Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-20
FAM Gus BILTMOR e
Secretary Morton's Visit to George Wander
bilt's Estate.
The Unique Undertaking Of the Young
mental Forestry and Agriculture.

Secretary Morton's week at Biltmore the
North Carolina estate of George w. VAN
derbilt, was devoted to study of the
methods in operation there to experiment
In forestry, horticulture and agriculture.
There are $4,000 acres in the estate"
said Secretary Morton, land every inch
Of it may be said to be under scientific
cultivation. embracing every branch of the
vegetable kingdom. Combined with it he
has the most perfect system Of roadways
l have ever seen, and you can drive 100
miles over macadamized pavement without
going on his estate. As an exhibition OF
landscape gardening it 10 without an equal
Frederick Law Olmsted has had charge Of
that branch of the work. and the late
Richard M. Hunt was the architect of all
the buildings. which, for their several uses,
surpass any that exist on the earth There
are no palaces in Europe that can equal
MT. Nanuerpilt's for elegance, comfort and
convenience. and, he is gathering there a
collection of works of art that would make
1T famous if 1t had no other attraction.
His stables, his barns, his diaries. his
propagatng houses, his memories and other
features of his establishment are all on
the same grand scale. He has undertaken
TO furnish the highest possible example of
the science of food culture in every one
OF Its branches He has employed the best
men ne can find to take charge of his ex-
perImehts, and pays them salaries that are
commensurate with their services There
are Germans and Frenchmen and Italians
and Englishmen, We'll as Americans en-
pioyed. The foreigners usually men Of
nigh professional regulations who are at
tached to universities in the old world and
spend their vacations. three, four or six
months, on Mr. Nanderbilt's estate looking
aL.er tnesr respective departments. While
the work has not yet been carried far
enough to show the results. the possibilities
OF usefulness offered by Mr.. Vanderbilt's
enterprise are unlimited.
Il consider his work there inst aS imnor
tant to the agricultural interests of tbs
country as the Department of Agriculture
at Washington. He employs more men
man have under my charge, and think
ne IS Spe ndiny more money every wear than
Congress appropriates for this Department
although L do not know his figures He has
nearly 1oO0 on his pay roll and we have
apout 'vo. HIS men are promoted for Elf
cheney, according to the most practical civil
service rules. If man who is emplovad al
u a day to shovel dirt shows that he Is
capable OF something better his work ard
MS wages are both advanced, and tie same
rune apples TO everybody on the estate If
Ihefe Were nothing else 20 be ACCOMPLISHED
MI Vanderbilt is, at least building nm an
educational institution that will furnish
scientific farmers and teachers for rho in
sruction of the rest of MANKIND and I fec,
like thanking old Commodore VanderbiIt
Ior having given US a grandson who has
tHe Drains ana the benCvolence to devote
Ills wealth to afford the public such yalu-
able object lessons in art, architecture ap-
r.cuItufe, forestry, viticuiture, datryiny
road making and other useful sciences
The people down there talk about ,ba
enormous amount of money that Mr. Nam
oerDiit is investing TO crafty his taste and
pride, 10 provide luxurieS for his appetite
anu magnificent displays to fiatter his yan-
ity, put the poor creatures do not compre-
hend the first letter in the alphabet of his
ambition Their vision is not broad enough
their intelligence is not sufficient to srasp
a single fragment of the idea he is develop
ing. ana While they imagine that il is all
que 10 selllshness, he is a great benefactor
working for them. They talk about the
Iand being worn out down there in North
carolina. It's the people The land is ali
right, if brains and energy were applied Ia
its cultivation.
1t is a grand idea" said Mr. Morton
tnat young Mr.. Vanderbilt is irving To
carry out. 1t is unique, and none hut a
man OF his enormous wealth could under
take IT, Few kings have either funds or
the good of their people at heart sufficient
10 conceive and carry cut what Mr. VAN
derbllt mas successfully demonstrated I
90 not know how much money he has
spent there, nor how much more he intends
10 invest, but 1T is one of the graEdest un-
dertakings that individual enterprise ever
attempted, and l understand that it is the
owners intention to leave 1t as a legacy
to the public when he can no longer enjoy
it himself.