The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-03-29

:. ~ LAUS SPRECKELS has decided
~ TO organize in this city one of
Il n the most gigantic corporations
~ ever established on the coast
and to offer to a powerful company
direct competition in supplying to the
people of the city a public utility. After
a careful survey of the situation and
consideration of what he believes to be
impositiOns upon the community Claus
SpreCkels has determined to build an
electric plant that viii be without a
rival in any municipality in the world
and to furnish to the people of San
Francisco electric light. heat and power
at practical cost. The project is al
ready assured of realization. Articles
of Incorporation We're filed yesterday
and franchises from the local govern
ment will he sought at once.
The site for the electrical works has
been chosen and work upon the build
ings viii be commenced without DELAY.
competent engineers and experts have
already been employed to study and de-
termine the most economical means of
production and to choose from the cleo
trio systems in the. great cities of the
world those appliances and apparatus
which have stood best the test of ex-
perienCe. Mr.. Spreckels believes that
the people of San Francisco have been
grossly imposed upon by their necessi-
ties and he intends to furnish them
with light. heat and power at a cost
which viii make it possible for all to
enjoy that which is now. in Conse-
Quence Of exorbitant rates. within the
reach Of comparatively only few.
The new corporation. which enters
l. E-r !
competitor Of the electric light COM
pany now enjoying public patronage
Will he known as the Independent Elec-
tric Light and Power Company The
capital stock of this company. accord
ing to the articles of Incorporation
which were fled at the office of the
County Clerk yesterday, is SO, 600, 600,
divided into 100000 shares OF a par
value Of 500 each The company is or
ganized for q period Of fifty years and
according to the articles Of incorpOra-
tion. is established to supply electric
light, heat and power and telephone
facilities. The directors for the first
year are Claus Spreckels, John D.
SpreclIels, Adolph 3. Spreckels, Charles
a. Hug and W. D. +. Gibson. As soon
as articles of incorporation have been
granted by the Secretary Of State these
directors viii meet for permanent or
ganizatiOn. It is understood that Claus
Spreckels viii be chosen president Of
the company.
This gigantic corporation, the exist
ence Of which is intended to relieve the
city from the oppressive taxation of a
monopoly viii then be formally organ
lied. In a few days application viii be
made to the Secretary of State for a
charter On Monday next the Super
VisOrs Of this city will be asked to
grant the new company franchise to
operate within the limits Of the city
There. is practically no question that
both charter and franchise will be
granted by the authorities and then the
active work Of preparation Will begin.
The plant of the new electric light
company will be one of the most elab-
crate of its kind in the world. 1t will
be constructed with the double object Of
securing the greatest effectiveness at
the least possible cost. It will be mod
eled upon the best municipal plants in
the world, and will have all their best
features with none of their defects It
will be built with a view of supplying
every householder in San Francisco
electric light. heat and power at rates
far below those which are now charged
by the local monopoly. The expert who
has heen at work upon the matter has
not yet finished his labors. He viii
without delay make a visit to Eastern
cities to study their electric light sys-
TEN. adapt their best features and use
them in the construction of the new
plant AS soon as his Investigations
have been completed actual work upon
the buildings will begin.
The site of the new electric plant will
be upon the bay shore. where access
to water and coal will be easy and far
less expensive than If the works were
located in the town. This choice of To-
cation will greatly reduce the cost of
production, although the promoters and
organizers Of the new corporation are
convinced that electric light, heat and
power may be furnished, without the
advantage of a bay shore site, much
cheaper than is now done by the local
monopoly, which holds the local field in
its power 1t is estimated that the new
company will be able to fix a rate one
half as great as that established by the
controlling company.
When the new company asks the Su-
pervisors for a franchise to operate
within the limits of the city a promise
will be given to use nothing but an un
derground system Of wires and con-
duits for the electric and telephone
plant The dangerous and altogether
Unnecessary system of overhead wires
viii not be employed. Only the latest
and most improved appliances will be
used in the plant and its accessories.
AS seon as the Supervisors have given
municipal authority work upon the gi-
. gantic scheme will commence. Some
notion Of the character of the under
taking may be had in the fact that
thousands of artisans and laborers will