Miller and Lux

Greetings, Nelson Olmsted here. Today's story concerns the king of the cattle kings. Now, Clint Goober's waiting with a word from Pacific Power. Welcome once again to Stories of Pacific Powerland, a presentation of Pacific Power and Light, the company that has been serving the electric needs of the region's homes, farms, and industries through

more than half a century of progress and growth. Now, I see Nelson's about ready to saddle up, so let's ride. During the latter part of the nineteenth century, a landowner east of Lakeview, Oregon might have said, Henry Miller, he'd stop it doesn't to get a man's land and water rights.

I ought to run him back to Germany, that's what? Or perhaps you might have encountered a ranch foreman in Alturas, California, who would say, Mr. Miller? Yes, sir. Fine, generous, gentlemen. Fine, cattlemen too. Always glad to see Henry Miller right into this country.

Henry Miller, a German butcher boy, small, tough, wiry, energetic, arrived in San Francisco in 1850 with six dollars in his pocket. Somewhere in the next few years, Miller encountered Charles Lux, a suave well-tailored socially prominent alsatian. Lux supplied the money and the contacts. Miller provided the know-how and the energy. The partnership they formed in 1858 commenced to roll immediately. The

The combine bought land and cattle in the fertile San Joaquin Valley and sold the beef in San Francisco. Business grew incredibly fast. More land, more irrigation, more cattle, more sales, more money. Then one day Charles Luck said, Henry, we have $100,000 in cash in the bank and could liquidate for nearly a million.

Let's clear it up and quit. Charlie, we haven't begun yet. Why didn't you tell me we had all that cash? I've got my and a good spread in the Valley. A hundred thousand dollars a ticket.