1866-11-05 Letter: Jones to Curtis, 2021.021.009

On left side of page

J.Pringle Jones Reading Penn^a Nov. 5. 1866 [in pencil, below]

Dear [?] Will you please reply to this note in place of [?] C. P. Cutis

[Letter below]

C: P: Curtis, Esquire Boston. Mass:

I take the liberty to write to you, Sir! finding your name in a list of the trustees of the Mount Auburn Cemetery and feeling that there is something so national in your name as to invite [?] a stranger, for the purpose of making some inquiries about your institution with a view to the better government of a similar institution over which I preside. I will not ask you to trouble yourself personally about these queries, farther that to give them the necessary directions to some superinendent or other officer and to request him to answer them.

I. At what rates, by the square foot, are lots sold? lowest and highest prices?

II. At what rates are graves dug? - stating the size and cost.

III. What does the superintendent think of iron fences for lots - if they be permitted in the cemetery?

IV. What does he think of ever-

-green enclosures for the lots? Would he think them preferable to iron or stone fences?

V. What does he think of not allowing either iron or stone fences or evergreen enclosures for the lots, but leaving them all open and concentration all care upon the grass and trees?

VI. Is the cemetery closed on Sundays and Holy days?

VII. How are the lots kept in orderby the company or by the owners? - if by the company, at what charge to the owners?

VIII. Does the company accept the execution of [?Arrests?] to keep lots in good order forever?

I send you herewith a pamphlet descriptive of our Cemetery. We would wish to make it all that its founder intended it should be, and hence we approach the older cemeteries, hoping to derive instruction from their greater experience. We find that our institution, in some matters of taste, is becoming an educational influence of no mean power. It is our purpose to give it [?] highest development, possible, within the limit of our means.

Very Respectfully, J. Pringle Jones. Readng. Penn^a 5 Nov '66