The age-herald., 1901-08-07
ELM LEAF CEMETERY.
The New and -eautifuI City of the
 Dead,

Elm Leaf cemetery, which was estab- lished less than a year ago upon a tract of land just beyond Elyton, on the Montevallo road and the Alabama Great Southern Railroad, is now one of the most beautiful and attractive places around Birmingham. Besides the electric car line, which runs within three blocks of the entrance to the grounds, there Is beautiful driveway out Second avenue, thence along the Montevallo road; and by the way this is becoming one of the most popular drives around the city,
 Elm Leaf cemetery covers forty acres of ground. and the concensus of opin- ion by those who have visited the place Is that 1t was intended by nature for the use to which 1t has been consecrated-a resting place for the dead. The plot is beautiful in natural form, rising symetri- cally to a center, and affording excellent drainage. For this spot nature had done so much that there was comparatively little left for the landscaper This is evidenced by the fact that, although work began there less than nine months ago, greater part of the cemetery seems to be in a finished state, even now. AS it's name indicates Elm Leaf cem- etery is plotted In the shape of leaf of that beautiful tree, the entrance to the burial plot being the stem of the leaf, the drives and walks constituting the veins. and the lots planned in perfect uniformity The thought thus inspired was beautiful one, as nothing could be more appropriate.
 W..ile there Is a great deal of natural shade there, the management planted more than an hundred trees thereon, and these, uniformly set, are growing luxu- riously. Much beautiful shrubbery adorns the spot, and this blends eNquisitely with high rolling plane and shady dell
 Just to the left as one enters the gates he observes a grove of stately oaks which nature planted there, and this is a park reseryation--no graves to be dug there. Beyond and toward the setting sun towering pines stand as sentinels over the sleeping ones, singing requiems by the tuneful touch of the winds
 The drives and walks, uniformly laid. are paved with well-packed gravel, taken from a pit within the grounds and not a rugged rock Is within the inclosure to mar the smoothness and beauty of the Elm Leaf R i,
 Upon these grounds there is calm and peace and quiet. The flowers are bloom ing sweetly there, and, far away from the noise of life's enegies and struggles the birds notes are heard keeping perfect time with the whispering of the winds At such place, with such a scene, the visitor declares, ''surely this is Gods acre."
 Only about two miles from the center of the city, the water works system of Birmingham reaches this favored spot, thus affording life-giving freshness to flower, tree and lawn.
 That was wise thought which inspired Messrs. Shaw, Newton and others to es- tablish Elm Leaf cemetery. Oak Hill cemetery, the cFty's burial ground, is fast filling up and soon that place for the dead will have not a single lot left for the vast multitude which is so rapidly passing away. Therefore Elm Leaf was necessity, and 1t is well for all the liv- ing that such a spot was discovered by such thoughtful men,
 The cemetery Is owned by a corpora tion, and Is well managed by MT. B. T. Shaw. the secretary and treasurer of the company, who takes a deep interest in the work of beautifying the place Ir is the policy of the company to continue the work of beautifying and otherwise | improving Elm Leaf. They sell the lots | at reasonable figures, and are now apply ing every dollar to the improvement of the place.
 | Let it be remembered that Elm Leaf cemetery is for the burial of the white dead only, and there is not to be paul. per's grave within the enclosure. A strong and handsome wire fence encloses | the entire forty acres, and it will ever be kept free from intrusion by man or | beast
 A visit to Elm Leaf will prove we'll I worth your time.
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