The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1885-03-11
KINGOF THE SUGAR TRADE.
CLAUS sPREoKELs, AND THE POWER
he wIELDs.
How From Selling Cheese and Crack
ers i'm New York SpreckeIs Became
the Master of Millions.


ers i'm New York SpreckeIs Became
the Master of Millions.
A San Francisco letter TO the st.
Louis GIobe-Democrat thus details the
career Of a great sugar monopolist:
Claus Spreckels, commonly known as
the 'Sugar King of the Sandwich ISL
auds," wields power more democratic,
if not greater, than than that of any
other monopolist in the world. He is
sometimes more than a Warwick, be-
cause he has not remained content with
making the king, but has guided all his
movements like puppet, so that he is
actually the ruler of the pigmy realm
and its financial ministry. His dream is
to exercise equal sway on the coast.
Spreckels is a South German, born in
Hanover, aman of small education, who
came to this country about 1880, and
started in the retail grocery business in
Church street, New York. He made
the impression on those who knew him
there as a man of great shrewdness and
of the thrift which is proverbial Of his
race. He came to California soon
after the gold fever broke out, and at
once engaged in the grocery bus
mess in this city, preferring it
to the hazards and hardships of
mining. Every thing which he touched
seemed to turn to gold. He made large
profits in his business Combining with
several of his brothers who had come
out to the coast, he bought quarter in
terest in the Albany Brewery, in this city,
for $4,000. This was the foundation
of his present large fortune and CONNER
cial importance. After running the
brewery few years, his keen business
instincts saw in sugar-refning a far more
profitable field of enterprise. The story
of his conquest of the Sandwich Islands
in nutshell, is that he took advantage
of the ignorance of king who wanted
money, and that he works his coolies to
death.
Of Spreckels' wealth it is impossible to
| form any accurate estimate, because much
of his property is mortgaged, and it is
understood the greater part of his for
tune is embarked in the sugar business,
which is apt to depreciate. He makes
daily, the year round, however, $50 bar
rels of sugar, containing 275 pounds of
sugar each, worth an average of $50 a
barrel. This makes business of $18, 600
| q NoJy Vi pO3OtOgOOO JOaI. IO udhOS u
clear profit of $40 barrel, or So, 900 q
day, which amounts to SO, 100, 900 year
He controls the entire sugar trade of the
coast, which represents $40, 900, 900 year.
Down at Honululu he puts on more the
airs of an autocrat, and his course there
lately has put him into disfavor with
both the native and foreign population.
Last January he loaned the king 81, ,000,-
900. Among his employees Spreckels is
probably more popular than any other
millionaire on the coast, because he has
always treated his people we'll.
He is of medium height, compactly
built and dresses neatly. He has the
face of typical German, with the high
cheekbones, fair skin and blue eyes of
the Fatherland. His eye is as clear as
that of a young man, and his skin
though Drowned by exposure, is also
clean and healthy. His round head is
covered with thick growth of hair,
rapidly changing from gray to white
| This is the only indication of his years.
ment of a man of thirty, and
in his steel.blue eyes is a look
which goes far to reveal his character
he married years ago, Wnen ne was
poor man, comely German girl, who
was then employed as domestic in the
family of large Eastern sugar refiner,
and she has proved a good wife and
mother. They have four sons and one
daughter. The father and the three
elder sons, among whom is Adolph, who
shot De Young, are members of the Pa
cific club, in this city. where the sons
are general favorites. They are all fine
looking men, of polished address, and
have travelled much in Europe.
Mr.. Spreckles is an easy man to get
access to, but it is another matter en-
tirely to draw any information out of
him. When told of the object of the
visit he said: ''You may put it down
that know what is always good for
Claus Spreckles, and never fail to turn
thic EuoUladoa IN sccouuf -