Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-03-25
OUR ROYALTY.
Biltnore, the Regal Residence
Of George Vanderbilt, in the
North Carolina Hills Truly
a Wonderful Estate.
VIM. E. Curtis in Chicago Record.


siasts as the finest private estate in
the world, and perhaps there is moth
ing in the United States to compare
with it in cost or extent, although in
Europe-in England, France and Ger
many-are several country establish
ments, not including the retreats of
royalty, that surpass it in various re-
spects, and after hundreds Of years
of cultivation are now what BiltmOie
may be when it has reached the same
iipeness and maturity. Eaton hail.
to which the duke of Westminster has
recently taken his bride, represents
twice as much money as George Van
derbilt has invested at Biltmore, and
it is hallowed by the centuries of TO
nance, history and public interest.
At Lota, Chile, the chateau and park
of the late Sonora Cousino, often men
toned as the richest woman in the
world. approach, if they do not equal
in magnificence and extent, the prince
ly home and domain OF Mr.. Vanderbilt,
which is at least as large as many
dukedom.
Biltmore is single tract of field
and forest, including Mt Pisgah, 5.757
feet high. with an area of 147, 900
acres. There is only one break in the
regularity of the boundary. A lit
tie wedges shaped farm projects into
it near the chateau. 1t is owned by
negro, ignorant and obstinate. who
has steadfastly refused to sell his
little place to Mr.. Vanderbilt except
at preposterous figure. People say
that the colored man is not RESPONSE
Bile for his attempt at blackmail, but
is under the influence of white man
of malicious disposition towards the
owner of Biltmore. Tehre Is no
truth in the stories that have been
printed in sensational newspapers
about attempts to rob this negro Of
his little home, nor of the persecu-
tions which he is alleged to have en-
dured from his millionaire neighbor.
Mr.. Vanderbilt bought the immense
tract of land he owns here in open
market indirectly through other per-
sons, paying for it more than any
one else would have paid; for the
best of his farm land cost $3.50 an
acre, and the rocky ranges not more
than so cents an acre. The average
price for the whole was about $3.50
an acre. The transactions were
conducted entirely through agents at
Ashyille, and some of them did not
know for whom they were acting.
When the negro farmer referred to
was approached, he asked advice of a
white man, who told him not to sell,
so Mr.. Vanderbilt's agents paid no fur
ther attention to him. When prep
arations for building the chateau COM
menced, q side track four miles long
was laid from the track of the South
ern railroad for the transportation OF
material. 1t could have been short
ened considerably if the negro had
permitted it to run through his land.
He demanded an unreasonable COM
pensation, which Mr.. Vanderbilt de-
clined to pay, and there have been
no further negotiations.
The boundary fence of Biltmore Is
more than 300 miles long. The farm
consists of more than 5000 acres of
cleared land The remainder OF the
estate is forest, including range of
mountains, a fish and game preserve
anu oollC vi lut IllOol siilN
beautiful scenery east of Colorado
Twenty-four hundred acres of the farm
are under cultivation. The rest is
park, pasture, or land lying fallow,
resting until its turn comes to be torn
up by the plow. No field on the es-
tate is planted for crops two years in
succession.
In the purk are 3S miles of macad-
amized pleasure drives. There are
75 miles of artificial wagon road on
the estate, and 265 miles of trails in
the forests along the trout streams
and over the mountains. These trails
are fifteen feet wide and clear of un-
derbrush. There are also many miles
of shooting paths cut at angles
right and left from the trails. When
deer are driven by the dogs they must
GLOSS these paths, which gives the
hunter a clear range and fair shot,
instead of compelling him to dodge
between the intervening trees. The
forest is SO dense that deer can lie
unseen only few feet away They
are numerous and breed rapidly. The
trees are full If grouse and wild tur-
key, and the streams abound in trout
and bass. A few years ago two fish
ermen caught 1850 speckled trout in
two days. and boasted of the slaugh-
ter Mr. Vanderbilt was so indig-
nant that he has since allowed no one
to grant fishing permits except him
self. and that very rarely. He is not
a sportsman, but his profession is that
of forester and botanist During
his last visit, when he remained at
Biltmore for nearly two years. he did
not fire a gun and caught but one
fish. He had many guests, however,
who enjoyed the fishing and shoot
ing daily with the moderation of true
sportsmen.
The preserve is in charge of game
warden named Kearns, fine type of
the mountain ranger, who is assist
ed by five mountaineers-tal strong,
Tod .,,I