Electricity wasn't always sold by a utility company that specializes only in producing it. In the 1890s, Mt. Pleasant streets east of the downtown business district were laid out differently. Suggs and Brothers Cotton Gin, Corn, and Saw Mill was located immediately east of the Cotton Belt railroad tracks between Rusk (now East 1st) and Houston (now East 2nd) Streets. In the 1890s, this was a square block and East First and Second Streets did not form a "Y" as they do today.
James A. (Jim) Davis, who later became well-known as an early Mt. Pleasant plumber and was involved in much of Mt. Pleasant's development as a city, operated the cotton gin. In addition to ginning cotton, the gin also contained Mt. Pleasant's first electric generator and provided public electric power. At the end of the day when the ginning was done, Mr. Davis shifted the gin engine's belt from the ginning machinery to the electric generator and provided electricity for customers to use at night.
Generating and selling electric power was conducted under the name of the Mt. Pleasant Electric Light and Power Company. Most power during the time was used for lighting, since there weren't many motor driven devices and no home conveniences like refrigerators or air conditioners.
The Mt. Pleasant City Council authorized the Mayor to contract with the Mt. Pleasant Electric Light and Power Company on January 23, 1901 to install and maintain two arc electric lights on the streets and one 32 candlepower incandescent light at each church in the City for $24 per month. The City's entire electric bill ranged from $6.25 to $31.75 during 1901, which is further evidence that electricity was mainly used for lighting.
The State of Texas did not regulate power companies then, and electric generation and sale was not restricted to a few gigantic companies as it is today. Anyone who could afford to buy and operate a generator could provide electricity with just the City's blessing, and some businesses operated generators as side-lines. In February, 1905, the City of Mt. Pleasant paid the Farmers and Merchants Cotton Oil Company, managed by M. Greenspun, $77.25 for electric lighting and for installing street lights. They continued to provide electric power into latter 1909.
On November 9, 1909, the Mt. Pleasant City Council also granted I. M. Greenspun and Associates the right to erect electric light poles and wires along, over, and across public streets for the purpose of furnishing electric and power service to Mt. Pleasant citizens. The installation of wires and poles was to be under the direction of this Council and wires were required to be insulated and placed at the proper elevation.
By 1911, the City recognized the fire danger that could result from improper wiring inside buildings. In its March 7, 1911 meeting, the City Council ordered Fire Marshal Lon B. Scott to inspect wiring in as many buildings possible within three days and to report his inspection results concerning wiring and the fire risks at the next regular Council meeting. They paid him $2.50 per day to make the inspections.
Because there was no City Hall or municipal building, the City Council met in the mayor's private office. On February 6, 1912, the City Council authorized Mayor J.F. Wilkinson to have and electric meter and electric lights installed in his office.
We have not been able to determine how long the various electric providers above continued to operate and sell power to the public. However, the Mt. Pleasant City Council granted Albert Emanuel of Dayton, Ohio, a franchise to operate an electric generating and distribution system in Mt. Pleasant on January 7, 1913.
Due to the wording of the ordinance giving Mr. Emanuel the right to provide power, we suspect that he purchased one of the existing power plants since he was required to begin upgrading the lighting system within 60 days of the franchise being granted and to spend $10,000 to improve the light plant and lighting system within the first twelve months after the franchise was granted.
We also suspect the franchise may have been exclusive, although this is not specifically stated in the ordinance. Another thing that leads us to believe the franchise was exclusive is that it was much more detailed than previous ones.
Mr. Emanuel was granted the right to erect, maintain, and extend poles and transmission lines over and under city streets and alleys and in other public areas under the City's control or jurisdiction. The Councilmen or a designated City officer was to supervise their placement.
For the first time, electric rates were regulated. Mr. Emanuel was allowed to charge the following rates:
1 to 70 K. W. 15 cts. per K. W.
71 to 80 K. W. 14 cts. per K. W.
81 to 90 K. W. 15 cts. per K. W.
91 to 100 K. W. 12 cts. per K. W.
101 to 110 K. W. 11 cts. per K. W.
111 to 200 K. W. 10 cts. per K. W.
201 to 500 K. W. 9 cts. per K. W.
501 and over 8 cts. per K. W.
A $1.00 minimum monthly charge was allowed for each connection. Manufacturers could be charged a minimum of $2.00 monthly per horse power connected, irrespective of the amount of electricity consumed. Emanuel agreed to provide electricity 24 hours a day.
The City agreed to pay a minimum of $50.00 per month for street lighting, with Emanuel to install and maintain all street lamps. They City also agreed beginning April 1st, 1915, to have Mr. Emanuel pump all water used by the city for domestic, fires and other purposes for a minimum fee of $200.00 per month. Emanuel was exempted from City Occupation, Poll, and Franchise taxes, but not regular property taxes.
Mr. Emanuel accepted the terms of the franchise on May 21, 1913. He provided electricity for Mt. Pleasant until 1918, when he sold the plant to the East Texas Public Service Company. We do not as yet know who formed East Texas Public Service Company, but period news articles state that they were headquartered in Mt. Pleasant.
