Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1911-05-04
BEAUTIFYINC IT
ABILENE CEMETERY UNDERGO
ING MANY IMPROVEMENTS.
Is Now Under Management OF An
Association--4OO Trees Were
Planted This Spring-CO-
operation Wanted. &

tire cemetery yet this spring? II not
you would better do SO as it prob
ably needs 1t badly. The cemetery
now is under the management of an
association which is endeavoring to
beautify the landscape of that place.
The board of this association has
been busy all spring cleaning up
the cemetery and 1t wants your CO.
operation to make Abilene's ceme-
terry one of the prettiest in the state.
Formerly the cemetery was left
in charge OF the sexton. Four years
ago the city council gave the man
agement to citizens committee, and
last January 1t was turned over to-
the cemetery association.
Each lot owner Is a member or
this association and has a vote at
toe election Of trustees.
| Since the election Of the present
board many improvements have been
made. The ten acre addition, north
of the present cemetery, has been
opened and lots and streets have
been laid out. The streets run ir-
4 regular and tend to make two circles.
\ There will be two large avenues. One
at the east side of the cemetery and
one on the west. The center gate
is to be removed. The entrances
to the cemetery will be made on
these avenues. A gate will be placed
at the west front and another at the
east. In this way the trustees hope
to make the west side of the ceme-
terry more attractive.
Instead of having the city road
scraper clean the streets, the sex
ton is cleaning them off with hoe
and shovel. The ragged terraces are
being filled in and smoothed.
Over 400 trees have been planted
4 this spring, mostly in the new ad-
dition. A row of trees in the park
ing along the cement side walk lead
ing to the cemetery has been set in.
The streets in the new addition
have not been named and the board
would appreciate some suggestions.
The trustees have thought consid-
erably of one plan. The trees set
out in the new addition are planted
according to the different streets.
II the streets are named after the
trees the names will be: Pin Oak,
Hard Maple, Linden, Red Oak, Hack
berry and Sycamore. However the
trustees will probably let the VOL
men of Abilene have the pleasure OF
naming the streets. A day will be
designated when the ladies will be
invited to visit the cemetery and
offer suggestions.
To carry on the work the board
proposes to do, permanent fund is
to be established. The plan OF the
permanent fund is this. When one
buys a lot re pays, say $50 for the
lot and 800 to the permanent fund.
| The $50 will go to general fund. The
500 which goes to the permanent
fund is to be placed in securities or
bonds bearing probably five per cent
interest. The five dollars interest
received each year will pay for the
expense of the care Of this lot. The
owner will not have to go to the
cemetery each year dozen different
times and clean off his lot. This
500 he pays into the permanent
fund pays for the cleaning OF his lot
until eternity. If the owner OF the
lot can not pay the 500 he can,
give a personal note for the same.
The cemetery is very uneven ana
ragged. Some people have terraced
their lots or have curbings around
them. The trustees are going to
have these elected. Their plan Is
to have all the lots on the same level.
In this way the sexton, with large
lawn mower pulled by a horse, can
keep the grass cut even all over
the cemetery. At present only
few people keep the grass on their
lots moved.
In time the board hopes to secure
the land adjoining the cemetery on
the east and make it into a fine
park.
A house for the sexton and his
family will probably be built at the
cemetery.
Henry Johntz, the president X
NJ. White, J. B. Case. Q. A. Hodge
Jacob Brown and G. W. schriner have
been especially active members Of
the committee and with the eoOpera-
ton Of the lot owners Abilene In q
few years may have one Of the pref
tIest cemeteries in the state.
4