Mount Auburn Cemetery

143

April 22, 1873

Miss E. Warner

Dear Madam,

Your note of 16^th inst is rec^d & contents noted.

We shall be happy to set stone steps free of charge on Dianthus Path, where you wish, if you purchase the requisite number viz 3, from some stone dealer & have them delivered to the ground, as is customary on such cases.

For a similar case I would refer you to M^rs Loring Proprietor of L 896, Olive Path who had some steps put in at the south end of Dianthus Path, leading from Myrtle Path, with a year or two of her own expense except setting which was done free of charge

Yours respectfully Jas W. Lovering Supt per AC

319

Sept 20 [187]3.

Mess. Shedd & Sawyer

Gentlemen

Lots 3490 & 3499 on Dianthus Path are wrongly numbered. Lot 3490 should be 3499 and vice versa. We have given orders to have the nos. changed please be sure that the numbers are correct on the new plan

Respectfully James W. Lovering Supt. J.E.C.

206

Jany 17. [186]5

Messrs Shedd & Edson

Gentlemen,

Please send me tomorrow the inside measures to lots 3498 (Cutter) 3517 (Fray) 3518 & 3519 (Thompsons) on Laurel Av^e. I send the plans, on which I wish ^^you to mark the length of inside lines, & the middle ordinates, from which I can make deeds.

Send me also the same for lot 1463, on Thistle Path (Mrs Hemenway's) which contains 790 sq. ft.-

It is laid down on plan, but the exterior measures are given, so as to be no guide for me in describing.-

I shall have to ask you to send to Mt Auburn & survey some of the irregular lots:- [?]} [?]} each other}

Among these I wish

3495	rear of 179 Walnut Av.	contents	168f.
3516	rear of 179 Walnut Av.	contents	65f
3508	rear of 2204 Walnut Av.	contents	87f.
3505	Adams - Elm Av.	contents	203f
3511	Sturges - Anemone P.	contents	370f
3512	Hill - Walnut Av	contents	200f
3513	Timson - Walnut Av	contents	200f
3514	Elliott -Walnut Av	contents	300f
3515	Ames - Walnut Av	contents	300f
3484	Prescott Larch Av	contents	1846f
3499	Fines - Dianthus P.	contents	133f

Remember, I wish the inside measures.

There will doubtless be other irregular ones which I shall wish to [?]. Inform me where you will send out & I will [?] the rest ready.

Yours respy

A.J. Coolidge

210

Jany. 23 [186]5

Capt. Winsor,

Dear Sir,

There is an error in casting the contents of lot no. 3499 on Dianthus Path, that of Norris Fines, which I think you will, percieve on a moment's reflection, [Image: diagram with measurments] You have given the contents as 123 feet, which figures can be obtained only be adding the opposite sides, and multiplying the halves together, ie, 14 x 9 & one-half = 133. But in a figure of [duel?] unequal sides, this makes a considerable error, as you see if you divide the lot into a rectangle and triangle, which gives you but 123 & one-half feet, or 9 & one-half less than you returned.-

This figure is a trapezoid, i.e, one with four sides only two of which are parallel. The rule for finding the area of a trapezoid is:-

"Multiply half the sum of its parallel sides by the distance between them:" - for it is equal to two triangles whose bases are the two parallel sides of the trapezoid, and whose altitude is the distance between them. To prove it in this case, - the lot [Image: Trapezoid diagram with figures.] A.B.C.D. is divided into the two triangles A.B.C and A.C.D - The base of A.B.C is A.B., it's altitude is B.C, The base of A.C.D. is A.D its altitude E.D.- A.B.C = 13 x 3 = 39. A.C.D = 13 x 6 & one-half = 84 & one-half total 123 & one-half Or take A.B.C.E as a rectangle and the area is 13 x 6 = 78. Add triangle C.E.D = 13 x 3 & one-half = 45 & one-half - total 123 and one-half ft. But the bases of the triangles must always be the parallel sides of the traphezoid.

What will you do? report say 124f and let the Treas^r refund $9.?

Yours Respectfully

A. J. Coolidge

The above rule is an excellent one. In this case where the parallel sides are A.D. and B.C "half the distance betwen them" ( meaning of course the shortest distance) is either A.B or the dotted line E.C-