The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-07
NO PLACE LEFT
TO BURY DEAD.
Only Few Lots Unoccupied i'll
Norfolk Ccmctcry--l'rying
to Get New Site.
NEGRO sHANTIEs IN WAY
Bill TO Change Law Creates Much
Discussion in Scnate-Sl1arp
Passages.

According to representations made yes
tcrday on the floor of the Senate, the
city of Norfolk, containing G5,C0O souls,
will, within brief time, unless the Cen
eral Assembly comes promptly to its
rescue, find itself without the facilities
for bnrying its dead.
With It's single cemetery, now contain-
ing only about twenty-five small lots
unoccupied, the city is attempting to
secure additional room. An option has
been secured on an available site seven
miles from the corporate limits. but the
provisions of an old law prevent the 1oca-
ton of burying ground within four
hundred yards OF any residence without
the consent of the owner. Two negro
shnnties stand a little over hundred
yards from the site proposed. rho owner
of this property will not consent to the
location of the cemetery, and will not
sell at q reasonable price, and the
entire city must stand back unless the
law Is changed. In bill offered by
Senator Sale, of Norfolk, reported favor
ably from the Committee on General
Laws. and already adopted in the House
OF Delegates. such change Is attempted.
Under the terms OF this act the limit is
made one hundred yards, instead of four
hundred and the city is allowed to ac-
auire as! much as three hundred acres
for burial purposes, if it so desires. in-
stead Of sevcnty-fivc, rs under the old
law.
But snag has been struck In the
Senate. Certain members are unwilling
to permit the location of burying ground
within so short n distance of residence.
declaring that 1T Is deleterious to health
and u menace to the lives of those resid-
ing nearby. This objection could be re-
moved by The insertion of Il clause proyid-
ing for AN action for damages by tho
persons affected. but Mr.. Sale Will con-
sent to no amendments. Meanwhile the
bill is held up. the option Is about to
expire. the Norfolk burial lots are daily
growing fewer and fewer. and kilograms
and letters are pouring in beseeching
some prompt relief. The situation is
remarkable.
A compromise may be reached to-day
when the matter will come ilp again as
special order, but yesterday afternoon
Mr.. Sale was still firm in his determine
ton TO accept no amendments and the
opponents of the bill in its present shape
equally fixed In their decision not to let
IL pass without change.
Objections Made.
AS already stated the I'LL has passed
the House of Delegates with practical
unanimity and has been reported favor
ably by the Senate Committee on Cen
eraI Laws 4 few days ago the Senate
refused TO allow the Norfolk member TO
call up the measure out OF its order but
yesterday when this privilege was eN-
tended TO the Portsmouth member with
reference to another matter, Mr.. Sale In
sisted and won his point.
The bill was taken UP and discussed
at length, the debate being brought about
after the long roll call by an amend
ment proposed by Judge VIII. Mann, of
Nottoway.
In the opinion OF Judge Mann, who said
he had given some study to the question
of the propagation of germs, the loca-
ton of a cemetery within 100 yards of a
residence was n menace to the lives of
the people living therein. particularly II
there Were we'll on the premises. The
bill. he believed, would be an inposl-
tion upon the country people. Provision
was made in the law. as was right and
proper, that the people of the country
should not come into the city to bury
their dead, but under the Sale bill the
rights of the country people for protec-
garded not at all. A city would have
power to locate cemetery one hundred
yards from mans residence without
his consent, and would allow him nc
| damages. although the cemetery com.
PEELED him to abandon his property Al
first opposed TO the location of Il Gene
terry this near under any circumstances
without consent of the owner, Judge
Mann later agreed to withdraw cpposi-
ton to the bill IL a clause were inserted
allowing an action for damages by the
injured property-holder.
"Gentlemen." said Mr.. Sale arising for
the first time, explaining the matter at
length. Il want to tell you that you don t
realize the conditions in Norfolk to-day.
Here is city with 5000 inhabitants.
There is one cemetery, now almost fu.l.
In this cemetery are about Is lots in
which perhaps as many as $50 people can
be buried. The condition has reached such
a critical stage that we will no. longer
sell these lots to a person desiring to
provide burial place for his dear ones.
We will sell only space for single
grave, and then only when there is a
dead body that must be placed in it.
This space is dwindling rapidly day by
day. lin a city of the size of Norfolk,
where there are four or five deaths in
every "a hours, the room cannot last much
| longer. Something must be done and
done quickly or tell you frankly that /
don't know what on earth we will do.
| "Under this old law which was made
many years ago, when cities were sparse
| ~ settled and it was comparatively easy
to get a site outside the 400 yard limit,
| 1T Is now almost impossible to find Y,
place. The only available place that we
can secure at a reasonable price is seven
miles from the city of Norfolk, but
we have agreed to take this. But even
here we are blocked by the old law.
Two negro shanties are located a. little
over 100 yards from the site we wish
to secure The man who owns the land
| on ich these shantIes are Sitllntc al