Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1901-03-27
VANDERBILT'S SERVICE.
The Millionaire Has Taught Tue
Farmers About BiltmOre
Valuable Lessons

Chicago Record from AsneVllle,
N. c.. as follows:
The example of George Wander
bilS's system of farming at Bilt-
more is beginning to bs felt
throughout all this part OF the
State. At first people regarded
his enormous expenditures and
the magnificent results with
curiosity and wonder; further
observation suggested that his
methods were easy of imitation,
I'D thus Mr.. Vanderhi!t's highest
ambition is being realized, and
the object lesson he intended to
place before the eyes of the
people of North Carolina is being
rapidly learned.
To the stranger the most
noticeable changes are IN the
houses and the highways. Former
lv the inhabitants of this section
came to town over roads that were
hub. deep in mud for six months
and beclouded with dust during
the remainder or the year. Now,
within the neighborECod Of
Asheville, and runring in all
directions, are some of the best
maeadamized roadways in che
country which are being extended
by the county commissioners as
rapidly as possible, but altogether
too slowly to satisfy people who
have farm products to haul and
horses sad carriages for pleasure
driving. Before Mr.. Vanderbilt
came nobody ever thought If
building q road, but his example
was almost Immediately initiated,
aud since then, I understand,
nearly $4,000 has been expended
in public improvements by the
people of this county, which will
soon bave Ole of the best systems
of pavements and highways in tb:
world.
The architecture of the town
has been undergoing arapid evo!u-
ton. In building q villag, to
accommodate the employees of his
estate, Mr.. Vanderbilt combined
art with utility, and produc d q
group Of dwellings, offices, school
houses, churches and blocks for
business purposes as symmetrical
and artistic as can be imagined,
Richard NJ. Hunt, the famous
artist and architect, who designed
his chateau, being his advisor.
Until that TINE the people of this
community made their habitatinns
without regard to taste, trying 10
get as larage a house as possible
for the least amount of money.
Some CT the architects imported
by Mr.. Vanderbilt have remained
here. and thff;rrrr'.iie rrrr':ie is fully en-
,loyed in designing dwellings and
,ther structures and in remodeling
he old ones to meet the improved
aste of the people. The well
paved streets of Asheville are now
ined on either side with cheap
,ut tasteful homes.
Mr.. Vanderbilt sells the produce
If his farm and alden in the conf
non market, but the other truck
armers have been compelled to
improve the quality of their pro-
luce in order to compete with him.
HIS vegetables are the best that
grow, and are raised by the mos
improved methods of cultivation.
In order to produce similar resuita
The farmers have pretty generally
adopted his methods, and have
learned by experience that the
same money and labor can produce
from the same soil a superior
quality of produce and a larger
profit if those methods are proper
Iy applied. Mr. Vanderbilt fur
nishes seeds, slips, cuttings and
plants from his propagating
houses to any one who wants
them. He does not give them
away, but charges reasonable
prices. The results are apparent
in the general improvement of the
farming community in this seu-