New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-10-27
Senator sprague ar Houston.

Senator William Sprague, president Of
the New Orleans and Texas railway, ar
rived in our city on Tuesday night last. His
arrival was hailed with pleasure by all per
sons interested in the welfare of Houston,
for his election to the presidency OF this
road is taken as public guarantee Of judi
ci0us management and vigorous work.
Senator Sprague Is one Of the leading
Capitalists Of the North, and the largest
manufacturer in America, having about
twenty-five separate and distinct manufac-
gOries Having wooden mills fax mills,
cotton mills, fOundries iron mills, machine
shops, agricultural implement factories,
print works, dye works, and printing
office employing over 100 men. La addition
to this he owns railroads and steamboat
Zines, and finds time to serve in the United
States Senate.
Senator Sprague is but fCrty-twO years of
age, about five feet eight inches high, dark
hair and eyes, and with a pleasant and
agreeable cOuntenance, which is in no way
gaarred by the use of glasses. He is q most
close observer, scruunizing closely all
fhiuos coming under his observation, and
snakinr but few remarks calculated to in
form Others Of tho conclusions to which he
arrives
Yesterday morning, in company with
Judge Crosby he went to San Jacinto, and
from thence to the City Mills, and, as his
stay was to be very short, Colonel William
j. Hutchins, vice president Of the Central
railroad, decided to give him a short run
up the Central, that he might see the coun-
try to be reached by the road in which he
was interested, and by $50 7. NJ we found
ourselves, with Governor Sprague, Colonel
Hutchins, Colonel B0ynton, contractor;
President g. A. Graw, 4. Groesbeck, Major
Cave, Colonel Ennis B. A. Shepherd, Paul
Bremond, and tho indispensable Vaughn
and Judge Shepherd, Of Washington coun-
ty, on board Of special train bound north
on flying trip.
Superintendent Vaughn took charge of
the train, which was run at the rate of
forty miles an hour to Hampstead, and from
thence to Brennan at the rate OF twenty
five miles.
Governor Sprague expressed his great
surprise st tile rich and fertile country
through which he passed, and when the
cars stopped and the party got off and ex
amined a cotton plantation, he seemed to
enjoy the remarks of several, that "tbis is
nothing compared with the country further
on" He said he was perfectly satisfied
with what he had seen, and was prepared
to believe all they said Of what laid beyond
After a short time spent in observation,
the train backed down to Hampstead, |
where the engine turned round and we ran
into Houston, one hundred and fifty miles
on the round trip, having made the whole |
distance, including stOppages, in five min
utes less than four hours.
Upon our arrival Captain N. ?. Turner,
of the Hutchins House, met us with hacks
and the party proceeded to his hotel, where
o splendid supper was prepared for hum
CRY set of men.
Among those who welcomed Governor
Sprague we noticed, besides those who went
up the road, Judge Crosby, F. A. Rice, Col
onel Brady, John Shearn and several other
citizens.
After partaking Of a most excellent sup
per, consisting OF all the dalntles OF the
season and the rarest of wines, the party
broke up at an early hour, as Governor
Sprague was tdtigued and is to leave on
the morning train.
Governor Sprague ia to-day the president
of the New Orleans and Houston railroad.
This road has encountered obstacle upon
obstacle, the greatest OF which has been
the opposition Of Charles Morgan the pro-
priet0r of the magnificent Morgan line of
steamers between New Orleans and Texas.
A large portion of this road is completed
and in fine running order. A few months
of energetic work, combined with the free
use of money, would connect Texas with
New Orleans by rail.
Governor Sprague has met with the
heartiest support from the Board of Trade
At New Orleans, and lie is on a tour OF in
egpection not only Of the road and the cOun-
try but to ascertain the public feeling in
Texas upon this subject In order to meet
the heavy expense necessary to tho CON
structiOn Of this road assistance should be
rendered The completion of the road to
Houston would enhance property and bene-
lit trade In this city at least Isl, 0UO,00O
within twelve months; and to secure this
Drize but moderate amount OF assistance
d necessary, and the question now is, will
&he business men of Houston permit this
golden opportunity to pass!
Governor Sprague remarked that he had
mot seen bowie knife or pistol on person
in Texas, and seemed to believe with Colo
ael Forney that we were nearly civilized.
Governor Sprague is the beau ideal OF a
New England business man, and desires to
sleep a night or two before expressing an
opinion upon what he saw and heard In
the meantime, we trust that our people will
so act as to pledge to this company that ma
terial aid and support which they need, and
to which the magnitude of their enterprise
and its benefits to us entitle them
The Union Of another date says:
Senator William Sprague, of Rhode Is
land, who has Just arrived in our city, on a
brief visit to portion of our State, is oRe
of the kind OF Northern men to whom Texas
has been so much indebted for the rapiditY
of her more recent development. He is o
man of large wealth, liberal views, and
takes a deep interest in every form Of en-
terDrise. The suggestion that he might be-
come interested in the New Orleans and |
Texas railroad has given new hope to the |
friends of that road; and his expressed ]
opinion that Texas is the most prosperous 1
and has the brightest future of any Of the i
Southern States, coming from one so well
qualified to judge, will have good effect ]
upon the energies of our people.
There is no one whom Texas could more i
warmly welcome than Senator Sprague, not !
merely because he is a distinguished public
man. but also because he is so true a type /
of the best qualities of the American citi- t
gen. He is still young man, having been {
born in 1880 Elected Governor of his ma
tive State, Rhode Island, in 1860, he raised
several regiments for the Union army and
accompanied them to the field, where he re-
ceiyed from President Lincoln a commits
sion as brigadier general, which, however,
he did not accept. He was elected to the
United States Senate as a Democrat, and I
took his seat in 1868, was reelected in 1868
for q term which expires in 1875. We wish :
Aim an every way agreeable visit to Texas
The Telegraph says: .
Ex-Governor Sprague, president Of the !
New Orleans Mobile and Texas railway. G
L. C. White, ESD and Hon. c. W. Shirley, 4
the two latter from New York arrived in \
this city yesterday Being railway CAPT G
talists, these gentlemen have come to see S
and judge for themselves of the feasibility +
of our Western narrow gauge enterprise. +
Yesterday they iuterohangod views with t
some OF our leading citizens and moneyed s
men, and to-day, we learn, they leave the t
city by private conveyance, intending to 0
personally inspect the entire line OF the O
proposed railway. :
Our distinguished visitors are thorough a