The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-06-02
COSTLY BlLTM0RE.
GEORGE W. VANDERBILTrs S6.OOO.-
600 COUNTRY PLACE.
Thirty Thousand Acre Estate-De-
scriptiOn of the Mountain Palace

Asheville, y. G., May 17.-High up
among the pine and oak clad mountain
ranges Of the Blue Ridge in Western
| North Carolina Is the greatest country
/ seat in all America. Il is named "Bnt-
more and the vast domain Of 5000 acres
comprises the "Bntmore estate" The
owner Of this immense estate is George
w Vanderbilt. who has made the place
his pride his hobby and his ambition.
II is four or FIVE years since Mr.. Wander
bits agent began buying tract after tract
Of wastes and forests in this Land Of the
Sky" as the region around Ashevllle has
long been known. Quietly but quickly
this and that farm was bought, and. be-
fore the sellers and the natives knew the
name Of the real purchaser. between 5000
and 1000 acres had been acquired at rea-
sonable figures. When Mr.. Yanderbilts
name became associated with the pur-
chases the prices advanced at least 100
per cent Mountain land that previously
went begging for few dollars an acre
! jumped up to $3.50 and some Of it could not
be bought for $500 an acre.
The mountain site and thousands of
acres having been acquired. the most
elaborate plans and preparations were
made for the transformation of the rough
and rugged hills into a scene of great
grandeur and beauty, and for the building
of one of the most splendid and sumptu-
Gus piles of architecture to be found any
where in the United States. The work of
improving and beautifying the estate was
put into the hands of the most competent
and experienced men. The architect, the
landscape gardener and the forester were
particularly given free swing to carry
out their ideas and plans on a larger
scale than ever before attempted in this
country.
Some idea of the extent Of these opera
tions may be had from the fact that dur
ing the past three years, 200 men have
been steadily engaged in bringing the
grounds to the perfection exacted by the
landscape gardener, Frederick Law Ohm
stead, who laid out most of Central Park
and the grounds of the Worlds Fair at
Chicago; and that from 100 to $50 stone
cutters, masons and carpenters have been
at work raising the stately structure ac-
cording to the plans of the architect,
Richard NJ. Hunt. Then, there have been
tions of Clifford Pinchot. the brick and tile
factory and other Industries, which have
given employment to more than 100 men.
1t is easy to see how the expenditures
have run into the millions. No accurate
figures can be obtained, but it is estimated
that the Biltmore estate has already cost
its owner $4,00O.OO0. 1t will take, perhaps,
S2,00O0O0 more to carry out the plans of
the landscape gardener, of the architect
and of the owner. As near as can be cal
culated, the work a Biltmore has been GO
ing on about four years at a cost of at
least $1,000 a day, or at the rate of $4,000
a year, not counting the fifty-twO Sun
days. "i
The imposing mansion is rapidly ap-
preaching completion, though it will not
be ready for occupancy for next year.
| was told, though, that Mr. Vanderbilt ex-
pected TO spend the next Christmas holt
days there. A score of carvers and stone
cutters are still at work on the outside of
the building, while the cabinet-makers
and interior decorators are identifying
the rooms inside. But with the house fin
ished, there will still remain much to do
to render the place finished and COM
plcte.
To visit Biltmore estate and inspect the
residence it is necessary to procure a per-
init. You will find the place guarded on
every side. You can't escape the watch
dogs of the ESTATE.
Let me see your pass" is the usual
form of command.
Strict orders have been given not to al
low any one to take pictures. If you have
anything that looks like a camera you
are stopped and the question asked:
What have you got there?" This ex-
plains why so few pictures of Biltmore
have been seen.
"Mr. Vanderbilt" said Mr.. McNamee to
me, does not want Biltmore to go before
the world in an unfinished state. When
it is complete. pictures will be presented
for the public eye"
Through the courtesy Of Mr.. McNamee,
we We're provided with more than the us
ual facilities. We also indebted to Mr..
McNamee for pointing out those places
of interest on the estate which we had
Travelled many miles to see. The printed
and written permit read as follows:
Pass Mr. Vance and party over the APP
proach Road to the Esplanade and Re
turn, via Glen, Shiloh River and Service
Roads.
(SigneD Charles MNamee.
Per S. j. r.
Bitmore, n. c., March -, 1855.
NOI GOOD ON SUNDAY.
Across the face was written in red ink
the word special"
The Vanderbilt mansion is about two
miles from the station. Our visit to the
and the red clay roads elsewhere were in
frightful condition. But the roads on
the estate were as smooth and hard as the
| drives in Central Park.
The site of the house was once a noun
tain peak, but it was cut down and grad
ed to the level of the other high ground in
the neighborhood. The view from this
elevated plateau is a grand one. The
house is $40 feet long and 1872 feet deep
and covers over two acres. Connected
with the structure are long walled courts
and the stables.
The house stands, as we have said, on
mountain peak, which has been cut down
and leveled until it is not much higher
than the surrounding ground. This gives
a park of about 1000 acres, in which a
bowling green and tennis court are the
most conspicuous features. The green is
about 1000 feet long and $50 feet wide. 1t
is surrounded by beautifully carved bal
lustrade.
Every one who visits Biltmore is sure
to speak of the tennis court. 1 suppose
it is the finest in the world. 1t is said to
have cost $780, 00 The greater part of the
eXpense consisted in building n hinge re-