The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-03-12

the records of railroad construction.
The line here twists and turns like a
long snake; at one point seventeen
portions of the track may be seen at
once, while there is a grand curve
which is known as the "Beall Horse
shoe"
THE LAND OF THE SKY.
Asheville! 1t In simply a mountain
dream--it is different from any other
mountain resort i'm the world; it is
unique--there Is nothing to compare
with it except, perhaps, IL we allow
our minds to travel across ocean and
land to far-away Switzerland, and
even then the unpreiudiced tourist will
give his verdict in favor of Asheville.
There is no better evidence of the
beauty of this region than the fact
that this God-favored spot was selected
by George w. Vanderbilt as a resi-
dence for himself, after he had travel
ed all over the world and had visited
every noted picturesque region. Here
his millions have been an Aladdn's
lamp. which has erected on the noun
tain side the most superb mansion that
nent, and where he has laid out mag
nificent estate of 100000 acres. His ar
chitect must have been a fairy who
evolved beauty from the clouds and
sprinkled everything with diamond
dew. The Vanderbilt estate, which Is
known as "Biltmore," is assuredly the
finest private estate. the boundaries of
the United States hold. Its owner had
mi nf Df m "a N
money can do anything, but without
the rare, superb beauty and natural
surroundings of Asheville his millions
would have been as naught.
Ashevlle is well termed 1.-THE Land
of the Sky" and the drapery Of heaven
almost envelops it's site between the
Allegheny mountains on the west and
Blue Ridge on the east, the city itself
Gaping an elevation of 1900 feet above
tidewater, surrounding mountain tops
even pressing the sky at higher alti-
tude. Here you will find the bubblng
sparkling, gurgling French Broad
river. which is the natural shed water
Of the region and which flows along at
an elevation of 1900 feet for 40 miles.
In this delightful region pulmonary
and throat troubles are put to flight
by the balmy air in this section, the
consumptive here renews health. for
gets all about the rigors of Northern
winters, and a new lease of life is
signed. sealed and delivered as the
whistle of the locomotive is heard on
it's approach to Asheville.
AN IMPORTANT FACTOR.
1t is due to the Southern railway to
say that it has been an important fac
tor in building up what is now known
as the new South. Its efforts have not
been entirely confined to the mere
transportation of passengers, but have
been a great aid in the movement of
| that increased freight traffic which
| has sprung into existence since the
introduction of Northern capital in the
! Southern states, and which has result
ed in the building up of large factor
les, particularly in the cotton growing
states, where the manufacturers are
rivaling New England states in the
matter of production, a fact which has
| been noted and extensively commented
| upon during the past few months in
the Northern papers. This prosperity,
! for which the South has been so anX-
! iously waiting, has certainly been
| brought about in a great measure by
! the liberal and progressive methods
| which characterize all the intents and
| purposes of the new officials of the
! Southern railway. They have realized
| the colossal material wealth of the
| state below the Mason and Dixon line.
| and have mapped out a well-defined
and concentrated programme, whose
one purpose is to develop that material
wealth to the fullest extent. New
blood has been recently infused into
this once amost disitegrated system
and a once non-paying property has
been put firmly, safely and surely on
| its feet, and where once was a deficit
to be noted there is now a dividend as
| sured.