The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1893-12-20
Vanderbilt's Mountain House.

Vanderbilt's Mountain House.
George W. Vanderbile, one of the
younger members of that famous fam
lily, has developed an untamed North
Carolina forest Into beautiful home.
He is not yet 80 years of age. but to
Judge from the description of the
Transformation he has effected in the
North Carolina mountains. ne seems
to be spending hismoney with an 'n-
telligeoce somewhat rare among men
who have SO much to spend. aud his
enterprise is suggestive of the period, !,
which in view Of the rapid increase of
the population of the country, cannot
be very far; distant. when land IN the
-Uaised States must be very much
more valuable than it is to-day. Mr..
Vanderbilt's tastes are aaid to run IN
the direction of arts aud letters
His North Carolina enterprise lodi-
Gates that he represents development
IN his family beyond the money ac-
curing stage. His first step was to
purchase. besides several mountains,
$4,000 acres Of land along the French
Broad and the Swananoa rivers. The
next step in which he exhibited IN
usual intelligence in enjoying his
annor,unities was 70 restrain the nat
nra. temptation to carry out plans OF
his own aud to employ the seevices OF
che greatest landscape artist in the
country. Frederick Law Olmstead.
Who had so much to do with laying out
the Worlds Fair grounds So fas
s:xty-6se miles of maeadam road
have been constructed on Mr.. Wander
b;Ies North Carolina estate Seveo
knndrd men are employed, their
wages running from 81 per day to the
salary Of $4,000 paid to the oVerseer-
Three years ago the work OF trans
forming old fields. pastures and wood
lands into q harmonious landcape be-
gan. and Prof. Harbeson. who has
PASSED many days III studying the de-
relopment Of the place. is enthus'ss-
Tie over the progress made. He says
that Druid Hin Park. Baltimore;
Eairmouos Park. at Philadelphia the
Boston Garden. and the Central Park.
Of New York, contain nothing that is
comparable with several miles of the
anproach on the Vanderbilt estate,
which is art OF the highest kind. q
cambinatioD Of nature and the work OF
man so happily joined that the eye
cannot tell where the one ends aud the
osher begins. -Boalders have been set
in place, rbododendrous transplaoted,
and the whole is declared to be poem
;n plants, trees and flowers, the long
est poem ever made. and one OF the
greatest. a trained forester is set
ting out large plantations OF forest
trees.
The aboretum is declared to surpass
the famous Arnold aboretum at Cam-
bridge, aud when completed will con-
t.;ns,.ese,y tree, shrub. and woody
nlants found in the world which is
hardy 81, 10 the climate Tep miles of
railroads haze been constructed to
3. materials atont The estate
Vast exterts of lad which year or
50 ago we're entirely unproduotive.
have been so. changed by pioughlng,
heavy manuring aud gesn so'liug that
to-day Prof. Harbeson says they are
as dne crops as can oe grown
in the most fertile valleys of the
Northern States. Lately MIR Van
derbilt has added twenty Thousand
acres for hunting park. There will
ha deer parks aud lakes, and the
house. which will cost SIS. 900. 900, it
is said will be the largest dwelling
house in the world. and one of the
world,s most famous structures. Al
ready by the intodaction of moses
and vines at the bridges portions OF
the place have taken on the appear
apce Of age and the appearance OF
pevness has been overcome.-Le~is-
burg Chronicle.