Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1892-06-21
OUT AT VANDERBILT'S S
THE HALF HAS NOT BEEN
TOLD.

than that people generally know less
about the attractions Especially if they
be Unusually that Immediately surround
them than Of those at distance, par
ticularly if they be what is called "trav-
cled" people.
How many native born Ashcvillans |
have visited the estate OF Geo. W. Van
derbit and viewed the mammoth plans |
Just budding into form and beauty, dur
ing the past year or eighteen months
1t is doubtless a fact that not fifty per
cent. of the class named have taken the |
trouble to see that whichis lying at their
very doors, while thousands have trav-
elcd as many miles to get glimpse OF
what the young millionaire is doing.
And the sight is worth the time and
money expended in visiting it.
That Mr.. Vanderbilt will expend ten
millions of dollars on his southern palace
and park, is no longer looked upon as
an extravagant figure.
At this moment, in riding over this six
thousand acres of land, and noting the
princely plans for the improvement and
bcautfying of valley and woodland,
mountain and hill top, the naming of a
sum twice as large as the above as the
limit of expenditure causes neither won
der nor surprise.
A drive over the premises OH Saturday
has convinced THE CITIZEN that there is
no exaggeration in saying that when
completed this will be. beyond question,
the most costly. as well as the most
beautiful and extensive private estate in
America.
On reaching Biltmore an intimation
was given of the vastness Of the plans
now being carried forward in the troops
of laborers filling the streets, and con-
firmed by the throngs hocking the thor
ougfarcs leading into that village.
Along the loamy bottom lands lying
on either side of the Swannanoa river
just beyond the confines ofAshevlle's SUI
burb, Victoria, enough may be seen to
denote the presence of untold wealth,
and the purpose of the proprietor to cX-
pend it with prodigal hand in adding
to the matchless work of nature when it
fashioned the hills, turrowed out the
valleys and started the sparkling
streams on their way into the bosom of
the French Broad.
The extensive brick and lie works at
the station, surrounded by private rail
ways, ono leading to the palace walls on
the mountain top, another to the clay
9 beds skirting the valley of the Swan
nano, are but the beginning.
Down the river and up brooklcl
brings you to a portion of the approach
/ road to the mansion, and every North
Carolinian should sec this road at least
l once, it for no other reason than to show
him the glory Of good roads. 1t is pic
ture, a dream, bouquet and an un-
mixed delight all harmoniously mingled.
Twenty feet wide, hard, smooth and
soundless, you glide along its tortuous
course as if bound for the home of the
queen of the wood nymphs.
A clear mountain stream murmurS in
soft unison to the hoof beats of the horse.
and on either side flowers bloom and
bend over the brink of the stream, while
the hillsides as far as the eye can reach
arc loaded with cvcrgrccns in endless
variety and innumerable shades.
MOHOlOly 10 W lllll utlS upcil
the scene by continuity of curves and
bends. Massive stone bridges arch the
stream, and over the masonry creep the
grccnCst of vines, and ever and anon the
flash of silyery water as it leaps over ar.
tifcial cascades adds that delicious damp
and cooling effect that drives the heat
from the atmosphere and robs the SUI
OF its power.
Lakes, from whose bosoms come th'
croak of the water frog, and verdant lit
tie islands crowded with maple, moss GOV
cred rocks and the dark foliage of TIN
laurel and ivy, break upon you. and il
and oyer it all there is the consummat
h art that has added to without detract
ing from the matchless work of nature
A drive back and around the hills
distance of some three miles. over
beautifully shaded and naturally we
graded road, brings you almost to til
base of the western wall of the palace
from the base of which the velvety gras
grows to the margin of brook tina
babbles through the gorge below.
A narrow temporary road wind
around the hill and suddenly ther
springs up before you a massive bridg
of brick, laid i'll cement, spanning tt
stream, and littl. further on auothe
comes in view.
The bridges show the other end of II
. approach road, the beauties of whC
have but recently been before you. Onl
short time will be necessary to GOV,
= them with vines, and thus obiterate Il
~ art that is temporarily marring II
scene.
A few more curves and winds and yC
reach the site of the palace.
Railroad tracks, work shops, pill
upon piles of stone, brick, sand, ire
grdcrs and beams, and innumerab
quantities of material in all stages
development. cover the plateau of ten
twelve acres, which originally lay mar
N feet below the top of the mountain.
And now you really begin to see TIL
it is impossible to compute the millio
of dollars necessary to complete
mammoth plans projected.
9 The western foundation wall of the c,
~ fee looks to be thousand feet long al
ranges in height from twenty to for
feet. 1t is built of Indiana granite al
ou laid in cement, the chemical effect of t
combination producing brownish col
as of extreme age.
Is Along the northern side of the plate
S is another wall Of nearly equal lengt
apparently built of native stone, laid
irregular shapes, and producing an efft
If. much more striking, though not so nj
sive as the western wall. On the sou
is similar wall to that on the nor
and beneath it, and peeping over its t
- may be seen the roof Of the gardene
T., lodge.
On this southern exposure will
planted the garden, and it gives prom
Of being ample, in size and beauty,
i. c. satisfy the gods.
The foundation of the palace, toget
with the tennis court or bowling grou
are equal to the length of the west