The herald., 1897-05-14
THE ELECTRIC COMBINE

"A few days ago The Herald reviewed
the development of water powers around
the San Bernardino valley and pointed
out the immense advantages that are
to be secured therefrom.
At a later date The Herald showed
the people of Pasadena the way to Sc
cure cheap lighting for private use and
public lighting free of cost by. opening
up negotiations with the managers of
those various systems. We showed how
the city Of Riverside by pursuing this
course had been able to give the people
cheap lights and in the operation pay
all expenses of the system so that the
public lighting of the city would cost alb
solutely nothing.
Following this publication represen-
tative of The Herald interviewed many
of the leading citizens of Pasadena. The
expressions thus secured showed that
the people of that city as rule heartily
endorsed the position taken by The Her.
aid. The two daily papers of Pasadena
the News and the Star-both also en-
dorsed the proposition and asked the
peoplesto fairly consider it and act upon
it through their constituted authorities.
The companies that could compete in
this proposition to light the city were
the Redlands Electric Light and Power
company, which gets its power from
Mill creek the Southern California Pow
er company which is to develop the
water power of the Santa Ana river and
Bear creek, the Arrowhead Reservoir
company, the Lytle Creek Power COM
pany, the San Antonio Electric COM
pany and the San Gabriel Electric COM
pany.
The two first mentioned companies
are controlled by Mr.. Fisher of Red
lands, who is a millionaire lately from
Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. The Arrow
head company is a Cincinnati concern
backed by heavy capital and is
entirely independent of all other COM
panies. The Lytle Creek company is
not as yet incorporated. The San An
tonic company has been in existence for
several years and the San Gabriel is
controlled by local capitalists
During the past few days there have
been some rapid movements on the
electrical chess board. The first was for
Mr.. Fisher to purchase a controlling in
terest in the Pasadena Electric Light
company, making one payment of $780,
900 therefor.
The next move was for him to con-
tract with T. e. Brown, formerly of the
Bear Valley company for a controlling
interest in the Steel Dam Reservoir
company-a corporation organized to
build reservoir on the Santa Ana river
just above its junction with Bear creek.
This reservoir, when completed, will
store enough water to furnish flow of
1900 inches for six months, and irrigate
about 1900 acres on a basis of one inch
to five acres. This company can furnish
several thousand horse power from the
waters of Santa Ana river, Bear creek,
Bear Valley reservoir and the Steel Dam
reservoir. This contract with Mr.. Brown
was only completed on the 18th instant.
The next move of the combine was the
Incorporation yesterday of the Lytle
Creek Power company by Judge j. L.
Campbell of San Berrardino. Mr. Fisher
has purchased a controlling interest in
this company and thus added it to
the combination.
The San Antonio Power company built
its works some years ago and its cleo
tricitJ- is used in Pomona, Ontario and
San Bernardino.
The San Gabriel company is now at
work on its eurveys and in the course of
couple of months active construction
will commence. A few days ago an offer
of 100000 cash was made for the rights
of this company as they stand today, but
the offer was declined This offer wac
not made by M. Fisher MI Sinclair
of the Redlands company spent few
days recently III the San Gabriel can
yon in the interest of Mr.. Fisher but re-