Imperial Valley press., 1935-06-03

In this situation. The Southern
Sierras Power company was ap-
preached with the request that it
finance the construction of the
necessary transmission line and pro-
vide the two local companies with
the electrical energy necessary for
the service of the territory. This
was agreed to and the transmission
line from San Bernardino to Ell
Centre constructed. An immediate
improvement in service and reduc-
ton of costs followed. In 1916 the
stock of the Holton Power company
was purchased by our companies
and later the two local systems were
merged with that of The Southern
SerraS Power company.
From 1916 to date, how does the
record read? There has been
brought about:
Cd A complete rehabilitation OF
the electrical facilities in the two
valleys, involving the investment of
several millions of dollars.
90 The extension Of the local
systems to serve rural sections pre-
viously without service, involving
the construction of 447 miles of pole
line. In Coachella Valley, 95 per
cent of the inhabited farm resi-
dences are served. and in Imperial
Valley. where there are no power
demands for pumping water, 25 per
cent.
(3) The construction of the sec
ond transmission line from San
Bernardino to Ell Centro by way OF
Rincon at a cost of $780, 900, thus
affording the two valleys loop-line
service.
(4) The progressive Improvement
of the valley service until system
Interruptions in frequency and dura-
ton have been reduced by over 80
per cent and the territory afforded
practically metropolitan service.
Total high line Interruptions Tor
1884 aggregated only 81 minutes
and for 1888, IL minutes. This lat
ter figure means that continuous
nighttime service was supplied 99.999
per cent of the total time.
60 Repeated reductions in rate
schedules so that service is rem
dered today at rates approximately
40 per cent less than those in effect
in 1916.
60 A rapid expansion of bust
ness involving an increase in power
distributed annually in the two val
leys from 13,700,000 kW-hrs. in 1917
to 51,800,000 kw-hrs. in l934-an
increase of 2781 per cent.
Cd The development of an ex-
traordinary high residential con-
sumption of electric energy. In In
perial Valley for 1884 the average
residential consumption was 1923
kW-hrs., record figure SO far as
we can learn for the country and
compared with an average for the
United States o. 631 kw-hrs. Forty
four and one-tenth per cent of the
residences on the company'S lines
in the valley now have electric
refrigerators installed; 80 per cent
electric ranges and IT per cent
electric water heaters-eXtraordin-
airy high figures not equalled by
any OF her electric distributing
agency, whether publicly or pri-
vately owned, in the state.
These figures are very significant.
They constitute the best possible
proof of both the high quality OF
the companys service and the rea-
sonableness of its rates.
Hand in hand with the building
up of the electrical service of the
two valleys, the Associated Com
panies developed another large in
dustry-the manufacture and dis
tribution of ice.
At the time Of acquiring the stock
of the Holton Power company and
the Coachella Valley Ice and Elec-
trio company the former companies
were operating two small ice plants,
one at Ell Centre and the other at
Coachella, with combined manu-
featuring capacities Of 100 tons per
day and an ice storage capacity OF
$4,000 tons. Even on the basis OF
the then limited demands for ice in
the two valleys it was necessary to
ship into the territory approximate
ly so per cent of ice consumed in
the valleys.
With the purpose of affording an
outlet for power and contributing
tc the development of the vegetable
and cantaloupe industries, which
were dependent upon ice for the
refrigeration of shipments to outside
points, The Imperial Ice and De-
velopment company was organized
and an aggressive campaign carried
on to provide adequate ice manu-
| featuring facilities for the valley.
The results of this campaign COM
pairing 1917 figures with 1884 have
/ been
/ Cd An increase of daily manu-
featuring capacity from 100 tons to
| 920 tons and an increase in ice
storage capacity from 12,000 tons to
900 tons.
| (2) An increase in ice manu-
7 factured and sold per annum from
a38, 900 tons to 273,000 tons G93D.
go A decrease in average price
of domestic ice sold Of 20 per cent
and of vegetable ice sold of 33 l-3
per cent.
Today The Imperial Ice q De-
velopment company is, 1 am in
formed, one Of the two largest tax
payers in Imperial Valley, it's tax
bill for 1884 amounting to $24 055 80.
It's annual payroll disbursed in the
] ya1la,y 4avaraoes oyer S180 400 a wear