Bismarck weekly tribune., 1888-09-28
Seth Low. Ex-Mayor Of Brooklyn-Fred.
erick A. schroeder-Charles Pratt, and
Others-How They Made Their Money
and How They Spend It.
Especial Correspondence.l !


While the story may be stretched little.
one thing is certain. For twenty years they
did seem to direct the movements of the last
named official and to manage the colossal tea
trade OF that great island. Itisnot generally
known that Formosa produces other than so
called Formosa tea. As matter of fact on
account of its vest size and its numberless
climates, 1t grows almost every known variety
OF the herb whose cup cheers but not inebri-
ates. A. A. Low & Co. are undoubtedly
deserving of the credit that they first
discovered this fact commercially and
utilized it to their own benefit and that of the
tea drinker everywhere. The revolution in
the China trade brought about by the tele-
graph, the exchange, the tramp steamer and
the marvellous growth of Russia in Asia al
fected even A. A. Low & Co. They rested
on their laurels and allowed the new genera
tion to reap the fields they once owned
alone. They still do splendid business, but
every one of the concern is rich and no longer
has much incentive for hard commercial
work. Seth Low is typical New York aris-
tocrat in the best sense of the word. He ia a
graduate of the Brooklyn Polytechnic. one
of the best schools of the land, with a faculty
second to none in any university, of Colum-
bia college and of the Columbia Law school.
He has Travelled extensively, and unlike most
American tourists has devoted as much time
to his own land as to Europe. A handsome.
brilliant and genial fellow, he has always
been society favorite in both Gotham and
the City Of Churches Some years ago he
entered politics and played the deuce with
politicians of the old school. He was nomi-
mated for mayor of Brooklyn, and then, to the
unspeakable amazement of the ward War
wicks of that city, refused to pay any as.
sessment to the local committee or to con-
tribute to the corruption fund with which
several voters in that place are purchased
wholesale. Instead of pursuing these
time honored methods, he startled
the fossils of the municipality by new sys-
TEN of his own. He formed campaign
committee of friends and volunteers; made
personal appeals backed by reports and sta
tistics from the official records to every voter
in the city; held public meetings in every
election district, where the cleverest speakers
and most popular citizens addressed the peo-
pie directly, and was elected. During his
canvass he never entered barroom nor
spent cent for political" purposes. He
made non-partisan and most democratic
mayor, keeping open house in the city hall
to all who came and receiving the poorest
and lowest with the same style aud manner
as the richest and most powerful. He knows
more of Brooklyn, probably, than any other
citizen of that town. He belongs to their
best clubs and societies, without being club
man. He is a leader in all their many chari-
ties and takes an active part in all local
affairs Though hated by the politicians for
his unswerving conscientiousness, he is
greatly loved by the people, and at any time
could be elected to any office he might desire.
He is only 80 years of age, is married to
very brilliant and cultured woman, and lives
modestly in palace. He is credited with an
income Of $4,000 per annum, Of which he
spends at least half in doing good.
One of the most familiar faces in the
Havana tobacco market is that Of Frederick
A. Schroeder, not so long ago mayor Of
Brooklyn and state senator from Kings
county. A man Of medium size, with gray
hair, mustache and beard, slow in speech,
gracious and gentle in manners, he is a typi-
cal representative Of the best clement which
Germany has contributed to this nation.
Unlike most of his fellow countrymen he is a
fluent and even forceful writer and an inter-
estlng il not an eloquent public speaker. His
career is the same as that of hundred other
milionaires. He came across the ocean when
q boy without money, friends or tho slightest
knowledge of tho English language. For
short time after his arrival he lived from
hand to mouth, getting 'sodd jobs" and fill
ing menial positions one after another. For
tune proved kind, and finally put him at the
cigar makers bench Here his ambition had
chance, although of the poorest sort. He
was from the first the hardest worker
in the shop Of his employer, and in few
months became not only the best operative
in the place, but also rare good judge Of
tobacco in all its more common forms. From
here on his progress was rapid. The penni-
less and friendless boy rose in quick steps
until, still q young man, he was the head Of
the great house of Schroeder g. Bon His
success followed him in every field. In busi-
ness enterprises outside of his legitimate
trade and in real estate investments and
operations he gained large profits, and finally
took the earned position OF an energetic cap-
1talist At this point he entered politics in
the city Of Brooklyn. That municipality
was then governed by q ssring" with power
moro despotic and complete than Tweed had
possessed in his palmiest days. Schroeder
opened war upon it's members, and in two
campaigns whose like the City of Churches
s~sS4 AAoSSA
fore him, and was elected comptroller and
thereafter mayor. His administration was
thorough success and completely purified tho
municipal government. He tales but
limited interest in politics today, and de-
votes his time to his business and the man.
agement of his property. He lives in beau
tiful mansion in Brooklyn, but spends the
larger portion Of his time in the metropolis.
-
In a superb building on Clinton avenue,
Brooklyn, not far from the home of the mill
lonaire merchant and ex- Mayor Schroeder,
resides Charles Pratt, one of the famous
standard Oil kings. He is short, slender
man of between SO and GO years of age, whose
comparatively unwrinkled face and thought
ful expression suggest morea Yankee school
master than great capitalist. The man is
as much contradiction as the face. He is
close to penuriousness in his business deal
ings. His work people are paid the lowest
wages, are docked for half holidays, fined for
trivial lateaess and in every way made to
feel the iron hand Of the employer. On the
other hard, he spends 6 fortune annually
upon schools, asylums, .pharitable institi-
tiOnS md tlla deserving NOR POORLY, ad,,.