The call of the North. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1923-1924, 1924-01-09
TURNING A MOUNTAIN into A MONUMENT


plicas of the original clay models.
They will take measurements from the
models, and will drive their drills into
the grants, according to scale read
ings. Several photographs are being
constructed so that the operators win
be enabled to adjust their positions
as the work progresses. The final
and finer sculpturing will be done by
6orglum and his assistants.
"a telephone system will be de-
vised whereby observers at distant
points will communicate with the
sculptors and direct them where to
apply their drills and chisels. Borg
lum will execute the details Of the
features of Gen. Robert E. Lee and
others making up the principal group
in the memorial.
"The entire frieze will cover ap-
proximately 100000 square feet on
the mountain, and it is estimated win
take about seven years to complete.
give photographs at an elevation
of 357 feet will be supported from
steel trusses anchored in the side of
the mountain. Each consists essen
TALLY of turntable, running on rails,
to the under side of which is attached
an inverted steel tower, ITO feet long.
At the lower end of the tower will
be pivoted the arm of the pantograph,
223 feet long. At the outer extremity
of the arm will be attached steel
CONFERENCE.-The to balance the plat
form, 16 feet square, and it's load, at
the other end.
"The pantograph will be raised or
lowered by cables running around a
drum at the top of the inverted tow
er. The tower can be swung around
drawing the platform away from or
moving it against the face Of the
mountain.
"The platform carries the electrical
controls that enables one man to
place the pantograph in any desired
position. Each platform will be
equipped with a batter of II pneu-
matte drills supported on tripods. The
surface of the mountain will be in
cised in some places to depth of "a
feet or more. The grants will be cut
away as nearly as possible in the
form of blocks, and will not be al
lowed to fall, but will be lowered by
means of a derrick. It is estimated
that 100000 worth of granite will
thus be obtained. It will be used in
constructing an amphitheater at the
base of the mountain, which, with a
hall of records, is part of the memoir
al plan.
"For raising and lowering men and
tools, and for lowering the granite as
it is cut from the mountain, a travel
ing crane will be operated on tracks
laid on the upper part of the truss
es. A considerable amount of the
preliminary work has been necessary,
and this is of a hazardous character.
"Men have been lowered over the
precipice in sings, by means of steel
cables, and they have driven holes in
the face of the mountain and cut
out granite blocks with pneumatic
drills.
GAS impractical and fantastic as
the carving of the memorial may seem
it has been pronounced feasible by,
and has engaged the attention of,
some of Americas foremost engi-
neers. It's very nature, difficulties
and dangers have spurred on the
sculptor-engineers.
"Perhaps the project might never
have been started if it were not for
the fact that Gutzon Borglum has
the viewpoint of the engineer, as
we'll as that of the sculptor.
"Tools, motors and some of the
other machinery used in constructing
the memorial, and records of the
work and historical data will be
walled up in the memorial hall, per-
haps to be taken out many thousands
of years in the future with as much
curiosity as attended the opening of
the tomb of Tut-Ankh-amen. The
mountain is said by biologists to be
impervious to the elements. 1t is part
of the same stratum of granite that
underlies he city of Atlanta.'-The
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