1843-09-16 Trustee Committee Report on Introducing Water to the Cemetery, 1831.034.011

The committee to whom was referred the report of a committee on the subject of introducing fresh water into the grounds at Mount Auburn; with directions to take into consideration the various improvements which it may be deemed expedient to make there, have had the same under their con -sideration and respectfully report that by the Act of Incorporation of the Proprietors of the Cemet^e^ry of Mount Auburn the Monies which shall arise from the sale of Lots and belong to the corporation are re -quired to be forever devoted and applied to the Preserva -tion, Improvement, embellishment, and enlargement of the said Cematery and the incidentals expenses thereof - that hitherto these purposes have been faithfully adhered to - the grounds have been laid out & paths & Avenues have been established, a house with suitable appendages built, a temporary gate way erected, & a suitable temporary fence enclosing the whole

grounds - During the present Year a permanent granite gateway has been substituted for the frame wooden one.

After dedicating all the expense of the granite hitherto incurred, including the expense of the granite gateway there will remain at the end of the present year in the Treasury, according to a statement made to the committee by the treasurer, the sum of about Twenty six thousand Dollars applicable to the general objects contemplated by the Act of Incorporation.

It is well known that among these objects there are some, which have been ^always from the beginning of the Cemetary been deemed of primary importance, to which the funds of Corporation were designed to be applied - as soon any adaquate surplus should exist. Indeed these objects were held out to the original Subscribers as the main inducement for their patron -age & encouragement of the enterprise; & without them little or no success could have been hoped for -

The Committee therefore deemed it their sacred duty to recommend that these objects should be put in a train to ensure their entire accomplishment as early as the funds of the corporation shall enable the Trustees to do so. The Committee beg leave to state that the objects - to which they have alluded are

Fence (1st

The erection of a permanent Stone or Iron fence upon the front grounds of the Cemetary & a hedge or fence on the remaining three sides thereof for these

On the borders of the Cemetary & good gravel bottoms ^^substituted in the ponds or if deemed necessary or expedient the ponds can be partially filled up or the narrow -ed in the area - The Committee estimate the expense of accomplishing this part of the plan as not exceed ing 3000$

Water

In respect to the conveying of the pure water - into the grounds, the Committee are aware of some difficulty - The most probably Source of Supply is from Fresh pond by means of an apparatus to raise the water above the level of the ponds in the Cemetery & then to conduct^^it through the intermediate lands ito the Cemetery & thence to Charles River. To accomp -lish this object some Legislative Action will probably be necessary as well as the consent of the proprietors through whose land the water must pass - a survey of the ponds & of these lands has been already made & an estimate of the probably expense ^& will be found in the Report of the former Committee which has been recommended to this Committee & to which reference is to be had for a more full understanding of the project

Chapel

and other incidental Matters (3) The Erection of a Chapel - The Committee deem this a very desirable objec -t - The Chapel ought in their opinion to be built in a chaste style & taste & of the most durable materials & upon a plan that will admit of great addition & enlargement

Enlargement at a future period without injury to the Cemetery ^symmetry & proportions of the original Buildings when the Religious Services & the erection of Monu ments therein Shall require such additions & enlargem ents - If the Chapel should be now erected of a Suitable height of Asbased^per Granite, it may be lighted by a dome or Cantern or Skylight on the Top & the four Sides to be reserved for Busts & Statues & monuments The accommodations for the Religious Services be by a moveable pulpit & moveable seats to be placed in such a position as the occasion may require - The Chapel when built may, if it is thought best, constitute the Nave, or part of the Nave, of a future Church, which Shall become with its future transept a baton or Greek Cross. As has been already suggested private Subscribers may probably be obtained to and in ^the^accomplishment of this object - probably the whole expense of such a chapel for the present purposes of the Cemetery would not exceed 5000$

Observatory/4/

the Erection of a Tower or Observatory - It is believed by the Committee that this may be accomplished at a very Moderate expense & yet be built of the most permanent Materials, & it will be at once a great convenience & an ornament to the grounds - Around Tower of Ashber Granite may be built fifty feet high & of a proper diameter Suitable for an easy Ascent & descent at an expense not exceeding 7000$

Draining Water

Due protection & Security (2nd,) The draining of the low grounds & the introduction of pure water which Should run into the grounds & through the ponds

Chapel

within the same into Charles River, (3^rd) The Erection of a suitable Granite Chapel where the Religious Services for the Dead may be Suitably performed^^{when desired} & which also in the interior Sides may become the repository of Marble Busts & Statutes & other Sepulctural mon ^^{designs & ornaments} uments^ which may from time to time be placed there by liberal Benefactors & friends in Memory of the Dead

Observatory

& which would not bear the exposure^^to of the open air in our Climate (4) The erection of a Granite Tower or Observatory on the Summit of Mount Auburn from which the entire grounds of the Cematary and the whole range of the^^adjacent Country may be distinctly seen These objects in the opinions of the Committee may all be attained within a few Years by devoting the present -nt funds of the corporation to them & such additional funds as from past experience the Committee are justified in believeing will unquestionably come into the Treasury within the same period of Years Which of these objects should have periority or whether all of them should be Simultaneously undertaken & a proportion of the present funds applied pro rata to each is a matter for the ultimate decision of^^the Trustees - and it is not improbably that for some of these objects private subscribtions may be obtained