Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 9.djvu/865

 THE FIRST GERMAN MUNICIPAL EXPOSITION 831

personal catalogue, there is a house register of all persons within the house, including servants, sub-renters, lodgers, and visitors. Another department has charge of ordinary police service and protection. There are also the Sittenpolizei, the lost-and-found department, etc. Under the direction and control of the munici- pality are the sanitary police, the health department police, the Gewerbepolizei, in charge of various trades, aud conditions pro- duced by them, the markets police, etc. It will be noted that the word "police," as here used, is a very inclusive term. Thus there are, as well, the "fire police," the "public-works police," etc. Cemeteries and crematories. There are both social and sanitary reasons for municipal direction and control of cemeteries. Their location, the condition in which they are kept, their surroundings, and the possibilities for contamination are points closely con- nected with the public welfare. Hamburg is an example of the municipalities which attempt to beautify their cemeteries. Berlin and Coin actually exhibited their cemeteries, along with parks and public gardens, under the general title of "institutions for the maintenance and furtherance of public health." Dresden is one of the municipalities which take charge of undertaking and burial. Hearses and carriages, varying from simplicity to elegance, are furnished by the municipal stables. Private under- takers and burial societies exist side by side with the municipal department. The latter, however, offers competent competition at fixed prices, and thus serves to prevent a monopolization of undertaking and the exploitation of the public. The economies of space, hygienic demands, and a growth of rationality and aesthetics are tending toward a popularization of cremation. Cremation societies exist in many of the German cities; and some of the municipalities have erected crematories and colum- baria, while others aid the societies by grants of land. Crema- tories already exist in Gotha, Heidelberg, Hamburg, Offenbach a. M., Mannheim, Mainz, Eisenach, and Jena; and others are projected, or in course of construction, in Bremen, Chemnitz, Leipsig, Dresden, Stuttgart, and Karlsruhe.

HOWARD WOODHEAD.

BERLIN, GERMANY.

[To be concluded '.]