1889-11-22 Letter: Perpetual Care with Donation, 2014.020.012-013

[in pencil] Subject: {Don. in Trust {P.C. with G.

MELLIN'S FOOD TRADE MARK

ORA ET LABORA

FOR INFANTS AND INVALIDS.

Mr. THOMAS DOLIBER 41 CENTRAL WHARF Boston Nov. 22, 1889.

Supt. Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, Mass.

Dear Sir:--

I have been informed by the Treasurer that I can place my cemetery lot No. 4199 under the perpetual care of the corporation and that the corporation will assume it on my paying ^$475.00..

As you now take care of the lot for ^$8.00 per year, this seems to me a very large sum; perhaps you will be able to tell me how the calculation is made, and whether it cannot be done for a less sum. $300.00 at 3% would yield $9.00 per year, and I thought perhaps the corporation would be ready to undertake it for somewhere in the neighborhood of that sum.

Will you kindly reply, and much oblige,

Yours very truly,

Thomas Doliber

[in pencil]

Dear Sir

You can pay the Corporation three hundred dollars in trust & the income will be spent on the care of the lot, as far as it proves sufficient, whether it does or not, depending on the rate of interest and the cost of labor.

In making this the cost of perpetual care with guaranty,^{four hundred & seventy five dollars,} the washing of the headstones and the repairing of the sod is included for both of which you would pay in addition to the amount now paid annually, and as the Corporation agrees in the a contract repair^{will guaranty to keep the} lot in good order, there must of course be a margin to cover fluctuation in cost of labor, or rate of interest; in other words, in the latter form of contract the Corporation takes the risk of the cost of labor and rate of interest, while in the former the prop. lot owner does, the liability of the Corporation ceasing when the income has been properly extended.