The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1909-10-01
PULLING TOGETHER NICELY
Substantial Improvements at the
Cemetery-City Now Owns an
Ideal Burying Place
Corner Pacific and Main

2
If person who was acquainted
with the old cemetery at Blackfoot
should suddenly be dropped into 1t
now without information as to the
location, he would not recognize the
place on account of the great changes
that have been made.
Something over year ago the Vii
lage improvement society asked the
village government to purchase 1T,
which was agreed upon, the Village
Improvement Society negotiating the
deal and holding title themselves dur
ing the period of some months re-
quired for the village to make the
necessary bond sale. During that per-
iod the ladies conducted the business,
and made some money out OF the sale
Of lots, which they added to their
bank account, and this year they ex-
pended what they made on it last year
and nearly a thousand dollars be-
sides.
The present city administration
took up the work where the old
board left off, and have co-operated
with the ladies in a most harmonious
manner, employing sexton who.put
in all his time improving the grounds
and also keeping grading out1t at
work about all summer, grading the
streets and avenues, completing the
bitches for irrigation and drainage
/ and coating the new grades with fne
Y gravel and sand.
A cottage has been built for the
use of the sexton and for the ouD-
n lie. it constituting a rest room where
Y people can 60 to rest and get a
drink or where persons taken III al
a funeral can be taken to be cared
for temporarily. The city built the
house under direction of the ceme-
terry committee, and also furnished It,
Great credit is due to all who have
II Ven connected with this work, and
itors to the grounds express thell
recitation of it in the most gener-
ternls. 1t is a matter of congrat-
4 that the work has been con-
Quoted in such absolute harmony be-
tween the two organizations, and tha
the individuals employed to do the
work have taken a personal interest
and apparently given their best ener
gies to getting the desired results
The public is always interested tc
know who are the loyal workers, who
take hold and do things for public
good or who protect the public inter
est by doing good work II acting al
employees, and in reviewing the i'm
provements it will be remembered
that they began with a public dona
tion of services for two days in May
1908, when people went out witt
tools and luncheon and spent as mucl
time clearing off brush and weeds a.
they felt willing. Trees were trim
med and much grubbing and diggini
done, some working only on their owl
lots, but most of them doing worl
wherever it was most needed.
The ladies attempted to have irri
eating done but were only partly sue
cessful last year. This year Mayo
West appointed cemetery commit
tee consisting of M. D. Bowen who
chairman, and T. R. Jones and H. 3
Curtis, all of whom take persona
interest in the work.
William Drew was employed earl
in the season to do plowing and grad
ing, and the work progressed steadil
In his hands. w. W. Priestly wa
employed as sexton. and he lives a
the cemetery and devotes all his tim
to the work. "A great deal had to b
done to open the bitches, lay tiling 9
the crossings under the grades, Gu
out the bitches on absolutely straigf
lines, leaving neat slope In relatio
to both the lots and the drivewa!
and removing weeds and brush frol
unsold lots. He expects to make som
needed repairs on the ditch that COZ
ducts the water from the canal
the spring SO that the water supp
will be better He seems to TAX
great interest in the work, and fee
a pride in what is being accomplish
ed.
The duties of the sexton are
keep the streets and unsold lots
condition and to regulate the wat