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.

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.

310 items in 2 boxes + an oversize folder

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