The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-10-17
Cemetery.

Cemetery.
 | Oakwood Cemetery Is admirably To- | cated and with the expenditure of a moderate amount of money could be l made one of the most beautiful in the | country. We are bound to acknowledge however. that owing to the condition of l our finances this has not been done and, | that our cemetery is badly neglected. | The condition that 1t presents is not | calculated to inspire us with pride, or | to convince strangers that we feel that | degree of reverence and respect to- wards our dead that is their due. A lack of funds is partly the cause of this, but not entirely so. Those who preced-
 ed us made a lamentable mistake in
 permitting the railroad company to run 1 its road through our cemetery and to | divide 1t into nearly two equal parts. A | cut of some depth was made by the
 railroad company and this cut, and the
 immense and unsightly ravine which
 runs beside 1t, apart from the inconve- nience of such a situation. make im- | provement a costly and discouraging undertaking. The City authorities have made various efforts to induce this company to join the City in remedying this condition, but with out success. The City Council has re-
 voked the license or franchise hereto fore granted to this railroad to run tHTOukn lnS CSIncIcTys
 In Oakwood Cemetery, nearly every | available lot has been disposed of. And the time now has come when 1t Is necessary to provide for a new ceme- tery. It would be we'll, perhaps, for the city to purchase not less than 100 and preferably 200 acres of land about two miles from the city and establish idea to have cemeteries scattered around a town and a tract of land this size would answer the purpose of a cemetery for years to come.
 Fire Department.
 By its record during the past year. the Fire Department continues to sus- tain its record for efficiency. Thor ough discipline prevails in this depart ment, subordination Is unknown and the members discharge their. duties faithfully and well. There has been added to this department during the past few months a chemical engine and a first class steam engine, hose wag- ons and several thousand feet of hose New fire stations are in course of erec- tion in West End and North Montgom- cry. Within the next thirty days these stations will be equipped and those sections of the town will be supplied with amble fire protection. Water mains have been laid in nearly all of the streets in Highland Park and South Montgomery. Two hundred and twenty-four fire hydrants have been installed. These two sections of the city should each be provided with fire station. With this accomplished and the water works system extended, ontgomery as far as fire protection Is concerned. will be far ahead of towns of like size.
 Even with our present facilities it is hard to understand what induces the Southeastern Tariff Association to place Montgomery on her present basis of insurance. The fire losses in Mont gomery compare favorably with those of other towns. which enjoy a much better insurance rate than Montgom- cry. We have a good system of water works. well disciplined and capable fire department. and the prospects of serious loss by fire in this city is con siderably less than in other towns, This is a matter of no little concern to the people of this city and should be adjusted on a basis of fairness. It would not be out of place for the City Council of Montgomery to take off cial cognizance of this discrimination and if possible overcome the same
 Street and Engineering Department