The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1914-03-19

More About the Cemetery.
Editor Leader. The article in tho
paper signed A. Z NJ Is so unjust in
its criticism we feel justified in
answering some OF its statements #
IS always best to tell the truth, the
whole truth and nothing but the
truth. Now, | am not interested in
the cemetery only, have as dear a
relative buried there as any cne, yet
| have never had but one occasion
to criticise the management
Now, perhaps few know that in the
carly days in Guthrie. the city never
took any cognizance Of where people
buried their dead, and the people
went outside the city and buried their
lead on farms very much to the an
noyance of the farmers The owners
OF the farms protested, but to no
avail, and there is many grave
being plowcd and sowed over year
in and year out, in consequence
Now, a few thcughtfo men saw the
necessity of the people having
cemetery SO they put what ready
money they had together to buy some
land for this purpose. They sbou ght
forty acres eff from the northwest
# the Pickard farm, paid for having
il surveyed and plated; a bv-law
drawn up, all this at their own eX-
pense to bury your dead Every year
they have bought large numbers of
trees, had them set out and paid for
hem being tended all through the
hot weather. Some lived and often
many died so the work of remov
ng the sid trees and setting out
new. had to Ire gone over again every
spring. A good deal OF money and
energy has been spent to grow trees
on this high ground.
The ground being prairie, had 20
g subdued-the judgment OF the
owners was TO SOW crops till they
got the ground ready TO lay off for
lots, just as our park board LET the
ground around Capitol lil for sew
eral years for setting out and caring
r. the trees and they raised crops
among the trees, and how beautiful
they were growing when the city took
it over. Now, A. y. NJ says, a frau
woman was hired TO whitewash the
frees--this frail woman was a farm
er's daughter had whitewashed trees
before and chopped and picked many
a pound of cotton. and did her work
letter at the cemetery than the man
that whitewashed there the same day.
A. D. NJ says the water could not |
be had only at the windmill and one
hydrant which was at the top of the
hil near the highest pricei lots. !
Now. The water IS piped nearly as far |
rs any graves are laid out, and you !
cant turn the water off from one |
hydrant without turniung it off from |
the whole cemetery at the same time.
About the dirt being left it should
be carried right away. after the
heavy rains the newly made graves
sink and have to be filled in several
times This is why some dirt is left
Perhaps the lot owners do
not know that the graves are kept
filled in without any expense to them.
And as for the fire destroying trees
Of heart broken n-reIatives-fires oc-
rur IN the city. destroy our homes
Ind trees and alwns. The fire last
summer was supposed to have started
rom some careless person throwing
iown q stump Of cigar and by II
he cemetery lost $500 worth of trees
Now, all honor is given the S9'ers
Who first helped to make our city
Why not be just and give little
Ionor 10 these S9'ers of the cemetery,
fhose forethought and money select
d and paid for this beautiful ground '
Or the resting place OF our dead
If their management has nn' been
erfect. when you criticize do Sc :
AMI kindly and remember
is easier to find fault than ta make
ood yourself
barring the fire which the cemetery
anagers can't be Justly blamed for,
4, co,aarxr,- tg IN battar condition | s.