Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-05-16
OMAHA CREMATORY PRAISED
Chicago Publication Devotes Con-
siderable Space to Details of
Structure.
Is ONE OF FINEST IN LAND


An article Of two and one-half pages
with illustrations appears in Park and
Cemetery and Landscape Gardening"
published in Chicago. on the new chapel
End crematory at Forest Lawn cemetery
No finer building for its purpose has
yet been erected in this country than the
rev chapel. crematory and receiving
vaiut at Omaha" says the article.
Tho building will be dedicated today.
The architect has been rarely success
full" continues the article. I'm the stately
classic design for both exterior and in
terror. His treatment of the decorative
features Of the interior in detail, in color
scheme and in selection Of material has
been especially effective. The harmoni-
Gus combination Of marble. mosaic.
ceramic and stained glass has produced
a warm effect unusual in buildings Of
this character and eliminates everything
IN any way suggestive of the somber
aspect OF mortuary structures. The pre-
Vailing impression is one Of cheer not
of gloom. The white Colorado Yule mar
BILE selected for the interior contributed
richly in producing the final effective
and dignified whole.
New idea in Heating.
Fuel oil is used for the heat in the
retorts, but the system differs from other
oil-burning types in that the oil is pre-
heated and vaporized before it reaches
the retort This process eliminates the
usual spraying Of the oil from the burner
into the retorts. and approaches very
closely to that most desirable condition
for this work-intense heat without
flame. The whole system is extremely
simple and effective in operation. The
absence OF smoke and unburned gases Is
particularly noticeable.
The two retorts are rectangular and
approximately of the following dinen-
sions; Six feet wide twelve feet long
and seven feet high. The flues are con-
structed under the floor
Owing to the extremely high tempera-
ture obtained, which in certain parts of
the retorts reaches 5000 degrees Fahren-,
heit, the entire interior is constructed of
especially made fire brick moulded from
clay found only in western Pennsyl-
vania. The retorts are encased in red
brick masonry and cement"
Work of Omaha Men.
The chapel has seating capacity of
$50 and is equipped. with sDarfee opera
chairs, a type of cfiaif that will fold
and still. leave the legs open and stand
Ing. 80 -'@f'' ~ a
The total cost OF the building was $lOS,-
GEO.. The architect was John Mcdonald
and general contractor, Walter Peterson,
10th OF Omaha.
The officers Of the Forest Lawn Gene,
terry association are:',1rif. ss''
O. G. Campbell; president: NJ. Fl. Bliss,
vice president; H. S. Mann, secretary,
and j. Y. Craig, superintendent and
treasurer.
Shortly after the Omaha plant was
placed in commission 1t attracted the at
tentioR of the United States government
and Its builders were engaged to dupli-
Gaze the Omaha installation on the 18TH
mus of Panama. The Panama crematory
was completed and the first cremation.
was had February 9, 1914. Up to the pres
ent time there have been 1873 cremations
at the Panama plant.
In crematory buildings where retorts
have been placed under the chapel it has
always been problem to find proper