The New York herald., 1873-11-04


Faclne TINS srrccs ana naving combined 'front.'
age OF about 200 feet are the two private dwell
lngs OF the Spragues Here all that wealth and
taste could devise was brought together to make
body and soul rejoice The site was fitting one
for the
GREATEST FAMILY OF THE STATE,
high above the town and looking over the heads
even OF the other great rival family, the Browns.
Now that the great firm OF Spragues Is threatened
with extinction 1t may be as wen TO glance for
moment at the magnitude Of their investments, so
as to realize what an enormous property has been
overthrown in lew days. The house
OF sprague was started sixty years ago
by the establishment in small way OF
print works at Cranston. These works grew rom
year to year in size and Importance, ana under
the management OF the elder Amasa ana William
sprague they were brought 60 q high state OF per-
lection, SO that the sprague brand Of calico be-
came favorably known from end to end OF the
country. The elder spragues died and left the
property to Amasa and william the younger. The
print works yielded an immense revenue, and IL
was the ambition OF william TO devote all the sur
plus earnings to the extension OF the name and
enterprise OF the family. In this purpose oi ms
life he brauched out into the
MANUFACTURE OF HoRsEsHoEs,
OF horse nails, OF ploughs, OF caloric engines and
various industries that added greatly to the repu-
prosperity OF the State. In truth, take
away from Rhode Island the two houses
or the Browns and Spragues, and the little State
would be hardly worth representation IN the Lower
House OF Congress William spragne took vast
burden on has shoulders. He sought not alone 10
make the name OF MS family
HOUSEHOLD WORD IN CALICO,
but he likewise had the ambition to iill the public
qualities as statesman. In the latter design OF
his lie he proved failure and 1t Is clearly demon
strated now that his policy OF extending the busi
ness OF his house beyOnd It's legitimate limits
a very grave blunder.
To get an idea OF how immense property the
two brothers controlled we have only to look at
the estimate OF their real estate alone. In Maine
they owned 40, 900 acres Of the best timber land
land also, and in south Carolina an extensive pur-
chase was made Tor q mill site few years ago. At
w which Is Village taat ~ 1ne cSnese 81
town OF Providence, they owned LISA acres,
which, OF itself, was q fortune not to be
s3s acres, and In Warwick 72s acres. This lana
not many years hence will be sold at so much per
foot and its value is therefore, simply ncalculable
In the town OF Providence their property was scat
tered In all directions. They had SIX iron manu-
factories they controlled ve banks, they owned the
immense Baltic Mills with 200 spindles; the Nat
lex Mills with $4,000 spindles; the Augusta Maine
Mills with 10000 spindes: the Quidnick Mills the
Company, with $4,000 spindles and, indeed, to
enumerate the different investments into which
the capital Of this powerful house made its way
would be tedious.
POLITICAL INFLUENCE OF THE sPRAGUEs.
Centring as did most OF their wealth In Rhode
Island the influence exercised by the Spragues was
Of course confined to the State. THIS influence
was felt In politics as well as IN business The
rival house OF Brown Ives disputed their sway
in the political held and the result was that the
State became divided into hostile camps repre-
sented by the two leading iamiies and the strug-
apty likened to the ambitious 1euds OF the
Montagues and Capulets. The rival houses
Aldermen "a and Common oouncil. William himself
represented the family in the United States Senate
while Senator Anthony represented the Browns
The latter succeeded In having member OF Con-
gress of their own but to counteTbaance that the
Spragues captured the Mayoralty OF Providence.
In business, In politics and In social life the two
houses appeared TO have been
DEADLY OPPOSED.
William sprague hugged the delusion that the
Browns were his relentless enemies He acted
alter misantnropic fashion. He associated
little with his fellow men, not even with
He passed his friends on the street
without token OF recognition, and he contrived
enemies without ever entertaining any deliberate
purpose to such an end. The few who clung in |
toady fashion to his heels filed hrs mind with Bit
ter hatred Of the Browns, and one day IN the WIN
ter OF 1869 he rose In his place in the unted states
Senate and made speech 50 full Of acrld reve-
feeling Of ' ndisnason was 'nA stirred
against him throughout the length and
6 6reaath :, OF tne state ana ., , Corresponding
would be unreasonable TO suppose that the effect
OF that speech is now wholly forgotten. Traces OF
tuc ucCp ~ diouscu akaihsb Spi SuS uiC
still visible. and now that misfortune has fallen
on the house and it's career is threatened with
being terminated forever, 1t has but lew genuine
friends where 1t might have commanded
perfect host The Spragues did much for
Rhode Island. They furnished widespread EN-
ployment. They were liberal with their money
IN the cause or charity and religion, and il they
never excited any sympathy before they provoke
q good deal now from that class OF people who
can perceive that the errors OF the Spragues were
not the result OF any evil impulses.
Both the Spragues are comparatively young
men. Amasa Is about thrty-1ve, and william
thirty-eight. Amasa's skill was in conducting the
print works, and Williams in speculation. II the.
conservative instincts OF the former had prevailed,
the disasters that overlook the firm might have
been avoided.
MnNEv AM TApOD I'M ATpAnv