Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 February 1912 — Difficult to Dig Graves During Long Cold Spell. [ARTICLE]

Difficult to Dig Graves During Long Cold Spell.

J. H. Holden, Sexton of Weston cemetery, considers himself very fortunate in having to dig only three graves in the cemetery since Jan. Ist. The ground is frozen_to a depth of 42 inches and so hard that nothing but an ax can be used in making the excavation. It requires 22 hours to dig one grave. At some places dynamite has been used in grave digging. Mr. Holden has tried all sorts of digging utensils but has found the ax the only thing that works successfully and that works mighty slow.