Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 November 1894 — VANDERBILT’S CASTLE. [ARTICLE]

VANDERBILT’S CASTLE.

That Remarkable Building Now Nearing Completion. A correspondent of the Washington Post says of George Vanderbilt’s impressive castle, now building at Asheville, N.C.: Visitors to Asheville ask to have the Vanderbilt estate pointed out to them almost be’ fore they leave the train at the star, tion. The young millioniare is not at all exclusive or selfish with his belongings, but he permits visitors to drive through his grounds and inspect the magnificent residence under reasonable conditions. Soon after the mansion began to grow to such immense proportions some one asked young Vanderbilt why he was investing so heavily In that mountain region. He replied that lie regarded Ashevillesas one of the most beautiful spots in the world, besides he desired to establish a Vanderbilt homestead, which will be a haven of rest for the present and future generations of the Vanderbilt -family. He added: “We have residences in New York and elsewhere, but there is not a place that will be known in the future as the ‘old homestead of the Vanderbilt family.’ ” The members of the family were at first inclined to' discourage what they fancied was extravagance, but one by one they have come to realize that he is building more Wisely than they imagined, and they are anxious to assist him in carrying out his projects, if he will but permit them. He has already expended something like $4,000,000 on the castle and surrounding grounds, and it is estimated that it will cost about $0,000,DOO to fully develop his plans. It is estimated that $12,000 is distributed by him among the citizens of Asheville every week in the nature of salaries and other expenses in connection with his establishment. He is regarded by his fellow-citizens as i practical philanthropist, and one of the railroad officials in this vicinity remarked that if any attempt was made to arouse the laboring alement against young Vanderbilt, a eorporal’s guard could not be mustered to take part in any such expedition. On the contrary, not only the laboring element, but the good citizens of Asheville would promptly £0 to the rescue of the generous young man who has done so much to develop and glorify the country in the region of the French Broad River.

A man in New York city has a liking for toads, and keeps several in the yard. He has succeeded in taming them so that they come at his call, knowing that he has a fly or a grub for them. The animals hide in the flower beds during the day, and are active about twilight. Paper-making has progressed so far that a good imitation of linen writing paper is manufacturad wholly from wood pulp, while a great deal of so-called linen paper is made from cotton rags. True linen paper of American manufacture is now often as good as the best of the imported. The refuse from the best paper mills goes to those of next grade below untiT the Slowest is reached. The largest plow in the world is owned by Richard Gird, of San Bernardino county, California. This immense sodturner stands eighteen feet high and weighs thirty thousand pounds. It runs by steam. The cigarette-makers’ cratnp, so j well known in the tobacco manufac- [ tories of Spain, has made its appear- ! ance in the French fstate factories. |lt shows itself in the thumb and j first finger. j The most honorable death in China j is bvstrangulation, and high officials condemnedjto deathjreceive their senI tences from the Emperor in the : shape of a silken cord, with which they hang themselves.