1857-02-02 Trustees Annual Report, 1831.026.037.002

Annual report of the Trustees of the Cemetery of Mount Auburn Feb. 2 1857

The Cemetery of Mount Auburn continues in a safe and improving condition, not less than it has done in all the previous years of its history. During the past season some new works of small magnitude have been under-taken, and some larger ones previously begun, have been carried to completion.

The upper end of Garden Pond being the last monument the gate along a pool of stagnant muddy water, has been filled up to the height of about six feet above its former surface, with gravel taken from the hill near the gate. A large stone drain in laid through the centre, over which for economy of space an avenue will be laid out. The garden portion of the hill has been levelled, Garden avenue has been moved nearer to the fence, a part of the trees on its border have been transplanted to the south side, and the whole rearranged with reference to their good appearance, and room for future growth. A hollow near Alder Path and one south westerly of the chapel, have also been filled up. By these measures collectively, about two areas

about of valuable land ²[have been redeemed], ¹[in the most eligible parts of the cemetery], at an expense many times less than their present value.

The old house occupied by the superintendent together with its outhouses, have been removed, and a new house for the superintendent has been built on land owned by the Corporation outside and easterly of the gate. This building ^^{designed by Mr. H.W. Hartwell}has been constructed in a substantial and durable manner, at an expense of about $ 4000.

The area in front of the Chapel has been enlarged by the purchase and removal of several lots which were formerly situated on the same space. It is ^^{greatly considered} important to the good appearance of the principal edifices, such as the tower, the chapel and the gate, that no inferior structures should be placed so near them as to interfere with or impair their isolated effect.

The Chapel has been completed in a satisfactory manner both as to appearance and durability. Two of the pedestals and one of the statues destined for the interior, are already in their places. The three remaining statutes are understood to be in a state of forwarding, and may be expected there to arrive here in from one to two years.

Due attention has been paid to repairing and improving the avenues and paths, and and to extending the pavement of gutters when it was thought necessary. Some expense has been incurred in repairing the damage done by the heavy rains of the last summer.

The thinning out and trimming of trees has been in gradual progress under the superintendence of Mr. Mann the present able and active superintendent with whose economy and skill as a landscape gardener the trustees have abundant ^^great reason to be satisfied.

The names of ^^{some of the} persons interred in some of the graves in the public lots, having been lost through the inattention of ^^their relatives and friends, measures have been taken as far as possible to identify these persons as far as and in future to remedy such neglect by affixing to each grave a number on stone, with a corresponding number of reference on the superintendents books.

An important vote has passed the Trustees providing that the land left vacant as intermediate space between lots, and not exceeding ten feet in width between any two lots, may be sold to the nearest lot holder or holders, at one third of the selling price per foot at the time of such sale.

with the condition that the said land shall forever be kept open, and without interments. The advantage of this arrangement consists not only in the probable increase of the funds ^^{of the Corporation} from the expected sales, but also in the opportunity afforded to lot owners who may wish to avail themselves of it, to protect their lots ^^{at a small expense} against the eventual occupation of their spaces for small lots or single interments, a thing which the experiences of older cemeteries has shown to be very likely to happen

The comparative smallness of this years balance of stocks cash + debts receivable, remaining in the Treasurers books, is not an index of the true pecuniary position of Mount Auburn. It will be seen that the purchase of the Stone Farm, the making of land within the cemetery, and the erection of the superintendents house, are not expenditures, but investments, a conversion of more precarious stocks into real property at the Cemetery, much more certain hereafter to yield an abundant nature than any of the funds which have been converted for their purchase. It may be safely assumed that the financial position of Mount Auburn was never so strong, nor its preservation and embellishments so attractions to purchases so satisfactory to its proprietors ^^{nor so attractive to purchasers,} as they will be found to be at about the expiration of the present ^coming year

In conformity to the intentions which has been repeatedly announced, the Trustees have this year voted to commence the accumulation of a permanent fund for the future preservation of the Cemetery after all the land shall have been sold. A report of a committee has been adopted providing for the depsoit annually under certain circumstances, of one fifth part of the gross proceeds of the sales of lots, with the Massachusetts Hospital Life Insurance company, to accomulate at compound interest for the term of twenty years. Should the receipts and necessary expenditures continue about the same as they now are, and should the same conservative [?] which has hitherto governed the Trustees, continue to be observed by them, there is no doubt that an ample permanent fund will have been accumulated for the perpetual care + preservation of the cemetery, after all the land shall have been disposed of.

A new Catalogue has been ordered to be printed for the use of the Proprietors, which is enlarged and corrected up to the present time. A Code of By laws, not before published, has now been added, consisting of extracts from the recorded standing votes of the Trustees, amended and considerally enlarged.

Respectfully submitted in behalf of the Trustees Jacob Bigelow - President