The daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1889-1890, 1889-12-15
VANDERBILT'S DOMAIN.
a RIDE OVER THE MILLION,
AIRES PURCHASE.

What a Horseback Reporter OF
the Citizen Saw that Will Inter.
est Our Many Readers-Beauties
of His Southern Home.
AsheviIle, "the Land of the Sky" is rite
with rumors about what Vanderbilt has
done and is going to do, but, strange td
relate, few facts have been stated, and
that, too, when his property lies only a
few miles south of the city.
1t was with a view of ascertaining
what was really being done that a re-
porter of THE CITIZEN mounted a horse
and galloped down Main street until he
reached the Asheville Junction, two miles
south of the city. Here it is that the
Western North Carolina railroad crosses
the Swannanoa river, which runs in a
westerly direction and empties into the
French Broad. In the vast triangle
formed by the intersection of these two
rivers, lies the 5000 acres which form the
Vanderbilt property. At last we have
reached the outskirts of the business ac-
tivity which is centercd in this estate
whose domain sweeps back from the
banks of the Swannanoa far inland, and
then stretches up the mountain side and
over its crest until it ends on the banks
Of the swift flowing French Broad. Far
ther up this river is Mr. Theodore B. Ly-
mans park, called Tahkccostee Farm.
with name, as Bill Nve says, extend
ing far down the river. This comprises
the brow and slope of the hill which
forms the opposite bank, where Mr.. Ly-
mans picturesque cottage lies nestled in
hollow on the sunny side of the hill,
forming a striking contrast to the grand
eur Of its stately neighbor which is to
crown the crest of the mountain whose
base forms the other bank.
Across the Swannanoa, hidden by the
intervening, densely wooded, mountain
top from the site of the Vanderbilt man
sion, lies Col Connaly's residence on
prominence sloping gradually back from
the river, while farther up the stream,
Mr.. MCNamee is building very fine
house of white stone, whichis obtained
from Henderson county. This house is
located opposite the main entrance to
the Vanderbilt property, which iscxactly
at the ford across the Swannanoa, where
Vanderbilt intends building aniron bridge
in order to obtain more direct commu-
nication with Asheville. From this point
the main driveway will circle in and out
among the hills for distance of four
miles, until by series of gradual
ascents, the top OF the mountain is
reached.
Some distance above Connally's is a
bridge over the Swannanoa. Riding over
this and turning tn. the right along the
banks of the stream the railroad track
was crossed, and the rhythmic beats of the
horses hootS were echoing on Wander
bits land. The first thing to catch the
eye was large frame store, formerly be
longing to a man by the name of Revcl
The front of this building has been con-
vcrted into offices for the men who have
charge of the work being done. Mr.
Call who has the general oversight of
the property, has his office on the right,
while Mr.. McNamee, Vanderbilt 'slawyer.
has the one on the left. The pay office
has been SO constructed that the work
men can go in at one side and out at the
other without obstructing each other
and all the convenienceS show that
very large force of hands is ssoonexpccted.
A long sweeping gallop along the Hen
dersonville road soon brought into view
Il large quarry, where Vanderbt's men
are busily employed in drilling blasting
and getting out stones which are being
used tor the foundations of Nanderbilts S
mansion and his cattle sheds, for he pur-
poses having large stock farm The
quarry is in charge of Mr.. McCarty, who
had a hand in getting out the large flag
stone i'll front of Mr.. William X. Wander
bits palace, which cost 5000 in the
rough.
After a few minutes ride the RAYMOND
place was reached, where large well is
being sunk and a stable is being con-
structed which will hold from thirty to
forty mules. These will be employed in
the work at the quarry, and in hauling
thelarge stones up the side of the noun
tain. On this place is an old fashioned
farm house, where Mr.. Thompson, Van
dcrbilt's engineer, is located.
A brisk canter brings us back to the
Junction again, and taking the road,
which winds up the mountain, mile is
covered in slow trot. At this point a
gang of fifty men were found hard at
work with wheelbarrows, pickaxeS and
Shovcls They had cut into the face of
the mountain to the depth of from ten to
fifteen feet and had completed from 100
to 200 yards of broad road, which will
run parallel to the old Swannanoa road,
but will curve onward aud upward until
it has reached the lone pine, which marks
the highest prominence on the mountain,
and then sweep around the hill to the
southwest in a broad curve up to the
Vanderbilt mansion. BY the side of this
cut and little below is another, where
the ground has been dug away and lev
elcd off, forming space about 1O0x5O
feet, where the foundations of large cat
tie shed are being put up, with the stone
1 n En,, Ernr,, Nnnhnrhilt,r e n,r,, n,,nr,.,nr 4