The rush for seats in the grandstand facing the dammed San Lorenzo River began early in the evening. As twilight faded into utter darkness, the crowd watched the Carnival Queen’s barge float toward her throne. Then the lights — more than a thousand incandescent globes augmented by brilliant arc lamps — were turned on, transforming the aquatic amphitheater into what one dazzled reporter described as “an arena of liquid gold with a canopy of glittering light.”
Both factions of the Santa Cruz Electric Power and Light Company celebrated its successful show at the Venetian Water Carnival of 1895. Secretary Fred W. Swanton believed that it pointed to future possibilities, particularly the use of water power to generate electricity. Duncan McPherson of the Sentinel agreed with Swanton.
“A dam at the entrance to the sea has brought out the latent fun of the San Lorenzo,” he editorialized, “A dam between here and Felton will bring out her latent strength.”
“The titanic power in the waterfalls of Big Basin,” he speculated, could run an electric railway from the city to Boulder Creek.
President James McNeil saw the event as confirmation of the firm’s ability to serve the needs of the city and was content. Supported by San Francisco investors, he planned to take advantage of the electric company’s control of the local gas utility by purchasing an experimental gas engine said to be capable of powering a 1000-light generator. The new machine, the largest of its kind west of the Rockies, arrived in Santa Cruz in June, a week after the conclusion of the Carnival.
After 6 weeks of trials, the gas-powered equipment went on line in early August. On the 17th, McNeil and his wife embarked on a month-long trip to the East Coast. They had been gone a week when Swanton advised the press that he had purchased water rights on the San Lorenzo River from Henry Cowell “for the purpose of obtaining power with which to operate factories and electric light plants.”
On September 26, the Sentinel noted the return of the McNeils from their “pleasant visit” just above an item announcing Swanton’s arrival from San Francisco, “bringing with him all documents necessary” for the incorporation of a new company, tentatively entitled “The Santa Cruz Electric Power and Water Co.”
McNeil lost little time expressing his feelings about the proposed water power project.
“I do not see any reason why the people of Santa Cruz, among whom I have spent $70,000 in cold cash should attempt to do anything which would injure my investment,” he told a reporter. “This same scheme came up some time ago in connection with our plant, but I opposed it, owing to the expense. Now they talk of controlling a torrential mountain stream which floods this city during the winter months,” noting that the supply of power would be limited during the dry summers.
“That the vast water courses of the Sierra Nevadas will someday be utilized for power admits of no doubt,” he concluded, “but enterprises like these should be brought to a successful conclusion by larger and richer communities than ours.”
(To be continued)
