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MOUNT AUBURN CEMETERY.
In 1831 the Massachusetts Horticultural Society purchased the tract of land
since inclosed and known as the Cemetery of Mount Auburn. The principal
part of this land was first conditionally engaged for a cemetery by the Corresponding
Secretary of the Society, and the purchase was not completed unil
one hundred individual subscribers for burial lots had been obtained from the
community at large, and thus a sufficient sum insured to compensate the
Society for its outlay.

It was at first intended to divide the land purchased into two parts—the one
to be occupied as a cemetery, and the other as an experimental garden for
horticultural purposes. But in a few years it became apparent that the proposed
garden was not likely to be wanted, and in 1835, under an Act of the
Legislature, the Horticultural Society conveyed the whole land known as
Mount Auburn to a new Corporation, entitled “The Proprietors of the
Cemetery of Mount Auburn.” By the terms of this conveyance, the new
Corporation was to pay annually to the Horticultural Society one-fourth part
of the proceeds of the sales of lots, after deducting fourteen hundred dollars,
which last sum was intended for the defrayment of annual expenses. In this
way things remained until 1858.

In the meanwhile the Proprietors of Mount Auburn had at sundry times,
made additional purchases of land in the neighborhood of their Cemetery—the
greatest of which is that of the estate known as the “ Stone Farm” on the
southerly side of Mount Auburn; and various questions have arisen, both
before and since that purchase, as to the right of the Horticultural Society to
participate in the results of such purchases; also as to the claim of that
Society for a part of the proceeds of interments made in “ public lots,” the fee
of which is still in the Corporation of Mount Auburn; also in regard to the
expense of filling up and grading ponds and useless pieces of land so as to
render them available for cemetery-purposes; and also in regard to various
other unsettled matters.

With a view to the final adjustment of these and any other question which
might remain, the Trustees of Mount Auburn Cemetery during the last year
appointed a Committee of Conference, to meet a similar Committee to be