The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-09-07
IT WAS A COSTLY VENTURE
MONEY WOULD NOT MAKE II
PROSPER.
The Broad Acres Of the MenIo Mil
lionaire No Longer Devoted
to the Business of Plant
Sprouting.

That experience in the nursery and seed
business comes high" and that disap-
pointments are thrown in without extra
charge, can be attested by Timothy Hop
kins, the well-known millionaire Of Menlo
Park.
In 1892, when he was no longer actively
interested in the affairs of the Southern
Pacific Company, he concluded to engage
in congenial business Ia an active man
ner By reason of his possession of
magnificent domain in San Mateo County
and his deep interest in all things per-
tanning to Horticulture, horticulture, ETC.,
he determined to establish nursery that
should be second to none on this coast
In connection with this fact it should be
stated that Mr. Hopkins, while treasurer
of the Southern Pacific Company, had
favorite amanuensis, James Sproule:
This young man was placed at the head
Of the enterprise and instructed to buy
out an old established house on Clay
street as basis of operations. This was
done.
The broad acres of sweet peas, Gala
lilies, chrysanthemums and many other
outdoor Towering plants, the almost end
less beds of violets under the widespread
ing oaks of Menlo, the extensive nursery,
hothouses and forcing beds, created under
his direction, became famous throughout
! the State, and the East as well. The
| products of the Sunset Seed and Plant
| Company were soon the fashion, and the
| business went to the fore with rush,
leaving the pioneer concerns of~the kind
| far behind.
| The institution was rated in Bradstreet's
| at 81 900 900, by reason of the fact that
Hopkins was backing it. Mr.. Sproule acted
as manager, and things on the surface
were deceptive. The first serious trouble
came in the season of 1884, when there
was a strike of the nursery employees for
higher wages. The demand was not
granted, and a new gang was put to work,
| but too late to save the crop.
| 1t is stated by those who are compe-
| tent to speak that when Mr.. Hopkins
sickened of his enterprise and dropped
| it, he had been forever separated from
| over $4,000, this total having been ad-
vanced and expended in various ways in
| an endeavOr to operate the business on
a self-sustaining basis.
| These painful efforts proved fruit1ess,
and, as stated, Sproule was afforded an
| opportunity to paddle the canoe himself
| Market street, and the public knew Moth
ing of it's difficulties until a short time
| ago, when a circular was sent out to
| creditors stating that the institution was
| SIS 600 in Debt but coming out all right,
etc.
The next action in the matter has just
| been made. The stock of the nursery
| business at SO Market street was moved
| to S21 Montgomery street a few days ago.
| The fact that the transfer of the BUSH
ness was made about year ago without
| any notification to creditors has caused
! considerable friction between them and
| the seed company, and 1t is rumored that
| some decisive action will be taken at
| once to ascertain If the founder of the
| house has at the present time any re-
! sponsible connection Herewith.
|