Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-07-16
HIS GRAND DOMAIN.
The N. G. ESTATE WHICH GEORGE
w. VANDERBILT Is DEVELOPING.
Longest Poem Ever Made In Plants, Trees,
and Observation-Disclosures of 10000
Acrss-A $4,000 900 Palace.

Professor Thomas Il. HARRISON, iortner-
ly OF Union county. Pa, sends from Ashe-
vile, ". c., to the Lswisburg CPa.) Chronf-
Gle description of the estate which Is
being developed among the North Caro-
lima mountains by Mr.. George W. Wander.
bilt. one of the younger members OF the
New York family of that name. Nh.
Vanderbilt is not yet 80 years OF age, SAYS
the Philadelphia Inquirer, but he seems
to be spending his money with an intelli-
eence somewhat rare among men WHO
lave so much to spend. and bis enterprise
is suggestive of the period which, In view
Of the rapid increase of the population OF
the country, cannot he very Tar distant
when land in the United States must De
very much more valuable than 1t ~ to-osv'
Mr. Vanderbilt's tastes are said to run
in the direction of art and letters. his
North Carolina enterprise inolentes tnsl
he represents development In his FAMILY
first step was TO purchase. oesldss
several mountains, $4,000 acres OF
land along the French Broad and the
Swananoa rivers. The next step IN
which he exhibited unusual intelligence
in ENJOYING his opportunities was TO re.
strain the natural temptation to carry out
plans OF his own aud to employ the ser
vices of the greatest landscape artist IN
the country, Mr. Frederick Law Olmstsad,
the creator Of the world's-Fsir grounds.
HIS GREAT WORK.
II is obvious that Mr.. Olmstead's work
in Moth Carolina must be very much
more interesting and important than his
work at Chicago, and that 1t calls for the ex-
erciss of rarer faculties. SO far sixty-fvs
miles of macadam road have been con-
NJ Caro-.
lima estate. Seven hundred men are
employed, their wages running from
al per day TO the salary OF $4,000
paid to the oyerseer. Three years ago the
work of Transforming old fields, pastures.
and woodlands into a harmonious land
scape began, and Professor Harbeson. who
has spent many days IN STUDYING the de-
yelopment Of the place. is enthusiastic
over the progress made. He ssys that Druid
Hill Park at Baltimore, Fairmont Park at
Philadelphia, the Boston Garden, and the
Central Park of New York contain hothing
that is comparable with several miles OF
the approach on the Vanderbilt estate,
which is art of the highest kind, q comOl-
nation of nature and the work OF man so
happily Joined that the eve cannot tell
where the one ends and the other begins.
Bowlders have been set in place. rhodo-
dendrons transplanted. and the whole 10
declared TO be a poem In plants. trees, and
fowers-the longest poem ever made aud
one of the greatest.
FERTILE VALLEYS.
A trained forester is setting out large
plantations of forest trees. The Arbore-
tum is declared 10 surpass already the ia
nous Arnold hrboretum at Cambridge,
aud when completed will contain every
tree. shrub. and woody plant found in the
world which is hardy to the climate. len
miles of railroads have been constructed
TO transport materials about the estate.
Vast extents of land, which ayear or 40 ago
were entirely unproductive. have been so
changed by blowing. heavy manurlng, and
green soIling that to-day Professor Harbe
son SAYS they are growing as fine crops as
can be grown in the most fertile
valleys of the northern States. Late
" Nr. Vanderbilt has added 10000
acres for hunting park. There
will be deer parks and lakes. and the house,
which will cost about $4,000, 900, 1t IS said,
will be the largest Westinghouse IN the
world and one OF the worlds most famous
structures. Already by the introduction
OF MOSES and vines at the bridges por-
tions of the place have taken on the sp.
pearance of age and the appearance or
newness has been overcome.
MAGNIFICENT DEVELOPMENT.
Country estates are not new 10 the
United States. Wealthy Americans have
INDUCED in such fancies befors. Suburban
places, country homes. farms are common
enough in the lists of properties owned by
rich residents of the great cities. stock
farm for the raising of cattle or horses often
testities to the owners passion to make
even his pleasures paw, or AT least produce
a practical result. But Mr.. Vsnderbilts
enterprise is the first example OF an
American of great wealth undertaking
to develop the beautiful on so maEnih-
cent q plan and with so much intelli-
gence and without regard to any posi-
BE pecuulary return. In way 1t Will
distinguish him from any American
that ever lived. and 1t marks the begin
ming OF q use new to this country OF the
great family fortunes that have been
accumulated within the past half century.
On economical grounds the enterprise is
to be commended. We're Mr.. Vanderbllts
example 10 he followed. as no doubt II
will be, it would keep many millions OF
dollars in this country that nov 60 TO
Europe, and it would add greatly to the
interest which the United States would
possess for our own people.