10 
PARK AND CEMETERY. 
mud had been cast up by the excavator. 
This embankment acted as a protection 
dyke and permitted heavy filling of sand 
behind it. After the object of this em- 
bankment had been accomplished, all 
surplus material above grade of shore 
line was removed and used as black soil 
where needed, but as the front of this 
embankment presented only a mud beach 
for our otherwise beautiful lake, a new 
contract was entered into with the 
Dredging Company for the construction 
of a sand beach. Conditions not per- 
mitting an accurate estimate of material 
pumped, this contract was let on a per 
diem basis. 
The excavator started operations by 
first going around the lake and trimming 
shore line to a perfect condition. A 
shelf about twelve feet wide was then 
excavated to a height of one foot above 
the water, and the material handled, was 
cast l)ack on edge of sand fill. In the 
dredging operations, the line conveying 
material was laid three feet from rear 
of excavated shelf, and hoisted on blocks 
to desired grade of beach. Four lengths 
of 25 foot spill pipe were used on end of 
line. These spill pipes were equipped 
with a gate every four feet which could 
be readily opened or closed as needed. 
At start of pumping, gates were left 
open, practically all sand being spilled 
through the first few gates. The first 
gate receiving the larger portion; the 
greater part of the water as well as large 
stones being spilled at the end of line. 
.\s the piling of sand continued under 
these gates, the action of the water 
would carry a large portion of it out 
over the edge of the shelf, thus estab- 
lishing a natural foundation in the 
deeper water. .\lso, this water and ma- 
terial would wear away the outer edge 
of shelf, allowing natural slope of fill to 
extend back, and when this reached 
height of grade, gate would be closed. 
This operation was repeated at each 
gate until end of the fourth spill pipe 
was reached. This meant a completion 
of 100 feet of beach. Spill pipes were 
then removed, and four solid ones re- 
placed them, with spill pipe again placed 
on the end. When the material appeared 
to be e.xtending too far out into the 
lake, the use of sheer plank would break 
the current of water and give a much 
closer and steeper base. The height of 
this beach at rear of excavated shelf was 
three feet over that of the lake eleva- 
tion. This permitted a very beautiful 
slope to the water’s edge. 
The construction of this sand beach 
required quite a quantity of material 
and time, but when completed, was the 
only thing needed to bring out the fact 
that this piece of work from start to 
finish, while attended with many diffi- 
culties, w'ould always stand as a monu- 
ment to those involved. 
This completed the final contract with 
the I^a Crosse Dredging Company. The 
long winters of Minnesota, each which 
had compelled a shut-dowm of several 
months, had prolonged this construction 
to a period extending over four years, 
during which time, an approximate esti- 
mate of 600,000 cul)ic yards of material 
had been handled. 
While with the completion of dredg- 
ing, the big item of expense is elimi- 
nated, much still remains to be done be- 
fore this reclaimed ground can be placed 
on the market. There are 5,750 feet of 
new drive to stone, besides sewers and 
catch basins necessary for its drainage. 
Section No. 22 has l)een graded, seeded 
and platted ready for sale, also many 
trees have been planted. 
The method of preparing this ground 
for seeding is as follows: 
After first obtaining the amount of 
sand from dykes required for mixing 
purposes, any of this sand not needed 
was again replaced in its former ex- 
cavation. Any shifting or distributing 
of black dirt needed was then done, and 
a deep plowing was given, which thor- 
oughly mi.xed the sand into the mud. If 
not found sufficient, a later plowing fol- 
lowed, after which it was thoroughly 
disced and harrowed, which gave it a 
very mellow appearance. This ground 
was then gone over with a roller, fol- 
lowed by seeding, seed being raked in 
and another light rolling was given, 
which completed the operation. By first 
platting this section into lots, we were 
able to set out trees so that they would 
in no way interfere with monuments 
and burials at a later period. The high 
and perfectly contoured filling of these 
sections which in every way complies 
with the natural ground in the vicinity, 
will in a few \ears after trees have ob- 
tained some growth, defy even the most 
expert eye to determine that this ground 
had ever been otherwise than in its 
present natural appearing condition. 
What this improvement means to 
Lakewood: 
1. 1,159,130 square feet of ground 
after deduction of drives, has been re- 
claimed. This also makes available a large 
amount of contiguous property. 
2. A beautiful lake having an area of 
10]4 acres and maximum depth of 75 
feet, which assures us of an abundance 
of excellent water for all cemetery uses. 
3. The riddance of a 39k2-acre swamp 
which for years had been a mar to the 
beauties of Lakewood Cemetery as well 
as to this section of the city. 
Progress in National P ark IN 0 r k 
By Stephen T. Mather, Assistant Secretary of the Interior, Washington, D. C. 
(CoiieJiiiIciI.) 
A survey of the 1916 season in Yoscniite 
National Park (juickly and clearly defines 
three heads under which its development 
may be discussed. These are : first, new 
contracts covering large public-service con- 
cessions ; second, increased federal appro- 
priations for improvement and protection 
of the park; third, removal of restrictions 
on motor travel. 
For many years the department unsuc- 
cessfully endeavored to induce parties wdth 
capital to undertake the construction of 
new hotels in the park, particularly on the 
floor of the valley. No individual or cor- 
poration could be interested in the park, 
and its future at the opening of the expo- 
sition season was dark indeed. Then D. J. 
Desmond, of San Francisco, general com- 
missary contractor operating in all sections 
of the state, a young man already suc- 
cessful in business, a man of vision and 
immense energy, had the situation in the 
Vosemite brought to his attention. He 
saw its opportunities and applied for a 
comprehensive concession covering the 
operation of hotel, camps, transportation 
service, stores, garages, etc. 
This application was not granted to him 
at that time, but he was permitted to in- 
stall and operate a new camp during the 
1916 season with the understanding that 
if he rendered good service in his camp 
he would have a long-time concession. He 
built and operated the Yosemite Falls 
Camp and gave his guests service of a 
high order. He more than met the con- 
ditions. Accordingly, the department en- 
tered into contracts with the Desmond 
Park Service Co., of which Mr. Desmond 
is president, covering the following; The 
erection of a hotel on the floor of the 
valley to cost not less than $150,000; and 
another hotel at Glacier Point to cost ap- 
proximately $35,000; camps on the floor 
of the valley ; lodges at various points in 
the higher parts of the park and along the 
Tioga Road, which crosses the park at 
some distance from the rim of the gorge ; 
the installation and operation of automo- 
bile transportation on all the roads of the 
park open to motor travel ; the operation 
of trail transportation, and the construc- 
tion and operation of stores, garages, etc. 
The privileges granted in these contracts 
by their terms are to be exercised for a 
period of 20 years, and the department in 
consideration of granting these concessions 
receives annually, during the first two 
years of the life of the contract, 25 per 
cent of the net profits of the enterprise, 
and thereafter 50 per cent of the net profit. 
The net profit of the company is deter- 
mined by deducting from the gross income 
