Mount Auburn Cemetery

96

Trustees Repairs

Voted That the Treasurer perform the necessary duties in regard to the custody & services trust of the said "fund for repairs", under the superintendence of the com^ee on investments & under the same regulations as apply to his other duties.

Location of Tombs

The com^ee on Lots reported that tombs may be built within twenty six feet of the westerly & southerly fences of the cemetery, with the consent of the Com^ee on lots, & not elsewhere. Voted. To accept the above report -

Water

Voted. That the com^ee on Lots be authorized to employ an engineer to ascertain the practicability of bringing water from Fresh Pond to Mount Auburn. Voted. To adjourn -

A true record Attest B. R. Curtis Sec^y. -

Trustees

Pursuant to notice issued by the Secretary the Trustees of the Proprietors of the Cem^y of Mount Auburn met at the office of the Secretary at eleven oclock A. M. of saturday Sep^r 16 1843 Present Mess^rs Bigelow, Crocket, C. P. Curtis, B. R. Curtis, Brimmer Parker & Story

Gateway

Voted. That the Trustees not accept the stone gateway lately erected by Mr. Octavious T. Rogers until the upper stories

101

Suitable granite foundation can be erected of a suitable heighth on the whole length of the Cemetery fronting on the Cambridge & Watertown public Highway for an expense not exceeding 17000 $ -

Hedge.

The other three Sides of the Cemetery the Committee propose should be enlosed by a hedge fence of Buck Thorn or some other Shrub thickly planted within & near^^to the present wooden fence This would in a few years with suitable care constitute ______ a substantial & beautiful enclosure; & might be done an an expense not exceeding 1000$

Draining

(2) As to draining the grounds & obtaining a Supply of pure water - the various ponds may be made to communicate with each other, & the stagnant water be drawn off the same by Suitable ditches, so as ultimately to pass through the low grounds into Charles River - The ponds can then be excavated & the materials obtained therefrom applied to fertilize the grounds on the borders of the Cemetery, & good gravel bottoms be substituted in the ponds, or if deemed necessary or expedient, the ponds can be partially filled up or narrowed in their area - The committee estimate the expense of accomplishing this part of the plan as not exceeding 3000$

Water

In respect to the conveying of pure water into the grounds, the committee are aware of some difficulty - the most probably Source of Supply is from Fresh Pond by means of an Apparatus to raise the water above the level of the Ponds in the Cemetery & then to conduct it through the intermediate lands

173

Trustees, October 10, 1872

[Annexation to Cambridge of certain districts.] Communication from T. H. Safford respecting referred to Pres^t.

" part of Belmont in immediate proximity to Fresh Pond, also " that portion of M^t Auburn now in Watertown and the territory " adjoining, including the little village West of the Cemetery," urging the Corporation to cooperate in said plan of annexation, it was after discussion, and on motion of M^r Snow

Voted, – that the subject be referred to the President to take such action as he may deem expedient.

Monthly Statement of Sales of Lots accepted & placed on file.

A statement of the Sales of Lots effected by the Superintendent and approved by the Committee on Lots, September 11^t to October 10^t, 1872, having been submitted and read by the Secretary, it was

Voted, – that said statement be accepted and placed on file.

Voted, – that this meeting be dissolved.

Sam^l Batchelder, Jr. Secretary

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{"Great Fire."} { Nov. 9/72 }

Trustees. November 13^t, 1872

Boston, November 13^t, 1872.

At the time appointed for the regular monthly meeting of the Trustees, Wednesday, November 13^t, 1872, at Four o'clock P.M. , – being the second Wednesday in said month, – Messrs. Pickering and Lawrence were present, but in the lack of a quorum no organization was had, or action taken.

Sam^l Batchelder Jr. Secretary.

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Trustees. November 27, 1872. Boston, November 27^t, 1872.

A Special Meeting of the Board of Trustees was held on Wednesday, November 27^t, 1872, at Four o'clock, P.M.

Present, Messrs. J. T. Bradlee, N. J. Bradlee, Brewer, Choate, Little, Perkins, Pickering, Snow and Turner.

The subscribers appointed as a committee of the Trustees of Mount Auburn, to inquire and report on the practicability of introducing water into the grounds of the Corporation, respectfully reports.

That they have employed Mr Waldo Higginson as a surveyor to take the levels between the surface of Fresh Pond and that of different places in Mount Auburn and the intervening land, and have obtained from him the following results

The surface of Fresh pond at its ordinary summer level is about one foot above that of the tide at high water

The water in the meadow west of the gate was found July 27^th to be eight feet 35/100 above the level of Fresh pond; and the level of Garden pond six feet and 85/100 above the level of Fresh pond

Two methods are practicable, by which the water of Fresh pond may be conveyed within the inclosure of Mount Auburn

1. The water may be raised by a steam engine, or other power, to a reservoir on

some eminence near Fresh pond, from whence it may be conducted in pipes, or in a channel, through the next eligible part of the intervening land to Mount Auburn - The expense of erecting and keeping in repair the machinery necessary to afford a considerable stream of water, together with the other parts of the construction, would probably be found so great as to prevent the Trustees from entertaining this project.

2. A deep channel might be cut, a foot or more below the level of Fresh pond, passing through the intermediate ridge to J. Wyeths meadow, and entering the cemetery a few roads west of the gate, thence passing through Garden & Meadow ponds, and crossing in its way Central avenue and Indian ridge, and terminating in the salt marsh southereasterly from Mount Auburn.

The expense of such a work according to the accompanying estimates of Mr Higginson is as follows

Cost of excavation from Fresh Pond to M^T Auburn inclusion of crossing Wyeths meadow & Watertown road $4,194.

Cost of excavation through M^t Auburn & thence to Charles river marsh - - - 2064.

Continguous & superintend - - - 313.

Total cost by Mr Higginsons estimate $6571.

To which may be added $700. in case a stone culvert is laid through Mr J.C. Grays ridge, -1400 and $700 as a conjectured estimate for land

Total $7971.