Conservative Water Company Records, 1900-1967

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Summary

Creators:
Conservative Water Company.
Abstract:
This collection includes correspondence, reports and ephemera of the Conservative Water Company in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, dating from 1900-1967. Many of the letters deal with the company’s public health, financial, and legal issues.
Extent:
310 items in 2 boxes + an oversize folder
Language:
English.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection includes correspondence, reports and ephemera.

The Correspondence series is primarily related to the Conservative Water Company. Many of the letters deal with the company’s public health, financial and legal issues. Though the letters are to or from the Conservative Water Company, many are addressed to and signed by Elizabeth E. Pedder and Otto B. Frank. The company corresponded with institutions like Bank of America, the California Department of Public Health, Hellman Commercial Trust & Savings Bank, and Pacific-Southwest Trust & Savings Bank. The series is arranged in alphabetical order by author and then by addressee.

The Reports series is arranged in alphabetical order by author and then by addressee. The reports are primarily about the company’s water supply. Moreover, there are some reports about the company’s financial state. Many of the reports contain financial information and correspondence inside. Lastly, the Ephemera series includes newspaper clippings, financial documents, legal documents, maps, pamphlets, empty envelopes and public health documents. There are also several maps. This series is arranged in alphabetical order.

Biographical / historical:

The Conservative Water Company was a water supply company in the neighborhood of Watts, within Los Angeles, California. Originally named Conservative Realty Company, this company was founded by W.C. Elderton and it served the Watts community selling land on the Burkhard home tract. In 1904, the company got into the water supply business; supplying water at a rate of 75 cents with 5000 gallons as the maximum water used. In 1910, the company raised its rate to $1.25 with maximum limit of 8000 gallons of water. By 1913, the company wanted to raise its rate again, but the California State Railroad Commission denied the company the ability to do so. The California Public Utilities Act of 1912 gave the State Railroad Commission the power to regulate all public utilities, including water companies, telephone companies, and railroads. This law basically stunted the company’s desire to continuously raise its rates.

Wilmer W. Pedder became president of the company in the 1920s, and changed the name of the company to the Conservative Water Company. Pedder died of heart disease in 1932 and Otto B. Frank became the new president. In 1933, an earthquake devastated the company’s water supply, and according to the company records, it struggled to stay afloat. Its water supply was constantly monitored by the California Department of Public Health and the California State Board of Public Health. By the 1950s, Elizabeth E. Pedder became president of the company with her brother, Theodore B. Pedder, serving as secretary. The company continued to have problems and in August, 1967, the Department of Water and Power purchased the utilities company.

Acquisition information:
Purchased from Elliot Mittler, November 20, 2009; several maps were a gift of Elliot Mittler, April 26, 2010.
Arrangement:

The Conservative Water Company Records are arranged in the following series: 1. Correspondence (Box 1); 2. Reports (Box 2); and 3. Ephemera (Box 2).

Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
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