Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-05-03

road. IL was originally called Asheviile
Junction, afterward Vanderbilt Station,
but now. in accordance with Mr.. Wander
bits wishes. IL is named Biltmore "a
word made from the Vanderbilt name after
dropping the Dutch prehxes. Though not
particularly euphoDious, the name serves,
and ii - believed that the Vanderbilt place
will eventually be known as Biltmore. Az
present Biltmore station IS something OF q
settlement-almost village. IL has its
store, its postoffice, its hotel, its resident
physician. who goes on horseback TO VISIT
his patients. carrying his medicines and
surgical instruments in saddle-bags, when
some northern people enormously suppose
TO be out of date, and other accessories:
The mansion IS the only important build
ing now in process of erection on the
estate, but fine house for Mr.. Wander
bits agent, accommodations for his game
keeper and other employees, and hand;
some stables for pure-blooded stock Will
doubtless follow. 1t 10 probably in antici-
patton Of these buildings that the manu-
facture of brick on a large scale has
been begun. The machinery and kllns
are at Biltmore, but the clay Is
brought from lowlands a mile distant.
tramway having been built for its trans
portation. There are already two brick
and tile machines, with combined capacity
of $4,000 bricks q day, and three brick and
tile kilns, with q capacity or 10000 DAY
each, in operation. Flower-DOts are also
made. from two to five inches in diameter,
at the rate Of 1000 or 1900 day, and clay
shingles, such as are seen in Mexico ana
Spain, are 20 be made and used. At pres
ent the product of these kilns is sold.
But little idea can now be given OF the
work being done under the head of land
scape gardening. A garden of three acres
hau 1as1 nrtf 20 QfQlt
the mansion. A very large nursery for
starting trees and shrubs of all kinds has
been established. One man, the writer
was told by some workmen, has n contract
for putting in 800 acres TO white pine.
Worn out lands which have once been Gull
tivated, but the soil of which IS now badly
washed by every rain. are put 10 tins use.
A great deal OF other work destined 10 re-
suit in identifying the landscape IS gong
on at different points. Nothing in the d.
rection of establishing game preserve APP
pears TO have been done yet, but it is I'M
derstood TO be part of the plan to have
a great deer-park. with cover for par
tridges and hiding places for other KINDS
of game.
No doubt five or six years will witness
great transformation on the Nanderollt
property. Unlimited money expended
under wise direction can do very much to:
ward improving and beautfying tract oil
land such as he owns. In that time the man,
sion may be built. drives laid out and
made smooth TO all parts of the place,
trees started, lawns made and many other
things done. But many Of the best re-
suits of 50 great an undertaking should be
realized by future generation of Wander
bits. The place will be new and crude
far into the next century. There are some
things that money and skill cannot do
and among these is TO give such q place
the effect of time without waiting tor the
time 10 pass. The growth OF trees and the
perfectng of lawns cannot be greatly
fastened. Nature accepts no brides 10
hurry any mans job.
THE PROBABLE COST.
What is Mr.. Vanderbilt's place going to
cost him 7 is a question often asked, but
never answered. The expenditure Is OF
course large. The land was not originally
high-prlced. When his first purchases
were made il is said that the land was very
cheap-$5 or $40 an acre. Manv acres
were purchased, too, before any seller
knew who the buyer really was. When
no had conceived his plan Mr.. Vanderbilt
brought his agent here from New York,
and the purchases were made by the
agent, but not in Vanderbilt's name. That
agent was Charles McNamee, who IS still
in charge of the place.
The first purchases were made cheaply.
But after Cwhile when the deeds began
to be recorded in the Buncombo county
clerks Office the fact got out that a Van
derbilt was buying land extensively here
about, and after that prices went up.
when any particular owner discovered
that he had land which Mr.. Vanderbilt
wanted his estimate of the value OF has
land greatly increased. The story IS
told of worthy physician who had
one hundred acres In what, Is now
the Vanderbilt place. 1t yielded him little
or nothing, and he had offered 1t TO the
Buncombe county authorities, to erect q
county house upon, for $4,000. That was
considered a good round price, and the
authorities did not buy it. A little later
the worthy physician learned that MIR. Van
derbilt wanted his land and he Immediate
lv multiplied his price by ten. He asked
Nr. Vanderbilt S25 900 for his farm and got
il. There are said 10 have been other cases
of similar sort. They show that 1t Is not
always the poor man who has to submit to
the exactions of the rich.
If Mr. Vanderbilt paid an average of sos
an acre tor all his land and has 5000 acres,
1t has cost him 100000. But that would
be only the beginning of his expenditure.
His railroad is believed to have cost him
S75, 600 The foundation of his house cost
$500, 600. Work upon the place has been
progressing about year at a cost OF
probably $500 per day, which for 800 days
would be $3.50, 600. 1t Is highly probable
that his expenditures thus far reach
81 .OOO. 900, and they are sure to be multi
piled several times within q few years.
But even that prospect cannot be very
alarming to Vanderbilt, and it can easily
be admitted that the money might be
spent for less praIseworthy purpose.