In 1928 and 1929, Public Utility Investment Company continued to thrive, growing even faster than before. Acquisitions increased several hundred percent during these two years.
184 – Top of Their Game
Jones
183 – Extended Family
Ralph and Chleo Jarvis settled into a new way of life in Salina. They were in a home of their own.
182 – A New Office
Acquisitions were booming. Investment sales were booming. Home office staff was booming.
Public Utility Investment Company invested in a much larger office. It was on the second floor of businesses along Santa Fe Avenue, the main street in Salina.
181 – Public Utility Investment Company
Nathan Jones had organized The Public Utility Investment Company (PUIC) in 1924. It was used to purchase the assets of States Power Company in Oklahoma, and then to sell the assets to the newly formed United Power Company.
180 – A Move to Salina
Nathan Jones focused on his vision for the new Public Utility Investment Company. In late 1924, Jones moved his family from Abilene to Salina, Kansas. He opened a two-room office on the third floor of a bank in downtown Salina.
179 – The States Power Company
By January 1924, Pawnee Power and Water Company and all the other C.L. Brown companies were merged into United Light and Power Company.
Nathan Jones had risen to assistant treasurer, and Ralph Jarvis had moved up to head the construction division.
But there was an opportunity in Oklahoma.
Continue reading178 – Home Life 1922, 1923
It was good that Chleo Jarvis lived in her mother’s household. They got along well. Anna had a daughter and grandchild at home, and Chleo had help raising Melvin.
In 1922, Ralph was age 28 and Chleo was 22.
Continue reading177 – A United Takeover
The vision was a huge loop of transmission lines from Hutchinson to Larned to Kinsley to Turon and back to Hutchinson. It was the most ambitious plan for electrical distribution in Kansas.
176 – Home Life 1920, 1921
Ralph and Chleo made their home with Chleo’s mother, Anna Webb. They lived in the Rock House.
Continue reading175 – Marriage, and Then More Work
1919 had been a successful year for The Pawnee Power and Water Company.
Nathan Jones had founded his fourth startup company, and was beginning to realize his vision. Ralph Jarvis had risen quickly to the superintendent of construction.
Both men would marry. And 1920 promised to be a busy year for the power company.
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Family Nibbles 