbe-s and letters" except the
names Of Generals of U. S. army.
eve have but three bearing that
rank-Grant Sherman and Sheridan
The opening between each four be-
ginning east and running west is
named as follows:
/. Gen. Rice way.
z. CoL-Lohand way.
3. Major Lacey way.
Capt. Warren way.
s.. Capt. Woodruff way.
The opening at the foot of each
fine Of tours beginning north and
running south is named:
I. leighton walk.
2. Spencer walk.
s. McNeill walk.
1. Swain walk.
The design is cement, fiat square
with the lame on bronze plate
sunken in the cement square PLACED
fat at the entrance of eacn FAY
or walk"
Then in the parade in front will be
placed a piece of ordnance, cannon,
stack of arms in iron orr bronze,
guns, heroic size, with IA cavalry
saber suspended within the stack OF
arms, properly striped with the col
ors-red, blue and yellow.
To a soldier this represents the
three organizations of our army
artillery, infantry, cavalry.
These improvements win cost $500.
We cannot speak too highly Of
the men who have diligently
cared for this matter, and we are as
sured that now no living man viii
ever again see the soldiers lot in
Forest cemetery in poor repair.
Personally, we can say that our
own people own a beautiful lot adj
joining the soldiers lot, We are
glad to have such good neighbors.
And here we wish to urge all good
people to take the hint and clean up
their lots and beautify the same for
Decoration Day, May 3oth.
a