Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-09-22

$40 F@SSACSS A4ddC ny tic 4OWGE
Rio Grande Valley and the posi-
bilities for its continued growth
could not be completely related
without some reference to the wide
spread development OF public util-
ity service throughout the territory.
On the surface, bank deposits.
crops, weather conditions and other
fundamental phases OF activity are
the signs pointing to any on
munity's position. But beneath all
OF these, almost the very founda-
ton OF a community's welfare. is
the sound and consistent develop
ment OF the utilities.
Throughout the Valley, the Gen.
trail Power and Light company
maintains plants and equipment
devoted 70 the cause Of efficiently
serving that area with electricity.
ice. cold storage and water. Large
sums Of money were spent last ye7-
by this company in improving and
extending those services. Accord
ing TO q statement made by F. C..
Ludden. district marFger Of the
company, the work Of carrying on
these improvements and extensions
has by no means stopped. Each
day additional capital expenditures
are being made to fulfill the COM
pany's service obligations and &c
lead the way for further expan-
sion and DEVELOPMENT Of the Lower
Rio Crande Valley.
Build New Line
A major activity. nov well on ih
way, Is the construction Of a new
high power electric transmission
line between San Benito and WeS-
laco, which when future require
ments demand, viii ultimately be
extended into the upper Valley.
Two other lines already connect the
upper and lower Valley, and all in
tervening communities. but the
completion Of this third line Wi.
further protect the continuity OF
electric service throughout the VAL
ley as well as provide additional
electric power resources TO the area
Immediately above and 10 the north
Of the main highway.
Other lines such as the extension
out Of Rio Grande City to serve
Roma and of numerous other ex-
tensions TO serve irrigation pumps
cotton gins, gravel pits and other
industrial enterprises have recently
been erected. Electric motors total
ing approximately 1000 horsepower
are now installed il the Valley Tor
irrigation purposes alone. Service
Is expected to be extended during
the current year TO add more than
1000 horsepower to this total. Cot
ton is being ginned electrically II
80 Valley gins. Q Of which were add
cd this season.
Improve City Systems
Work Of extending local distribu-
ton systems to prepare for the ex-
pansion Of Valley towns Is being
done constantly. Much work has
been done in rebuilding local dis
tribution systems TO increase Their
e~fficiencies. The capacity OF many
Of the local substations has been
increased to prepare for and meet
additional load demands. At the
present time a new substation l.
being erected in Harlingen which
will enable the city to be served
from either the local generating
station or the Valley transmission
system. Service will thus be fur
Their protected and the city have an
abundance Of electricity available ID
meet any Of its present or future
demands.
TO prepare for Valley growth .
new l3.400 horsepower turbine was
recently installed at the La Palma
generating station which make TINS
station the largest operated by the
company. This new unit IS larger
than necessary 70 meet present VAL
lev demands, but it was installed 40
keeping with the company's policy
of building several years IN advance
Of the needs Of the communities u
serves.
Rates Have Been Reduced
In order to aid IN the develop
nent Of the Valley the company has
provided ample electric generating
facilities to meet all demands and
has enlarged and extended its dis
tribution facilities TO make cleo
tricity easily available 70 all In
addition il has encouraged the fur
Their use Of electricity by adopting
a policy of making rate reouc-
tons wherever economically pos
sihle, officers point out. During the
past two years 1t has standardized
its rates and has reduced them on
more than one occasion.
Particular emphasis has beer
placed on encouraging the use Of
electricity on the farm so that the
farmer might enjoy the same COM
forts, conyeniences and economies
that are available to the city dwell
er and city industry. The farm
service division OF the company Is
now engaged in ar intensive farm
electrificat.on program which IS de-
signed to encourage the use OF
electricity on the farm by showing
the farmer what electricity car
mean to him, and by helping him
nut it 10 work in the most effi-
Gent manner. Since the first Of
the year almost zoo rural cU-tomers
have been placed on the conpanys
Valley lines bringing the total rural
electric customers being served IN