OCR Text |
Show Cemeteries Should Be Beautified For Living Not The Dead Says Mrs. Romney The problem of beautifying and maintaining cemeteries in Utah was the subject of a three hour discussion during the recent Municipal Muni-cipal League convention held m oLden, states Mrs. Roxey Romney , who attended the session. The conclusion was that we shouW beautify the cemeteries for the l.v ing and not for the dead sas Mrs Romney. Her report follows. The eminent Gladstone was ouoted bv some of the speakers Xreln he said .'You may know what the community is b y h dition of its cemetery Such state ments sot me to thinking of Dixie. Not that our community is really what that statement might imply, iSngbv the general appearance of our cemetery, but we aie lax in that respect. And while we are making some improvement, the cooperation co-operation of all lot owners will be necessary if we accomplish what we should. And this cooperation we have not yet secured. "Some are interested and will care for and improve their cemetery ceme-tery lots. Some are unable at present to meet the cost of permanent per-manent care, and there are many graves with no relatives near to take any interest. However, we could still beautify and make our cemetery a place to be proud of if those living here who own lots were equally interested. "Drastic changes are being made in the cemeteries in many parts of Utah. Old fences are ( (Continued on page eight) Beautifying Cemetery (Continued from first page) being torn down and debris removed re-moved regardless of their one time purpose. Old cemeteries are being re-plotted, eliminating in some cases the drives and walks, the entire surface being planted to lawns. In this way, one cemetery regained $4,000 worth of lots, and spent the amount for improvements, improve-ments, planting flowers and trees. Curbings are also being removed since they detract from the general effect where only one lot here and there is curbed. This also cuts down the time required for general care. Large stones and monuments are mounted on a flat base so that lawns may be planted and cared "The well-dressed cemetery of today is a source of city revenue, and not a charitable institution. The fees charged pay for the upkeep up-keep and they are really places of beauty. By comparison, St. George has the lowest burial cost, which amply gives the reason why it is not well groomed and beautified. beauti-fied. Many communities are bending bend-ing every effort in making their cemeteries places to be proud of. "There is much to be done in St. George in this respect. It is therefore there-fore good to know what is being done elsewhere. I would encourage those who go to other cities to visit the cemeteries and get the impression which cannot fail to come where the resting place of the dead is made beautiful and attractive. We cannot stand still. We must go forward. Let us urge citizens an awakening to the need of cemetery beautification." |