The record-union., 1899-04-02

When over ten years ago, 1t was first
proposed, by the parties who originated
the Folsom Water Power Company, to
transmit to Sacramento City electric
power derived from the energy of the
water power of the American River at
Folsom. the project was so startling in
its nature that very few of our citizens
believed that it could be done.
When the Sacramento Electric Power
and Light Company made good its pro-
posals and delivered electric power in
Sacramento, commencing to run there
with the entire street car system of the
city, and speedily followed this by em-
ploying the same power for general
lighting and motive power uses, the
general comment in our community was
that there did not exist market IN our
city for the 1000 horse power which
the plant of the Folsom Water Power
Company was capable of generating.
This prophecy, however, has proved
to be altogether a mistaken one, for
nothing has been more remarkable than
the development of the market for cleo
tric energy. At that time our city was
lighted with about 123 electric arc
lights; the business places and resi-
dences were lighted almost altogether
with gas and coal OIL the manufacture
ing establishments were fueied with
coal and wood. The city street lighting
now calls for more than three times the
number of lights that formerly sufficed; !;
commercial arc lighting has increased
in the same ratio; the domestic light
ing has grown to be almost altogether
from electricity, these changes being
based largely upon the fact that the
current for electric light has been fur
nished in Sacramento fer less than one
half the rate charged in the other prin-
cipal cities of the Pacific Coast.
The result has been that Sacramento
to-day may be justly termed an "elec-
trical CITY," the capacity of the existing
transmission plant from Folsom having
been fully absorbed in this market
Recognizing this fact, the parties con-
trolling the Sacramento Electric, Gas
and Railway Company, who are the
owners of the transmission plant from
Folsom, are now perfecting their plans
for the augmentation of the electric en-
ergy available for Sacramento City.
Their works at Folsom, wherein are now
installed 1000 horse power have a va
eancy for fifth unit Of LOCO horse
power, which will now be installed,
power capacity.
The demand for power being largely
in excess of the total installation al
Folsom, the Sacramento Electric, Gas
and Railway Company has made con-
tract. for period of thirty years, with
the Yuba Electric Power Company, for
the exclusive use of 5000 horse power,
said power to be delivered at the power
house of the Sacramento Electric, Gas
and Railway Company in the city Of
Sacramento.
The terms of this contract are such
that the companies mutually share in
the benefits to be derived from the in
creased demand for power
Under this contract deliveries in Sac
ramento will commence on the 1st day
of August, 1899, and further deliveries
viii follow as needed, all being handled
from the power house of the Sacra-
nento Electric, Gas and Railway Com
pany and its distributing system
For the information of the general
public as to this new source of electric
power SO soon to be made available for
this city, the following facts, obtained
from John Martin, President of the
Yuba Electric Power Company, may be
presented:
The Yuba Electric Power Company
is corporation, with a capital of
81 .0O0 0OO. and authorized to create a
bonded Indebtedness of S1.000,090 John
Martin is President, and C. A. Grow
Secretary and Treasurer, the COM
pany's principal office being in San
Francisco. They are now operating
1000 horse power furnishing electric
current to Browns Valley Marysytile
and Yuba City. A new plant of largely
augmented capacity Is now being erect
ed. located near the Yuba River about
four miles below the junction Of the
North and Middle Yubas. The hy-
draulic installation will consist of ma
sonry construction, enlarging the pres