The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-05-10
CEMETERY IMPROVEMENTS.
Mr.. German on Who are Responsible for the
Beautifnl Transformation.

20 the huitOIs--lH your CIlllCtSm oI
the new Board of Aldermen, printed in
this mornings issue of the News and
Observer, you make at least one mistake,
and in doing so you shower credit and
praise where 1t does not belong and with
mold 1t from several members of the old
board who are richly entitled TO it.
Convinced that the error was due to
lack of proper information on the part
OF your reporter and believing that you
do not mean to do any one an injustice,
l take the liberty Of sending you the
following statement and in doing so
desire to state at the outset that what
shall say is entirely aside and discon-
nected with the retention or retirement
of any city official or employee.
This explanation (already understood.
am sure, by large percentage of our
people, especially the older residentsl is
made for the single purpose of keeping
the record straight" and rendering unto
Caesar the things which are Caesars"
etc.
You allude in your article of this
morning to the old city cemetery, which
you, very correctly, say has been trans
formed into beautiful city of the dead
But you, very incorrectly and unjustly
give all the credit for such" transforma-
ton to the sexton thereof; whereas, as
a matter of fact, he is not entitled to it.
The sexton of this cemetery has had
absolutely nothing whatever to do with
the permanent improvements which have
gradually Transformed 1.-THE curbed
and macadamized driveways and beau
tifully paved walks.
The Committee on Cemeteries OF the
Board Of Aldermen, Of which | had the
honor to be the chairman, until my re-
tirement from the board two days ago,
and the contractors designated by us to
do the work (Messrs. Weir q Hunnicutt}
are responsible for these Improvements,
together, of course, with the other mem
bers of the board who voted with us to
secure the special appropriations to meet
the expense of the same.
During the four years ] served on the
Board of Aldermen the following MEM
bers OF the board served as members of
the Committee on Cemeteries: Aldermen
David S. Hamilton and Joe S. Cornell
1889 to 1901, John C. Drewry (1901), ].
s. upchurch and A. B. Andrews, Jr.,
1902 '03), and Maxwell German, chair
man, 1880 to 1909, and all OF them are
entitled to credit, for each of them ma
terially aided the chairman in his per-
sistent and laborious efforts to trans
form" the horrible wreck and eye-sore
which disgraced the city four years ago
into the beautiful city of the dead,
which you compliment in your paper to-
day.
When I was first elected an alderman
in 1899 (by the Board of Aldermen to fill
a vacancy occurring soon after that board
went into office), it was without any
solicitation on my part and two years
ago when / was elected by the people of
my ward (receivIng, in a three handed
contest, every vote cast at the primary,
except one, and securing every vote cast
at the election proper, | accepted the
service chiefly because | saw and recog
nized the opportunity to accomplish the
work at this cemetery--where represen-
tatives Of four generations of my family
rest-which was finally completed two
months ago.
The fact that my paternal grandpar-
ents, my honored and revered father,
two of my brothers and my only son rest
in that Ito mel sacred ground, was in
centiye enough to actuate me in deVot-
ing my time and labor and pains to the
cause; but had another motive impell-
ing me to do my whole duty there, be-
cause scores of families in this city, with
whose friendship / am honored, have
loved ones resting there, too
/ have been more than repaid for all
that / have SO freely and willingly done
through the thanks / have, from time 10
time, received from these living repre-
sentatives of4dead friends buried there,
/ did not offer for another election be-
cause | felt that, this work accomplished.
| had done my share, and very willingly,
not to say gladly, made way that others
might have opportunity to donate some
of their time and labor and brain for
the good of my native city and its citi-
zenship.
/ sincerely trust that all interests in
this cemetery will aid my successor,
Chairman Habel, in continuing the good
work there, whoever may be chosen sex
| ton.
Very cordially and truly yours
MAXWELL GORMAN.
Raleigh, N. c., May 8, 1908.