The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-01-18
YANDERBILT'S NORTH CAROLINA
PALACE.
A Practical Illustration OF What Money
Can Do-No Expense Spared, but Every
thing on o Grand Scale.
Chattanooga Times.

Chattanooga Times.
Two miles out from Asheville, N. O.,
is little station, Biltmore. 1t is the
headquarters of a water tank and the
gate of Kenilworth Inn. 1t is some
thing more. The Salisbury and Spar
tanburg divisions of the Western North
Carolina Railroad come together here,
while little branch road defects to the
right and is lost among the hills. Ifyou
happen to see one of the little cars on
this road you will notice the letters &c.
W. V. N. c." on it. The car is loaded
With stone or coal, maybe iron, and you
may be sure it is bound for Vauderbilt's
famous building. Two miles away. "Bilt-
more" is called for Vanderbilt and res
ident of the name of Moore, who has
'etty cottage on the road, just above
tie station. 1t is a smooth combination,
and likely to become famous.
Following the branch road, which runs
up and down hill with equal facility, and
winding around the mountains, you
reach, in the course of half an hour, the
summit of the Long Pine. This is the
busiest spot in North Carolina. You
paes Vanderbilt's stone quarry, where
much of the material for rougher work
has been secured; you view his brick
yards, where millions ofcubes are pressing
and baking; you stop at his blacksmith
bop, where the tools are mended and
ONE castings made; you ride near the
hady home he has purchased for his
chief epgineer-always following up his
rails and telegraph lines, which lead to
the spot where lies the site of the house
of Vanderbilt.
Several years sgo Vanderbilt wandered
down to Buncomte County, N. G., and
was attracted by the beauty of the place.
He rode over the mountains, and while at
the
SUMMIT OF LONG PINE,
two miles from Asheville, concluded he
would buy tract and put up shooting
lodge This led to the purchase of
large lot OF land up and down the noun
tain and along the French Broad, with
the idea of controlling everything in
sight and preventing settlers from OBJ
structing the view or coming too close.
Visions of deer park, quail covers, sheep
farms and other schemes enlarged his
demesne until his scres began to be
numbered by thousands. White and
black settlers surrendered their lodgings
at good prices, aud now there are only
two or three black dwellers within the
Vanderbilt I'm its, who have refused to
sell out, and hold their places at 81, 900
per acre. Vanderbilt may buy them out
or he may freeze them out.
When Vanderbilt had finished his pur.
chase of 5000 acres his ideas broadened.
Instead of shooting lodge he decided
to put up residence, and such a resi-
dence as would make Chauncy Depew's
eyes glisten at Peekskill. So he set about
him and
LEvELED OFF THE CONE
of the mountain thirty feet. Some tine
over a year ago he began to lay his foun'
dations, and his stone masonry pow be
gins to rise sheer over the side of the
mountain, like walled preeipice. This
is Just what Vanderbilt wanted, for be
determined that his castle would have
the view and command the heights un.
obstructed. He concluded to spend from
his income about 81 100000 a year for
ten years, and be is pretty well assured,
at that time, of having the finest private
residence In America, possibly in the
world. The architects are very clever,
but will not show the designs of the
house. Perhaps they fear somebody will
duplicate them before the dwelling is
completed.
The building will be 400 feet long and
800 feet wide. It has tennis court in
the left which is q marvel of masonry
and filling, and which alone cost Sl0,-
900. The banquet hall of the mansion
is to be 70 feet long, and will have
pitch of 80 feet. Under the main en-
trance of the hall will be 8. swimming
pool, while fine gymnasium, wine Gel
lar and art gallery are to be connected
with the establishment.
Three miles back of the dwelling is
cold spring on the top of Brusby Noun
tain. He has purchased this spring and
carries the water in six iron pipes ali
the way to the Long Piue. This will
give him volume and pressure enough
for every part of his premises, snd en-
able him to throw q stream 100 feet high
from any point on his place. 1t will in
sure a dozen or more fountains in his
parks and drives.
Five hundred hands are at work on the
grounds and buildings. Superb carriage
ways sre graded and macadamized up
the mountain, commanding an approach
to the house, and these will be continued
beyond the residence and down the val
ley to the French Broad, where Wander.
bilt will throw an iron bridge over this
picturesque stream.
Mr.. Vanderbilt is thirty eight and un.
married. He has selected rare spot for
his home. His front garden steps right
off into space and secures view for
miles of rich valleys and high'w walled
mountains in the distance. Pisgah and
the trains of hills seem to grow opaline
in the sunset and to be transparent. AT
the base is the French Broad, and two
miles away are the spires and smoke Of
Asi e7ile. To the right are the red ga
bles of Kenilworth Iun, while directly