Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-04-17
BUILDER OF BILTMORE
Vanderbilt's Service to the Southern
States.

The south owes an especial debt of
gratitude to Mr.. Vanderbilt as the
builder of Biltmore, near Asheville,
which has been an object lesson OF
value in many ways to southern peo-
pie, says the Southern Lumberman.
In conceiving and carrying out that
splendid achievement Mr.. Vanderbilt
showed a true spirit Of altruism that
of itself affords proof that there is no
good reason for the gulf that so fire.
quently exists between the man of
money and the man Of labor.
Being in delicate health, he went to
the beautiful Blue Ridge region OF
North Carolina and purchased thous-
ands of acres of wild lands, upon
which he planned an imposing estate.
If he had built nothing but his pala-
tial residence, conceded to be the fin
est country estate in America, there
would be little occasion to comment
upon his work. But Mr.. Vanderbilt
sought more than his own ease and
comfort. The town Of Biltmore and
the Forest school which he establish >
ed and maintained for so many years
are something quite apart from the
mere residence, palace though it is,
Of a beauty which has afforded en-
joyment to thousands.
In founding the village of Biltmore,
Mr.. Vanderbilt erected beautiful cot
tages for his tenants, cottages that
are sanitary in all respects, equipped
with bath rooms, sewerage, water,
electric lights, and, as the landlord
would say, "all modern improvements
and conveniences. He erected many
industries to give the people profit
able employment. He built modern
schools. He provided parks and
beauty spots throughout the village.
He built a beautiful church and en-
ployed an able and cultured pastor.
Not anywhere in the world has capi-
tai shown greater consideration for
labor than Mr.. Vanderbilt exhibited
in Biltmore.
In addition he laid out farms in the
mountain valleys and stocked them
with the finest cattle, sheep, poultry
and hogs to be had in the world, and
the farm houses erected were in all
respects equal to the village homes in
the matter of comfort and convent
ence even of elegance. Throughout
the entire extent of the estate the
very best of roads were constructed
valuable object lesson at time
most needed to the people of the
whole south.
Not many people realize that the
establishment of this magnificent es-
tate was a conception that came to
Mr. Vanderbilt before he was of age.
Before he had come into his great
fortune he had already fixed upon the
boundaries of the Biltmore estate, and
soon after becoming of age, he made
the purchase. The establishment of
the Forestry school came a number
of years later. Its long and success
full conduct is a familiar story to the
readers of this paper and was refer
red to in a recent editorial. In con-
nection with this undertaking Mr.
Vanderbilt came into acquaintance
with many southern lumbermen.
If labor knows the joy of living
anywhere, labor knows it in the vi
cinity of Biltmore. And the beauty
of this is, Mr.. Vanderbilt made it pay.
The men who work in the Biltmore
industries live in actual elegance at
an extremely low cost. They obtain
good wages. They enjoy the COM
forts and luxuries of civilization.
Their children are being educated,
and they have bank accounts. Their
wives and children dress well and
they attend the same church that the
Vanderbilts attend. An injury to a
dweller in Biltmore is always a mat
ter of concern to the great house on
the mountainside, and a misfortune to
one brings swift sympathy from the
gracious mistress Of the palace