MUCK EXCAVATION 103 



seen a pile-driver at work on a timber bulkhead to support 

 the farther shore. This bulkhead was constructed in 

 accordance with the general description on page 54. In 

 the foreground is seen part of a shore wall along the nearer 

 shore. The exceedingly unstable character of the soil 

 can be seen from a close examination of the houses in the 

 background, several of which are out of plumb. In Fig. 

 36, page 113, is observed the second method of excavation, 

 as mentioned in this paragraph. The pit was kept free 

 from water by means of a pulsometer as shown. 



After the lake excavation was well along, good upland 

 subsoil was dumped over the timber bulkhead as described 

 in general on page 54. In sinking to a condition of equilib- 

 rium a considerable quantity of muck was thereby dis- 

 placed. This was all removed by means of a cable way 

 and buckets, since the bottom of the lake had become 

 exceedingly soft and was incapable of supporting tracks 

 or run- ways. 



The Essex County park lands include a great many 

 acres of originally poor and wet soils. These have been 

 developed into lakes and water courses, thereby greatly 

 enhancing the beauty of the parks. On the other hand, 

 by means of judicious filling, marshes and areas of shallow 

 submergence can be transformed into valuable park 

 property. An example is seen in Figs. 3 and 4 on pages 

 15 and 19, loaned by Commissioner Cabot Ward of the 

 Department of Parks of the City of New York. The 

 filling, as stated by Acting Commissioner Valentine, was 

 largely deposited under permits issued to excavators and 

 contractors. At the upper end of Riverside Park Extension 

 a good deal of the fill was obtained from excavations for 

 the Catskill Aqueduct. 



Mr. G. A. Parker, Superintendent of Parks of Hartford, 



