Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-11-13
By n l. SEXTON
Herald Staff Writer

ed q more important part in the
Transformation and development
wrought in the Lower Rio Grande
Valley in recent years than the Gen.
trail Power and Light company, which
provides electric power for all the
Valley cities except Brownsville and
Hariingen, operates practically all
ice plants and also the water systems
in San Benito, Mercedes, Edinburg,
McAllen and Rio Grande City.
The past year has been n Of re-
markable growth for this organiza-
tion. It's electric lines nave been ex-
tended into all sections Of the VAL
ley, serving the new towns on the
Missouri Pacific and Southern Pa
cific extensions; providing power and
lights for the rapidly developing
rural districts; operating the pumps
for several of the major irrigation
systems; providing power for drain
age projects. Serving a very useful
purpose in practically every branch
Of Valley activity, the Central Power
n Light company has become one
Of the major institutions Of the VAL
ley-an institution which through its
progressive policies Is proving a fac
tor Of utmost importance in every
phase OF Valley development.
The transmission lines Of the COM
pany extend from Point Isabel 10
Rio Grande City. Its huge ice plants
provide the icing facilities for VAL
ley vegetable shipments. Its city
water plants rank among the finest
in the United States-and il is pro-
viding these public utilities at a
A~k H. - ~-I.Tw I-~-~~~-I -
the operations of the organization
extended. Quantity production and
highly efficient organization is re-
sponsible for the low rates the Valley
public Is now enjoying in connection
with the various utilities controlled
by the company.
Buy Privately Owned Plants
Less than five years ago the VAL
ley was served by privately owned
electric and ice plants, Of question
able efficiency and d~ependability. To-
day two modernly equipped general
ing stations, one, the main plant. at
San Benito, and the other at Mis-
sion, supply most Of the electric cur
rent for the Valley. Two large
transmission lines, assuring maxi
mum service under practically all
conditions, distribute the current
throughout the Valley. Where five
years ago the small. isolated plants
served their respective communities
at q high cost, the power lines Of
the company carry the current from
the central plants and distribute 1t
throughout the rural and urban sec
tions at only a fraction Of the rate
which was necessary 20 maintain the
small plants Of the old systems.
AZ The tfuno fhauQ ~nrINnfalv num-
ed plants passed into the hands Of
the company each was striving 70
serve its own patrons in the same
fashion that q dozen short lines of
railway would seek TO provide trans
portation facilities for a great sec
ton. The Morrison A. McColl Syndi-
cate, which originally purchased
many Of the private plants, began the
movement Of concentration n coor-
dination, and with the acquisition Of
the properties by the Central Light
and Power company development on
a large scale was Immediately in
augurated.
+. c. Ludden Leads Organization
Frank C. Ludden. who was pro-
NOTED 10 the position OF district
manager in 1926. has c0operated with
the Valley public in Valley develop
ment TO a degree which has played a
very important part in the extension
Of the company's utilities. Through
his initiative he has aided material
Nv in the development of the cities
and rural communities. Coopera-
ting with the irrigation interests, the
farmers, the cities and the small
towns he has taken an active part n
development plans, upon the theory
that public utilities established and
expanded upon cooperation are
eventually the most profitable.
There is probably no resident OF
The Valley more familiar with con-
ditions IN each OF the Valleys COM
munities and the potentialities Of
those communities than Mr.. Ludden.
Recognizing the fact that cooperative
service IA essential 70 Valley develop
ment, he has extended that service
&herever possible. Every new de-
velopment. every new town and every
home builder or business interest IN
the Valley has received the unstinted
cooperation Of the company, and this
policy is in no small degree respon-
sihle for the rapid expansion Of the
company's utilities and its high.
standing with the Valley public.
206 Miles Transmission
Some conception Of the extent 70
which the Central Power and Light
company II serving the Valley may
re gathered from the fact that the
company now has FOG miles OF
transmission lines covering all the
Valley cities and also the towns on
the new extensions. This mileage is
constantly being increased as the
Valley develops. To supply the cur
rent for these lines the generating
plant at San Benito Is equipped with
10000 horsepower engines, and the
Mission plant has a total Of 1900
horsepower.
The first transmission line, built
by the company when they purchased
the privately owned plants, extends
from San Benito TO Mission, IS miles.
Other lines extend from Pharr TO
Edinburg, 3 miles; Harrington % Ray
m~ondville. %: Harlingen to Rio.
Hondo, 10: Donna 70 the river pumps,
g: Mercedes 20 Santa Maria. s.; Mis-
sion TO Hidalgo, y; San Benito 10
Matamoros, "a; San Benito 70 Los
Fresnos pumps, 6; Run 70 American
co. pumping plant. III; Progresso 20
bridge 20 Fl Jardin. Z; Weslaeo 70
Hargill, 25; Elsa to "A Blanca q;
Elsa 30 La Villa, 8.
These transmission lines make an
almost complete loop Of the Valley.
One line provides currentdor a num-
Der Of the river pumps, and they are
30 arranged that continuous service
10 all users is assured.
Expand Icing Facilities
Daring the past year the COM
nanv has increased the capacity Of
t.m .;r~ rfarse -gS tons daily. and
the service these plants are render
inr the Valley public Is on par with
that Of the electrical service. Mod
ern resale stations have been erect
ed in several Of the Valley fowls
The ma owns ice plants in
RrownsviIie, San Benito. La Feria,
N---l--a 49, Ann In