The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-11-15
Way DOWN SOUTH IN DIXIE.
The Palace Which Vanderbilt Has Erected
IN North Carolina
ONE OF The AMERICAN MARVELS.
A Description of the X sidence In When .
New York Millionaire Is to Pass
Part Of His Time.

station. Biltmore. SAYS correspondent OF the
Augusta GA Chronicle. 10 is the headquar-
ters Of water-tank and the side gate Of henll-
worth inn. II is something more. The Sails
bury and Spartanburg divisions Of the West
ern North Carolina railroad come together
here. while a little branch road defects to the
right and is lost among the bills. if you hap
pen to see one Of the cars on this little ROAD
You will notice the letters &c. ". v. n. c.
on il The car is loaded with stone or coal
may be iron-and you may be pretty sure 1t -
bound Tor Nanderbilt's famous building TWO
niles away "Bil,mOren is called Tor Van
derbilt and a resident by the name OF Moore,
who has a pretty cottage on the ROAD; ns'
above the station. 10 ia q smooth complna-
ton. and likely 10 become famous.
Following the branch road. which runs up
and down hill with equal facility. and winas
around the mountains. you reach IN the
course Of half an hour the summit OK tne
Lone Pine This is the busiest spot IN North
Carolina. You pass Nanderbilts stone quarry
where much of the material for rougher WORK
has Leen secured: you view ms brick-yarcs;
whore millions OF cubes Gre pressing ana
baking: Won stop no his blacksmith shop
where the tools are mended and some cast
ings made. you ride near the shady h9me
gineer- always following up his rails and tele-
graph lines. which lead 10 the spot where lies
the site for the house OF Vanderbilt.
Several wears ago George W. vanderbilt
wandered down TO BuncOmbe county. North
Carolina. and was attracted by the beauty
OF the place lie rode over the mountains.
and while at the summit of the Lone Pine
concluded lie would buy tract and put up a
shoot ug-lodgo. This led TO the purchase Of
a large lot Of land up and down the mountain
and along the French Broad, with the idea on
controlling everything IN sight and prevent
ing settlers from obstructng tho view or
coming too close. Visions Of deor-park,
quail-covers sheep-farms and other schemes
enlarged his demesne, until his acres
began 10 be numbered by thousands. White
and black settlers surrendered their hold
invs at good prices, and there are now only
two or three black jewellers within the Van
derbit limits who have refused 70 sell out
and who hold their places at $1,000 an acre.
Vanderbilt may buy them out or he may
freeze them out When Vanderbilt bad
finished his purchase Of 5000 acres his ideas
br adened. Instead of 4 shooting lodge he
concluded 10 put up residence. and such
residence rs would make Chauncy DeDews
eyes glisten at Peekskill. SO he set about
| him and leyeled of the cone OF the mountain
| thirty feet Something over year ago he
began % lay his Foundations ana his stone
| sides of the mountain Ike walled precipice.
| This is lust what Vanderbilt wanted.
| for he determined that his castle should
| have the view and command the
| heights unobstructed. George Vanderbilt
concluded TO spend from his income about
| Il 600 900 a year for ten years, and be IS
| pretty well assured at the end of that time of
! having the finest priyae residence in Amer
| ica-possibly in the world. The architects
are very clever, but they will not show the
/ designs Of the house Possibly they fear
/ somebody NAV duplicate them before the
/ dwelling is completed. The building will be
| 400 feet long and 800 WIDE. u has tennis
court in the left which is marvel OF masonry
and filing. and which alone cost $4,000.
| The banquet hall of the mansion is to be
seventy feet long. and will have pitch of
| thirty feet Under the main entrance 20 the
| hall will be- a swimming pool. while fine
gymnasium wine cellar and art gallery are to
! be connected with the establishment.
Three miles back Of the dwelling is a cold
spring on the top Of Busby mountain. Van
! derbilt has purchased this spring. and carries
/ the water in six-inch iron pipes all tho way
/ 20 the Lone Pine. This will secure HIM vol
/ ume and pressure enough for every part OF
/ his premises and enable him 10 throw a
/ stream 100 feet high from any point on his
place. lt will insure dozen OF more fOun-
| tains in his parks and drives. Vanderbilt
| grounds. Superb carriage ways are graded
| aud macadamized up the mountain. com
| manding the approach 10 the house. and
| these will be continued beyond the residence
and down the valley 10 the French Broad.
| where Vanderbilt will throw an iron bridge
over this picturesque stream. The lOwlands
| have already been cleared and sOwn
! in grasses by and BY they will DO laid
out IN parks. and lawns. and ranches.
! Vanderbilt Is a thrifty young chap with all Of
! his extravaganza. He commenced brick
kiln for his own house. but his burn was 50
! perfect that the public demanded to buy from
| him, so he conducted big industry IN the
brick line Then his farm and dairy, under
the management of Baron Delange, not only
sustain his colony Of wOrkmen but supply
the sumptuous tables Of neighbOrng board
ing houses Large lots Of Indiana or oclitic
| limestone have been shipped TO the Lone
Pine and the base Of the Vanderbilt residence
will resemble the new capitol IN Atlanta. SO
! IL was an immense work even TO get ready for
this great structure. Railroads had 10 10
graded. water.secured and sustentation pro-
yided for a young town on an Isolated noun
tam.
George ". Vanderbilt is the youngest son
Of the late William If. lie is thiIty-clght and
| unmarried. He has selected q rare spot Tor
his home. His front garden steps right of
| into space and secures view for miles OF
| Ilcu fdleyn duu ulE NdllcU l4ohutdlio III iAe
| distance Psgah and the train of hills seem
10 grow opaline in the sunset and TO be trans
parent. At the base Is the French Broad. and
TWO miles away are the spires and smoke of
Asheyile TO the night are the red gables Of
| Wentworth Inn, while directly in front. a
mile or more away. are the chmneys OF Oak
| land Sanitarium and the roof OF Connell' 5
residence. There IS nothing in Nireinia, moth
| ing in New England and. i am told. nothing
IN Switzerland finer than this view in Yves
tern North Carolina. This palace of marble
and iron Is built for all time. and the picture
will be kept perfect so far as nature and art
may make II SO.