Surprise Valley Electrification Corporation - Alturas CA "n 1936, F.L. "Barney" Roberts of Surprise Valley was weary of being in the dark. He wanted electric lights in his home, convenience for his wife's work and a dependable power source for his milking machine in his dairy barn.
Barney petitioned the California Public Service Company of Cedarville for a power line to the ranches of Surprise Valley.
After being turned down for power by California Public Service Company of Cedarville, Barney wrote to President Roosevelt requesting a solution to the problem. The President responded to Barney's request, telling him about the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, which provided federal financing...