Mount Auburn Cemetery

11

Jan. 8^th [187]4

S. D. Massey Esq

Dear Sir

In Nov [187]1 you left an order here to have your lot graded sodded, posted & no[t] cut; also to have a small foundation built. This work I understand you thought was not to be done for several weeks tho I find no mention of this on the books.

This work was done the charges being

36 loads loam	$36.00
4 " [loads] manure	13.50
780 sods	31.20
10 dys labor	25.00
4 10" posts	16.00
Foundations	7.83
[Subtotal]	$129.03
This bill was not rendered until after the lot was curbed , tho'
the work was done first and therefore the posts were taken back	-16.00
[Total]	$113.03

In Jan'y [187]2 you contracted Hugh Rowe to curb & complete the lot but you gave no notice of your change of plan to the corporation & we had no reason to believe your order was not in full force.

Rowe bill was

(1) removing stone & setting sod	$78
3 tons foundation	12.
81 lbs lead	9.67
21 clamps	5.25
5½ dys grading	13.75
15 loads gravel	7.50
2 " [loads] manure	6.00
4 days sodding	10.00
1¾ " [days] leading	6.12
[Total]	$148.29

Of this bill the cost of
setting curb was	108.04
Taking off & replacing sod	29.75
Filling with gravel	10.50
[Total]	$148.29

Please notice that Rowe pays for no sods, or loam & but a small amount of manure. Therefore at any rate the loam ^$36 and sods ^$31²⁰ should be paid for.

12

omitting the foundation ^$7.83 (to be considered presently) from the bill of 113.03 which leaves ^$105.20, the only difference had the order been carried out as you understood it, would be to have charged the whole amount to Rowe , and if the work had been done at our time there would have been no charge for taking off & replacing the sod viz ^$29.75.

It seems to me that no person would be likely to sign an order without understanding it, and I cannot see that we were any more at fault in executing your order than you were in not notifying us of your change of plans.

I would therefore propose to divide this amount between us, reducing the bill of ^$113.03 by the amount ^$14.88

As to the bill of ^$41.37 I think you are bound to pay that, unless you arrange with Mr. Wentworth in regard to it. You are allowed on that bill ^$14 for the stone which was taken from the old foundation & used over.

I shall be happy to see you on any Saturday between 12 & 2 at the office 16 Pemberton Sq _ and wish to to [sic - do] all that is right and fair in the matter.

Respectfully

J. W. Lovering _Sup^t