Trustees Records, Vol. 3, 1859 (page 277)

277

Report of Com^ee on Grounds on proposition of Mrs Hemenway for Fountain _

The President, for the Committee on Grounds,
submitted their report on the matter of the propo-
sition of Mrs Mary Hemenway which was re-
committed at the last meeting - as follows: _

"Mrs Mary Hemenway by her communica-
tion dated November 6. 1862, offers to pay to the Cor-
poration of Mount Auburn Cemtery six thousand
dollars, if they will construct a fountain opposite
her lot on Thistle Path, and convey to her in trust
to be forever kept open about twenty one thousand and
ninety eight feet of land exclusive of water, as seen
in a plan of the same drawn by Messrs Shedd
and Edson. This land is composed chiefly of a wet
bog, and a very steep bank, neither of them convertible
to Cemetery purposes without a large outlay for filling
up and altering their grade. The number of lots
which could be constructed on this land, by Mr
Shedd's estimate, would not exceed thirty five: _ and
these would perhaps be the last part of Mount Au-
burn to come into the market. Supposing them to be
all sold in twenty or twenty five years, at present
full prices, they would not bring the accumulated
value of three thousand dollars paid at the present
time.

As to the cost of constructing the fountain, if it
is found on experiment that we can afford to waste
the water after it is used, the fountain can be made
for fifteen hundred dollars. _ But if the water is saved
and returned to the well, the whole cost, including laid
pipes and a water tight basin would not exceed three