The Mercedes Enterprise (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 59, No. 25, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 20, 1974 Page: 4 of 10
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Mercedes, Texas, Thursday, June 20, 1974
Page 4 -- The Mercedes Enterprise
C
y
Increasing fuel costs are raising electric bills
*
Traveling
Through
by
Texas
Kathy Rhoads
critical situation that will affect July, the fuel adjustment will
American Automobile Association
if they
Lo-Vaca has been curtailed by
The more our natural gas
I
bills every month.”
NEW FOR MERCEDES
June is
I
The first 5 units offered at special pre-construction price.
Mercedes
316 South Texas
t
74.09$
You don't have to be
'Apr 1974
an economist to know
58.02$
what this line means
Jan. 1974
to your electric bill
31.43$
Jan.1973
K‘
7777777777H
*
Rates above do not Include tax. One-Plus rates do not apply on calls made from coin telephones.
",
§
Late-night One-Plus. It’s a real bargain.
Southwestern Bell
to supply, which is more than
75 per cent of our supply.”
We take black and white or color
portraits either in the studio or
outdoors. The choice is yours.
30.27$
Jun.l973
For professional portraits to capture
those memorable moments make an
appointment with us.
Not the usual three. Coast-to-coast, the
first minute costs just 35c. And each additional
minute is 200. Phone someone closer to home
and rates can be even less.
Big savings start every night at 11. And last till
eight the next morning. That’s when our
one-minute rate is in effect on Long Distance
calls you dial direct the One-Plus way.
If you talk one minute, you pay for one minute.
Architect: W. Tamminga, Austin, Texas.
Contractor: J & T Co. - Mercedes
than natural gas.”
As reflected in this month’s
bill, CPL paid an average cost
of 74 cents per million BTU’s
for its power plant fuel. In
Offered by:
United Properties
Betty Tanner, CMB
Weslaco, Texas
968-7470
end of the year.
"‘Lo-Vaca doesn’t have the
gas to meet its commitments,
WHAT CPL HAD TO PAY
FOR FUEL
(costs per million BTU*)
Rio Rico Estates
Condominium
on S. Rio Rico Road
1 or 2 Bedroom Units:
-face the Landscaped pool area
-fire places & raised hearth
—deluxe electric appliances
-double carport & outside storage
-Saltillo tile kitchen & bath
—custom cabinetry
-financing Available
ANNOUNCING:
THE NIGHTLY
NINE-HOUR
LONG DISTANCE
SALE,
1
cpL
H CENTRAL POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY
Call 565-1801
HARMAN STUDIO
delivering to us. We at CPL do purchase higher-priced gas, or
not like these rising costs, and switch our power plants over to
we know our customers don’t fuel oil, which costs even more
Back in January, 1971, we were
paying 20.230 per million BTU* for
fuel to generate your electricity.
Since late 1972, fuel costs have been
rising sharply due to the natural
gas shortage.
These increases are reflected in
your electric bills by means of a
fuel adjustment clause, which is a
standard part of electric rates all
over the country. This adjustment
recovers only the increased cost of
fuel.
4
1
is a
Gov. Briscoe
will speak
Governor Dolph Briscoe has
announced that a meeting of
the Greater South Texas
Cultural Basin Commission will
be in Elsa Thursday, June 20.
The Governor, as chairman of
the commission, will make the
CPL’s gas supply from BTU’s.
Four curious spelunkers actually stalagmite tops with
poking around a south-central .colors vivid enough to don your
In April of this year, our cost of
fuel was 74.090 per million BTU*,
which is reflected in your current
bill.
We are buying fuel as econom-
ically as possible and using it as
efficiently as we can; however,
there is no escaping the fact that
electric bills will be higher.
In these circumstances, it is more
important than ever that you use
energy wisely.
Luis Contreras
finishes course
Private Luis Contreras, 20,
son of Mr. and Mrs. Juan
Contreras, Mercedes, com-
pleted an eight-week wheel
vehicle mechanic course at the
U.S. Army Training Center,
Infantry, Ft. Ord, California.
During the course, he
learned to perform organiza-
tional maintenance and assist
in the repair of automotive
Mercedes O.E.5.
elects officers
Open installation of officers
for the Mercedes O.E.S. #629
was held at 8 p.m. Saturday,
June 8, in the Masonic
Temple.
Mrs. Cora Mae Allen and
Mr. Gus Harp will head the
Mercedes chapter as Worthy
Matron and Worthy Patron.
Other officers installed includ-
ed Mr. Leslie Barnes, Associ-
ate Patron; Mrs. Ethel Jones,
Treasurer; Miss Muriel Ren-
naker, Conductress; Mrs. Mil-
dred Rios, Associate Conduc-
tress; Mrs. Clara Irvin,
Chaplin; Mrs. Helen Barnes,
Marshall; Mrs. Liz Franklin,
Organist and Mrs. Maude
Rennaker, Ruth.
The installing officer was
Mrs. Ray Leonard of Harlin-
gen. She was assisted by Mr.
doubled in the past year, and like them either; however, it is
projections show the costs due to a situation that is an
could go up even higher by the outgrowth of the natural gas
Rapidly increasing fuel
costs, primarily due to curtail-
ment of natural gas by
Lo-Vaca Gathering System, a
subsidiary of Coastal States
Gas Producing Company, are
causing electric bills to be
higher, CPL President Barney
M. Davis said today.
He said the average cost of
fuel to operate the company’s
power plants had more than
Texas ranch just happened to breakfast table, even
run across what is now the are really limestone,
state’s largest subterranean “Emerald Lake”
With the current fuel cost
of 74 cents, a residential
customer using 1000 kilowatt
hours of electricity a month
will pay a fuel adjustment of
$7.13 on a base bill of $23.43.
This is $1.98 more than in
May.
In an effort to control
spiraling fuel costs, CPL is
gearing up to use other types
of fuel as soon as possible. The
company is participating in a
nuclear power plant to be built
in Matagorda County, and a
coal-fired generating plant is
expected to begin operation in
1979. The company is also
involved in an exploration and
drilling program in an attempt
to find additional natural gas
supplies.
Gonzalez from Edinburg and
the Honorable William Rapp,
County Judge for Willacy
County. All were appointed in
March by Governor Briscoe.
The overall objective of the
GSTCB Commission is to
improve the standard of living,
to stimulate economic growth
and improve delivery and
implementation of governmen-
20.23$ 21.14$ 22.18$ 22.00^
wonderland. shimmering creation of flow-
That was in 1960. Now, stone and green water. At
these awe-inspiring caves are “Purgatory Creek" you’ll cross
open to visitors who come to a 152 foot long concrete
marvel at one of nature's most bridge, built to withstand worn
intricate handiworks. Natural seams and separation.
Bridge Caverns. .c,,
8 . „ . The largest formation dis-
it s especially interesting to .1 .,k
, \ • ... covered so far, is the Mount
note that these caverns are still .1 t',, . :
• . . , ot the Landlords, standing
forming - they re alive as they -
, , , some 45 feet above the base in
have been for more than ,
1 in AAA AAA The Castle of the White
4 years. Giants." You’ll also find two Rex Franklin, installing Patron; opening remarks and partici-
Some ten-thousand forma- other spectaculars here. The Mrs. Myra Myer, installing pate in the meeting.
tions, each one i erent 1 delicately ornate "Kings Marshall; Mrs. Hassie Daniel, Members of the Texas
t le many cave rooms, ature s Throne" holds a rainbow of installing Chaplin; Mrs. Helen legislature from South Texas
process begins when rain water colors as well as gently folded Burton, installing Organist;
have been invited to join
absorbs certain gases as it tails , ,, ° and Ollie Clark installino . , . ... •
, , . drapes made of tiny and •i1e -larK, installing in the days activities. Com-
te the ground. As it filters r. 1 Secretarv , c .1:
, ,.11 sparkling crystals. You 11 also -ecretary • mission members from this
own through, e groun . i marvel at one of natures’ After a welcome address by area planning to attend are
carries issolved imes one examples of delicate patience, the Worthy Matron and Mr. Pat L. Pace from
with it. en t e even ua a natural formed chandlier Worthy Patron, Mr. Leslie Brownsville, Mr. Jose Noe
evaporation process forces the from which flows a continual Barnes sang a solo, “Peace in
drops to deposit their load of stream of water. the Valley.” The Worthy
minerals. . f . Besides enjoying the ca- Matron’s theme this year is
But so much for the , , . , •Peace ”
, . 1., , , verns, the kids can take a train neace:
technicalities, the unusual , ... „
r , e ride through Tiny Town, a “
formations and strata of .
, . speical storybook land. Camp-
contrasting colors will explain , ., , ,
, ing facilities are also available,
enough. _, c , .
,, e There are acres of shady,
Pluto s Anteroom, first ,,,,,
, , n j secluded land for tents and
on the tour at Natural Bridge. . . , ,
, _ , camping rigs, and the central
is a show place of unusual e ,
_ _ . . , , _ facility provides hot water, ’
forms. Stalactites descend from , , ,
the ceiling while stalagmites showers and garbage pick-up. A -8--- "1 programs in a 40-county
me ceiling wniic -1128 .19 vehicle mechanic course at the . r A , 11
rise from the floor like giant Since the caverns discovery U s Army Training Center area in South Texas. A South
toothpicks. The switchback trail in 1960, the U.S. Department Infant F ord California Texas Plan for recommended
from Pluto’s chamber leads to of Interior has designated ’ legislation will be prepared by
“Sherwood Forrest." Here Natural Bridge a registered During the course, he the Commission and submitted
long, narrow totem poles climb National Natural Landmark, learned to perform organiza- to the Governor and the next
from floor to ceiling, some only This subterranean wonderland tional maintenance and assist legislature.
several inches in diameter but is located between San Antonio in the repair of automotive The 22-member Commis-
35 feet tall. and New Braunfels. The vehicles and associated equip- sion, chaired by Governor
The "Hall of the Mountain summer schedule has already ment. He became familiarized Briscoe, is composed of federal
Kings" is the largest room on begun. with the functioning of and state agency officials,
the tour. Its actual size If you’re staying close to automotive wheel vehicle com- councils of government chair-
measures 350 feet in length, the "home fires" this vacation ponents, operating principles men and local citizens of the
100 feet in width and more year, drop by and take a of internal conbustion engines, 5.COG South Texas area. Staff
than 100 feet in height. In glance at Natural Bridge fundamentals of fuel and support to GSTCB Commission
other words, just big enough to Caverns - it’s another of the electrical systems, and the use is provided by Governor
put a football field in. Inside interesting opportunities avail- of test equipment. Briscoe’s Office and his
are what cavern officials call able in our “Land of Pvt. Contreras’ wife, Olga, Division of Planning Coordina-
“fried eggs.” They are Contrast.’’ lives in Mercedes. tion.
{t
A
/
7) 7U
*BTU means a British Thermal Unit.
One BTU is the quantity of heat required
to raise one pound of water one degree
Fahrenheit.
. 4
“We are doing everything 65 per cent for the past two supply is curtailed, the more
possible to hold down the fuel months, and “it looks like it oil we’ll have to use to keep
costs,” Davis stated, “by will get worse as we get our power plants running,” the
using the cheapest fuel further into the year,” CPL President pointed out.
possible to replace the natural “Whenever curtailments occur, “Those higher fuel costs will
gas that Lo-Vaca is not “Davis explained, “we have to. be reflected in our customers’
shortage.”
“We’re facing a very
and we have suffered recurring everyone who uses electricity be based on an even higher
gas curtailments for the past in South Texas," the CPL fuel cost.
year and a half. The rapid rise President said; “however, we CPL is currently having to
in CPL’s fuel cost is due expect to have fuel, either pay from $1.10 to $1.40 per
almost entirely to the inability natural gas or fuel oil, to million BTU’s for spot-pur-
of Lo-Vaca Gathering System assure a dependable power chased natural gas, while fuel
to deliver the gas it contracted supply now and in the future.” oil costs up to $2.20 per million
Jan. 1971 Jun. 1971 Jan. 1972 Jun. 1972
Brides’ Month
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The Mercedes Enterprise (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 59, No. 25, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 20, 1974, newspaper, June 20, 1974; Mercedes, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1466685/m1/4/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Library.