25

largely put into new buildings, and in
many places dis-
placing steam and hydraulic elevators in others, is a sure
indication that the business public discern and appre-
ciate their valuable features. They meet every require-
ment and challenge the most critical examination as to
their merits.
Compared with steam or hydraulic elevators they are
unique in that they may
be placed in
any position.
They may be placed on any floor, and in a horizontal
vertical, or any other position to suit the circumstances.
Steam or hydraulic power
does not possess
such flexi-
bility, and compared with other machines the electric
elevator occupies a minimum amount of space.
In regard to the power necessary to drive electric ele-
vators, it may be said that the energy consumed is in
proportion to the amount of work performed. Thus a
light load does not require as much current as a heavy
one, and the motor takes no more than necessary.
The electric elevators now in use are giving the best of
satisfaction, and all users are unanimous in their praises
of their performance. —
The Electrical Age.
A SOUTHERN PALACE.
George W. Vanderbilt’s Supurb Mansion Near
Asheville.
A
SPECIAL to the Chattanooga Times
,
from Bristol,
Tenn., July 2, says : A brilliant newspaper man has
furnished the following vivid picture of the marvelous
mansion of George W. Vanderbilt:
Two miles out from Asheville, N. C., is a little station,
Biltmore. It is the headquarters of a water tank and
the gate of Kenilworth Inn. It is something more.
The Salisbury and Spartanburg divisions of the Western
North Carolina Railroad come together here, while a
little branch road deflects to the right and is lost
among
the hills. If you happen to see one of the little cars on
this road you will notice the letters,
“
G. W. N. V. C.,”
on it. The car is loaded with stone or coal, maybe iron,
and you may
be sure it is bound for Vanderbilt’s famous
building two miles away.
“
Biltmore
”
is called for
Vanderbilt and a resident by the name of Moore, who
has a pretty cottage on the road, just above the station.
It is a smooth combination, and likely to become fa-
mous.
Following the branch road, which runs up
and down
hill with equal facility, and winds around the mountains,
you reach, in the course of half an hour, the summit of
the Long Pine. This is the busiest spot in North Car-
olina. You pass Vanderbilt’s stone quarry, where much
of the material for rougher work has been secured
; you
view his brick-yards, where millions of tubes are press-
ing and baking ; you stop at his blacksmith shop, where
the tools are
mended and some castings made
; you
ride
near the shady home, which he has purchased for his
chief engineer, always following up his rails and tele-
graph lines, which lead to the spot where lies the site of
the house of Vanderbilt.
Several years ago
Vanderbilt wandered down to Bun-
combe county, N. C., and was attracted by the beauty of
the place. He rode over the mountains, and while at
the summit of Long Pine, two miles from Asheville,
concluded he would buy a tract and
put up a shooting
lodge. This led to the purchase of a large lot of land
up
and down the mountain and along the French Broad,
with the idea of controlling everything in sight and pre-
venting settlers from obstructing the view or coming too
close. Visions of deer park, quail covers, sheep farms
and other schemes enlarged his demesne until his acres
began to be numbered by thousands. White and black
settlers surrendered their lodgings at good prices, and
now there are only two or three black dwellers within
the Vanderbilt limits who have refused to sell out and
hold their places at $l,OOO per acre. Vanderbilt may
buy them out or he may
freeze them out.
When Vanderbilt had finished his purchase of 5,000
acres his ideas broadened. Instead of a shooting lodge,
he decided to put up a residence, and such a residence as
would make Chauncey Depew’s eyes glisten at Peekskill.
So he set about him and leveled off the cone of the
mountain thirty feet. Some time over a year ago he be-
gan to lay his foundations, and his stone masonry now
begins to rise sheer over the side of the
mountain, like
a walled precipice. This is just what Vanderbilt
wanted, for he determined that his castle would have
the view and command the heights unobstructed. He
concluded to spend from his income about $1,000,000 a
year
for ten years, and he is pretty well assured, at the
end of that time, of having the finest private residence
in America, possibly in the world. The architects are
very clever, but will not show the designs of the house.
Perhaps they fear somebody will duplicate them before
the dwelling is completed. The building will be 400
feet long and 300 feet wide. It has a tennis court in the
left which is a marvel of
masonry
and filling, and which
alone cost $lO,OOO. The banquet hall of the mansion is
to be 70 feet long, and will have a pitch of 30 feet.
Under the main entrance of the hall will be a swimming
pool, while a fine gymnasium, wine cellar and art gal-
lery are to be connected with the establishment.
Three miles back of the dwelling is a cold spring on
the top of Busby mountain. He has purchased this
spring and carries the water in six iron pipes all the
way
to the Lone Pine. This will give him volume and pres-
sure enough for every part of his premises, and enable
him to throw a stream 100 feet high from any point on
his place. It will insure a dozen or more fountains in
his parks and drives; 500 hands are at work on the
grounds and buildings. Superb carriage-ways are graded
and macadamized up the mountain, commanding an
approach to the house, and these will be continued be-
yond the residence and down the valley to the French
Broad, where Vanderbilt will throw an iron bridge over
this picturesque stream.
Mr. Vanderbuilt is thirty-eight and unmarried. He*
has selected a rare spot for his home. His front garden-
steps right off into
space
and secures a view for miles of
rich valleys and high-walled mountains in the distance.
Pisgah and the trains of hills seem to grow opaline in
the sunset and to be transparent. At the base is the
French Broad, and two miles away are the spires and
smoke of Asheville. To the right are the red gables of
Kenilworth Inn, while directly in front, a mile or more
away, are the chimneys of Oakland Sanitarium and
Connell’s residence. There is nothing in Virginia,
nothing in England, and, I am told, nothing finer than
this view in western North Carolina. This palace of
marble and iron is built for all time, and the picture will
be kept perfect, so far as nature and art can make it so.
An alloy of ninety-five parts of tin and five parts
of copper will connect metals with glass. The alloy
is prepared by pouring the
copper
into the molten tin,
stirring with a wooden mixer, and afterwards remelt-
ing. It adheres strongly to clean glass surfaces, and
has nearly the same rate of expansion as glass. By
adding from one-half to one
per cent, of lead or zinc
the alloy may be rendered softer or harder, or more
or less easily fusible, as required. It may also be
used for coating metals, imparting to them a silvery
appearance.
248 THE SOUTHERN ARCHITECT.