Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-10
PRESIDENT TO TALK
At MEMORIAL RITE
Great Monument to Be Start
ed by BorgIum on Face of
Rocky Peak.
By a STAFF Correspondent.


KEYSTONE. S. OAK, August 10
An impressive program the feature
of which will be an address by Presl-
dent Coolidge, will mark the begin
ming this afternoon Of the carving of
a huge national memorial upon the
bold rock front of Mount Rushmore,
one of the talcst peaks in the Black
Hills, only a few miles distant from
this little mining settlement.
1t is pointed out by those who are
responsible for the commencement of
this colossal sculpture that the
significance and the purpose of this
mountain record was to carve as high
into the heavens as possible the story
Of the growth of the first modern re-
public in the Western world, az EN-
bodied in four Of its most dominant
leaders. With that object in view
Gutzon Borglum has been commits
stoned by South Dakota to cut into
this towering granite wall the figures
of Washington, jefferson, Lincoln
and Roosevelt.
Figures 400 Feet High.
These figures will be on a scale
of $50 feet in height, and 1t is ex-
pocted that the sculpture will take
five years to complete and will cost
in excess of $3.50, 900. These gigantic
figures will stand above an entab la-
ture so feet high and $50 feet long.
upon which will be carved brief
history of American independence
and Of the territorial expansion of
the United States.
This sculptural group will be un.
like anything of its kind in the world.
1t will be twice as large as anything
in existence nOW-much greater than
the Statue of Liberty, the Sphinx,
the Colossus of Rhodes or any other
ancient or modern wonder.
President Coolidge has manifested
great interest in this undertaking
since coming to the Black Hills, and
it is to participate in the cere-
monies incident to the starting of this
work that he and Mrs. Coolidge are
making the 25-mile journey, the great
er part of it over a dangerously mar
row. curving dirt road. The address
he will deliver on this occasion is
being looked forward to with more
than usual interest, because it will
be the first formal speech he has
and will be his first public utterance
since renouncing the Republican
nomination for the presidency in 1928.
NOrbeck to Preside.
Peter Norbeck, senior Sena tor from
this State, will preside. and many
State and local officials and celebrities
will be on hand for the ceremonies.
The actual carving will begin at the
conclusion of Mr.. COolidge's address.
when Sculptor Borglum will he low.
cred over the face of the toWerin"
cliff Of old Rushmore and will start
in motion the biting. air-driven drills
which are to he used in etching the
likenesses of these four great Presi-
dents.
Others who will make addresses on
this occasion are Representative Royal
c.. Johnson of this State, whose sub
ject will be Washington" Gov. Blu
low, whose subject will be "Jeffer-
SON.; Representative William William.
son Of this State. whose subject will
be Lincoln" and Senator McMaster
will take Roosevelt" for his subject.
Rolf Lium. the 20-year-old student pas
tor of the church in Hermosa which
President and Mrs. Coolidge attend
will give the benediction.
Five Flags to Fly.
A platform has been erected at the
foot of Mount Rushmore, but be-
cause of the narrowness and bad con.
dition of the dirt trail leading from
Keystone to this point it is thought
likely that the ceremonies will be
transferred to a point near Keystone,
from which a clear view of the tower
ing wall of Rushmore may he had.
During the ceremony, which will
begin at 2::30 this afternoon, five
different flags will be used. First
will he raised the French monarchial
flag which flew over this territory
following the claim of La Sale. Later
the Spanish flag will he raised, rep
resenting the rule of Spain over the
territory acquired by cesson from
France. Then the Napoleonic flag
will unfurl to the breeze. followed by
Betsy Ross flag of the United States.
and finally, by the present Stars and
Stripes of the Republic.