REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON NEW CEMETERY.
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<br />At a legal town meeting of the inhabitants of Lexington, held August 25, 1894, under Article 3, " To hear
<br />the report of any committee that may be ready to act thereon," Mr. A. S. Parsons for the Committee on Site for
<br />the New Cemetery, made the following report :—
<br />The Committee appointed to consider and select a site for a new
<br />cemetery, report as follows :—
<br />The Committee began their duties by announcing through
<br />the local paper, by a notice in the post -office and by mailing
<br />notices to such persons as they thought likely to be interested,
<br />that they would give a hearing at which all persons interested
<br />could appear in person, or by communicating their views by let-
<br />ter, regarding the best site for a new cemetery. -
<br />Much to the disappointment of the Committee not a person
<br />appeared nor was any communication received. This indiffer-
<br />ence to the subject accounts probably for the frequent postpone-
<br />ments of the matter in town meeting, but there is urgent need
<br />for some decision, as there are but very few lots remaining for
<br />sale in the present cemetery and it is the work of years to pre-
<br />pare and make ready for use a new location.
<br />If the town is to continue to provide Lots for the burial of the
<br />dead, something should be done at once.
<br />There are more things to be considered in the selection of a
<br />site for cemetery purposes than would appear at first thought.
<br />Among -these are,—
<br />Ist. Accessibility from the different sections of the town.
<br />2d. Remoteness from thickly settled portions of the town
<br />or those which may become such.
<br />3d. Suitable soil free from rocks, sand, clay, moisture,
<br />etc.
<br />4th. A situation attractive in itself and capable of being
<br />made more beautiful by landscape gardening, the planting of
<br />trees, etc.
<br />5th. The opportunity for extention if the needs of the
<br />future require more room than it seems best to provide at
<br />present.
<br />6th. Safe distance from any water supply which might
<br />be contaminated by its use for the purpose.
<br />Applying these requirements to localities which suggest
<br />themselves, it is astonishing how many have to be at once dis-
<br />missed, and the choice is limited to but very few sites.
<br />After examining many places your committee find them-
<br />selves agreed that the lot recommended by the former committee
<br />—the H. V. Smith place—is, save in one particular, the best
<br />suited for cemetery purposes of any which they have considered.
<br />The only objection is its distance, especially from East Lexing-
<br />ton. Some of the committee feel that this is a sufficient reason
<br />for discarding it, others think its merits are sufficient to over-
<br />come this one objection.
<br />All the members of the Committee agree that if this objec-
<br />tion be held by the town to be conclusive against taking it for a
<br />cemetery, the lot owned by the estate of the late George Mun-
<br />roe, on the northeast corner of Lowell street and Woburn street,
<br />containing about eighteen acres, is the next most desirable site,
<br />and that either would answer very acceptably the needs of the
<br />town for the purpose.
<br />They recommend, therefore, that the town secure either by
<br />purchase or by taking the land under the laws of the Common-
<br />wealth, if necessary, one or the other of these lots and tit it at
<br />once for the purpose of a cemetery.
<br />Respectfully submitted,
<br />ALBERT S. PARSONS,
<br />A. BRADFORD SMITH, -
<br />CHARLES T. WEST,
<br />CHARLES H. WISWELL,.
<br />ABBOTT S. MITCHELL,
<br />LEXINGTON, Aug. 25, 1894.
<br />Committee.
<br />Some discussion ensued and it was finally
<br />Voted—That the report be accepted and the committee be discharged,
<br />Voted—That the report be printed and a copy mailed to every name on the voting list, and that the report be
<br />published in the next annual report.
<br />A true copy from the record. Attest :
<br />LEONARD A. SAVILLE, Town Clerk.
<br />Lexington, Aug. 25, 1894.
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