1877-01 Annual Report of the Trustees of the Cemetery of Mount Auburn, Together with the Reports of the Treasurer and Superintendent. January, 1877.

ANNUAL REPORT

OF THE

TRUSTEES

OF THE

Cemetery of Mount Auburn,

TOGETHER WITH THE

REPORTS

OF THE

TREASURER AND SUPERINTENDENT.

JANUARY, 1877.

BOSTON: ALFRED MUDGE & SON, PRINTERS, 34 SCHOOL STREET.

1877.

REPORT.

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IMPROVEMENTS have been steadily prosecuted in the cemetery during the past year. In the new part much labor has been expended in shaping the ground, filling up hollows, preparing and ballasting avenues and paths. The avenue parallel with the new iron fence has been completed, and the space between that avenue and the fence graded, grassed over, and planted with trees.

In the old cemetery the grading around and near Halcyon lake has been finished, and shade trees and ornamental shrubs planted. The whole space thus far assigned for small lots between Althæa and Clethra paths has been put in order for that purpose. The low area between Fountain avenue and the bank which slopes down from the lots on Lime avenue has been raised and graded. The Indian Ridge path has been put in order. The land near the east gate, which was formerly low and wet, has been raised and graded, and there is now in this locality about one-third of an acre available for lots, which was formerly useless. Spruce avenue is now believed to be thoroughly drained. This result has been accomplished by the sinking of deep ditches filled with stone, by which the surface water is conveyed through the clay sub-stratum to the water-level below. Three thousand two hundred and ninety-seven feet of new gutters have been paved; seven hundred and seventy-five feet of old gutters relaid; and twenty-five new cesspools constructed.

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To meet the requisitions of proprietors, a want long felt has been supplied by the completion of the Receiving Tomb on Rosebay avenue and under the Indian Ridge path. The granite front and vestibule were commenced Several years ago, and one section of the catacombs partially completed. The work was resumed the present year, the original plan having been somewhat modified, and the tomb has been finished and is now ready for use. As now built, it consists of a vestibule seventeen feet square, arched with brick and floored with colored tiles; the side panels of the brick-work are also ornamented with tiles. From the vestibule opens an arched hall forty-five feet in length by ten feet in width, similarly paved with tiles, and ventilated and lighted from above, and also by a circular, stained-glass window at the extreme end of the hall. Beneath this window is ornamental tile-work in the shape of a Greek cross. The cells or columbaria are constructed on each side of this hall, and are one hundred and twentyeight in number varying in size from 36 by 24 inches to 27, by 20 inches. The doors of the cells are of white marble, with composition handles, and the facings are of Castleton slate.

Between the vestibule and the hall are two light iron gates, and the front entrance is closed by massive iron doors of open work, so arranged that, by the addition of iron sheeting, they can be made perfectly tight in the winter season. Although light is sufficiently admitted for all ordinary purposes in the day-time, gas-fixtures have been provided to meet the contingencies of cloudy weather and dark afternoons. The cost of the completion will not exceed ten thousand five hundred dollars.

The dispute with the town of Watertown in regard to

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the taxation of the Wattriss and Chant lots has been finally adjusted. These lots were supposed by the trustees to have been legally annexed, and to have become a part of the cemetery in accordance with the words and intent of our acts of incorporation. Nevertheless, the town claimed the right to assess an annual tax, and continued to do so, on the ground that their consent to the devotion of these lots to cemetery purposes had not been given, as required by the statute. The question of our liability to pay the back taxes thus assessed was by mutual consent referred to Hon. E. R. Hoar, whose decision was to be final. The result was against us. To obviate any further difficulty of this kind, the trustees determined to apply to the General Court for such further legislation as should clearly define the position of the corporation in regard to taxation. A satisfactory arrangement having been made with the town of Watertown, and all objection on their part withdrawn, an act in addition to the acts to incorporate the proprietors of Mount Auburn Cemetery was accordingly passed at the last session of the legislature. This act is printed in the appendix to this report. The first section extends the rights of proprietors to owners of lots of not less than 100 square feet. The remainder of the act relates to exemption from taxation.

It will be seen that the first section requires the assent of the present proprietors; and accordingly notice has been given in the call of this meeting that this question will be presented for your acceptance or rejection.

The receipts from sales of lots have fallen off largely during the past year. In 1875 they amounted to $32,724.50; in 1876, only to $15,640.50. This is doubtless owing to the general business depression of the year, and the en-