The Asheville citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1885-1889, 1888-02-26
THE IMPRESSIONS OF A CLEVE-
LAND MAN OF AFFAIRS,
ABOUT ASHEVILLE.

1t has been our pleasure to enjoy OF
several occasions most instructive anC
agreeable conversations with Mr.. Isaac
Leisv, one of the brainiest, most prac
tical and successful business men o.
Cleveland, Ohio, now sojourning ct the
Battery Park. His views are so pertinent
and suggestiyeness to our city that with
his permission we lay them before oul
readers, and hope they will read, mark
and inwardly digest them
Mr.. Leisy esteems Asheville most high
ly as a sanatarium. Its dry, salubrious
climate, its grand and picturesque seen
cry which he pronounces equal and very
similar to the Hartz Mountains in Swift
zerland Germany and France ,andour fine
and abundant supply of pure wholesome
water render this section peculiar attrac-
tive. He had read ofo our recent efforts
to promote industrial enterprises by co..
operative association all of which he
highly scom1nends, as creditable to the
enterprise of our citizens, and thinks by
this plan we might provide ourselves
with beautiful and attractive streets and
sidewalks as well as good drives, and in
this connection observed. that our best
drives are the result of private enterprise
and individual effort. lie remark ed that
it was incomprehensible to the Northern
visitor, bow our citizens relying So large
ly on the patronage of visitors could be
content with such streets, roads and side
walks and sewerage, and with any de gree
OF patience pay their taxes With decent
streets, clean sidewalks and crossings and
good drives lined with trees, he thinks
Asheville would be one Of the most
attractive places IN the MON, and that
twenty leop.e would come nere and
stay where one does now. At the same
time he realizes how recently Asheville
has awakened from her long Slumber of
ages. the extent of her corporate limits,
and the comparative few upon whom this
burden would fall, but thinks it would
be good investment, and that by hearty
cooperation these improvements could
be readily made. Mr.. Lelsy is very
enthusiastic as to the adaptability of our
soil and climate to the cultivation of the
grape, and remarks their similarity to
those of the wine produC ng countries of
Europe, and thinks if this country were
prop rly brought to the attention of the
many Germans seeking new homes in
America that they would come here in
large numbers, and that our hillsides
would be soon vine clad, and ours be-
come one OF the finest wine producing
countries in the world which means one
of the wealthiest. He is further Of the
opinion that our chief industry the
tobacco interest is much neglected, in
that We have no packing-houses, stem
meries and but few manufactures, and
suffer our tobacco to go away to he
handled and manufactured in other
places. 4 different policy he thinks
would rebound largely to the interests of
our people.
When asked his views as to the esta-
bllshment of cotton and iron manutac-
tories here, he confessed that he was not
sufficiently advised to express an opin-
ion. He knew that in many peculiarly
favored localities in the South, favored
by having the material and fuel or water
power in close proximity to each other,
y cheapness Of labor and competitive
lines OfraIlway under the stimulus of the
present high protective tariff were max
ing enormous profits, but whether these
conditions o4tained here he was not able
to say. It WAS his conviction that the
future prOsuerity uF Asheville depended
more in making the most of its natural
as health resort and as the
centre OF a fine tobacco producing country,
III the encouragement of thrifty, skilled
agriculturists who would grow those
things for which our soil and climate are
best adapted in imp owing our roads,
having more pleasure resorts, and the
creation of greater facilities for outdoor
enjoyment, to the end that the health
seeker when restored to health, might
enjoy life .tter, that the visitor should
not be so utterly dependent On his hotel,
but admits |. would have little cause of
complaint If 81 fortunate TO be a guest of
the Battery Park, where the gentlemanly,
quiet, hos Mr.. $outhwick, ably seconded
by Col. Steele, Mr.. Asa 5. LoOmis, Mr..
F. Iaquith, and last but not least, the
exquisite Mr. CampbelI of the bar, who
one and ali vie with each other in max
ing life pleasant aid agreeable. MIR.
Leisy hal much to say Jf our unsurpass-
Ell and unused water-poweI, Of our
splendid native woods, our inexhauStible
mineral resources, of our superb noun
tain beef and of many other matters of
cIudes. Should Mr.. Leisy's hopes be
realized, as to health. (and in this he
feels much encouiaged), it may be that
he will contribute to our prosperity by
the establishment of new industry in
our city. So mote it be.
Mr.. Leisy was recommended to come
to Ashevile by Prof Gustave c. Z.
w eber, of Cleveland, Ohio, one of the
most distinguished surgeons in America
Nru- p,orc