The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1904-07-08
The Cemetery Matter Again.
CADILLAc, MIcH., July 4, 100


Editor True Northerner:-
Permit me to say few words in reply
to j. j. Woodlands defense. | have
sometimes been noted for the use of
forciable, if not elegant language but in
this case my heart fails me, for | have
no words in my vocabulary strong enough
to express my indignation against the
whole lot of respectable citizens who
were instrumental in devastating that
once beautiful cemetery. Mr.. Woodman
is a man whom | hold in high esteem,
and from boy have always had great
respect for his opinions, but in the mat
ter of taste in regard to cemeteries, | can
not agree with him. / have been super
intendent of the cemetery at Cadillac for
20 years, and with the help of others we
have developed one of the most beauti-
full cemeteries in northern Michigan. In
doing this work we have always put
trees before monuments in the choice of
beauty. We have repeatedly met the
same argument here that was used in re-
gard to the cemetery east of Paw Paw,
"Cut down the trees so as to show up the
monuments" In my opinion, cultivated
tastes do not see very much beauty in
grave stones. They are a relic of the
past to be tolerated but not encouraged.
My feelings are very intense in regard
to the destruction of shade trees which
is now going on in Van Buren, county,
east of Paw Paw, and perhaps l may be
pardoned for giving some of my reasons
for this feeling.
/ came to Wexford county some %
years ago. The land was mostly covered
with tall and thrifty growth of pine
and hardwood. / was delighted with
this country, / thought it the most beau
tiful place on earth. My business as a
surveyor caused me to spend much of
my time in the woods. | drank in the
pine air and Toasted my eyes on the
beauties of nature and was contented.
But as years went on the avaricious
hand of the lumberman and the consum-
ing fire devastated this once beautiful
land and left it desolate and wind
swept waste. | saw what this county
was coming to. About this time on one
of my visits to Van Buren, county to see
my parents, | was very forcebly inn
pressed with the growth, number and
beauty of the shade trees In riding
with my father one summers day from
Almena to Paw Paw | was struck with
the beauty of the landscapes all along
the highway, scattered around in the
fields were trees, some natural some had
been planted, while here and there were
groves of 10 and 20 acres of natural trees
left there by the kind and farseeing
early settlers of that county. / was de-
lighted; it seemed to me like a paradise,
and | resolved as soon as my business
would permit to return to this beautiful
spot of my youth. And so / bought the
old farm, the home of my boyhood, and
at great expense have hung onto it till
this day.
What was it that attracted me so
strongly to this regionH Was it the peo-
pie? No, for as much as respect and
love them, my early friends and acquaint-
ances are mostly gone. Was it the soil?
No, for in this northern country the
same labor and investment will produce
twice the income that it will in Van Blu
rem. Was it the climate? No, for, for
six months of the year our railroads are
bringing to this country excursionists by
the thousands for the sole purpose OF
enjoying our delightful climate. No, it
was none of these; the great motive
which so strongly drew me to this region
was the beautiful landscape, the shade
trees; but alas, what have 10 years done?
1t is safe to say that in the last 10 or ID
years, from my farm in Almena and Paw
Paw, one-half the trees have been cut
down. Men do not seem to appreciate a
thing until they lose it. The early set
tiers who came into Van Buren, county
came from country where timber was
scarce and they knew it's value; they
had sense of the beautiful. But what
of their childrenY Hardly are the bodies
of the old residents laid in their graves
than their sons start the destruction of
shade trees that il cost their fathers so
many years to produce.
do not suppose this article will do
any good; as friend Lawton says, all the
value some men can see in tree is what
it is worth for wood and ties; but it has
given me chance to vent my feelings,
and If the editor is so good as TO pub
lish it, it will let those Van Buren,
county people know that at least in mat
tiers of taste we do not all see things
alike.
A. j. Ted.