Imperial Valley press., 1920-08-10
WILL
CONSIDER
BUYING
PLANT
Paris Intention to Close.
City Councils of Brawley,
Imperial and Ell Centre
Meet Tonight to Consider
Purchase.

AS the result Of the informal con-
ference held here today regarding the
closing down of the Imperial Gas
company, joint meeting of the city
councils of Brawley, fl Centre and
Imperial will be held either this eve
ming or tomorrow morning to consider
the possibility of maintaining the gas
system on municipal arrangement.
The councils will also consider the
question Of whether the people of the
towns want gas service, and whether
the gas system may be maintained
while necessary repairs are being
made.
H. w. Brundridge Of the railroad
commission presided at the meeting
held today, which was attended by
Charles f. Paris, receiver for the I'M
Berial Gas company appointed by
Judge Swing, and numbers Of valley
residents interested in the proceed2
ure.
At the meeting it was brought out
that at the present time, according to
the report of gas and electric engineer
employed to investigate the situation,
fully IS percent Of the gas is lost
through Brawley and Ell Centre, and
that the average waste is 63.9 per-
cent. 1t is also said that as Brawley
is much lower than Ell Centre, where
the generating plant is located. 40
pounds pressure is required to force
the gas to Brawley.
A letter from M. w. Holt, who at
one time considered buying the gas
company's interests, was read by
Brundridge. In the letter Holt claims
that the gas company is IN such con-
dition and that financial and general
conditions are such that to run the
works at profit is practically i'm
possible.
Paris declares his intention of clos
ing down the gas works on Sunday
afternoon at o'clock, in spite of any
action which may be taken, and in
spite of the fact that the railroad
commission ordered continuance. 1t
is said that what action will be taken
by the railroad commission should
Paris remain firm in this resolve is
unknown, because although the COM
mission might fine or imprison any
officers of corporation refusing to
act in accordance with their orders
Paris is the legally appointed receiver
of company, and therefore, it is
claimed, there is doubt that the
railroad commission will be able to
fine or imprison him for acting in con-
tradiction to it's odrers.
Brundridge leaves this evening for
Los Angeles, but Engineer Masser,
who made the previous investigation
of the gas company, will remain here
for the meeting of the city councils.
1t is proposed that the city of
Brawley buy the Brawley distribution
system, the city of Imperial the I'M
perial distribution system, and the
city of Ell Centre the generating and
city distribution system, and that GER
of receivership be purchased
by users, who will thus become stock
holders in what will by this plan be-
come practically municipal organi-
zation.
A meeting of the Ell Centre Cham
per of Commerce is, called for this
S'eHlIS dt O y CiOCk. speaking OI Cuc
meeting, Clifford Coggins, president
of chamber said: "It is vitally i'm
portant that every member of the FL
Centre Chamber of Commerce be
present at this meeting this evening.
The amount of money which this deal
is costing the people of the town is
If Paris is allowed to
close the gas works, without author
ity and without application to anyone,
every home in the three
cities will be forced to expend from
$40 to $50 to provide another means
Of cooking and heating"
j. F. Seymour of the Associated
Of which meeting Is
called for tomorrow, said: ''The sit
lation which the people Of these
three cities are facing is intensely
serious, although some Of them may
not realize it until they are forced to
expend money to buy for themselves
some other means Of heating and
Paris is acting with absolute
" no authority, and his action should
meet with the absolute rebuke Of
every citizen, not only because cf the
which the closing Of the
works will entail, but because Of ths
lawlessness Of his actions"