St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current, 1908-01-03
Cemetery for st. Johns.

Mr.. Editor: For some time pas,
have had matter on my mind
that / imagine will bear investiga-
ton, and / crave space in your pa.
per to call public attention to it.
1t is the matter of a cemetery for
st. Johns. Healthy a place as is
st. Johns its people will have to die
some time, and perhaps sooner than
they suppose. There is, believe,
no cemetery in this large peninsula,
and 1t does seem strange that one
has not been provided long before
today, especially as people are flock
ing to all parts Of it in great num-
bers. 1t must be evident to every
one that IT is a great hardship to
take a dead body all the way to
Riverside, or some place equally
distant for burial. II is not only a
hardship to be compelled to 90 so
far, but II is also very expensive.
Poor people can Ill afford this ex-
pense. The cost Is so great that
many a man dies in comfortable
circumstances but becomes bank
rupt before he is put under the sod.
Burial lots cannot be had at any of
the cemeteries for less than sfoo,
aud IN many cases much more.
Then add to this the cost of cars,
hacks, ETC., and poor people cannot
afford IL, in justice to the living.
In a city where there are so many
factories established and so many
enterprises projected there are bound
to be many deaths, and the nearest
burying ground is fifteen miles
away. Add to this the foolish |
habit OF covering the coffin and bier
with flowers and providing the liv-
ing relatives with mourning goods,
and many a laboring man does not
have enough to put himself decent
y under the ground. And sup
pose there are two or three deaths
n the family In a year, what is a
'oor man or a poor widow to dor
The other day poor widow in a
'earby town lost her husband. He
eft her with nine small children
nd little means to support them.
saw men and women getting into
he cars to give the body decent
'urial in a distant graveyard. One
I the neighbors informed me that
rs funeral would cost the poor
hing over $3.50, Just how she
aised the money to do this he did
now. He was of the opinion that
ONE of that money would be better
expended in feeding the children he
1T behind. And such cases are !
ommon everywhere.
Would II not. therefore, be great
Don to the people of ST. Johns II
ley had a nice graveyard nearby
here they could purchase lots at a
'asonable figure and where the ex-
ense Of cars could be dispensed
ithi Where the survivors could
Tor an hour or two every now =
I'd again and fix up their graves, I
I'd from more selfish point of I
ew, would not a respectable Gem. :
cry be an inducement for people :
settle in St. Johns and make it Z
cir homer !
| suppose II would not be impos- (
Die to lind ten acres of land near. Z
to be used for this purpose. VIII Z
I some charitable man or men :
've in this matterl have talk Z
with a good many people on this !
bject, and they all agree that I
nething should be done aud done I
once to provide a cemetery for :
S part Of the peninsula. 7
1t would not be difficult to dis Z
SC OF enough stock to buy such
E. Then it would require some
ng for fencing, surveying and Z
the pay OF a sexton. But the
'und could be sold in plots, say :
feet square for about $50 a plot, Z
ich would not only recoup the
ckholders, but would pay the
ming expenses of the institution, I
h as beautifying and adorning
grounds, making other needed
,rovements and have a comfort Z
surplus besides.
'ow, should like to hear from
le of the leading citizens of St. ~
MS on this subject, and if my .
IS and suggestions should be ia 3
ably received l would suggest Z
a meeting be called and the
'hinery set in motion to have
geyard for St. Johns that would Z
credit to the city, an honor to
'itizens and an ornament to the
lnsula. Who will speak first! (
us put an end to the miserable
iition where men die solvent :