1870-08-24 Trustee Committee on Green Houses, Folsom to Bradlee, 1831.033.029

[Letterhead: Mount Auburn Cemetery, Superintendent's Office, (P.O.) Mount Auburn, Mass., Aug 24, 1870]

Nath. J. Bradlee, Esq. Comm. on Greenhouses,

Dear Sir,

In accordance with your request I have collected some materials for an estimate for a new Greenhouse. Of course it is impossible to estimate the exact cost without detailed plans.

But I estimate the capacity of our present Greenhouses at 25,000 to 30,000 plants. We need more room for 40,000 plants.

I think a new house or houses to furnish 40,000 plants will cost at least $10,000.

Our present houses are now all in good repair, or very nearly so. The "addition" so called about which I wrote the trustees, is really

not an "addition" but a part of a large new house, which will sooner or later, I suppose be built.

The only good ground for a house, I suppose, is that partly occupied by present houses; and it would be too late to take them down this year, as we could not easily get a new one done in time to take their place before frost.

[Diagram: proposed greenhouse plan] (Bottom of page - drawing of map - depicts "street" on top "west" on left side "East" on right side "Garden in the "south" on the bottom Shows present areas and the proposed addition)

As far as I can ascertain or judge, a large house should occupy the place shown in red ink, and if we build the west end of the space now, it will all come in play by and by, as a part of a new and large building.

Our present houses will be so good when repaired, (now nearly done.) I think you would think them too good to throw away.

The following is approximately

House of	will hold	will cost
3,000 sq. ft area	12,000 plants	$3,000.00
5,000 [sq. ft area]	14,000 [plants]	4,500.
10,000 [sq. ft area]	30,000 [plants]	8,000.
14.000 [sq. ft area]	40,000 [plants]	10,000.

We have now got room for about 30,000 plants, and the proposed addition can be built in the ^^early winter, by our own men.

Very respectfully, C.W. Folsom Supt.

The Committee recommend that the first proposition of CW Folsom for a building ^^covering three thousand feet, & costing not over $3,000 to accommodate not less than 12,000 plants, be accepted and that the Superindent be instructed to erect the same.

For the Committee, Nath. J. Bradlee

Com^eefrom Supt. respecting new Greenhouse, &c. Report of Com^tee rec. app^l of $3,000 - Accepted Nov. 9^st, 1870. Conf. Vote adopted Jany. 11, 1871. (V= 34, 35, 42) Appⁿ finally acted on Jany. 11, 1871.)