The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-01-24
MR.VANDERBILTS ESTATE
A MILLIONAIRE'S PARADISE IN
NORTH CAROLINA.

a hOrSoD6ck niue over the enormous
Tract of Land Which is Being Turned
Irto q Country Home Artificial
Lakes and orests, and Magnih-
cent Stone Mansion.
From the Nelo York World.
AsHEvILLE, n. c., jan 10.-Asheville.
'sThe Land OF the SKy." has been rife with
yumors about what Vanderbilt has done
and is going to do, but strange to relate few
facts have been stated, and that too when
his property lies only few miles south of
the city. 1t is simply a continuation of the
policy which was inaugurated by Mr..
McNamee, Vanderbilt's lawyer, and which
has been adhered to until Cerebus
himself could not guard the gates
of sheol better than he and his
coadiutors have Vanderbilt's plans
and purposes. The Ashsville real estate
agents have reason to remember McNamee's
sbrewdness and business sagacity. OF
course every one soon learned tnat ne had
been commissioned by Vanderbilt to buy
property in this city. But he fooled the
real estate men by making feints of buying
property in one direction while he pur-
chased land secretly in the very opposite
point Of the Jmpass.
In this way many of the real estate men
have been loaded with large tracts of land
for which they we're made to pay fancy
prices. One man has become insane
through losses caused by his efforts to fore
stall Vanderbilts agent, and many others
have been crippled very seriously finan-
cially. Yet others were very fortunate. A
man by the name of Preston Patton, who
could not get trusted for meal in any res
@oY.rapt in the oitv Dravic11clr1 cold b;s for,,,
of 200 or 300 acres to Vanderbilt
for $S7, 900 and is now blossoming out as a
capitalist. Another parted with farm for
a debt of 81 500 to promising doctor here,
and few months later the latter turned it
over to Vanderbilt for $22, 900. Even a
darby, who was fortunate enough to hold
three acres in the very heart of the present
estate, obtained $1,000 for his old log cabin
and worthless farm.
A RIDE OVER THE ESTATE.
1t was with view of ascertaining what
was really being done that the World cor
respondent mounted a horse and galoped
down Main street until he reached the
Asheville Junction, which lies two miles
south of the city. Here it is that the
Western North Carolina railroad crosses
the Swannanoa, which runs in q westerly
direction aud 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 this point is reached the
outskirts of the business activity, which is
conferred in this estate, whose domains
sweep back from the banks of the Swan
nanoa far inland, and then stretch I'D the
mountain side and over its crest until it
ends on the banks of the swift flowing
French Broad.
Further up this river is Theodore B.
Lyman's park, called Tahkeeostee farm,
with name, as Bill Nye says, extending
for miles down the river. This comprises
the brow and slope of the hill which forms
the opposite bank, where Mr.. Lyman's pic
turesque cottage lies nestled in hollow on
the sunny side of the hill. forming a strik-
ing contrast TO the grandeur of its stately
neighbor, which is to crown the crest of the
mountain whose base rests upon the oppo-
site shore.
WHERE THE MANSION WILL BE.
Across the Swannanoa, hidden by the in
tervening, densely- wooded mountain top
from the site of the Vanderbilt mansion,
lies Col. Connelly's residence on promi-
hence sloping gradually back from the
river, while further up the stream Mr.. Nc
. Nance is building very fine house of a
white stone which is obtained from Hender-
son county. This house is located opposite
to the main entrance of the Vanderbilt
property, which is exactly at the ford
across the Swannanoa, where Vanderbilt
intends to build an iron bridge, thus giving
him more direct communication with the
city. From this point the main driveway
will circle IN and out among the hills for
the distance Of four miles, until by series
of gradual ascents the summit of the noun
tain is reached.
Some distance above Connelly's is a
bridge over the Swannanoa. Crossing this
and turning to the right along the banks of
the stream, the railroad track was crossed,
and the rhythmic beats of the horses hoofs
were ringing out on Vanderbilt's land The
first thing to catch the eye was q large
frame store formerly belonging to a man by
the name Of Revel The front of this build
ing has been converted into offices for the
men who have charge of the work being
done. Mr.. Gall, who has the general over
sight of the property, has his Office on the
right, while Mr.. McNamee, Vanderbilt's
lawyer, has the one on the left. The pay office
has been constructed so that the workmen
can pass in and through the building with
out obstructing the passageway, and all the
conveniences show that large force Of
hands Is soon expected.
QUARRYING THEIR OWN STONE.
A long sweeping gallop along the Hen
Jacksonville road, which skirts the right
a.. bank of the Suwannanoa, soon brought
into a view a large quarry, where Wander
bilt's men are busily employed in drilling,
blasting and getting out stones which are
to be used for the foundations of Wander
bits mansion and his cattle sheds, for he
purposes having large stock farm. The
quarry is in charge of Mr.. mccarthy, who
had a hand in getting out the large flag
stone in front Of William <. Vanderbilt's
place, which cost So, 600 in the rough.
Only few minutes ride further ON and
the Raymond place was reached. Here an
artesian we'll is being sunk, and a stable is
being constructed which will hold from
thirty to forty mules, which will be en-
ployed in the work at the quarry and in
hauling the large stone up the side of the
mountain. On this place is an old-fash-
Toned homestead, where MIR. Thompson,
Vanderbilt'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. Atthis point gang of fifty
men were found hard at work with wheel
barrows, pick-azes and shovels. They had
cut into the face of the mountain to the
depth of from II to Is feet, and had COM
pleted from LOG to 200 yards Of broad
road, which viii run parallel to the old
road but will curve onward and upward
until it has readed the clone pine" which
marks the highest point on the mountain,
and thea sweep around this prominence to
the southwest "a broad curve up to the