The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-06-05
THE cEMETEpY QUESTION.

1t is evident that there is a great deal
of opposition to the purchase of the Gar
rard tract for a cemetery site This OPP
position is due mainly to the belief that II
is not suitable for cemetery purposes. The
Morning News has pointed out many
times, during the years the new cemetery
question has been under discussion, the
objections 90 it. These objections were
reiterated by Aldermen Tiedeman and
Wells, and by a number of citizens, in in
terviews published last Sunday
The land is not easily reached. 1t is
a long way from the heart of the city
and there is no street railway leading 20
1t. 1t is too far away TO be visited by
women and children, except in carriages,
and the percentage of those who are able
TO hire carriages is very small. Even
men would hesitate long time before
undertaking TO walk there except when
the weather was exceptionally fine. But,
as Alderman Wells points out. the great
majority of those who visit the cemeteries
are women and children. They are the
ones who are particularly interested in
caring for the graves. That fact should
site for new cemetery.
The location is not one that is inviting
TO women. 1t is in a lonely part of the
county. Very few white people live in
It's vicinity The residents of the neigh
borhood are mostly negroes. For that
reason women would hesitate to go there
as freely as they now visit Laurel Grove,
Tlnp nd farioa
1t is true that good road leads to 1t, but
ii is not road on which there is a
great deal of travel. Much of the land,
as pointed out by Alderman Tiedeman,
is low ground, in which water is found
near the surface. 1t is a question whether
the low parts of the tract can ever be so
drained as to make them available for
cemetery purposes.
The cost of improving the land would
be very great 1t has been estimated to
be at least 100000, and it might be double
that amount. If any citizen desires to
satisfy himself as to whether the land
in question is suitable for cemetery pur-
poses he can do so by driving along a
new road which the County Commission
ers have had constructed through it.
The Morning News has opposed the pur-
chase of this land because it has been sat
isfied all along that it is not what is
wanted by the city for a cemetery. If
the land could be reached easily. and
quickly, and at small expense, and were
in other respects suitable, there would
be comparatively little, If any, opposition
10 its purchase. The objections to it are
so strong, however, that the Council ought
10 hesitate a long time before even
thinking seriously Of closing contract
for 1t.
AS a matter of fact the necessity for
new cemetery is not so very urgent. There
is still considerable land at Laurel Grove,
and a large percentage of the interments
now is at Bonaventure and Catholic Gem
etery. There is plenty of time for the
city to secure a more accessible and de-
sirable site nearer the city.
A mistake in connection with this GEM
etery matter would be a costly one. If
the site should not prove 10 be satisfac-
tory, the city would not be able to sell
lots. The money spent for the land and
improvements would. in that case, be
practically wasted. Before taking action,
therefore, in this important matter the
Council ought to be sure that what it
proposes to do has the approval of the
great majority of the people of the city.