Evening star., 1927-05-29

comfortably furnished and tastefully
decorated to carry out the homelike
air given to the lodge by the Gideons.
There is a sporty nine-hole golf
course in connection with the lodge.
Squaw and French Creeks and many
other mountain streams are well
stocked with willy trout. A string OF
saddle horses, overlooked this year by
Dakota Clyde Jones, ranch product
of this vicinity, who has gained fame
as q bronco.twister, is kept for rides
over the steep mountain trails and
through the verdant valleys.
This home in the Black Hills is Ia
miles to the nearest railroad point at
Hermosa on the Chicago & North
western Railroad. However, this is
merely a railroad getting-of place and
has population not much greater
than at Plymouth Notch, VT, the
Presidents crossroads birthplace.
Because of the facilities and accom-.
modations it offers, Rapid City has
been selected for the establishment of
the Presidents Office and the base Of
supplies for the Summer White House.
This town is one of the principal cities
of the State, and serves as gateway
to the hill country. 1t takes its name
from Rapid River, upon whose banks
it is located, and is more than 81
miles from the Presidents lodge home.
This will mean that the Executive Will
be confronted with an automobile
tourney OF Ga miles every time he
finds it necessary to transact business
at his Office. The thought now OF
having to make this long ride has re.
duced considerably the enthusiasm OF
the Presidents secretaries and the
others of his official party and the
newspaper correspondents, all or
whom will necessarily have to make
daily trips back and forth.
Less Than 5000.
Senator Norbeck, however, has at.
tempted to comfort these members or
the Presidents party by explaining
that the road between the lodge ana
Rapid City il a splendid one and that
they will never tire OF the beautlful
scenery along the way.
Despite Rapid City's prominence as
a commercial, agricultural and rail-
road center. ii has population OF less
than 5000. 1t is built at the edge
of the prairie and is I'm the center Of
the famous Black Hills alfalfa fields.
and ia said to be the most important
alfalfa seed market in the United
States. Some reports have reached
the White House force that this city
Ia absolutely treeless and that because
of its location just beyond the foot
hills Of the Black Hills does not sug-
gest the vacation city. However, It's
altitude is $500 feet above sea level,
and Senator Norbeck has given as
surance that the visitors from the
East will be comfortable in spite of
the blazing sun.
Custer. which is only Ia miles from
the lodge to be used by the President,
was considered for time as the place
in which to locate the executive Of
fee and base of supplies. 1t is 10.
Gated on the Chicago, Burlington and
Quincy Railroad, but 1t was eliminated
| from consideration in favor Of Rapid
City because it lacked the facilities
| and accommodations offered by the
| latter. The population of Custer is
! about 500. The town is nestled ur
| in the mountains at an altitude OF
about $500 feet, which is more than
| 500 feet higher than the Presidents
lodge.
Named for Custer.
| The town of Custer is the county
seat of Custer County. in which the
President will live. The town and
! cOuUly uSttsC ttStt AhOth SSii
| Custer, the noted cavalry leader. who
! with a small band Of troopers was
killed by the Sioux Indians at Little
Big Horn, Wyo. Clusters military
outfit spent considerable time in tho
Black Hills before going into Wyo
| ming and for a while camped at what
is now the town of Custer. 1t was one
of Clusters cavalrymen who. in 1871
discovered gold in that section oi
South Dakota, which discovery has re
suited in more than $500, 100000 worth
being taken out of the Black Hills
section during the half century.
Another place of great interest neal
the Presidents lodge is Sylvan Lake
20 miles to the northwest, which Ii
claimed by many to be one Of the
real beauty spots Of this country
The State has built an attractive lodge
on the shore OF this lake to accommo
date tourists. The altitude Is 6,20t
feet and the lake Is described as com
pairing i'm color with the lakes of Italy
and Switzerland, and is said to be S,
deep that its bottom has never beer
fathomed.
The President has been told abou
the Devils Tower. high round sen
tinel OF crystalline formation RISING
above the surrounding country som'
1900 feet.
Other places of interest which hav,
been suggested to the President t.
visit are Harney Peak. referred to al