The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-24


classification of DIR. Chaumont. 1t has
alsoa perfect system of sewers; electric
light and gas plant; two banks; three
clubs; the best golf links IN the South,
with country club house: fire alarms and
fire company; two telephone exchanges;
seven private schools; four modern public
school buildings; a cotton mill with y,
500 spindles and 400 looms; roller mill;
FIVE tobacco warehouses; a bicycles club
two Y NJ G.. A. associations, one white
and one colored; the best city market in
the South; United States district court
and internal revenue building; two daily
and three weekly newspapers, with q
number of church, school and society
publications; the best opera house in the
State: three large, modern and well
equipped sanitariunlS; the finest livery
in the South: ice factories; dairies; green
houses: cigar factories: lodges of all the
leading orders; Mission hospital:
Flower mission; children's home; Ashe-
vile reformatory; Lindley training
school; fifteen hotels, etc, etc.
The business of Asheville amounts to
about S3.500000 per annum. The as
sessed value of city property is S4I5S,
SOL The rate of taxation ON valuation
is. S1.20 for the city 60 cents of this for
schools) and 80 cents for State and
county rs cents Of this for schools.)
yANDERBILT'S BIITMORE.
An evidence of the permanent nature
of Ashevilles prosperity, the value OF ats
climate and beauty of its scenery. is af-
fdred by the magnificent home--a prince
IL. manor established just outside of the
city by George w Vanderbilt, of New
York. With a vast fortune and with
whole warld to choose from, he has Sc
lected Asheville as the one place for
creating the splendid house and lordly
park which his architects and engineers
have constructed under the direction OF
Frederick Law Olmsted, the landscape
architect. who gave New York her Gems
trail Park The house was built under
the direction of the eminent archltect,
the late Richard NJ Hunt, and IS
chateu of French Renaissance, SO feet
long and 80 feet wide, and in some fea-
turese not unlike the famous chateau at
Blois, France.
The Biltmore estate contains about
10000 acres and the Pink Beds and ad-
iacent tract of Mr.. Vanderbilts hunting
preserve comprise about $4,000 acres.
This is known as Pisgah Forest.
An arboretum embracing twelve miles
domain. and to complete its planting,
100000 plants will be required, many
of which are now being propagated. The
number of plants already propagated and
set out in the landscape paintings in the
Fillmore nurseries for use on the estate
reaches the enormous total of 10,000,OOU,
the nurseries having an annual output
of something over 100000 plants.
VISITORS PRAISE.
Col. A. X Mcclure, Philadelphia
Times, says: Il have seen the grand
mountain views of every part of our con-
tinent east of the Sierra Nevada, and
malst testify that there is no mountain
scenery this side of the Rocky Mountains
that EQUALS. or even approaches the
grandeur of the varied views presented
here. 1t is not surprising that thou
sands of visitors come from the sunny
South in the summer time to enjoy the
bracing atmosphere and unrivaled beau
ty of these mountains, nor is it sHrpris-
ing that thousands come here from the
North in the winter to escape the sudden
changes and oppressive vigor of our WIN
ter climates. 1T is the one pleasure and
notwithstanding region which has all sea-
sons for its worshippers. Its rides and
drives of unequaled beauty; its dry ex-
hilaIiating atmosphere: it genial winters,
even amoung the mountain tops, and ITS
pure breezes and cool nights in nthe heat
of summer, make it an all-the-year resort
for those who seek pleasure, rest or fu-
gitive health, and it is evidently destined
to become the great resort of the Amarl-
can continent.
w. n. Weir, of w. H. Weir and Sons,
bankers, Montreal, Canada, said: Il
came to Asheville two years ago from
Montreal. Canada. for the benefit Of the
health of my family, and have resided
here during the summer and winter, and
| have no hesitation in saying that as
am all-year-round climate Aslleyiile has
few equals and none superior. either IN
climate or scenery and beautiful drives,
all of which are sonecessary to the III
valid or pleasure seeker. As Il place TO
make home where climate and comfort
of living are a consideration Asnevlile
has few equals
PHYSICIANS OPINIONS.
DR. G.. w. Gleitzmann, of New York,
who devoted periods of from ten to thir-
teen years to personal observations of
the climate of the Asheyille plateu, its
temperature humidity, rainfall An1 sun
shine has tabulated the results OF his 1T
D0rS. Inc ngufeS compare IaNoraD.y
with those concerning any celebrated
mountain resort in America or Europe.
During period of eight years." says DR..
Gleitzman, ''the murcury but twice rose
above IS degrees and but three times fell
below three Degrees
Drs. Segur and Lloyd, of Brooklyn. af-
ter personally examining the .Asheyille
plateau. declare what is well known 10
every resident, that there is no malaria.
and the advantages for its treatment in
patients coming here are indicated
Dr. Samuel Westray Battle Passed
Assistant Surgeon, u S. Navy, says of
the climate: 1T is cool in summer, -et
the winters, shorn Of their lIat,hress ny
reason of its southern .atiture, induce
almost daily out-of-door exercise, III the
way of shooting, driving, riding. or short
mountain excursions on foot. Moderate
altiture, dry and ozoniferoIs atmosphere,
bright sunshine and beautiful scenic en-
vironment are the importaa factors of
the region"
Prof. Dixon, of Jefferson Medical Col
lege. Philadelphia, states that the health