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THE ALUMNI JOURNAL. 



the Blue Ridge Mountains begins, and an 

 additional engine is attached to the train. 

 From this time the scenery becomes more 

 and more sublime, and is probably only 

 equalled by the majestic summits of the 

 Rocky Mountains. The train creeps 

 like a huge serpent over wild chasms and 

 heights so dizzy as may make one shud- 

 der as he looks into the yawning abyss 

 below. On every side the mountains 

 rise, clothed from base to summit with 

 the mighty products of the forest which 

 no axe have yet hewn. These add in- 

 spiration to the view, while cascades of 

 sparkling brilliancy dash down the 

 mountain side, almost upon the train. 

 At last when Round Knob is reached, and 

 a stop is made, as if to give the panting 

 engines a moment's rest before attempt- 

 ing the final great ascent to the summit 

 of the range. And then on again, and 

 up and up, higher and higher, the pon- 

 derous engines labor, fairly groaning un- 

 der their burden, until plunging into the 

 great tunnel, 1.800 feet in length, which 

 crowns the very summit of the range 

 finally emerges. This is the "Laud of 

 the Sky." Here 

 "Nature has known no change, felt no decay, 



For untold ages in this ancient land. 

 Her dark woods wave, her rivers hold their way, 



Majestic as when first from Nature's hand; 

 Down the dread depths, as in the dawn of Time, 

 The raging cataracts their water urge." 

 From a curve just before the tunnel is 

 reached, it is possible, on a clear day, to 

 see the track at seventeen distinct points, 

 so tortuous has been the ascent. Some 

 idea may be thus gained of the engineer- 

 ing required in these mountains to enable 

 us to ride around and through and over 

 into the prosperous city of Asheville. 

 The approach from the South via of 

 Spartanburg, and from the West via of 

 Knoxville, is none the less, beautiful and 

 inspiring. 



Asheville is situated with an average 

 elevation of 2,200 feet above the sea 



level and is completely surrounded by 

 mountains that have an average eleva- 

 tion of 4,000 feet, though there are four- 

 teen peaks which tower several hundred 

 feet above Mt. Washington. Two miles 

 south flows the Swannansa, a clear, 

 rapid-flowing mountain stream from thir- 

 ty to sixty feet wide. Along the banks 

 of the river, arched with overhanging 

 boughs of forest trees, runs for miles a 

 road ot surprising beauty, similar in 

 many respects to the drive along the 

 Wissahickon in Philadelphia. One mile 

 to the west of Asheville is the French 

 Broad River, a similar stream, which is 

 remarkably beautiful as seen from vari- 

 ous points on the mountains. It is little 

 wonder that upon viewing the scenes of 

 this part of North Carolina that Mr. 

 George Vanderbilt should have decided 

 to create here a palace which should em- 

 phasize the work of man as this beautiful 

 section does the work of the Creator. 

 Much has already been written regard- 

 ing this vast estate of Mr. Vanderbilt, 

 but it may be of interest to many to 

 know that Mr. Vanderbilt selected this 

 particular location alter having travelled 

 the world over. He purchased a large 

 tract of land, we believe not only because 

 of the climate and attractive scenery, but 

 for a still greater and grander works than 

 he has yet revealed. He has kept add- 

 ing to his land until he has acquired title 

 to nearly 100,000 acres (more than 180 

 square miles), one portion of which 

 touches the city limits of Asheville, from 

 which it stretches over mountain and 

 valley for such a distance that it will be 

 possible for him to ride for thirty-five 

 miles in a straight line from his chateau 

 without leaving his own possessions. 



Mr. Vanderbilt's magnificent palace 

 stands upon an esplanade 700 by 300 

 feet. Huge retaining walls of solid 

 masonry — sixteen feet in thickness at the 

 base and at some points forty teet high — 



