The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1909-01-02

Is Dead
Was Promoter Of Hawaiian
Sugar Plantations.

) Francisco home at 1880 o'clock, De-
ccmber 26, 1908. The cause of
death was acute pneumonia.
The late Colonel Spreckels, as he
was fondly known, leaves surviving
a wife, daughter, and four sons.
As the leading promoter of the Ha-
waiian sugar industry and identified
with the commercial interests of Ho-
nolulu for many years his death will
be profoundly regretted by the entire
community of these islands.
Claus Spreckels was born at Lam
stedt, Hanover, Germany, in 1928,
so that he would have been eighty
years of.age at his death. He came
to the United States in 1916, sixty
two years ago, and was employed at
| Charleston, South Carolina, and
New York. In 1856, when twenty
eight years of age, he went to San
Francisco, where he conducted a
grocery store and later a brewery.
He established the Bay Sugar Refin-
cry in 1868, procuring raw material
from Hawaii. Mr.. Spreckels invent
ed new refining processes and he
continued III the refining business
until his retirement from all active
affairs several years ago. In 1889 he
erected refinery in Philadelphia in
opposition to the trust in it's eastern
field but later sold it to that organ
ization. The same year his indivi-
dual profits from Hawaiian sugar
plantations in which he was inter
ested amounted to one million dol
lars.
Coming to Honolulu as visitor
about the year 1875. Mr.. Spreckcls |
took an interest in the sugar capa-
bilities of these islands. Soon after
ward he started the Hawaiian Com
mercial and Sugar Company in 1878 |
bringing down Herman Schussler, IA
leading civil engineer, to plan the
great Spreckels ditch that to this
day is carrying water seventy or
eighty miles to fructify sugar cane
fields. In 1879 Mr.. Spreckels enter
ed partnership with W. G.. Irwin |
under the name and style of w. G. |
Irwin d Co. The partnership was
dissolved in 1890, when the firm be-
came incorporated. Altogether in
this connection Mr.. Spreckels finan-
ced seven or eight plantations in the
Hawaiian Islands, most of which |
are among the most prosperous at |
this day. W. NJ. Giffard, the vice
president and manager of w. &. !
Irwin d Co., Ltd, was bookkeeper
for Mr.. Irwin when Mr.. Spreckels
became partner in the business.
For his Maui enterprises Mr..
Spreckels acquired large area of
land from Princess Ruth, besides
vast leaseholds of crown lands.
In the early eighties Mr.. Spreckels
erected mansion at Punahou for IA
residence on his periodical visits to
Honolulu. Until discounted by
other palatial homes of Honolulu in
the annexation boom times it was
the grandest habitation barring
those of royalty in Honolulu and
its cupola amid palm groves one of
the sights first indicated to the in
coming traveller. Rudolph, the
youngest son, referred to this home
Of part of his boyhood days in the
address he delivered before the Com
merclal CluD last week.
With his large concerns here Mr..
Spreckels for some years took an
active interest in the politics of the
Hawaiian monarchy. Often he was
the power behind the throne in the
making and unmaking of ministries. !
From his positive temperament he
Continued on Page 6.