The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-05-19
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Beautiful As6eSiIIe.
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II Is not easy for the visitor to Asheyllo
to abstain from extravaganza Of description
after having gone to this ideal resort OF
tourists 10 the mountains Of Western North
Carolina, Situated on a plateau a2jO feet
above the sea Il IS the delight alike to the
Northerner In winter aud the southerner
In summer. In the matter OF an ail.ycar.
round climate It holds the hfst place In our
Southern latitude. The conditions prevail
Ing at Ashevlle, the dryness OF It's atmos.
phere aud the equnbienc-- OF It's climate,
rob the cold wind OF its devastating yigor,
while the brace OF It's ozonlferous atmos.
phere in summer makes 1t the delight Of the
tourist alike from the North and the South.
The town Is protected on the north and
east BY high mountains. Deep in the valleys
are the hurrying waters OF the picturesque
French Broad and the peaceful dow OF
Its humber tributary, the beautiful Swan
nanoa. These are almost canopled by slant.
lhB trees and are skirtcd Dy mountain
hQNers. The uneven surface of Asheyille
affords the ampler opportunity for laud-
/ scnpe gardening and FOR identifying the
groves aud grounds In every conceivable
way swatds OF grass OF the darkest green
adorn the slopes and lend endless variety
to the shifting scenes about the town.
Ferched nigh upon an eminence overlook
lus the Town ana commanding view OF
superb scenic environment is the famous
Battery Park hotel with las spacious
pUtches, lis ce0ylng parlors and It's rooms
Of comfort IL easily accommodates 500
guests and was taxed to its utmost during
The late session Of the Southern Baptist
! convention the headquarters OF which
were the Battery Park hotel More genial
outefs, were never met IN a hotel than
one hnds at the Battery Park
standing or sitting upon one Of its broad
porchtS one can gaze for hours upOn the
L % So hot HnIf satY lA.
blue against the horizon. while the vast
( intervening stretch g. dotted with vol.
/ t,lled farms, handsome residences ma
clumps OF forest. In the remote distance
| Is tho Vanderbilt mansion. "Biltmore' a
name derived from the last svlAhl' ui the
wealthy proprietor and the maiden name
OF MS mother. II Is said that his discyi nj
mating father gave To George W. Wander
hilt igr smaller share OF his fortune tnun
ne gave the rest NJ his hors George, how
! ever, being The fGyO,lte " his mother came
I into the possession NJ hor estate, nnd e
I tho wea.thcst OF the name The intereSte :
| tourist H. shown the vast domain Of Gcorga
! w. vanderbilt extending from mountain
/ 70 mountain OF the great range ana ON
/ br1cine 137OJO acres Of land or this do
| main there Is n private Hunting. preserve
/ tains and near the French Broad is the
/ town al Blllmorc, owned entirety by Mr.
/ vanderbilt. Here Il his private railway
I station Beautiful little farms devoted IN
/ vegetables and fruit raising 10 adjacent
/ to this coy town
But the costly private residence. Rilt-
more, g. Inc chief attraction Of tho region
( II Is said that the famous private residence
( Us the cCstliest I'm America Richard NJ.
/ Hunt. famous In architectural circles. was
! &C. chrntCd chatcaus OF the old world be-
3 fore he should plan the construction Of Bilt.
/ more. II rs built I'm the French Rcnnis.
sance style, Of whltsh Bedlow granite, Is
/ %71 feet long ANA $50 feet wide II stands
/ IN a colossal park OF 10000 acres, which
/ under the direction Of Frederick Law Dim
4 ~ 4
/ been beautihed In every direction. Winding
/ through this romantic region are ittpcu
miles ot perfect roads bordered bv rho To-
/ deHdrcns. the imperial laurel. wild honey
/ sr"llo and the modest asalca
During the sessions Of the Southern con
+ 'enlun, free, access 20 the grounds was
. given the delegates and visitors and morn
ing ana evening the broad graded hiChN avs.
/ that pentratc the estate were thronged
. with curious sightSecrS, on horseback nua
/ In vehicles The rare privilege was ggnnt'd
, OF entering the private grounds Immediate.
IN surroundlnc the mansion Htrc one hus
/ complete view OF the csplanale, 1909
feet long and 800 feet wide. extending up
70 inr main entrance. the bowling green,
the garden with Its fountains water 'ilv
ponds with their classic statuory, the rare
p0uts In the conservatory the uergull.
| Through the open rHftcrs or which tho sum
.h'nr alters down through thlckly cntwIncd
wv, aud the splaShWg river mt the base
ot the cmincnce with It's suhdncd roar of
T-v~r- accustomed To trees and plrlns
and hilowy rrNireS foun1 IN this mountpi'I
roolt thr most novel and picturesque soon
cry.
can nor close this ncohcrcnt sketch
without making proper reference 70 tho en-.
trrprlsc OF ou railway oIici1ls who sn'v,
ro pains to make the Journey to Ashcvtlo
the most delightful one. Two Pullmqn
Stepping car. ana n chair ear were rpu
throvrh trom Houston to Ashcvillp FOR the
comfort and accommodation " tho lclega.
I lion FROM ftyas, Chair cars nrc rarity IA
th" cnStcln Sonth. aud onrs was nm oh
loot NJ CIV 10 our loss favored brethren
This Idea. ! learn, was conceived nv Mr.
| 4 j. Anderson Of the Southern Par.fc
lTe was ah'v supported In the cNecuti mn
o. bis plans by MesSrs Morrow Of tNc
Louisville aud Nashville Terhuue ~ thr
West Point and Atlantic. and KNIGHT OF
the Southern These gentlemen md the
roads that thcv represent command tho mo
fouudest gratitude ~ the hundreds OF Tex
ans In their recent trip to Ashovllc
n IT Riier