The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-03-26
OLD BURIAL PLACE
IN REDDlNG MUST
GO IS THE EDICT
Creation of saugatuck Res
ervcir Requires Removal
of Hull Cemetery
(Special to The FlaTmer.)

Redding, March 26.-That the olt
Hull cemetery in SantordtoWn hluSt
go is a decision recently reached NY
the Bridgeport Hydraulic co. Inc an
nouncement is one which those pos
sesing a living interest in the place
have been half expecting ana dreau-
ing ever since the plans for the Gre
alton of the Saugatuck river reservoir
became known. 1t was hopeo, now
ever, that the necessities or Inc SIT
uation might he met by dIk1ng mas
much as the cemetery win not be sub
merged by the flooding of the ADA
cent territory on one side, no lilaoIer
which of the five plans establishing as
many different water levels is finally
adopted.
AS the water would, however, reach
the foot of the slight elevation form
ing the burial ground it is thought
that the enclosure of the place even
by a tight wall extending considerably
below the surface would not give sure
immunity against contamination.
Many members Of the old families
of Redding and Weston, among them
the Bartra1ns, Banks, TreadWells,
Sanfords, Gorhanls, WakenianS, Lyons
Cornwalls, Lees and Wilson's are en-
tonnbed in the place and the scores OF
their widely scattered descendants Oh
rect and collateral, would certainly
make a fight against the proposed up
roofing did such a contest hQld any
promise of success. Some OF them are
asking if the project can he earned
out without the special sanction OF the
Legislature. Lawyers say that 1t can.
They say that under existing statutes
cemeteries. equally with other prop
III nt To
condemnation proceedings when need
ed for the purpose of a public water
supply. Full jurisdiction in the mat
ter rests with the superior court. The
law is in fact very stringent and ex-
plicit in provisions designed to secure
public supply waters and ice ponds
against contamination from the prox-
unity of burial places, their location
within half a mile Of such water bod,
les being forbidden. The prohibition
works affirmatively as well as mega
lively, that is it operates against the
retention of a cemetery within the
forbidden area as well as it's esta,b-
lishment there. Even if the Hydraulic
Co. undertook the diking process in
the present case as the alternative OF
removal town, county or state health
boards WOULD be likely to intervene
with norder for eradication.
The later consideration may have
had as much force as purely sanitary
reasons in ibrih ging the Hydraulic co.
to their present decising, as the diking
method would cost much less than re-
movaL Consequently it would be I'M
just as well as futile to rail against
the company, as some are inclined to
do, aus coldly selfish or wa.ntOn desc
orators Bridgeport must have the wa
ter of the Saugatuck river and a nee
essary condition is the transplanting
of the Hull cemetery, regrettable
condition and one bruising to the SEN
sibi1ities of many but nevertheless in
evitable.
A meeting of those interested in the
cemetery through plot ownership or
family ties vii probably he held soon
with a view to concerted action. They
are hoping, but with no confident ex-
pectation that some way may yet be
found to avoid removal. At present
they are not united in any form of
organization, but intend to effect one
either by incorporating or forming a
voluntary association. That course
would at least enable them to have
voice in the condemnation proceedings
and insist that the court decree Ncon-
tain provisions securing a suitable 10
|cality for the new cemetery and also
supervision to insure the exercise of
proper care and decorum in the trans
fer of remains and memorials.