6 PARK AND CEMETERY. 
Reclaiming Swamp Land in a Cemetery 
How Lakewood Cemetery, Minneapolis, reclaimed over 
a million feet of sivanip land and made a ten-acre lake. 
Few places have been beautified to such 
an extent as to eliminate all objectionable 
features. These may be hidden from the 
eyes of the general public in various ways, 
but never from the eyes of those closely 
observant. 
Lakewood Cemetery, Minneapolis, with its 
excellent topography, velvety lawns, nat- 
ural trees and beautiful mortuary chapel, 
has been the object of many tributes from 
visitors to the cemetery from various 
places over the country. But to Superin- 
tendent Hobert and the cemetery officials 
there has always existed the fact (although 
never being called to the attention of vis- 
itors) that there was at least one portion 
of the grounds which could not be com- 
mended. 
Located in the southwestern portion of 
the cemetery was a piece of swamp land 
which in its original condition was abso- 
lutely worthless, besides being a great mar 
to the improved portion of the grounds. 
This swamp contained 39.5 acres, bounded 
on nearly the entire eastern side by a 
precipitous bluff, having a height of about 
fourteen feet, extending down to the top 
of this bluff from a beautiful sloping hill 
above, the ground had already been im- 
proved. 
Southwest of the center and entirely sur- 
rounded by swamp was a natural knoll 
which had been previously improved and a 
passable drive constructed across the 
swamp, connecting it with the main portion 
of the cemetery. This swamp lay abso- 
lutely level and so low that it was impos- 
sible to arrange any method of drainage. 
It was composed of a fairly solid bog 
about four feet in depth, below which was 
a thin mixture of decayed vegetable mat- 
ter and water. Through the center of this 
area flowed a sluggish creek, being the out- 
let of Lake Calhoun and the inlet to Lake 
Harriet. The whole swamp was practically 
a floating bog, soundings showing a depth 
of from five to sixty feet before reaching 
sand bottom, while in some places holes or 
pockets were found in which we did not 
sound to full depth. Most of this area was 
covered with a dense growth of tamarack 
and birch, while in some of the dryer por- 
tions a few elms were found. These trees 
started from seed, were very insecurely 
rooted, and were frequently being blown 
over by high winds. 
In the summer of 1912 it was decided by 
the trustees of Lakewood Cemetery that it 
would be advisable to attempt to reclaim a 
nine-acre portion of the northeast end of 
this swamp. Arrangements were made with 
the Board of Park Commissioners of Min- 
neapolis to secure approximately 150,000 
cubic yards of sand from the bottom of 
Lake Calhoun, which lies a distance of 
about 300 feet from the nearest point of the 
land to be filled. 
A yardage contract was entered into with 
the La Crosse Dredging Co., which at the 
time was operating a hydraulic dredge on 
this lake, to handle the material. A force 
of men were immediately started at work 
clearing this section of swamp, while our 
engineer was obtaining cross ’ sections and 
elevations as well as devising a system of 
gauges to ascertain amount of subsidence 
taking place as filling proceeded, this being 
necessary in computing estimates. On ac- 
count of variation of subsidence, gauges 
were found necessary at each fifty-foot 
cross section. These gauges consisted of 
an upright from twelve to twenty feet in 
height which was firmly secured to a base 
three feet square. The elevation of ground 
at base was taken, also a careful measure- 
ment in feet from base to a mark near the 
top of upright, this record, as well as loca- 
tion of gauge, being carefully preserved. 
These bases were firmly secured to top of 
bog to prevent underworking of water and 
material at first pumping : as material filled 
over base, its size was sufficient to assure a 
subsidence equal to that of the bog. 
Plans were arranged with the idea that, 
after filling was completed, cross sections 
would be re-established, elevations taken 
where needed, and especially at gauges, the 
surface then to be platted. A measurement 
was taken from top of fill to mark on 
gauge — this, deducted from total height of 
gauge, giving depth of sand fill at this point. 
Ascertaining from gauges the depth of fill 
at each fifty-foot cross section, and de- 
termining intermediate points of interpola- 
tion, a very accurate platting of base of fill 
could he obtained, as well as anv desired 
information in regard to subsidence. Where 
filling was to be done on solid ground, 
only elevations were necessary; In later 
comparing carefully taken soundings, with 
depth shown by gauges, soundings were 
found very inaccurate, which would have 
resulted in quite a loss to the contractor, 
although on some pieces of similar work 
they are considered reliable. 
Actual operations were started by first 
pumping a protecting dyke along car tracks, 
followed by going over the entire area with 
a light filling of sand. This was in order 
to obtain a general subsidence of the bog 
and prevent upheaval which would have re- 
sulted otherwise. 
On account of the late start and early 
winter, little was accomplished the first sea- 
son. The following spring operations were 
again resumed, the first step being to go 
over the area with a very heavy filling 
which gave entire subsidence and assured 
us of a firm foundation. The work pro- 
gressed very favorably through the sum- 
mer and by early fall the full amount of 
150,000 cubic yards allowed us by the Park 
Board had been handled, although the con- 
templated fill had not been completed, owing 
to an unexpected amount of subsidence. 
Being unable to secure more material from 
Lake Calhoun, we were compelled to devise 
a method whereby we would be able to lo- 
cate a new source of supply. 
Our experience at this stage may be 
summed up as follows : 
1. That this bog, when given the great 
weight of sand filling, compressed into a 
surprising small space, necessitated heavier 
filling to obtain our intended grades. 
2. That on account of demanding heavier 
filling we had exhausted our allowance 
from the Park Board, with the filling of 
our prescribed area not quite completed. 
3. That hydraulic dredging was to us a 
very practical as well as economical method 
of accomplishing the desired result. 
During the winter months plans were 
formulated under which we could resume 
operations in the spring. Our engineer, ac- 
companied by dredge representatives, made 
careful soundings of the entire swamp, not 
only to ascertain the amount of material 
needed to complete the nine acres already 
partially filled, but to ascertain if by sacri- 
ficing a portion of this remaining 30.5 acres 
we could obtain thereby sufficient material 
to warrant the awarding of a new contract 
covering completion of work already start- 
ed, also the filling of the remaining portion 
of the swamp. The soundings disclosed the 
fact that near the center of this swamp, at 
a depth ranging from ten to fifty feet be- 
low surface, was an excellent bed of sand 
and gravel, and that by sacrificing about 
10(4 acres of this center and excavating to 
a maximum depth of 75 feet, we could ob- 
tain sufficient sand to fill the entire remain- 
ing area. Also, that in the excavation of 
this 10l4 acres we would be constructing a 
lake which could be made very beautiful. 
This lake, receiving the entire overflow of 
Lake Calhoun, as well as a supply from 
numerous springs, would guarantee us an 
abundance of excellent water. This alone 
meant much to Lakewood, as owing to the 
rapidly increasing development of ground, 
necessitating an increased supply of water, 
each year found our supply more inade- 
quate. Numerous wells had been sunk, 
with unsatisfactory results, also permission 
to obtain water from city lakes had been 
refused us. B}^ the construction of a new 
pump house and utilizing the opportunity 
afforded us by this proposed lake, our wa- 
ter problem would be solved. 
Another feature brought out in these 
new plans was the fact that by working 
under the mud in this proposed lake, re- 
moving sand and allowing what mud was 
