1863-01 Annual report of the trustees of the Cemetery of Mount Auburn. January, 1863.

ANNUAL REPORT

TRUSTEES

Cemetery of Mount Auburn.

JANUARY, 1863.

BOSTON 1863

J. H. EASTBURN'S PRESS

MOUNT AUBURN CEMETERY.

THE completeness and general good condition of the Cemetery of Mount Auburn, has required but little outlay for new works during the past year. The roads and paths have been somewhat extended, and the whole ground kept in satisfactory repair. The funds of the Corporation have been preserved and augmented as far as the deranged currency of the country will permit. Some slight changes only have been made in the local organization of the offices attached to the place.

The Gardener, Mr. Wm. H. Spooner, having resigned his situation, the Trustees have abolished the office, and placed the conservatory and the whole business of cultivating plants for sale, under the care of the Superintendent, who will employ persons of suitable skill and experience, to supply the want of the Proprietors in that respect.

The facade of the catacomb or receiving tomb, fronting on Auburn Lake, which was erected two years since, has not been accepted by the Trustees, on account of imperfections in the stone which do not satisfy the requirements of the contract. Attempts have been made by the contractors to rectify these defects, but without success. It is obvious that the completion of a work of this magnitude, and which was voted three years ago by the Trustees, cannot with propriety be longer delayed.

Complaint having been made that Proprietors sometimes employ to cut down trees, persons not in the service of the Corporation, and that such work is often done in a manner prejudicial to the interests of the Corporation,—it is ordered— that hereafter no trees shall be cut down in the Cemetery by any other person than those employed by the Corporation under the direction of the Superintendent, subject to the approval of the Committee on Grounds.

By a vote of the Trustees, the Committee on Lots are authorized to grant to Proprietors and purchasers of lots, the privilege of constructing tombs and catacombs, within their lots at prices not less than fifty dollars for each tomb or catacomb, the same to be constructed according to article 23d and 24th, of the By-Laws.

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In addition to the large sectional plan of the occupied parts of the Cemetery which was made last year by Messrs. Shedd & Edson, the Trustees have caused to be made prospective plans of the unoccupied sections of the ground, exhibiting the future avenues, paths, watercourses, &c., as they will appear when made. These prospective plans will greatly increase the economy of the land, and prevent the waste by irregular spaces, which is common in the older parts of the Cemetery. A new lithographic map of the whole ground on a scale of 80 feet to an inch, has also been ordered.

The two public lots, named St. James, and St. John, having been filled by interments, a new public lot has been laid out on the westerly part of Spruce Avenue, and is named St. Matthews’ Lot.

An offer having been made by a Proprietor on Thistle Path, to pay $6,000 for the cost of constructing a new fountain in the low land adjacent to-that path, and for the conveyance of a piece of land contiguous to said fountain, to be forever kept open,—the Trustees have accepted the proposal, and the preparatory excavations are now in progress of being made. The Horticultural Society, with their accustomed liberality, have relinquished their claim to any part of the proceeds of the sale of this land.

In conformity to a previous vote of the Trustees, a suit has been commenced against Mr. Jonathan Mann, late Superintendent of Mount Auburn, for the balance claimed as due from him to the Corporation. An Auditor was appointed by the Court before whom a hearing of both parties was had by counsel, and an award was obtained from him of $2,090.08 in favor of the Corporation, in addition to $1,000 already deposited by him. From this award Mr. Mann has appealed, and the case is still pending before the Supreme Court.

The Permanent Fund for thé future support of the Cemetery, goes on to increase, by the annual addition of twenty per cent. of the gross proceeds of sales, besides interest. The present amount of this fund, by the Treasurer’s Books is $27,874.92. The Repair Fund is estimated at $18,400.24. Besides these the Treasurer holds an unexpended balance of $31,447.29 in cash and productive property.

By Order of the Trustees, JACOB BIGELOW, President.

4 SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.

To the Trustees of Mount Auburn Cemetery, GENTLEMEN,

In accordance. with requirements of thé Trustees, I herewith transmit the Annual Report of the Superintendent, for the year ending December 31st, i862, as per account of his department. Number of Original Interments for the year ending December 31st, 1862, has been 490 Number of Removals from other Cemeteries, 258 Total number of, Interments for the year, 743 Number of Interments in the Public Lots for the Year 39 Number of IntermentsReceiving Tomb for the year, 39 Total number of Interments in the Cemetery to date, 11,475 Number of New Lots graded, and bounded with Granite Posts, 62 Number of Old Lots improved by being newly Graded and Sodded, 61 Number of Old Lots, bounded with Granite Posts, 74 Number of Lots enclosed with Granite 64 Number of Iron Fences erected 8 Number of Tombs built 4 Number of Monuments erected 40

Respectfully submitted, DANIEL L. WINSOR, Superintendent Mount Auburn Cemetery. Mount Auburn, January 22d, 1863.

CEMETERY OF MOUNT AUBURN.

The TREASURER Reports the following abstract of RECEIPTS and EXPENDITURES for the 31st year, 1862.

He has received from sundry parties, for Materials and Labor on Lots, $17,010.51 For Sales of Lots, 17,726.86 For Deeds, 106.00 For Income of Investments, 1,130.00 For Interment in Public Lot, 362.00 For Tomb, 1,618.00 For Notes Receivable, 5,000.00 $42,953.37 He has paid as follows, viz:— For Labor and Materials used at Cemetery, 21,409.03 To sundry parties for Expenses, 4,950.11 To Massachusetts Horticultural Society, 2,661.35 To sundry parties for Interest, 197.29 To Austin J. Coolidge, Secretary, 487.50 To sundry parties refunded for Removals from Public Lots and Receiving Tombs, 97.00 For Water Works, 2,100.00 For Green-House, 260.41 For Mass. Hospital Life Ins. Co., deposited for Permanent Fund, 3,595.82 For Lot 592 bought of James Phalen, 215.00 For Geo. Wm. Bond, Commission on Collections for 1861, 288.28 For Commission on Sales and Collections for 1862, 800.00 For there was due him from last year, 446.11 For remaining in his hands, - - - - - - - 5,445.47 $42,953.37 GEO. WM. BOND, Treasurer.