UTAH LIGHT AND TRACTION COMPANY
HISTORY OF ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH
usu SPEC COLL 621.312 Utl7 c. 2 w <_ 'TO**"**iav«fS. >s» Ml.il* UH7
UTAH POWER & LIGHT COMPANY KEARNS BUILDING P. O. BOX 899 SALT LAKE CITY 10, UTAH
March 15, 1956
Mr. Leonard J. Arrington, Economi c s Dep artment, Utah State Agricultural College, Logan, Utah.
Dear Mr. Arrington:
We have your letter of March 14 together with the
copy of "Reclassification of Electric Plant" which was loaned
to you.
It will be entirely satisfactory for you to drop in
next time you are in town and look over the Utah Light & Power
Company file.
The copy of "History of Origin and Development" of
the Utah Light and Traction Co. you may keep for your library
if you so desire.
Very truly yours, (D* /$, /Cy^^ 0DB:jf Utah State University Libraries Special Collections & Archives From the Library of Leonard J. Arrington 1917 -1999 UTAH LIGHT AMD TRACTION COMPANY HISTORY OF ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT Prepared in Connection with Federal Power Commission Request Order Dated May 11, 1937 SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Statement "A"—Origin and Development of the Utah Light and Traction Company , 1 Appendix to Statement "A" of Utah Light and Traction Company . 31 Map , 32 Corporate Chart i 33 History of Street Railway Companies in Salt Lake City From 1872-1903 . . , , 34 East Bench Street Railway Company 46 Salt Lake (Jity Gas Company 47 Salt Lake Power, Light & Heating Company . , 51 Ogden City Electric Light Company 60 Citizens' Electric Light Company (Ogden) . i 66 Ogden Gas, Light & Fuel Company . , 68 Salt Lake and Ogden Gas & Electric Light Company ... 73 Salt Lake Citizens' Electric Light Company ...... 77 Big Cottonwood Power Company ,»«.,.. 79 Pioneer Electric Power Company 83 Union Light & Power Company ..... 92 Little Cottonwood Water, Power & Electric Company . • 103 Utah Light & Power Company . « 104 Utah Light and Railway Company . k . . . . Ill Salt Lake Light & Traction Company 127 The Utah Power Company , 128 Utah Light and Traction Company . * 130 Organization 131 Page Separation of the Electric Utility from the Street Railway Business « 132 Subsequent Developments in the Street Railway Busi ness ...... 132 First Electric Coach 134 Change to Present Day Gas Bus Operation 135 Faro and Financial History 135 Affidavit 139 UTAH LIGHT AND TRACTION COMPANY The Utah Light and Traction Company which was organized September 18, 1914, consolidated the properties of the Salt Lake Light & Traction Company and the Utah Light & Railway Company. These direct predecessors owned and operated electric utilities in Salt Lake City and Ogden, and a street railway system in and adjacent to Salt Lake City, The Utah Power Company (a Utah Corporation) is also considered a direct predeces sor inasmuch as its hydro-electric plant and other properties at the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon were conveyed by quit claim deed to the Traction Company July 22, 1935. On January 2, 1915, the electrical properties of the Utah Light and Traction Company, (including plants, substations, transmission and dis tribution lines, and other properties not essential to railway operation) were leased to the Utah Power & Light Company for a period of 99 years. Outstanding bonds under the Utah Light and Traction Company 1st and refunding mortgage are guaranteed as to principal and interest by Utah Poxver & Light Company. Electric power for street railway operations of Utah Light and Traction Company is supplied by Utah Power & Light Company. Below are listed the three direct and 17 indirect predecessors of the Utah Light and Traction Company: Ogden City Electric Light Company Citizens' Electric Light Company (Ogden) Ogden Gas, Light & Fuel Company Salt Lake City Gas Company Salt Lake Power, Light & Heating Company Salt Lake & Ogden Gas & Electric Light Company Salt Lake Citizens Electric. Light Company Big Cottonwood Power Company Pioneer Electric Power Company Little Cottonwood Water, Power & Electric Company, Limited Union Light & Power Company Utah Light & Power Company Salt Lake City Railroad Company Salt Lake Rapid Transit Company Popperton Place & Fort Douglas Rapid Transit East Bench Street Railway Company Consolidated Railway & Power Company Utah Light & Railway Company Salt Lake Light & Traction Company Utah Power Company (Utah) OGDEN CITY ELECTRIC LIG^T CQiffiAHY •• •• ...II.. _»i. i M I.I nr ii.li • I.I..1I... .i- ...I— ; .I..I. This Company was incorporated May 10, 1881. Service was first supplied in Ogden, Utah from a small steam plant located in the heart of the city. This plant proved unsatisfactory and a hydro plant was built in Ogden Canyon. The early history of the Company shows a series of dis asters, financial losses, and general dissatisfaction with service. The poor service was due mainly to the inability of the isolated plant to re main in operation because of ice in the winter and low water in the summer. In spite of these difficulties, business increased to such an extent that by 1890 a new steam plant was needed and constructed. Before the plant could be placed in operation a competing company, Citizens' Electric Company, was organized. A court battle ensued to determine which company was to receive the street lighting contract from the city. The question was settled only after the two companies had merged and their property transferred to the Ogden Gas, Light & Fuel Company. The Ogden City Electric Light Company transfer was made December 29, 1891. 4 QCTIZBtS* ELKSTfllO LIGHT COMPANY (OGDEN) The Citizens' Electric Light Company was incorporated June 17, 1890, to serve Ogden, Utah in competition with the Ogden City Electric Light Company. Although the life of this Company was very short, it built a power plant and furnished lights in Ogden. Litigation between the above two companies over a street lighting contract lead to their merger and the transfer of their property to the Ogden Gas, Light & Fuel Company. The property of the Citizens' Electric Light Company was transferred December 28, 1891. OGDEN GAS, LIGHT & FUEL COMPANY Ogden Gas, Light & Fuel Company was incorporated May 14, 1889. The population of Ogden at that time was only 15,000 and the fact that there were three competing companies—one gas and two electric—meant a period of disastrous competition for all. On March 20, 1891, an agree ment was reached whereby Ogden City Electric Light Company and Citizens' Electric Light Company turned the management of their companies over to the Gas Company and the various properties were consolidated. The pro perty was transferred to the Ogden Gas, Light & Fuel Company December 29, 1891. This Company continued operating until January 2, 1893, at which time its holdings along with the property of two Salt Lake companies were transferred to the Salt Lake & Ogden Gas & Electric Light Company* SALT LAKE CITY GAS COMPANY The Salt Lake City Gas Company was organized May 27, 1872. A year later a gas plant was constructed and mains were laid on the prin cipal streets of the city. The Company operated smoothly and profitably until the introduction of electricity in 1880. Upon the refusal of the local gas company to purchase machinery to furnish electric lighting, the manufacturer's agent organized the Salt Lake Power, Light & Heating Company to compete with the Gas Company. Operations continued until January 2, 1893 at which time these companies were consolidated to form the Salt Lake & Ogden Gas & Electric Light Company, §£iLMg!LPOWER, LIGHT & HEATING COMPANY The agent for a machinery company promoted organization of the Salt Lake Power, Light & Heating Company November 8, 1880 to compete with the local gas company. A steam plant was built and three circuits were put into operation by April, 1881. As the demand for electric lighting in creased it became necessary to construct another steam plant. Near the end of 1892, a syndicate of London and New York capitalists, represented by J. Elliott Condict of San Francisco, began buying gas and electric properties in Salt Lake and Ogden. On February 14, 1893, the properties of the Salt Lake City Gas Company, the Salt Lake Power, Light & Heating Company and the Ogden Gas, Light & Fuel Company were consolidated to form the Salt Lake & Ogden Gas & Electric Light Company. SALT LAKE & OGDEN GAS & ELECTRIC LIGHT COMPA-fY On February 14, 1893, John Elliott Condict of San Francisco, representing London and New York capitalists, consolidated the properties of the Ogden Gas, Light & Fuel Company, the Salt Lake City Gas Company and the Salt Lake Power, Light & Heating Company and organized the Salt Lai® & Ogden Gas & Electric Light Company. Despite poor service furnish ed, the Salt Lake a Ogden Gas & Electric Light Company could not supply the demand. 'The Company contracted with the Big Cottonwood Power' Company for power to relieve the overloaded condition. During the life of the Company little heed was paid to maintenance of property. In 1895 the -6 Salt Lake Citizens Electric Light Company was organized to compete with the Salt Lake & Ogden Company. On November 4, 1897 the Salt Lake & Ogden Gas a Electric Light Company and the Salt Lake Citizens Electric Light Company were acquired by the Union Light & Power Company. SALT LAKE CITIZENS1 EIECTRIC TIGHT COMPANY This Company was incorporated August 3, 1895. A steam plant was constructed at 4th West and 2nd South Streets in Salt Lake City, and a distribution system was built to serve the commercial district. The Company commenced operations in October, 1895 in competition with the Salt Lake &, Ogden Gas a Electric Light Company. Destructive competition was carried on for nearly two years. In 1897 the companies were consoli dated along with other properties to form the Union Light & Power Com pany. The property of the Salt Lake Citizens Electric Light Company was conveyed to the Union Light & Power Company October 25, 1897. BIG COTTONWOOD POWER COMPANY This Company was organized December 8, 1893. Title was acquired to a water right at the "Stairs" in Big Cottonwood Canyon near Salt Lake City, Utah and construction of the Stairs plant started in 1894. Because of quarrels over water rights and construction difficulties the plant was not completed until May, 1896, The entire output was sold to the Salt Lake & Ogden Gas a Electric Light Company. By 1897 the electric light and power business in and around Salt Lake was so complicated, the officers of the many companies decided to consolidate. The Union Light & Power Company was organized on August 9, to take over the management of the Pioneer Power Company, Salt Lake & Ogden Gas & Electric Light Com pany, the Citizens' Electric Light Company, the Big Cottonwood Power Company and the Little Cottonwood Water, Power a Electric Company, Limited. The property of the Big Cottonwood Power Company was conveyed by deed August 31, 1897i PIONEER. ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY The Pioneer Electric Power Company was organized December 2, 1893, to develop hydro-electric power on the Ogden River in Ogden Can yon. Although the project was pronounced feasible by some of the best engineers, it was over a year before adequate financial backing could be obtained. Construction of the plant started in April, 1895 and was completed May, 1897. A 22,000 volt line was also built between the Pioneer plant and Salt Lake City. At the time the plant was built it was one of the major projects of its kind in the United States and re ceived not only local attention but was discussed before the American Society of Civil Engineers at the annual convention in 1897. After the plant was completed the Company" found it had surplus power although companies serving Salt Lake and Ogden were operating overloaded plants. The rights and property of the Pioneer Electric Power Company were con veyed to the Union Light & Power Company on August 9, 1897. I£^^2^SSi^Ll^M. POWER A _S-^_-?I_LSi-^f!__Xi_J-3_l_®. The Little Cottonwood Water Power & Electric Company, Limited, was incorporated under the laws of Great Britain and articles were filed in Utah, March 16, 1896. A franchise was secured in Salt Lake County but before construction of a plant was started the Company became involved in a law suit over water rights in Little Cottonwood Canyon. Its property was conveyed to the Union Light & Power Company, November 12, 1897. M^j-M _&- POWER COMPANY The Union Light & Power Company was organized August 9, 1897 to consolidate the following companies: The Salt Lake & Ogden Gas & Electric Light Company, the Pioneer Electric Power Company, the Big ,8 Cottonwood Power Company, the Salt Lake Citizens Electric Light Company, and the Little Cottonwood Water Power & Electric Company, Limited. These companies with the exception of the latter were operating in the Salt Lake City and Ogden territories, each with its independent system. Although it was planned to consolidate all five of the operating companies into this one company as soon as possible, the plan met with immediate problems. The Salt Lake & Ogden Gas & Electric Light Company was unable to give clear title to its property and many of the bond holders refused to exchange their bonds which were first lien on the property for common bonds of the Union Light & Power Company. Officers of the Union Light & Poiver Company decided to operate the various companies under the old corporate names, but take over active management until financial differences could be worked out and deeds could be obtained. It was generally feared the consolidation would create a monop oly which would lead to poor service and higher rates. Despite the fact the Company was facing financial difficulties and operating under other handicaps, every effort was made to provide good service at fair rates. On December 30, 1899, the Utah Light & Power Company was incorporated to reorganize the Union Light & Power Company and to operate their pro- • perties in Salt Lake, Weber and Davis Counties. UTAH LIGHT & POWER COMPANY The Utah Light & Power Company was formed December 30, 1899 to reorganize the Union Light & Power Company, and a reduction in capital ization and bonded indebtedness was accomplished. Although the financial condition of the Company was improved, the problem of inefficient opera tion had to be overcome. During the four years the Company operated it struggled with an uncertain water supply, labor troubles, demand for 9 power beyond the generating capacity, poor load factor, crude operating methods, and customer opposition. In August, 1903, the system capacity was increased with the addition of a steam plant at a site on the Jordan River west of Salt Lake City. Inasmuch as the power contract between the Utah Light & Power Company and the Consolidated Railway a Power Company was about to expire, it was considered advisable to consolidate the two companies. The consolidation was effected by the organization of the Utah Light & Railway Company, January 2, 1904. SALT LAKE CITY RA_n_3QA|) COMPANY The Salt Lake City Railroad Company was organized February 1, 1872. The first system consisted of mule drawn cars which ran from the railroad depot to the business district. Later the line was extended to the residential district. On February 20, 1889, the order v/as given to construct a power plant and electrify the system, and on August 8 of that / year the first electric car made a successful test run to the east end of town and back. The Company operated without competition until 1890 when the Salt Lake Rapid Transit Company entered the field. The East Bench Street Railway Company and the Popperton Place & Fort Douglas Rapid Transit Company were also organized that year. The East Bench and the Popperton Place lines offered no serious competition although for ten years the two major lines engaged in bitter competition. On August 9, 1901, the Consolidated Railway & Power Company was incorporated, and consolidated the properties of the Salt Lake Rapid Transit Company, the Salt Lake City Railroad Company, the Popperton Place & Fort Douglas Rapid Transit Company and the Ea'st Bench Street Railway Company. 10 SALT LAKE RAPID TRANSIT COMPANY The Salt Lake Rapid Transit Company xras incorporated February 25, 1890, and entered the street railway business in competition with the Salt Lake City Railroad Company which had operated without rivalry since its organization in 1872. In 1893, the Salt Lake Rapid Transit Company gained control of the Popperton Place & Fort Douglas Rapid Transit Company, Bitter competition existed in Salt Lake City until 1901, at which time all railway systems were consolidated into the Consolidated Railway & Power Company, which was organized on August 9. POPPERTON PLACE & FORT.DOUGLAS.RAPID TRANSIT COMPANY. The Popperton Place & Fort Douglas Rapid Transit Company was organized July 9, 1890, to extend street car service from First Avenue and "T" Streets through Popperton Place to Fort Douglas, a distance of approximately a mile and a half. In 1093 the Salt lake Rapid Transit Company gained control of this Company and advanced additional funds to complete its construction. On August 9, 1901, this line was acquired by the Consolidated Railway & Power Company. EAST. BENCH STREET. RAILWAY OCHPANY The East Bench Street Railway Company was organized December 10, 1890 to operate a street railway system from the southeast section of Salt Lake City to the State Prison, a distance of approximately two miles. Before construction started, however, the Company was absorbed by the Salt Lake Rapid 'Transit Company who completed the line. On August 10, 1901, this property was acquired by the Consolidated Railway & Power Company. 11 CONSOLIDATED RAILWAY & POWER COMPANY The Consolidated Railway & Power Company was organized August 9, 1901 to consolidate and operate the properties of the Salt Lake City Railroad Company, the Salt Lake Rapid Transit Company, the Popperton Place & Fort Douglas Rapid Transit Company and the East Bench Street Railway Company. In addition to aoquiring 80 miles of electric street railway, the Company received franchises, rolling stock, car barns, stations and power plants* During the Company's existence it initiated no new construction but concentrated all its efforts on improving service. On January 2, 1904, the Consolidated Railway & Power Company and the Utah Light & Power Company were merged to form the Utah Light & Railway Company. UTAH LIGHT & RAILWAY COMPANY The Utah Light & Railway Company was incorporated January 2, 1904, to consolidate the properties of the Utah Light & Power Company and the Consolidated Railway & Power Company. E. H. Harriman, President of the Union Pacific Railroad Company acquired control in 1906. A part of the distribution system in the business district was placed underground. The Weber hydro-electric plant and Jordan steam plant were built. A double circuit steel tower line was constructed from the Pioneer and Weber plants to Salt Lake City. The railway system was completely rebuilt with heavier rails, double tracks, new cars, barns, and other equipment. On September 18, 1914, the Salt Lake Light & Traction Company and the Utah Light & Railway Company were consolidated to form the Utah Light and Traction Company. January 2, 1915, the power generating^ transmission and distribution properties of the Utah Light and Traction Company were leased to Utah Power & Light Company. 12 SALT. LAKE LIGHT & TRACTION COMPANY The Salt Lake Light & Traction Company was incorporated August 8, 1914. It was consolidated with the Utah Light & Railway Company to form the Utah Light and Traction Company, September 18, 1914. UTAH POWER COMPANY (UTAH) The Utah Power Company was organized April 30, 1895, to con struct and operate a hydro-electric plant and furnish power for the Salt Lake City Railroad Company, The plant was constructed in Big Cottonwood Canyon, east of Salt Lake City and was rated at 1,500 KW. Power from this plant operated the street cars for the first time in February, 1897. As a result of slides, frozen and receding streams, the plant furnished irregular service during the next two years and it was necessary for the Salt Lake City Railroad Company to overhaul its steam plant and keep it in readiness in the event of an interruption. Although the Consolidated Railway & Power Company secured controlling interest in the Utah Power Company in 1901, the Company maintained its corporate identity. On January 18, 1902, the Utah Power Company leased its system to the Utah Light & Power Company, and on July 22, 1935 deeded it to the Utah Light and Traction Company. 13 UTAH IIGSHT. aiTO raAC^NJJMffiANr Its Develj^mant^ and Integr_at_io_n The properties of the Utah Light and Traction Company were some of the most important to be made a part of the integrated system of the Utah Power & Light Company. Water rights, plants, substations and lines were all very valuable, but over and above these was the market for power in Salt Lake City and Ogden, These too cities, and the territory immediately surrounding them, are the heart of the service area of the Utah Power & Light Company. In the ten years from 1910 to 1920, Ogden grew from a population of 25,580 to 32,804; and Salt Lake City from 92,777 to 118,110. Here was an established and a growing market. The importance of these two centers is indicated in the fact that in 1939 the customers within Salt Lake City and Ogden combined represented 50^ of the Company's total. In that same year 64$ of the Company's commercial and residential load centered in those two cities. The Salt Lake and Ogden areas, sustained as they are by the rail roads, the larger industries, and the nearby mines, have very largely made possible the development of the Utah Power & Light Company. They fur nished the basic loads which sustained the newly planned integrated system. They necessitated much of the expansion of that system and their revenues made that expansion possible. The Utah Light and Traction Compaq was organized September 18, 1914. On January 2, 1915, it leased its electrical properties (including plants, substations, transmission and distribution lines, and other pro perties not essential to railway operation) to the Utah Power & Light Company. 14 The electrical properties so leased consisted of the following: Hydro Plants Pioneer, Weber, Granite, Stairs. Steam Plant Jordan (Old Plant). Transmission Lines connecting the above plants. Substations Ogden, Bountiful, Salt Lake, Murray. Distribution Lines Salt Lake, Ogden. The hydro properties represented valuable water rights on canyon streams, and the Jordan steam plant, as a supplemental unit, added greatly to the stability of the power supply. The transmission lines, within the scope of their limitations, added the strength of interconnection to these small plants which, left isolated, would have been under the prevailing handicaps of single units. These transmission lines connected Ogden and Salt Lake City with the plants of the Traction group. Distribution lines had been run throughout both cities. Pioneer soles work, already under way by 1915, was continued and expanded, and the market made available in the properties of the Utah Light and Traction Company provided a great field for the subsequent activities of the Utah Power & Light Company. 31 APPENDIX TO STATEi'STlT "A" OF UTAH LIGHT AND TRACTION COMPANY N <0> TM T •C AR I B O TLT \lB- ANN © C o x. MQCAMMON POWE* R h 4' 0 PLANT POWBB ( GRACE PL GRACE MUNICIPAL jj x - GEORGETOWN PL. LAKE POWER CO. © I** E T IJ> A IDAHO UTAH ELECTRIC CO. SWAN CREEK ELEC.L&P.CO] HIGH CREEK EL~E~CTR1C L.b\ CO. UTAH IDAHO SUGAR CO. ELON e V LOGAN PA. T R , D P, L06AN{ ^JiN?c 1 P A^ —MILLVILLE) MUN. „ BLACKSMITH FORKl L. & R CO GREEN RIVER D HYRUM )PL. ELECL.8tP.C0. /R I C H WILLARD PR.CO. * PETERSON EftECCq. I N T ' A EVANSTON ELEC.L.ft P. CO. DAVIS &WEBER COUNT! BER>£ J._/ NTY IT. &PR vis PL. \M PL.-S. L.&O.R.R1 ^COALVILLE MUN. D A a BENJAMIN ELEC.L&T.CO. SANTAQUIN PL. H j yEUREWtLECjMT.V V- TU A O SCOFIELD MUN. O HUNTINGTON LT. PR.&TELE.CO TVIT X. X. A TR X> ELEC.POWER 8c MILLING CO. SCALE IN MILES 33 1875 1880 1885 I8< 1895 1900 1872 1905 910 1915 1920 925 1930 1935 1940 OGDEN GAS LIGHT ft FUEL COMPANY, 5-/4-89] CHART OF CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT OF THE OGDEN C1TIIENS ELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANY 6-11-90 SALT LAKE 8c OGDEN GAS & ELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANY77?'-93. UTAH LIGHT & TRACTION COMPANY OGDEN CITY ELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANY5HI SALT LAKE CITIZENS ELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANY 8'3S5 SALT LAKE CITY GAS COMPANY 5-?7'72. BIG COTTONWOOD POWER COMPANY 12-8-93 SALT LAKE POWER LIGHT & HEATING COMPANY11-8-80 PIONEER ELECTRIl POWER COMPANY I?-? -93. THE UTAH POWER & LIGHT COMPANY 9-6-191? 1 I I I 1 1— ELECTRIC PROPERTY LEASED Hi UNION LIGHT a POl ER COMPANY 9-97. SALT LAKE LIGHT 8c TRACTION COMPANY 8-8-14.TO UTAH POWER & LIGHT COMPANY JAN. ? 1915 LITTLE COTTONWOOD WATER POWER ft i ECTR/C COMPANY3-16-96 UTAH LIGHT ft POWER COMPANY l?-30-99 UTAH LIGHT & TRACTION COMPANY 9-18-1914. SALT LAKE CITY RAILROAD COMPANY 2-1-7? UTAH LIGHT ft RAILWAY COMPANY I-2'14. CONSOLIDATED RAILWAYS POWER COMPANY 8-9-01 LEGEND ELECTRIC AN0,OR,GAS OPERATING COMPANY POPPERTOH PLACE ft FORT DOUGLAS RAPIDTRANSIT COMPANY 7-9-90. STREET RAILWAY COMPANY ELECTRIC, GAS,AND STREET RAILWAY COMPANY -CAPITOL STOCK OF UTAH POWER CO SALT LAKE RAPID TRANSIT COMPANY 2-?5 -90 TRANSFERRED TO CONSOLIDATED RY r ft POWER COMPANY 8-10-1901. ?AST &ENCH STREET RAILWAY COMPANY 17-10-90. UTAH POWER COMPANY 4-30-1895 1872 1875 1880 1885 1895 1900 1905 1910 1915 1920 "525 1930 1935 940 34 HISTORY OF STREET RAILWAY COMPANIES IN SALT LAKE CITY FROM 1872-1903 Salt Lake City Railroad Company- Salt Lake Rapid Transit Company- East Bench Street Railway Company Popperton Place and Ft. Douglas Rapid Transit Company James Bridger, ubiauitous fur trapper and explorer, first sighted Great Salt Lake in 1825 while seeking the source of the Bear River, and, having tasted the briny ww.er, ,,?ondered if he h^d not come upon an arm of the Pacific ocean. The great desert wastes of Salt Lake Valley were later traversed by various parties, but were shunned by settlers until Brigham Young, leading a gallant band of Mormons, sighted the valley on July 24, 1847, and announced: "This is the place!" Early Salt Lake History In the years that followed, the desert began to "blossom as a rose" under his guidance. Salt Lake City became a ouiet little village, and a stopping point for train after train of emmigrants bound for the lush gold fields of California. The Civil War was waged and settled. Colonel Patrick E. Connor arrived with the Third California Infantry and established Fort Douglas, encouraged prospecting and promoted mining, although its growth was slow. A mountain of ore was being scratched in the Oquirrh range. Salt Lake In 1872 By 1872, Salt Lake City boasted almost 15,000 people, and **a« typically frontier. Its wide streets were dusty in the summer, and became quagmires in wet weather. Sh^de trees lined the avenues. The city was without paved streets or-sidewalks. Pat Lannan, who later became owner of the Salt Lake Tribune, w?»a the leading butcher; F. Auerbach and Brothers, 35 "The People's Store," was at 55 Main Street; one Congregational, one Methodist, and one Presbyterian church served a minority Gentile population. Residences were generally one-story adobe buildings. The Walker Hotel was the leading hostelry of that day; the old Salt Lake Theater, in all its splendor, attracted many of the country's greatest stars. The Golden Spike had been driven at Promontory three years before, linking the Central Pacific and the Union Pacific Railroads. Company Organized It was in that year that Brigham Young saw the necessity for a street railway. On February, 1872, Brigham Youngj Jr., John W. Young, S. B* Young, Le Grande Young, John Pike, Moses Thatcher, W. B. Preston, P. L» Williams, Hamilton G. Parke, and W. W. Riter organized the Salt Lake City Railroad Company. Capital stock of $180,000 was divided into 3,600 shares of #50 par value. Mule Drawn Gars Tracks wore laid from the depot on Third West, up South Temple Street, to West Temple, thence south on West Temple to First South, east to Main Street and south to the Cliff House on Third South. A little rat mule trudged this distance pulling a car. 01d<-timers say that it was quicker to walk if one was in a hurry, but the system was well pat ronized, and during the next several years the line was extended to var ious parts of the city. A year after the company was organized, a dividend was declared. In 1873, Brigham Young was elected a director, and in 1874 he became presi dent. The great leader died in 1877, and John Taylor became head of the Mormon church. The company was harassed by minor law suits, damage claims and other typical operating problems. They donated $100 to the relief of 36 of a driver who was "accidentally killed by a pistol," and continued a 2 per cent dividend a couple of times a ye^r until 1889. Receiver Appointed In that ye^r a law was passed by Congress limiting the extent to which a church organization could engage in business. As a result, a suit was brought to recover stock held by the Latter-Day Saints Church in the street car business, and a receiver w*>s appointed. Before he w*a able to secure the stock, however, it -""as transferred to Mayor Francis Armstrong and A. W. McCune. Street Car System Electrified By this time, too, electric po^er ws in vogue, and up-to-date systems were replacing the little mule in other prrts of the country. Consequently, on February 20, 1889, capitalization w^s increased to $1,000,000, and officials »ere directed to electrify rtt least five miles of line, and to double the service on the remaining ten miles. On August 8, shortly after 6 p.m., the first electric car m=»de a successful trial trip from a power house on Second East Street to the east end of town, back to the Garfield depot, and hone to the powerhouse. The cpr sped up grades in fine style and people along the line stared as though an appari tion were flying by. The power house comprised P boiler r^om and operating room. Four 60-HP boilers with twin settings were placed in the boiler room, and a 200 HP Corliss engine in the operating room. Eight cars operated at first on nine miles of track. Officials of the electrified system were Francis Armstrong, President; A. W, McCune, Vice President; Henry Dinwoody, Adam Spiers, W. P. Reed, Directors; Heber M. Wells, Treasurer; and Joseph tffells, Secretary. 37 For the next few months the company had the field to itself, but shortly after New Years, 1890, competition reared its head, and the next ten years of street railway history in Salt Lake City were featured by healthy fights between the Salt Lake City Railroad Company and the Salt Lake Rapid Transit Company. New C ompany_ foganized The Rapid Transit Company was organized by L. S. Hills, of Salt Lake City, J. S. Cameron, of Omaha, James T. Little, W. H. Spafford, and John Sharp, Jr., all of Salt Lake City. Articles of incorporation were filed February 25, 1890, listing capital stock at #500,000, divided into five thousand shares. Had city officials given consideration to the franchise problem at that time, much of the bitterness which later developed between the two street car companies could have been avoided. However, franchises were being passed out as free as handbills, and accounted for later accus ations of encroachment, one upon the other, duplicate lines, and a generally chaotic condition. The second company's trackage included lines on State Street, First Avenue, Second South, lines to Murray and the smelters, to the Rio Grande Western depot, Forest Dale, and Calder's Park, Smoot's Pleasure Gardens, White Sulphur Springs, Beck's Hot Springs, and to the Yfest Side race track. Two More Companies Organize During the same year the Popperton Place and Ft, Douglas Rapid Transit Company and the East Bench Street Railway Company were formed to operate short distances and for specific purposes. They were small concerns and played a minor role in the struggle between the two larger street car companies. The Popperton & Ft, Douglas Company was organized July 9, to ex- 38 tend street car service from First Avenue and T. Street through Popperton Place to Ft, Douglas, a distance of 1-& miles. It was to be absorbed in a later consolidation of the two large companies. The East Bench Company intended to operate from the southeast section of the city to the state prison, a distance of 2 miles, but it was absorbed by the Rapid Transit Company before any of its cars were placed in service. Competition Intense Both major companies kept pace with an increasing demand for service by extending and improving their system, financing their operations through sale of stocks and bonds. This phase of their history was marked by open hostility, construction of duplicate lines on business and residential streets, squabbles with property ovmers who claimed the guttered streets depreciated property value, injunctions and damage suits. The Salt Lake City Railroad Company had the support of most of the people, but the Rapid Transit Company xvas treated favorably by city and county officials. Rapid Transit System By the year 1892 the Rapid Transit Company had 30 miles of track and during the year had increased the capacity at its power plant on the corner of Second West and Seventh South and had added 22 motors and 13 trail cars to the rolling stock. The following year the company added two miles and improved its existing lines. By 1894 this company had 33 miles of track, 26 motors and 11 trail cars, and employed over 150 men. Three rates were in use, 5, 10, and 15 cents, while commutation tickets were sold at 4 and 7 cents. An additional special rate of 2-|- cents was offered to school children. The power house included a 500-horse power engine, four dynamos, four boilers, and auxiliary equipment. 39 Salt Lake Railway System The Salt Lake City Railroad Company by 1896, had built up its system to include 43 miles of line which extended from the center of town to all depots, Warm Springs, Fort Douglas, Liberty Park, and East Waterloo addition. Cars were being operated on an average of 18 hours daily, and 175 men were being employed as operators, barn crews and office workers. The company owned 56 cars, and four trail cars. A. W. McCune had replaced Francis Armstrong as President, although the latter was on the board of directors. R. C. Chambers vms Vice President. Early Day Troubles This growth was not without its difficulties, however. Many amus ing incidents, two of which we record, are preserved in the newspaper files of that period, and are typical of the bitterness which existed. The Deseret News of June 24, 1891, reports: "For some time past anything but a free feeling seems to have ex isted between the two rival street railroad companies of this city in re gard to the laying of tracks in certain directions. About half-past eleven o'clock last night, however, matters took quite an unexpected turn. Toward that hour the Rapid Transit Company's employees began to place lines and ties along West Second South Street, a force of nearly one hundred men being so occupied with picks and shovels in turning up the road. The object in view was to lay a track from the Wasatch corner to the county court house. At first the work went on uninterruptedly, but just after the stroke of midnight, a number of the Salt Lake City Railroad's cars were run-down to the spot. It was then that the row commenced. "While the dispute was in progress, Superintendent Reed of the Salt Lake City Railway Company called upon Marshall Young, who was present 40 with his strong staff of officers, to forthwith stop the operations, which he refused to do, "It is asserted that Reed was wantonly assaulted by someone present, and in the course of the melee he was arrested and marched to the City Hall, but was liberated an hour or so later." Flank Maneuver The trouble lasted for a couple of hours until attorneys got a judge out of bed to sign injunction papers. The men employed by the Rapid Transit Company ceased their labors and disbursed to their homes. "By the time the Rapid Transit men ceased work, an army of work men, estimated at from 150 to 200 in number, had been employed by the Oity Railrcad Company, and they appeared as suddenly as did the working force of the Rapid Transit Company leave," the Salt Lake Tribune records the following day. "With precision of trained brigades they proceeded to tear up the rails and ties laid by the opposition, filling up the excava tions and placing the streets in their usual condition. The work was carried on so expeditiously and quietly that the officers of the Rapid Transit Company were not aware of the flank maneuver until the work had been completed." Almost a year later street cars owned by the battling companies met at the corner north of Eagle Gate on August 3, 1892, on a single track. Each was going in a direction opposite from the other, and neither would budge an inch to allow the other the right-of-way. The rival operators quarreled and shouted at each other, end stubbornly refused to yield. Superintendents of the two roads were called to the scene to iron out the difficulty, and after considerable discussion it was finally agreed that each car would retrace its path and proceed in a direction opposite from 41 which it started. Utah Power Company Formed (Utah) Electric power for the Salt Lake City Railroad Company was being furnished from its steam plant on Second East Street, but by 1895 McCune and Armstrong were looking for a water-power site. The advent of the alternating current system proved the feasibility of transmitting power long distances and promised cheaper power cost. Electric light companies were springing up all over the state and were competing for city lighting as well as business from commercial institutions and homes. It was a new industry which was growing rapidly. On April 30, 1895, McCune, Armstrong, Chambers, John E, Dooley, R. Macintosh and 0. P. Arnold organized the Utah Power Company, approp riated water in Big Cottonwood Canyon, and started construction of a plant 13 miles east of Salt Lake City and a transmission line to furnish power for the operation of the Salt Lake City Railroad Company street cars. Although the company was formed in 1895, the plant and transmission line were not completed until 1897. Rivalry Over Prior Rights Frank H. Gillespie claimed prior rights in Big Cottonwood and con siderable rivalry existed between him and the Utah Power Company at the time the company built its dam. Gillespie went so far as to construct a flume over the dam, but this was torn out by sledge hammers and axes, wielded by the power company workmen under the supervision of Mr. Armstrong, who stood guard with a shotgun to see that they weren't interrupted. The Utah Power Company was capitalized at #1,000,000 divided into 10,000 shares of $100 par value. The seven incorporators subscribed for 100 shares and the remaining 9,000 were held for future use. Mr. Armstrong 42 was named President, Mr. McCune, Vice President, and Mr. John E, Dooley, Secretary and Treasurer* Big Cottonwood Plant The plant and electrical equipment included a dam, intake and a flume 8,342 ft. long to the power house, a brick and concrete structure, in which two Pelt on water wheels and two Westinghouse generators were in stalled. Steel poles carried the transmission line 14 miles to the city. This property was mortgaged February 28, to the U. S. Mortgage Company, to secure prompt payment of #200,000 in 30-year bonds. Service Irregular Street cars were operated for the first time, using energy from the Big Cottonwood plant in February, 1897, but service became so irregular during the next two years that the railway company was forced to overhaul its steam plant and put it in good working condition for standby service, The Cottonwood plant proved to be unreliable. Street car service was interrupted from a few hours to several days when the stream froze or slides in the mountains dammed off the water. The steam plant had to be fired on a number of occasions, entailing double expense. Although the plant was built primarily to furnish power for Salt Lake City Railroad Company, the Utah Power Company had obtained a franchise granted to Fred S. Walker in 1893, and was using it to enter the electric light and power field. The company obtained a franchise which was never used, to furnish Salt Lake City street lights, and on December 24, 1898, agreed to furnish the Pennsylvania Smelting Company, 400 HP at $50 per HP a year. The company also constructed a transmission line to the smelter's property in Sandy. A few months later, March 3, 1899, the above contract together with the power and transmission lines were leased to John R. Winder, 43 and five days later Mr. Winder assigned this contract to the Union Light & Power Company. On January 18, 1902, the Utah Power Company leased its system to the Utah Light & Power Company. The Utah Power Company was organized primarily to furnish power for the street cars, and although controlled by various companies from 1901 on, it kept its corporate identity until it conveyed its property to the Utah Light and Traction Company, Property Owners Protest During the time that the power company was being organized and placed in operation, the two street car companies were being criticized by the public on the shortcomings of the two systems. Property owners on Brigham Street were fighting an attempt by the Salt Lake City Railroad Company to build a duplicate line on that street, and sentiment was growing, favoring a consolidation of the two companies. Because of in tense competition between the two companies, each was building lines on streets already served by the other. Property owners not only complained because of the parallel system of tracks and trolley wires, but also ob jected to the speed at which the cars were travelling. Each petition for additional franchises by either company was vigorously protested by the public. Consolidation Planned By 1901, Francis Armstrong had died, and Mr. McCune purchased his estate's holdings in the Salt Lake City Railroad Company, giving him control of over two-thirds of the stock. In June of that year he proposed that the company issue second mortgage bonds to buy up #500,000 of Salt Lake Rapid Transit, East Bench Street Railway, and Popperton Place & Fort Douglas Rapid "Transit bonds. This done, he resigned from the company and organized the 44 Consolidated Railway & Power Company to consolidate all the street car properties. On August 8, 1901, the Salt Lake City Railroad Company sold all its assets (subject to lien) to Mr. McCune as agent for the Consolidated Railway & Power Company for #850,000. Mr. McCune also had secured 955 of the 1000 shares of the Utah Power Company. On August 10, the Salt Lake City Railroad Company property was conveyed by Warranty Deed. Company Organized The Consolidated Railway & Power Company was incorporated under the laws of Utah on August 9, 1901, by Joseph S. Wells, Mr. McCune, B. M. Ellerbeck, W. P. Reed, E. B» Ellerbeck, Spencer Clawson, R. C. Rood, G. S. Gammett, E. E. Calvert and W. E. Wilson. Capital was fixed at #4,000,000, divided into 40,000 shares at a par value of #100, At the time of incor poration, only ten shares had been subscribed for, the remaining being transferred to Mr. McCune and other owners. C. L. Reed was elected President, W. P. Reed, Vice President, and Joseph S. Wells, Secretary and Treasurer. The company acquired all the franchises, stocks and properties of the various street car companies, together with Mr. McCune*a stock in the Utah Power Company. The acquisi tion included the Second East car barn, power house, and other buildings of the Salt Lake City Railroad Company, the Rapid Transit station site, and about eighty miles of electric street railway. Indebtedness of all the predecessor companies was retired by means of a consolidated mortgage on all of the property. Consolidated mortgage bonds amounting to #1,472,000, due July 1, 1921, and drawing 5 per cent interest, were issued. Although this company was one of the largest of its kind in Utah its corporate existence terminated on January 2, 1904, when stockholders voted to consolidate with the Utah Light & Power Company to form the Utah Light & Railway Company. 45 Fire Destroys Property During the two and a half years of its life, the Consolidated Company initiated no new construction, but devoted its efforts to improv ing service and working out problems brought about by consolidation. The car barns and a portion of the power house formerly owned by the Rapid Transit Company were destroyed by fire the night of September 6, 1901, when timbers of the barn, soaked with oil from cars, ignited. The blaze spread to the paint shop, out-houses, and power house. Total damage was about $80,000. The electrical equipment, however, was saved by a fire wall, and dismantled in 1904. Model Town Planned Plans were made to construct a model town for employees beyond the Jordan River, build a power plant on the river, and abandon the old sites, replacing service furnished by the hydro-plants. The barns and power stations which had been built by the Salt Lake City Railroad and Rapid Transit companies were eyesores, and the public waa especially anxious to get rid of the company's property directly behind the St, Mark's Cathedral, which was one of the most beautiful churches in the city. These plans, however, were not carried out at the time* Law suits, damage claims and public opposition marked the cor porate life of the company. During this time the first mention of street car robbery occurs, when the Salt Lake Tribune states that on July 11, 1903, two masked men held up a car on 13th East and South Temple streets, escaping with #21.30. Stockholders of the Utah Light & Poxver Company, which was furnish ing part of the power for the street car company, met December 30, 1903, and authorized consolidation with the Consolidated Railway & Power Company, to form the Utah Light & Railway Company, which was completed on January 2, 1904, 46 ffiT BENCH STREET n&JMAX MWMK Incorporated December 10, 1890, under the laws of the Territory of Utah, the East Bench Street Railway Company planned to construct an electric railway line from the southeast corner of Liberty Park east to Eleventh East Street, south to the Boulevard, now known as 21st South Street, and east to the State Penitentiary, a distance of 2 miles in length, A franchise dated July 24, 1890, granted the Company per mission to operate their cars at a speed not to exceed 14 miles per hour with a maximum fare limit of 5ca In April, 1891, even before construction had started, the East Bench Street Railway Company was absorbed by the Salt Lake Rapid Transit Company, Actual construction of the line was accomplished by the successor company. August 10, 1901, the properties of the East Bench Street Railway Company, the Salt Lake Rapid Transit Company, the Popperton Place & Fort Douglas Rapid Transit Company and the Salt Lake City Railroad Company were combined to form the Consolidated Railway & Power Company. 47 SALT LAKE CITY GAS COLIPANY In 1872, the year that President Brigham Young of the Latter Day Saints Church saw the necessity of a street car system in Salt Lake City and engineered the organization of the Salt Lake City Railroad Company, homes and business houses were being feebly lighted by tallow candle and gas jet. People were groping in dark streets at night with out even a paved sidewalk. On May 27 of that year, President Young called a meeting of prominent church and business leaders in his office to organize a company to furnish gas illumination. Among those present who signed the articles of incorporation ware Daniel H. Wells, Thomas J. Alrny, George A. Smith, T. W. Ellerbeck, James Jack, and Thomas Williams. The new Company was named the Salt Lake City Gas Company and was capitalized for $150,000, divided into 1500 shares of #100 par value. Levy Retort System Mooted A week later a meeting was held in the Church Historian's office to hear a proposition of L. P. Sherry, who suggested that the gas be gen erated from wood by the Levy Improved Patent Retort system. The plan appeared reasonable and was adopted two days later, May 30, Sherry was appointed Superintendent, his gas franchise from the city was accepted by the Company, and he was told to order necessary machinery. Things drifted along, however, until October 11. Sherry evi dently had not progressed satisfactorily, for at that time the Board of Directors ordered a 50 per cent levy on stock to "employ a competent gas engineer". A week later Sherry resigned, and T. W. Ellerbeck, one of the 48 original incorporators, was elected to succeed him. Coal Plant Built A year later it became apparent that the wood process advocated by Sherry would be a failure, and plans for a coal plant were substituted. Sherry was given #1000 by Mr. Ellerbeck to surrender his copy of the agreement he had with the Company. Ellerbeck also bought up some of the stock held by Thomas Almy and proceeded with construction of the plant at Fourth West and South Temple Streets. Mains wore laid in the principal streets of the City. ELactricity; Ridiculed In the meantime, however, news that electricity was being used to light city streets had reached the city. The invention of the incan descent lamp by Thomas A. Edison in 1879 met the following editorial reception from the Deseret News in its November 36 issue: "The excitement about electricity as an illuminating agent has to a great extent subsided. Edison's scheme by which the electric light was to have been utilized for household as well as public purposes does not seem to be so feasible as at first supposed and the gas companies, in consequence, experience a feeling of greater security, while gas stocks are firmer and the public mind is quieted on the subject." Arc Lights Turned gown The following year the gas company bumped into its first case of trouble when an agent for the Brush Electric Light Company by the name of Charles C. Ruthrauff met with the Board of Directors and threatened to secure a franchise unless the company would buy his machine and produce electricity for the city. He pointed out that Salt Lake City had the opportunity of becoming the fifth city in the world to inaugurate lighting 49 from a central station. London, New York, San Francisco, and Cleveland were its only predecessors, although, he said, it would only be a question of time until every large city in the world would adopt the system. In Cleveland, he continued, the Brush system was successfully competing with gas guaranteeing ten times the amount of light at the same cost. In Salt Lake City, the charge for gas was $4 per thousand cubic feet. Electric light, he promised, could furnish ten times as much light at from twenty to fifty percent of the present cost. The Deseret News, too, had changed its policy during the year, and in the July 7 issue, 1880, said: "This is emphatically the age of electricity. That is, the powers and capabilities of the force known by that name are being developed in a manner unknown to ages of the past in this globe of ours". fflectrio Stock Purchased The Gas Comp_u_y turned him down, a decision they were later to regret, for Ruthrauff organized the Salt Lake Power, Light & Heating Company, the same year, and the Gas Company JLrsaediatsly felt the affects of this competition. The immediate step forced upon them was to reduce gas rates from #4 per 1000 cubic feet to #3, which was recommended by Superintendent Ellerbeck at a meeting April 26, 1881. Again in 1886 the rates were slashed to $2.75 in order to stave off competition from the new incandescent light, and in desperation Mr. Ellerbeck recommended on May 31, 1887 that the Gas Company buy seven-tenths of the Electric Company's stock. In spite of the increased use of electricity, the gas load again increased until by the Spring of 1889 Company officials realized that the gas works could not handle the street lighting load during the coming Winter, Rather than enlarge the capacity of the plant, the 50 Company suggested in a letter to the City Council that it might be well to change the street lighting from gas to electricity, as the Gas Company controlled seven-tenths of the capital stock of the Power Company, anyway. This was subsequently done; March 12, 1890 Superin tendent Ellerbeck, Treasurer Jack, and Mr. Dinwoodey resigned as Dir ectors and officers, and their places were filled by Parley L. Williams, F. H. Dyer, and Thomas Marshall. These men conducted the business until January 2, 1893, at which time the property was conveyed to the Salt Lake & Ogden Gas & Electric Light Company. 51 SALT LAKE POWER, LIGHT & HEATING COMPANY When Charles C. Ruthrauff, agent for the Brush Electric Light Company, failed to sell his arc light machinery to officials of the Salt Lake City (las Company, he promoted the organization of the Salt Lake Power, Light & Heating Company. On November 8, 1880, the first electric light company in the city was incorporated. Arc Lights Demonstrated At the tine this Company was organized, electricity was a curio sity. Edison had invented an incandescent lamp in 1879 but any thought that it could be used for general lighting purposes in the hone was discredited by most people. Following Edison's invention, Brush announced development of the arc lamp and was meeting surprising success with his system of street lighting. New York, London, San Francisco, and Cleveland had inaugurated electric lighting from a central power station, but Salt Lake City was still using gas light. Ruthrauff had tried to get the Gas Company to buy his machinery and become the fifth city in the world to adopt the central power plant system, but was turned down. Consequently Ruthrauff sought the interest of other prominent citizens of Salt Lake City. By November 7, 1880, his reception was so promising that he induced Mayor L. Little to invite a select party of ladies and gentlemen to visit the Horn Silver smelter works about seven miles south of the city, where they were to witness an exhibition of the Brush system. Dignitaries Impressed "The train started shortly after seven o'clock," a Deseret News reporter wrote. "On board besides Mayor Little xrere Honorable William Jennings, Alderman H. Dinwoodey, and E. F. Sheets. Honorable John T. Caine, 52 Messrs. W. S. McCornick, S. P. Teasdel, Boyd Park, T. W« Jennings, G. S. Erb, T. E. Taylor, and several other gentlemen with their ladies were also on board. The train reached the smelter in about 15 minutes and the party alighted and proceeded to the works close to the track. Two lights had been placed on poles about 30 feet high and set within 250 feet of each other. The lamps were white globes, which mellowed the original glare considerably. From this light, which is the style designed for the interior of buildings, the hour could be ascertained at a distance of over 1,000 feet, or about one of our citv blocks. The open burner, which had a reflector, had its light intensified thereby to about a third more than the other. They -were both run by a five horse-power engine. The light was quite steady generally, only a slight flickering being observable, and it gave general satisfaction. The party remained at the smelting works about half an hour and returned to the city at about half-past eight :•' L -. o'clock." Company Organized That clinched the deal, evidently, for on the following day the proposed articles of incorporation were read and approved at a directors' meeting composed of the Walkers Brothers, (D. F. and M, H,); G. S. Erb, H. W. Lawrence, W. S. McCornick, C. K. Gilchrist, William L. Hoag, and Mr. Ruthrauff. First Plant In Salt Lake The city granted permission to erect poles, lay pipes, etc., and a power plant was erected at the rear of the Opera;Houae, in back of the old Salt Lake Tribune Building, (The present West Temple Office Building of Utah Power & Light Company. ) The power plant referred to occupied the exact spot where the stage of the Utah (originally Pantages) Theatre now stands. It was a brick building 35 x 70 feet set on a stone foundation with an iron roof and housed four 60-HP boilers which operated one Buckeye engine of 150 HP capacity. The engine operated three Brush generators each with 40 lamp capacity. Three circuits were strung from building to building on knobs and brackets fastened to the walls of the structures. Loops ran into the stores for the number of lamps required, which were suspended from the ceiling. The first circuit began at Ordner & Patterson's and continued along south Main Street to the Cliff House on Third South, back to Second South where it crossed Fain Street at Goldsmith & Company and back to the plant. The second circuit began at the Walker Brothers store and included nearly all streets between First and Second South on Main Street. The third was strung from the plant to Vancing Corner, east on Second South to Rooky's and Meakins' and, in returning, traversed Main Street to Little & Lundy to the Banner House, and from there to the hotels and back to the plant. These circuits were put in operation in April, 1881. Plant Trouble Just about the tine a proposed "Sunday Circuit" was to be placed in operation to light hotels, drug stores, and the livery stable on the Sabbath, the boilers in the plant sprang leaks and put out the fires. It was necessary to shut the plant down and order new boilers. As a consequence Salt Lake City was without electric lights for almost a month, and customers reverted to the flickering gas jet. Gas vs. Electricity Although the electric business was restricted to commercial customers in the down town area it succeeded in offering stiff competition to the Salt Lake City Gas Company, which was furnishing service to its 54 customers at #4 per 1000 cubic feet. The Gas Company also furnished street lights. Business houses, however, were glad to pay the electric rate of $27.50 per lamp per month for all-night service, $19 for 12 o'clock service, and $12.50 for 10 o'clock service, because of the superiority of the light. As a eonsecuence the Gas Company was forced to reduce its charge to $3 per 1000 feet in April, 1881. The Electric Company began a campaign at this time to take the street lighting contract away from the Gas Company, but was unsuccess ful in its efforts. City officials turned down an application in 1882 to electrify the street lighting system, deferring action until it became more popular in other cities throughout the country. However, because of competition, the Gas Company again reduced its rates to $2.75 in 1886. The Electric Company failed to get this business until 1889, by which time the Gas Company had purchased seven-tenths of the stock in the electric concern. The Gas Company itself suggested the change, as by this time it had control of the electric business anyway, and its business would not be materially affected. Incandescent Lights Feasibility of adopting the incandescent system was discussed by officers of the Electric Company as early as 1882, although it was not adopted until 1890. In 1882 the Salt Lake Tribune reported the Company was operating four Brush generators, which supplied current for lighting but said the incandescent light was being considered. The following article was published April 23, 1882: "The Company proposes to introduce in the city the incandescent light which will be of service in the residence or any place required. The electrician of the works in the city has for some time had 55 a sample of one of the small lamps used in residences, and had it burning until it wa» broken by dropping to the floor. The small lamp is minute, and is in the shape of a horseshoe, enclosed in a glass bulb and the current of electricity is turned off and on at will, similar to that of gas for lighting. (This feature had wide public appeal at that time and was a great selling point.)" The article continues with the following journalistic descrip tion of a contraption which we presume was a storage battery. However the storage battery plan never materialized in Salt Lake. "At each residence using this incandescent light there will be a small box for storing electricity, to be drawn off for use at the will of the users. This box can be filled at the works of the company and then taken to the residence where it may be connected with a wire passing through the city for conducting electricity. These storage tanks will be filled during the day, and each will have a capacity for running for quite a number of nights. This incandescent light is the invention of Professor Brush and gives some promise of becoming generally adopted for use in private residences. These small lamps are rated at 20 candle power each. Edison and Maxim have been working at systems for lighting by electricity which can be easily controlled." Alternating Current Unknown It might be noted that about this time a young man by the name of William Stanley was working on a buffing machine in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and later invented a transformer to be used by George westinghouse, who at this time was experimenting with alternating current. 56 Late in 1886 the electric company decided to try incandescent lighting. By this time several systems had been perfected. D. F. talker, President of the Company, went East to study various methods shortly after the New Year, 1887, and was impressed by the Heisler Long Distance Incandescent system. It was during this time that the Gas Company ob tained 7/10- of the Electric Company's stock. A contract was approved with the Heisler Company on March 16, 1887, and on May 18, it was announced that electric service would be provided until 2 a.m., after the new system was installed. The first dynamo for the incandescent system arrived in June and was placed in operation. It had a capacity of 400 thirty-candle power lights. Company Sold Two years after the Salt Lake Gas Company purchased control of the Electric Company competition between the two was apparently settled to their mutual satisfaction. By 1889, however, the gas business had grown to the point that officials realized the gas works would have to be enlarged if it was to handle the street lighting load during the coming winter. Rather than make the expenditure the company petitioned the city as follows: "Deeming that to substitute the electric arc light in lieu of gas lamps for street lighting would be no present or great dis advantage to this Company, that the change made now be agreeable to your honorable body in behalf of the city, we have informally proposed to Salt Lake Paver Light & Heating Company to light the streets for us with their electric arc lights, which are now lighted with gas; the said arc lights are to be kept going the same hours as the gas lamps and for us to pay them the same price 57 per month as the city now pays for lighting the same area with gas, on the basis of placing one arc light at the intersection of each street in the large blocks, provided the city would agree for us to make the change". Electricity Replaces Gas The proposal was accepted by the city and that Fall the gas lamps were removed and 55 arc lights substituted at street intersections. "The moonlight schedule will be adopted and the machinery will be kept running whenever the moon does not shine", the Salt Lake Tribune reported in its September 21 issue. A year later the lamps were lighted and extinguished in accor dance with the "Philadelphia schedule," which called for special service in the dark of the moon, and on cloudy nights. With the adoption of this schedule in 1890 the city agreed to a charge of $15 per lamp per month. About the tine that the street lights were changed from gas to electricity the City Council of Salt Lake City was approached by A. D. Shroeder and W. D. Stirling, who asked for a 25 year franchise to install a competing power plant and furnish arc and incandescent lighting. Capitalization Increased The Electric Company tried to sell Shroeder its property near the end of 1889 but after reading the financial statement of January 23, 1890 he said "No". However, Frank H. Dyer began that year to obtain control of the Company and on March 14, was elected Manager. Capitalization was increased from $50,000 to #250,000 and intensive improvements were begun. A new building was started near the site of the old plant and is now the West Temple substation of the Utah Power & Light Company. An order was placed with the Thompson-Houston Company for equipment and toward 58 the end of 1890 the plant was completed. A new Board of Directors elected that Fall included P. L. Williams, George M. Scott, W. S. McGornick, James Moffat, and Mr. Dyer, During the Summer the company strung more than 10i miles of wire, bought and installed a new arc and incandescent lamp system and constructed the new plant. During the next two years the city and surrounding suburbs grew at a tremendous rate and, despite the increased facilities of the new plant, it became necessary to contract for a new system of incandescent lighting from the Edison Company. By 1892 two systems were used, the Edison lew voltage system and the Thompson-Houston system, including 500 arc lamps and 7000 incandescent lights. Early Operations "With the advent of alternating current came distribution line troubles," W. M. Scott, veteran employe, wrote-. "They never ceased except, of course, between daylight and dark, when the plant was shut down unless there was a matinee on at the Salt Lake Theatre when the plant was run to furnish light for it. The circuit to the theater was carried on red insulators to denote danger. The direct current was operated all day except Sundays, the only exception to this general rule being when there were services at the Mormon Tabernacle. A 250 HP engine was used to supply electric power for the tabernacle organ. "In those days when the service crew received an order they went to the store room, picked out a 5 or 10 light transformer, depending on the size of the house, took a meter and a little wire. They hung the transformer on the side of the house and ran the 1100-volt primary to it. Of course all transformers were not attached to the house* Oc casionally one would be put inside and the real large ones of 100 light 59 capacity might be put on the pole, but generally all transformers were hung on the side of the house and supplied only one customer. "A system of whistle signals was used to call the help in case of trouble. One long blast called the foreman. Two long blasts called the Chief Engineer and two long and one short blast was for all hands. The whistle was also blown 15 minutes before starting time." New Company Organized Toward the end of 1892, a syndicate of Londen and New York capitalists, represented by J. Elliott Condict of San Francisco, began to buy up gas and electric company properties in Ogden and negotiated for the holdings of the Salt Lake City Gas Company and the Salt Lake Power, Light & Heating Company. The deal would probably have been consummated late in 1892 except for the death of Frank H. Dyer, President of the Salt Lake Electric Company. However, by February, 1893, arrangements were made to take over the various properties and the Salt Lake & Ogden Gas & Electric Light Company was formed. Mr. Condict held all but five of the 15,000 shares. Between February 18 and March 2, 1893, stockholders of the Salt Lake Power, Light & Heating Company surrendered their stock. 60 OGDEN CITY ELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANY Utah's second largest city was named after an old Hudson Bay Company trapper, Peter Skene Ogden, who entered Great Salt Lake Valley a year after James Bridger explored Great Salt Lake. Ogden operated on a grassy meadow near North Ogden which became known as Ogden's Hole, About fifteen years later the Mexican Government granted Miles Goodyear all the land between the mountains on the East and Great Salt Lake; this grant including most of what is now known as Weber County. He established a trading post, and one of the small buildings he built is still preserved near the Sperry Flour mill. Ogden City Incorporated In 1847 Brigham Young reached Utah with his little group of followers. A year later Captain James Brown, of the Mormon Battalion, arrived and purchased all the rights and property of Miles Goodyear for $3,000. The Captain established a 'small settlement from which the City of Ogden grew. The town was plotted in 1850 and legally incorporated the following year. Its population in 1852 was 1,332. The Union Pacific and Central Pacific Railroads started their historic race to be the first to reach Utah, and by the tine the golden spike was driven at Promontory Point in 1869, Ogden boasted about 3,000 people. Joining of the trans continental railroad, however, was a signal for a boom, and by 1880 the population had doubled, being 6069. Salt Lake City at that tine was the capital of "-territorial Utah and center of the Mormon Church. An. electric light company had been formed there in that year by D. F. and M. H. Walker, Major G. S. Erb, 61 and others. The Company had constructed a steam power plant and was furnishing current to light most of the business institutions by arc light fron a little Brush arc light machine. Ogden Company Organized The venture in Salt Lake City was proving so successful that these gentlemen promoted a company in Ogden the following year, and on May 10, 1881, organized the Ogden City Electric Light Company. Incorpora tors were Mathew H. Walker, C. C. Ruthrauff, J. Horricks, Hugo Schwabe, David F. Walker, G. 3. Erb, B. C. Raybould, and W. L. Hoge. Capitaliza tion of 050,000 was divided into 2000 shares at $25 per share. Fred Walker was named President; Mr. Horricks, Vice President; Major Erb, Secretary; and Ifr, Schwabe, Assistant Secretary. Ogden's First Plant The first steam plant was built at 24th Street and Adams Avenue, and housed one 80 HP boiler, a 60 HP engine, and one 40-light Brush arc machine, which served business institutions. In addition the plant housed a little arc machine of 4-light capacity which supplied energy to Ogden's first street light, if it can properly be classed as a street light, for it proved no better than ordinary moonlight. Ogden's First Street Light Perched at the top of a steel tower 100 feet high were four arc lights mounted on 25-foot extension arms. The lights were lowered by windlass each day in order to trim the carbons. It was thought that the light would be sufficient to light up most of the town, but it proved so inefficient that a band, attempting to give a community concert one night at the base of the tower, had to use torches so that the musicians could read their music. 62 The Company met immediate response from business houses and city officials, and by 1883, the connected load included 36 private lights and 9 street lights. In May of that year, a hydro-electric plant was constructed in Ogden Canyon, near what is known as Lewis' Camp, under the direction of Major V. M. C. Silva, who became Manager of the Company in 1882. It was thought the hydro-electric plant would lower the operating cost. This plant operated with indifferent success until the Spring of 1884 when high water partially destroyed it. The steam plant was again placed in operation until the hydro-electric plant was rebuilt farther up the canyon later that year. Early Troubles Newspaper accounts of the Company during this time show a series of disasters, financial loss, and general dissatisfaction with the service. True, the Company was cordially received at first and electric lights proved so superior that customers and the public generally were high in their praise at the innovation. In a comparatively short period, however, they had become accustomed to it and began to notice the flicker ing illumination, frequent outages, and feebleness of the street lights. During the time the Company operated its steam plant, water pipes froze in winter months. In operating the hydro-electric plant the Company had the same trouble with Ogden River, together with floods in the summer months. Wind caused many service interruptions. Machinery broke and electrical equipment was burned out at various tines, and, in addition, the line was cut and parts of it carried away by vandals. Vandalism became so bad that a $500 reward was offered on October 3, 1884, for the arrest and conviction of the culprits. Typical of the complaints reg istered, and the attitude of the public toward the Company is a clipping 63 from the Ogden Daily Herald, on December 6, 1883: "A correspondent in our last issue complained of the sparseness and scarcity of the electric street lights. We are afraid the gentleman was not provided with a Herschel telescope, else he could have observed a dim spark in the vast distance in the vicinity of the light towers; and if he would have taken a microscope to read the monthly bill of the electric Company, a minute speck of a faintly irky nature, indicating or rather intimating a certain credit for light, claimed to have been furnished." Ji-.sJP_ei---_?"_ Records Outages Outages were so frequent that the City Council appointed an inspector to record the length of time the lights were out of order. The time was calculated and deducted from the bill presented to the City. "3. G. Raybould, in behalf of the Electric Light Company, represented that the Company was making all reasonable efforts to improve the electric illumination," the Herald reported on January 26, 1884. "He asked the City Council to consider these effects favorably. The discussion on the matter elicited great dissatisfaction with the electric light but Councilor Pincock expressed himself in favor of grant ing the indulgence requested by the Company in all reason and justice. Alderman Stratford did not believe in trusting the Electric Light Company, judging from past experience, as he illustrated. Alderman Farr moved to give the Electric Company 60 days in which to behave themselves and furnish a respectable illumination. Finally Councilor Pincock's sugges tion was accepted." New Lights Installed 'The Company did try to improve the street lighting and gratui tously placed nine additional lamps on the streets. This action may have been prompted by the fact that its franchise vias about to expire. Company officials began talking of incandescent lamps and promised that an incandescent system would be installed. In April, 1885, when the street lighting contract expired, they were able to get a two year contract for 18 lights at $£400 a year on a moonlight schedule, with a rebate provision to take care of outages. During this two year period the same problems existed, and by the time the contract was up, there had developed definite agitation to discard electric lights and substitute gas. The McDonough Company offered to establish a gas ?;orks and supply 120 lamps wherever the city night desire for )300 dollars a month, compared to 18 electric lights which were costing 5)200 a month. Incandescent System Installed The Electric Company, however, had taken definite steps by this time to remodel its hydro-electric plant in Ogden Canyon and install incandescent lighting. Ogden people had subscribed for 2,220 lights, and the Heisler incandescent system was installed in 1887 with a capacity of 400 thirty-candlepowcr lamps. About 30 miles of line served these customers. Store lights and street lamps, however, were supplied from Brush arc machines, connected by two different circuits, one for the stores and one for the street lights. A canal 1,250 feet long diverted water to a 44-inch Leffel Turbine which operated under a 26-foot head. Evidently the improvement in Ogden Canyon forstalled gas competition and the Company received a renewal of its contract. 65 Steam Plant Constructed The hydro-electric plant operated until 1890 with variable success, depending upon the supply of water, and ice conditions. News paper accounts from 1885 to 1890 report innumerable power failures from various causes. The Company did its best to meet these conditions, and render the best service possible, with the equipment it had. Ogden had been growing rapidly and at this time the population was about 14,000. Increased business had placed a burden on the hydro-electric plant, and the service continued to be criticized. Plans were announced in 1890 to construct a large steam plant in the city to replace the hydro electric plant, and work began. It was completed late in 1890. A two story brick building was erected on Twenty-first Street and TTall Avenue, and was divided into two sections, the south portion for six boilers and the north portion for engines. Thompson-Houston incandescent equipment was installed. In April 1891 the Ogden City Electric Light Company transferred its property to the Ogden Gas, Light, & Fuel Company. 66 CITIZENS' ISLECroiC LIGHT COMPANY (Ogden) "It is not strange that the imperfect working of the present electric light system in Ogden should have induced the belief that a MM system absolutely guaranteeing the regular 'delivery of the goods' would be hailed as a welcome enterprise," the Semi-Weekly Standard of Ogden said in 1890. Service Unsatisfactory "Lone of the modern inventions have had an easier task in winning their way in popularity than has the electric light. Its brilliance and cheapness are qualities which at once made it a favorite. All that has even been urged against it here is that there is not half enough of it. Last Winter the ice in Ogden Paver stopped the machinery. Last summer there was insufficient water in the stream to run it. Nov; it is ice again, and were it not for the kindly moon the streets of the metropolis would be in utter darkness. There is neither satisfaction for the public nor profit for the Company in such an arrangement. Ogden wants the light and somebody ought to be encouraged to furnish it." There was light in Ogden at this time. In fact the Ogden City Electric Light Company had been supplying the town for almost ten years, first from a little steam plant in Ogden City, and now from a hydro plant in Ogden Canyon, but the Standard's article about summed up its status in the community. Briefly the Ogden Company was having a tough time of it, and to make matters worse, its street lighting fran chise v»as to expire in a few mouths. Fred J, Kicsel was Mayor of Ogden at the time, and serving with hin were Alderman W. N. Shilling, Councilman Charles J. Corey, 67 City Recorder McNutt, Councilman Caleb R. Hank and City Treasurer Hill. Company's Importance The history of the Citizens' Electric Light Company, therefore, was short and its importance lies in the fact that it did exist and did build a power plant, and furnished lights in Ogden for a short period of time. Also, because of its success in getting a city franchise and because it definitely threatened the life of the Ogden Gas, Light & Fuel Company. Organization To revert to the organization of the Citizens' Electric Light Company—articles of incorporation were filed under Utah Territory laws, June 17, 1890. Officers included Mayor Kiesel, President; H. W. Smith, Vice President; William Shansenback, Second Vice President; T. Shansenback, Secretary; Jehn Boyle, Treasurer, and Frank Priestley, Superintendent. Capitalization was set at $30,000, most of which was subscribed for by Mayor Kiesel. The Company had received the street lighting franchise in March and soon after this started construction of a steam plant on the corner of Grant Avenue and Twentieth Street. The building was divided into three compartments, boiler room, engine and dynamo room, and office. Three boilers, set in masonry, operated Westinghouse incandescent equipment. The plant was completed in December, 1890, and placed in operation in January, 1891 to serve about 1,200 incandescent lamps. Before the Company had tine to establish itself in the residen tial field, officials agreed to turn the management over to the Ogden Gas, Light & Fuel Company, which Company obtained a sinilar agreement from the Ogden City Electric Light Company. The properties of both companies were deeded to the new Company on December 28, and 29, 1891. 68 p GDSN GAS,. LIGHT & FUEL COMPANY David F. Walker, Major G. S. Erb, and Major V. M. C. Silva were busy organizers in Utah in the '80s, especially in the gas business, and the infant electrical industry. In 1880 they started the first electric company in Salt Lake City, and a year later launched the Ogden City Electric Light Company, and, with both of them well under way, Mr. Walker and Major Silva invaded the Ogden gas field by organizing the Ogden Gas, Light & Fuel Company in 1888; that is, a franchise was obtain ed there in August 1888 by A, C. Swan, and construction was begun on a gas plant. However, it was not until May 14, 1889, that the Company was officially incorporated. Company Incorporated The articles of incorporation were signed by Mr. Walker and Major Silva, William G. Mills, John Kempf, Jr., David F. Walker, Jr., and Mr. Swan also signed the articles of incorporation. The Company was capitalized at #250,000 divided into shares of $25 each, held among the incorporators as follows: David F, Walker . < . . 9417 V. M. C, Silva 8 D. F, Walker, Jr 101 Wm, Gill Mills 124 John Kempf, Jr 10 A. C, Swan 340 The first five named were Directors of the Company, In the organization of the board, D, F. Walker was made President; Major Silva, Vice President; and D. F, Walker, Jr., Secretary and Treasurer. The Company was to exist for fifty years to manufacture, control, sell, and distribute gas, light, fuel and tar. At the same meeting an account of money spent in the completion of the plant was submitted, discussed and approved. 69 Business Increases At a meeting held October 24, 1889, the Manager reported that the plant was manufacturing between 31,500 feet and 36,500 feet of gas per day, and that since incorporation, about 84 meters had been installed, making a total of 127 meters in use. The outlook was very promising, and on March 10, 1890, a seventy-five-cent-a-share dividend was declared. Up to this time the Electric Company in Ogden had not been bothered with competition, and had weathered the first nine years of pioneering under the management of Major Silva. The Company was fur nishing about as good service as was possible at that time, considering the hazards of maintaining a hydro-electric plant in Ogden Canyon, but the people were continually complaining. Gas Rates Reduced. At a directors' meeting of the Gas Company on December 8, 1890, the situation in general was discussed. The electric companies would cut deeply into the gas business, especially so now that the new Company was in the field. Heretofore competition between gas and electricity had been worked out to mutual satisfaction, as both companies were more or less controlled by the same people. Competition between the two electric companies, however, meant that the gas business would suffer. It was decided that the first step would be to reduce gas rates slightly by offering a 10 per cent discount for cash payment of bills. Comj)_anies_ Consolidated While this relieved the gas situation temporarily it was far from a solution of the whole problem. The population of Ogden at that time was less than 15,000, and the fact that there were three competing companies—one gas and two electric—meant a period of disasterous competition for all. It was inevitable that these companies should consolidate or become insolvent* At least this was reasoned by officials of the Gas Company and discussed with the other two companies' officials. On March 20, 1891,. they succeeded in obtaining agreements from both the Ogden City Electric Light Company and the Citizens' Electric Light Company to turn the management of all three companies over to the Gas Company, and consolidate the various properties* This was agreed upon, and the Gas Company took over active management on April 1, 1891, although the property was not transferred until December, 1891. In spite of the Company's good intentions, it appears from newspaper articles of the time that the Ogden citizens were still dis satisfied with the service. Epical Ccaaglgist The Standard of May 25, 1892, printed this forum article written by a "railroader and taxpayer": "With all due regard for the pocketbooks of the stockholders of the Ogden Gas, Light & Fuel Company, the attention of the Council (whose duties evidently do not keep them out after the curfew rings) is respectfully called to the fact that the electric so-called 'street lights' for which the city pays regularly a round rental, are quite often invisible in the darkest hours of the night. For several hours after midnight, Thursday and Friday last, neither the sun, the moon, nor the 'Electric arc lights' were shining on any street west of Adams Avenue, although it is presumed the electricity will be paid for just the same. "Verily the 'dark ages' did not cease when the contract was made with this financially flourishing corporation—the Ogden Gas, Light a Fuel Company." 71 Newspaper Bditorial Again on June 12 the Standard printed the following article as an editorial: "At this writing, we understand, there are somewhere over 100 buildings in the City of Ogden prepared for the reception of electric lights, but their owners do not avail themselves of this illumination because of its great expense when compared with the cost in other places, and also because of the arbitrary way the Ogden Light & Fuel Company has of doing business. It is commonly remarked by those who now have it that they are talking of discontinuing it because of the expense and the Company's tyranny. The Company deals with, the public exactly as if it expected every mother's son of them to steal at least one of its meters and skip the country. If this were not the case why would the Light & Fuel Company demand a deposit amounting to several times the worth of the meter before the citizen can even approach 'is 'ighness, the Manager, in negotiation for light? "That monopolistic concern, the Fuel & Light Company, seems to have no regard for the rights of private individuals. And why should it have? It can annoy and go to law without provocation or expense, because it is souless, in the broadest meaning of the terra, and is backed by a fat treasury that has been filled with cash wrong from the people . . this electric light and many other innovations are prime necessities and not luxuries to be longed for and begged for at the hands of heartless corporations . . . and authority must protest against these foes to the public, or sure as anything can be Ogden will drift back into a state of •innocuous desuetude'. In spite of dissatisfaction the Company was again awarded the 72 street lighting contract for three years, although at a somewhat reduced rate over the previous contract. Company Purchased In the meantime J, Elliot Condict, representing a syndicate of London capitalists was negotiating for the purchase of gas and electric properties in Salt Lake City. The plan was to consolidate these pro perties with those in Ogden to form one company. On January 1, 1893, H. C. Gilbert took over the management of the Ogden Gas, Light a Fuel Company relieving Fred Walker, who was pre paring to surrender his interest in the various companies affected by the consolidation. On February 15, David F, Walker, Jr., was elected President of the Company to succeed his father; the by-laws of the Company were amended, and the Company was sold to Condict. The sale was back dated to become effective January 2, 1893, and a deed was executed in full carrying that date. 73 SALT LAKE & OGDEN GAS & ELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANY One gas and two electric companies in Salt Lake City and Ogden were struggling with poor equipment and giving poor service at the time the Salt Lake & Ogden Gas & Electric Light Company was organized on February 14, 1893. Salt Lake Territory The Salt Lake City Gas Company had been formed by Brigham Young in 1872 to furnish illumination for Salt Lake City streets. When electri city was introduced in other principal cities of the country the Gas Company had been urged to adopt electricity for lighting streets in place of gas. The Company refused to have anything to do with it, however, so the sales man induced the Walker Brothers and several other prominent men to start an electric light company. In 1887 electricity had made such inroads in the gas business that the Gas Company purchased the controlling interest of its competitor, but the two companies operated independently. Ogden Terr itory The Walker Brothers and some of the other men who were interested in the Salt Lake City development went to Ogden in 1881 and organized an electric light company there. They struggled along giving the best service they could until 1890, when matters became so bad that the public demanded competition. By 1890 the three companies were on the verge of cutthroat competition, and all of them realized it. Consequently they compromised their difficulties and turned the management of all three properties over to the Gas Company. The unhealthy condition of public disapproval and poor operating conditions still existed, however. 74 Companies Merged John Elliot Condict of San Francisco, representing London capi tal, surveyed the Salt LakeandOgden territory at that time and became con vinced that a consolidation of the xvarring companies would solve most of the problems and would provide a new company with a lucrative field in which to operate. He negotiated with the various company officials and by February, 1893, had acquired the property formerly owned by the Salt Lake Power, Light & Heating Company, the Salt Lake City Gas Company, and the Ogden Gas, Light & Fuel Company. With capital stock of $1,500,000, W. S. McCornick, Parley L. Williams, George M. Scott, Valentine M. C. Silva, and George F. Penhall, all of Salt Lake City, and all stockholders in the predecessor companies, along with Condict, on February 14, 1893, organized the Salt Lake & Ogden Gas & Electric Light Company. A mortgage was issued to the Farmers Loan & Trust Company, acting as Trustees, pledging prompt payment of $1,500,000 in 6 per cent, 25-year bonds to finance future operations. The mortgage was secured by property in Weber, Davis, and Salt Lake Counties. Looking at it today, the plan of consolidation seemed logical. However, the panic of 1893 created havoc during the four years of this Company's history, and the human element proved to be a strong factor against its success. Ogden and Salt Lake City officials and people were intensely jealous of each other and any step taken by the Company which seemed to favor either town was bitterly opposed. Real or fancied grievances were brought to public attention and openly discussed. 75 Operatingn Diff 1 gultles Throughout the life of the Company considerable bickering and disagreement occurred over rates and service. The city councils of Salt Lake City and Ogden were never in agreement with the Company regarding municipal lighting. Ogden people objected to headquarters being estab lished in Salt Lake. They charged the Company with buying its brooms in Salt Lake Instead of Ogden, and argued that Ogden people wanted the money spent in the business houses of Ogden. Predecessor companies were sued for alleged fraudulent dealings by a minority stockholder, shortly after the consolidation. Fred Walker sued Condict to collect money for the stock he sold. Salt Lake City papers started a campaign for uniform placing of the poles in city streets. The Wells-Fargo Company sued to collect on a judgment it had against the old Ogden Company for freight bills. Rates for street lighting were forced down. The smoke nuisance created by the Company's steam plant was bitterly assailed. The city threatened to install its own plant unless the Company reduced its rates. Other customers threatened to install kerosene lamps. Ogden charged that its rates were higher than Salt Lais City rates. When Salt Lake City turned down an ultimatum that it pay more for its street lights under a new contract, the lights were turned off. The Big Cottonwood Company slipped in and won the street lighting contract, and the two companies entered into a bitter fight which resulted in the Big Cottonwood Company leasing the other Company's poles, before they buried the hatchet. Gas consumers started a xvar against high rates. These are just a few of the highlights picked from an abstract of newspaper clippings during the four years from 1893 to 1897 when the Company finally succumbed in a miserable financial condition and became part of another consolidation, effected by the Union Light & Tower Company. 76 Company's Holdings At the time the Salt Lai© & Ogden Gas & Electric Light Company was formed Mr. Condict controlled 14,995 shares out of the total 15,000. One share only was held by each of the following: McCornick, Williams, Scott, Silva, and Penhall, who were local men. Condict's holdings repre sented San Francisco, Denver, and New York capital, although offices of the Company were at 2302 Washington Avenue in Ogden. Property acquired by the Company included two steam plants in Ogden and a hydro-electric plant in Ogden Canyon; the original steam plant and the new steam plant of the Salt Lake Power, Light & Heating Company, and two gas plants, one in Ogden, and one in Salt Lake City; also various real estate. H. C. Gilbert was retained as General Manager. Franchise Revised The Company sought, and obtained revised franchises in Salt Lake City and Ogden, although the franchise in Salt Lake was obtained over the veto of the Mayor. Immediate improvements were promised after the fran chises were obtained, but the promises were never fulfilled, except for a few improvements which were initiated shortly after the Company began its operations. During 1897, rumors persisted that a consolidation was underway to group the properties of the Pioneer Electric Power Company, the Salt Lake and Ogden Gas & Electric Light Company and the Salt Lake Citizens' Electric Light Company. The indisposition of various bond holders of the Salt Lake & Ogden Company to surrender their first lien bonds for common bonds of the new Company held up the transaction, however, until the property of the Salt Lake & Ogden Company was transferred by deed on November 4, 1897, to the Union Light & Power Company. 77 SALT LAKE CITIZENS' ELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANY In 1895 the Salt Lake & Ogden Gas & Electric Light Company enjoyed a virtual monopoly in the electric light and gas business of Salt Lake City and Ogden. The Company had been formed by London capitalists to consolidate competing companies in 1893. For two years the Company fought the after effects of the panic and were operating in a territory under adverse circumstances. People resented the English connection and were extremely dissatisfied with the service. Salt Lake City residents were especially receptive to any plan which would offer relief. Citizen's Company Formed On August 3, 1895, articles of incorporation of the Salt Lake Citizens' Electric Light Company were filed by Charles Boettcher, John F Campion, and George W. Trimble, of Colorado, under whose state laws the Company was organized. Officers of the Company announced they would enter into direct competition with the Salt Lake & Ogden Company, not to cut prices, but to offer consumers a better class of service. Fourth West Steam Plant A lot on Second South and Fourth West Streets was purchased from Evelyn Y. Davis, one of the heirs of the Brigham Young estate, and a steam plant was constructed, consisting of four Eric boilers of 100 horse power each, two 300 horsepower engines, two 3,000-lamp incandescent, single- cycle, alternating current dynamos, and one 100-lamp Brush arc machine of the latest type, which was first seen at the World's Fair in Chicago in 1893. Current was turned on for the first time in October, and the Company entered into a bitter rate war the next month with the Salt Lake & Ogden Company, much to the delight of consumers. No particular reduc tions in rates were announced, but each company accused the other of 78 rebating bills and claimed it was forced to do likewise to survive. The fight was intense for two months, but in February, 1896, both companies ceased the rebate, to the astonishment and ire of patrons. Companies Merge For the next fourteen months, citizens of Salt Lake City supposed they were enjoying the benefits of bona fide competition, but in February, 1897, it was announced in the Salt Lake Tribune that the Citizens' Company had been owned and controlled by the Salt Lake & Ogden Company for many months. In fact, the Tribune reported, London repre sentatives of the Salt Lake & Ogden Company had come to Salt Lake at the time the fight began, and attempted to buy the new Company without success. Later, however, the deal was consummated. Big Merger Planned The Tribune also said that at the time plans were launched by the London interests to effect a consolidation of all electric light and power companies in the state. In this connection, the articles of incorporation of the Deseret Power Company were filed at Trenton, New Jersey, but the huge consolidation did not materialize because of extreme bitterness felt toward foreign interests. Local companies resented London influence and refused to transfer control of their companies. Merger Effected However, shortly after the Tribune had announced the connection between the two Salt Lake companies, plans were formulated to consolidate the Salt Lake & Ogden Company, the Salt Lake Citizens' property, the Big Cottonwood Power Company, the Pioneer Electric Power Company, and the Little Cottonwood Water Power & Electric Company. Details were worked out and the merger took place October 25, 1897, when the Union Light & Power Company was organized with local capitalists as officers. BIG COTTONWOOD POWER COMPANY R. M. Jones, Salt Lake City civil engineer and inventor, first became interested in the water power possibilities of Big Cotton wood Canyon in 1893, about the time London capitalists were consolidating the steam power plants and gas companies in Salt Lake City and Ogden to form the Salt Lake & Ogden Gas & Electric Light Company. This Company and the one Jones was to organize two years later became closely associated, first in bitter competition, then in friendly cooperation, and finally to become a part of the Union Light & Power Company in 1897. Franchise Granted After visualizing the possibilities in Big Cottonwood Canyon, Jones made application to Salt Lake City officials for a franchise about June 5, 1893, and took a group of prominent citizens to the Canyon t# see the "Stairs" and hear of his plan to harness the river. His fran chise application met with little success and on July 1, 1893, he applied again, this time getting a favorable vote from the City Council, but on July 6, the Mayor vetoed the Council's action on the grounds that the city could not regulate and limit the charge to be made. On July 19, however, Jones made another attempt, this time armed with a petition signed by 126 businessmen of Salt Lake City, and was successful in getting the franchise passed over the veto of the Mayor. Company Organized Having secured a franchise, Jones organized the Big Cottonwood Power Company which was incorporated on December 8, 1893. First officers were John W. Donnellan, President; W. H. Rowe, Vice-President; George M. Cannon, Secretary, and George M. Downey, Treasurer. The Company was 80 capitalized for $1,000,000 which was divided into 10,000 shares of $100 par value. Stairs Plant Completed Construction was started on the dam and power house of what is now the "Stairs" plant of the Utah Power & Light Company, but it was not until May, 1896, that the plant was completed and put in operation because of quarrels over water rights, and construction difficulties. Output Sold During the time that the Stairs plant was being constructed, a group of men who were financially interested in Salt Lake City's street car system were also building a power plant (later known as Granite) in the canyon to supply energy for the street cars. Also the Salt Lake & Ogden Gas & Electric Light Company, which had the street lighting con tract in Salt Lake City, was having much difficulty with city officials, and consumers over rates and service. This Company was operating a steam plant in the business section of town which was subject to severe criti cism because of its smoke nuisance problem. Officers of the Company promised better service and abatement of the smoke nuisance as soon as the Big Cottonwood plant was complete. It would furnish power in place of the steam plant, the Company stated, and on January 7, 1895, the Big Cottonwood Power Company and the Salt Lake & Ogden Gas & Electric Light Company entered into an agreement whereby power would be purchased whole sale from the Big Cottonwood plant. Flnepclng Co-apleted On June of that year the Big Cottonwood Company announced that it had floated its bonds in the East and that the completed plant would involve an outlay of #250,000. The Salt Lake & Ogden Company, meanwhile, 81 had been forced to reduce its price for street lights to the point where it couldn't afford to renew its contract. A competing company had been organized, and in November and December of 1895, the two companies con ducted a disasterous rate war, terminating when the Salt Lake Company secretly bought out its competitor. By the time the Big Cottonwood plant was ready for operation, the Salt Lake a Ogden Company was in a better position to negotiate with the city. It announced that unless a new contract was forthcoming the lights of Salt Lake City would be turned off. The city promptly dis regarded the threat and as a consequence the lights were shut off on April 15, 1896. This placed the Big Cottonwood Company in a position to bid for the street lighting contract, although the new plant wasn't com pleted and the Company had no distribution system in the city. Mayor jGalJ-s_ for Bids At the time the lights were turned off the Mayor of Salt Lake City and the Councilmen expected several bids from various power companies in the territory. L. L. Nunn had a plant in Provo Canyon and one in Logan ^7hich he planned to connect and with which he could serve the city. Also there were other companies in the immediate vicinity which could build lines into the city. It was confidently expected that numerous bids would be made. SSK Company Gets Contract However, the Big Cottonwood Company underbid the Salt Lake & Ogden Company and was awarded the contract. The Mayor again vetoed the agreement after contending that the Nunn Company had made a better proposi tion. The Big Cottonwood Company was awarded the contract on a moonlight schedule which provided for $8.50 per lamp per month. The Company now had the contract, but no lines. The Salt Lake a Ogden Company had the equipment, but the two of them couldn't get to- 82 gether on a rental agreement until the Mayor's veto and the possibility of competition from a third company stimulated concerted action. A mutually beneficial agreement was reached and the Mayor's veto was over ruled by city councilmen. The matter was settled on June 10, 189S, when the City Council unanimously approved the contract for one year. The Pioneer Power Company of Ogden, meanwhile, had been organized and started construction of a proposed line into Salt Lake City and surrounding territory, including the smelters at Sandy. To stave off competition, the Big Cottonwood Company and the Pioneer Company reached an agreement whereby the Pioneer Company, instead of coming into the city, would pass through it on the extreme west side and carry current to smelters and sampling works at Sandy and vicinity. This would leave the Salt Lake field to the Big Cottonwood people. &3flaga^es^^Mj5Jlddate By August, 1897 the electric light and power business in and around Salt Lake City was getting complicated. Officers of the many companies decided upon consolidation as a solution, and consequently the Union Light & Power Company was organized on August 9, to take over the management of the Pioneer Power Company, Salt Lake a Ogden Gas & Electric Light Company, the Citizens' Electric Light Company, the Big Cottonwood Power Company, and the Little Cottonwood Water Power & Electric Company. It was planned that the various corporations would continue operations under their respective names, but that the Union Company would be given all collections and make all disbursements, pre vent duplication, and work out a more efficient operating system. The property of the Big Cottonwood Company was not conveyed by deed until August 31, 1897. 83 PIONEER ELBCmiC POWER COMPANY The Pioneer Electric Power Company had little importance as an operating company in early Utah history, as its corporate life was devoted to planning and building the Pioneer power plant at Ogden. However, the fact that it built the Pioneer plant makes it one of the most important predecessor companies of the Utah Light and Traction Company, for at the time the plant was built it was one of the major projects of its kind in the United States, It received not only local attention but was a subject of discussion before the American Society of Civil Engineers at the annual convention in 1897. It most certainly was appropriately named "Pioneer", for at the time the plan was conceived, generation and transmission of electricity as we know it today was in its infancy. Alternating current was in the first stage of experiment, and development of hydro-electric properties was being undertaken without precedent. The World's Fair of 1893 was exhibiting for the first time George Westinghouse's scheme of generation and transmission by means of alternating cur rent. The ablest scientists of the world had not definitely agreed that electricity was a feasible method of utilizing the great water power of Niagara Falls, and many preferred compressed air, liquid air, cable drive, and other methods. It is true, however, that electricity was not entirely a curiosity. It had been used in Ogden and Salt Lake City for street lighting for over ten years by the arc lamp, and many companies had started to use alternating current. However, the plants then were small and steam operated. Comparatively few homes were lighted with 84 the incandescent lamp. Service in Salt Lake City and in Ogden was poor. Company Incorporated The Pioneer Company was incorporated at Ogden on December 2, 1893, by George Q. Cannon, President; F. J. Kiesel, Vice Pres ident; C. K. Bannister, Secretary-Treasurer; and Frank J. Cannon, General Manager. Directors included Wilford Woodruff, Joseph F. Smith, John R. Winder, Asabel H, Woodruff, and A. B. Patton. Wil ford Woodruff was one of the survivors of the small band of Mor mons who followed Brigham Young to Utah, and he was the first to plant the Stars and Stripes on Ensign Peak. Capital stock of $1,000,000 in shares of $10 each was subscribed for by the officers and directors, and preliminary sur veys were begun in Ogden Canyon to determine the location of a dam, pine line, and power house. Mr. Bannister became Chief Engineer and the conception and successful completion of the plant are due largely to his efforts. Plant Site The outlet of Ogden River was directly east and about 2 miles from the business center of Ogden. The Canyon was a narrow, winding gorge, walled in by high and precipitous mountains, and was nowhere more than a few hundred feet wide at the bottom. At some points it was so narrow that construction of a road involved considerable rock excavation. About six miles from the mouth of the gorge the canyon sides widened into a valley about eight miles long and four miles wide, surrounded by an almost continuous mountain chain. The drainage area was about 360 square miles, and the flow 85 of the river varied greatly in different years and at different seasons, but the average flow was somewhere around 140 cubic feet per second. Officers of the Company and Ogden townspeople were ex tremely optimistic over the possibilities of the venture. Ogden newspapers of that period predicted the advent of cheap power and immediate location of large manufacturing concerns in the city—a veritable Utopia, in fact. The City Council of Ogden readily granted the new Company a franchise on December 28, 1893, although there were some who were bold enough to question certain provisions of the franchise. Financing Difficulties During preliminary survey work officers began a slow pro cess of interesting eastern capitalists In underwriting the project. In May, 1894, George Q,. and Frank J. Cannon returned from an eastern trip with G. A. Purbeck, of Purbeck & Company, New York, Colonel Thomas S. King, Consulting Engineer of the Hew York elevated rail roads, and Warren H. Loss, Contracting Engineer, to look over the Pioneer Comnany's project. These gentlemen were impressed according to newspaper accounts, but it was a year later before Joseph Ban- nigan, multimillionaire of Providence, Rhode Island, agreed to take $1,500,000 in Pioneer Power Company bonds. Construction Plans The original plans called for construction of a concrete dam 400 feet wide and a pipe line six miles long to a nlant site near the city limits. The dam, according to the first estimates, would impound water covering 14,000 acres; a power plant was to be 86 built capable of producing 10,000 horsepower. Before definite assurance was given that the plan would be financed, officers awarded a contract April 19, 1895, to Rhodes Brothers to construct the pipe line so that work would not lag when money was assured. 'The conduit was to consist of approximately five miles of wooden stave pipe and a mile of riveted steel pipe. All work connected with the construction of the steel pipe was done in a shop near the power house site especially built and equipped with machinery for punching, rolling, riveting, and calking the pipe sections. A spur of the Union Pacific Railroad, three miles long, was run into the building, so that all material could be unloaded under cover by a traveling crane. This arrangement allowed the contractor to ship flat plates up to the full capacity of the cars instead of the finished pipe sections which resulted in great saving in freight charges.. Work and inspection xvas under the personal supervision of the Chief Engineer and assistant. &5_-___S_L Mill Erected A planing mill also was built near the machine shop and the lumber for the wood pipe was planed, grooved, and beveled into special shapes and prepared for fitting into the wood pipe construc tion. The wood pipe line was 6 feet in diameter, reinforced with steel bands. Total length of the line was 31,600 feet, of which 27,000 was wood stave pipe laid in a trench eight feet wide, covered to a depth of 3 feet on top. The upper portion was to be laid in earth but near the mouth of the Canyon the trench was excavated almost entirely in limestone and granite. The work required eight tunnels 87 through solid rock, the longest being 667 feet. Eight steel bridges, of a total length of 560 feet, had to be erected to span deep canyons and a timber trestle erected. Construction Camps Built During the course of construction four work camps were e- rected, and approximately 500 men were employed. Special buildings for lodging and eating were constructed and a hosnital was built near the construction site. Men of all types were recruited for the work, and during construction the Company had numerous labor disputes and accidents with which to contend. A complete description of the construction of this plant was published by the American Society of Civil Engineers from a paper delivered by Henry Goldnark in 1897. While the pipe line was being constructed, Company of ficials were busy trying to find financial backing. On February 29, 1896, the Company was reincorporated. On March 10, 1896 Mr. Bannigan said he would take the bonds amounting to $1,500,000 providing the plant was completed and capable of producing 10,000 horsepower by December 1, 1897. Work Begun on Dam Construction was pushed forward. Several locations for the dam were explored with diamond drill to find the most suitable location, and work began on a concrete masonry structure. However the dam was not completed until several years later. On August 11, 1896, the contract for a power house was awarded William Fisher of Ogden. Also that fall, work was started on a transmission line to Salt Lake City and surrounding territory. CitizensObject to Dan _ Until the line to Salt Lake was started, Ogden people were 88 enthusiastically following the work and giving the project all the support they could. In November, however, the Company announced that the dam in the Canyon would block the county road, and asked the county to build a new one. Before the County Commissioners were able to decide, they were sxvamped with petitions and agitation against such a plan. The transmission line to Salt Lake City led people to believe that power from the new plant was to be transmitted away from Ogden, and the Commission was enjoined by court action from building a new road. Until definite assurance was given that all the power would be retained in Ogden, they were opposed to aiding the Company in any way. The matter was discussed for two months before the Com pany finally told the Commission it would build the road at its own expense and to forget the matter. Company Explains The Company explained that of the estimated 10,000 horse power capacity of the plant, Salt Lake consumers had guaranteed to use 2,000. An additional 1000 horsepower was subscribed for by Og den consumers, but the remainder was yet unsold. The amount already contracted for would merely guarantee interest on the bonds, and had to be contracted for before the bondholder would take the bonds. They were perfectly willing, they said, to cancel the Salt Lake con tracts if Ogden would produce contracts to take the place of Salt Lake contracts, and the whole output would remain in Ogden. Newspaper Reverses Its Stand_ "For the past two days the Standard has taken a decided stand against the building of the canyon road by the county, but with this issue we make a complete change of front and do 89 now support the proposition to have the county build the road," The Standard editorialized on November 26, 1896. "If the Company had taken the Standard editor into its confidence a few days earlier we should never have said a word against the county building a road. To the outsider it may appear that nothing is being done for Ogden by the Company, when as a matter of fact the Company is straining every nerve to keep every foot of power in Ogden. . . . Having become convinced of that fact all the Standard's opposition vanishes. We never opposed the county building the road; all we wanted was an assurance that at least part of the power would be used at home. ". . . , . as a matter of fact the Company has 7,000 horse power still for sale, and will sell it whenever it can find a cash customer . . The Standard regrets very much that we at first saw it our duty to ask a guarantee from the Company . . . there are a good many readers who say it the same way and took it for granted that the Standard was right, as it usually is, and aligned themselves with opposition to the building of the road." Surplus Power Is Problem The surplus power problem was one of the big worries of the Pioneer Power Company. Factories and big industry which was hoped would flock to Ogden for cheap power weren't materializing. Companies already were serving Ogden and Salt Lake City, although service was poor. The Big Cottonwood Power Company had successfully bid for Salt Lake City street lights over the Salt Lake & Ogden Gas & Electric Light 90 Company and had made a rental agreement to use the latter's poles and lines in fulfilling the contract. Rather than face competition in Salt Lake the Big Cottonwood Company reached an agreement with the Pioneer Company whereby the Pioneer Company would stay out of Salt Lake but would be free to compete in the vicinity of Sandy and in the raining district at Bingham. About this time L. L. Nunn of Provo was financing a plant in Logan Canyon, and had another in Provo, and was serving most of the Eureka and Mercur mining districts. The Salt Lake & Ogden Gas & Electric Light Company had steam plants in both towns and fur nished service to most customers in the two cities. Mayor Vetoes Contract In May, 1897, the Pioneer plant was tested and with cor rection of a few minor adjustments was ready for service, The Com pany by this time was again threatening to enter Salt Lake City, and in June submitted a bid for street lighting, which was accepted by the Council on June 15. The contract was for three years. However, the Mayor vetoed the action and gave as his reason, among others, that it was rumored the Pioneer Company was to become a part of a large combine Which he feared would control and dictate the price of gas and light. "It is a matter of public notoriety that the Pioneer Electric Power Company, the Salt Lake & Ogden Gas & Electric Light Company, the Citizens' Electric Light Company, and the Big Cottonwood Power Company are about to form a gigantic combina tion to control the manufacture of gas and light and dictate the price," he said. "The State has set its face against such combinations and provides in Session Laws of 1896 wherein it is 91 made unlawful to combine for the purpose of controlling the output, regulating the price and also provides for forfeiture of corporation rights and franchises. 'The Council should not aid by patronizing such combinations. Rather protect the com munity by refusing to treat with the unlawful combinations." New Company Formed Mr, Cannon resigned as General Manager of the Pioneer Com pany in July 1897, and the next month became one of the organizers of the Union Light & Power Company, along with Joseph F. Smith, John R. Winder, and C. K, Bannister, who were organizers of the Pioneer Com pany. On August 9, 1897, the Union Light a Power Company took over the management of the Pioneer Company along with the Salt Lake _e Ogden Gas & Electric Light Company, the Citizens' Electric Light Com pany, the Big Cottonwood Power Company, and the Little Cottonwood Water Power & Electric Company. Property of the Pioneer Electric Power Company was not deeded to the Union Light a Power Company until January 25, 1898. 92 UNION LIGHT & POWER COMPANY The Union Light & Power Company was formed August 9, 1897, to consolidate five different power companies which, with one except ion, Little Cottonwood Water Power & Electric Company, were operating in the Salt Lake City and Ogden territories, each with its independent system. These five companies were beginning to encroach on each other's business, as the field was restricted to the two major cities in Salt Lake valley, plus small towns in between, and smelters near Murray and Sandy, south of Salt Lake City. Field Overcrowded The Union Light & Power Company was promoted by men who had organized the Pioneer Power Company, and had just completed the Pioneer hydro-electric plant at Ogden. Market conditions for excess power from the huge Ogden development were not promising, with many companies competing for business. The Union Light & Power Company attempted to integrate the various plants and provide better service, but during its corporate history was loaded down with a burden of bonded indebtedness which forced a reorganization after about two years. Pioneer Co-.ipany At the time the Company wss organized, the Pioneer Power Company had just completed its Pioneer plant at Ogden, and had built a transmission line to Salt Lake City, where the Company was able to \ obtain the street lighting contract. The Company also had a few customers in Ogden, but on the whole was a new concern, just begin ning to enter the field. 93 Salt Lake & Ogden Company At this time the Salt Lake & Ogden Gas & Electric Light Company was furnishing gas and electricity in both Salt Lake City and Ogden, and was controlled by London capitalists. This Company was made up of a consolidation of other early companies, but was handicapped by poor equipment and severe criticism of service. Also, its English connect ion was resented by Utah people. It was in poor financial condition, and had been losing business. Its steam plants created a smoke nuisance in Salt Lake City which added to its problems. Rates had been forced down by competition, its class of service, and business conditions following the panic of 1893. Big Cottonwood Company The Big Cottonwood Power Company was the chief competitor of the Salt Lake & Ogden Gas & Electric Light Company, and it operated the Stairs plant in Big Cottonwood Canyon. An agreement between the two competitors was reached, and for a time the Stairs plant supplemented the steam plant output of the Salt Lake & Ogden Company. Latey, how ever, the Big Cottonwood Company took the street lighting contract in Salt Lake away from its competitor. However, the Pioneer Company was now competing with both of these companies, and the situation was a serious threat to future business possibilities of all three. Citizens' Company The Citizens' Electric Light Company had been organized at the time the Salt Lake & Ogden Gas & Electric Light Company had a virtual monopoly in Salt Lake City and was formed primarily to offer it competition. However, after a brief rate war it was purchased by the English Company, and at this time was just another power company with a steam plant. 94 Little Cottonvjood Company The fifth Company was the Little Cottonwood Water Power & Electric Company, hardly more than a name, formed to develop power from water rights in Little Cottonwood Canyon, east of Salt Lake City. Organizers of New Company Among the organizers of the Union Light & Power Company were George Q,. Cannon, President and Joseph F. Smith, John R. Winder, Frank J, Cannon, and C. K. Bannister, Directors—all of whom had organized and operated the Pioneer Company. Other officers of the Union Company were William S. McCornick, banker and stockholder in the Salt Lake & Ogden Company, Thomas G. Webber, L. S. Wells, R. S. Campbell, W. J. Curtis. The principal stockholders, however, were those who controlled the Pioneer Power Company. The Company was capitalized at $4,500,000, represented by 45,000 shares at $100 each. Problems Faced Although it was planned to consolidate all five of the operating companies into this one Company as soon as possible, the plan met with immediate problems. The Salt Lake & Ogden Company was unable to give clear title to its property. Bondholders refused to exchange their bonds which were first lien on the property for common bonds of the Union Company. Also, Joseph Bannigan, multimillionaire of Providence, Rhode Island, had financed the Pioneer Coipany and held $1,500,000 of its bonds. He had since died, and his beneficiaries, also, were not inclined to exchange the old bonds. Because of these and other technicalities, officers of the Union Light & Power Company decided to operate the various companies under their old corporate names, but take over active management until financial differences could be worked out and deeds could be obtained. 95 On August 12, 1897, three days after the first meeting of the new Company was held, directors resolved to issue $750,000 in 5 per cent, first mortgage bonds and $4,500,000 in 6 per cent, con solidated mortgage bonds, With $2,250,000 in consolidated bonds, re served to exchange for prior liens. Announcement of the consolidation created a fear in the minds of the public that the new Company would have a monopoly and that service would be poorer rather than better. The public was afraid that rates would be established at discretion of Company officials. To dispel this fear, the Company immediately started to tie in the lines from the various power plants, improve service, and obtain power contracts on the best possible terms. Newspaper Supports. Merger "The consolidation of the electric plants in this vicinity has created a fear in some quarters that through a great corporation, monopoly will develop with all embracing tentacles to squeeze to death the industries of this region," The Salt Lake Tribune of August 20, 1897, editorialized. "We see no danger in the combine — rather a sensible adjustment by which to build up a fairly profitable business. As a rule, men have a regard to do what they please with their own, and in a limited field like this they generally find it profitable to pursue a reasonable, liberal policy. Doubtless, too, should any person desire to establish a new industry here, requiring .light and power, such a person could make practically a permanent arrangement for both on fair terms." Street Lighting Improved Shortly before the consolidation, the Pioneer Electric Power 96 Company had been awarded the street lighting contract in Salt Lake City, and on September 15, 1897, turned on the lights which were supplied from the hydro-electric plant in Big Cottonwood Canyon. The improvement was noticed immediately and helped to dispel the fear of poor service and high rates. The Tribune again reported the follow ing day: "When Electrical Engineer Hayward, of the Union Light & Power Company, pressed the button shortly after 7 o'clock last evening, the gathering darkness that hovered over the city was pierced by the rays of arc lights. This marked the inception of the new era in street lighting in Salt Lake, and was in conform ity with the contract entered into between the Pioneer Electric Power Company and the city some months ago, by which the city secures an all-night service at $6 per month per light, instead of $8.50 per light per month as heretofore. "For the past two years the streets have been lighted by 274 arc lights, but to this number is now added 126 new lights, which brings the total to 400. The 126 lights make a marked difference in the illumination of the streets, and the number of localities that heretofore have been neglected, are now provided for. "The new system is subdivided into five circuits of 80 lamps to the circuit, all of which are operating from the old steam plant of the Salt Lake & Ogden Gas & Electric Light Company. The power, however, is furnished at present by the Big Cottonwood Power Company and will continue to be furnished by that Company until the Pioneer Electric Light people are ready to hitch on . ." 97 Ogden Connected to System The following month the Pioneer plant was connected to the distribution system of the Salt Lake & Ogden Company, at Ogden, where the same results were obtained. The Ogden Standard of October 10, 1897, said: "The difference in the lights was that all burned stead ily and with an even brightness." The old contract at Ogden with the Salt Lake & Ogden Company expired in November, however, and Ogden officials notified the old Company that the contract would not be renewed. Consequently the city was in darkness for five days until the Union Company stepped in and supplied service free of charge until arrangements for a new contract could be made. This is reported by the Ogden Standard of November 16, 1897, as follows: "Some days ago the city notified the Salt Lake & Ogden Gas & Electric Light Company that they would pay for no more lights, inasmuch as the contract had expired. Therefore no lights. For five days the city was in darkness and the night prowlers found things more to their liking than before. "The people walked the streets with lanterns and each eyed the passerby with suspicion and distrust. But all this is changed. "During the past three days the consolidation of the differ ent light companies in Salt Lake and Ogden has been completed, and the arc light machinery of the Salt Lake & Ogden Gas & Electric Light Company has been removed and installed down at the Pioneer Company house at the mouth of Ogden Canyon. Last evening about 6 o'clock all connections being made and everything in ship-shape 98 Chief Engineer Bannister said, "Let there be light, and there was light' and the change was great. The lamps burned strongly . . *" Ogden Contract Awarded The following month the Union Light & Power Company was awarded the street lighting contract at Ogden at a rate higher than one quoted by the street car company of that city. The Company was making good progress in appeasing public fear and in improving service. In January, 1898, a deed was filed with the county recorder conveying all the property and franchises of the Pioneer Electric Power Company to the Union Company. Final transfer of the Salt Lake & Ogden Gas & Electric Light Company was made in November. Financing Completed To pay off some of the outstanding obligations, the Union Light & Power Company issued a mortgage of $750,000 to the Central Trust Company of New York, in March, 1898. By terms of the mortgage the Company conveyed the property and franchises of the five companies it had taken over. The mortgage recognized the priority of $1,500,000 in bonds held in Providence, Rhode Island, issued by the Pioneer Company, and the $4,500,000 of consolidated mortgage bonds issued when the Company was merged. The present issue of $750,000 was to provide for settlement of indebtedness. In June the Union Company made a 25 per cent reduction in rates, hoping that the loss in revenue would be more than made up by increased consumption of power* Operating Difficulties While concerted efforts had been made to provide good service 99 and reduce rates in appeasing public reaction to the consolidation, the company was facing financial difficulties and operating problems. In the Fall and Winter of 1897-98, minute records of the Company show that in November, 1897, "revenue falls short some $120,000 per year of meeting fixed expenses." In December "75 per cent of the gas consumed is being manufactured at a loss." Directors had not been paid. Big Cottonwood plant was experiencing several interruptions, and the natural gas supply was falling. In February it was necessary to lay off Mr. Bannister, Chief Engineer, and in March R. M. Jones, another official, was laid off to curtail expenses. Water in Ogden Canyon was lower at this time than it had been for years. The North, South and Middle forks were dry and the only water feeding Ogden River came from springs in the mountains. Irrigation companies were jostling each other to secure water. A seepage dam was built at the site of the Pioneer plant, but didn't prove sufficient and, as the lack of water became acute, the construction of a large dam across Ogden Canyon was seriously considered. From July to November, 1898, the Company was experiencing trouble over water rights in Ogden Can yon. In September of that year, the board of directors authorized short time borrowings and overdrafts on anticipated revenues to pay taxes and interest. Competition By 1899 the Ogden Street Railway Company was seeking a franchise for lighting in Ogden, and offered stiff competition. The Utah Power Company in Salt Lake City which was being operated to supply current for the street car system there was competing with the Union Company, and "being a general nuisance." In January it was 100 necessary, because of the failure of the natural gas supply, to build a new #25,000 oil and coke plant in Ogden. In March the Company was forced to lease the Utah Company plant. "Arrangements have been made between the Union Light & Power Company, and the Utah Power Company . . . whereby the systems will be run in duplicate," the Salt Lake Tribune reports. "Ever since last summer, both Salt Lake companies have been trying to close contracts with the smelters to substitute electric energy for steam. The smelters, though willing to make the change have been afraid to close contracts, owing to a doubt as to the ability of an_r one of the plants to supply the power constantly. "Mr. Campbell said today that it was the intention of the Company to contract a wire line from the Utah Power Company's plant to the Pennsylvania smelter at Sandy, and to join the Cottonwood plant by another line. There is already a line from the Union Company's plant to the Murray smelter and by the construction of another line connecting Murray and Sandy complete support could be obtained, so that in case of accident, the power generated at both of the plants could be switched to the works of either smelter. This coupled with the fact that there is already a connection with the Pioneer at Ogden, assures the consumer that he will at all times have the surety that current would not be interrupted," "In the new arrangement, each company has charge of its own plant, and paj^s its own men, and otherwise keeps its own identity*" 101 Reorganization Announced By this time, however, officials of the Company were begin ning to consider a reorganization of the Company. Various interests representing the combined companies of the Union Light & Power Company met in New York City in June to discuss the matter. English investors still held some of the bonds of the consolidated Company. Other bonds were held by the Bannigan estate and there were differences of opinion about how the reorganization could be effected. Ways and means of scaling down the debt and interest of the Union Company were discussed. The eventual solution was announced December 3, 1899, in the Salt Lake Tribune, as follows: "The Union Light & Power Company of Salt Lake City is no more. It went out of existence yesterday, and in its place is Utah Light & Power Company, Articles of incorporation were filed yesterday with the Secretary of State, James T. Hammel. This is the closing event in the struggle for re-organization which has been going on since the 30th of last June until now. The Union Light & Power Company was bonded for $4,500,000, and was to pay 6 per cent on this amount. This burden of $270,000 annually was too heavy for the industry to bear, and the Company was staring in the face of collapse of organization changes. "Reorganization has been agreed upon since last summer, but not until now has the great task been completed. The most heavily interested appointed George Q,. Cannon and his associates to tend to the problem. 102 "The general plan agreed upon was to reduce the bonded debt from $4,000,000 to $3,000,000 and the interest rate from 6 to 4 per cent. The Company reserves the right to issue $500,000 in bonds in additional capitalization for the purpose of buying up new properties and improving old ones. The re organization was a most difficult job because of many complicating and conflicting interests, and because of different kinds ©f bonds held by the old members of the Company. The reorganization has consumed six months, and in that time made necessary a number of trips to New York by the leading men of the Company here. But the outcome is a complete success; the interest charge is reduced from #270,000 per annum to $120,000, and the business has been put on such a basis that all concerned confirm that success is certain. "The total capital stock is $3,500,000, divided into 140,000 shares of $25 each." Articles of incorporation of the Utah Light & Power Company were filed December 30, 1899, and the Union Light & Power Company transferred to it all properties in Salt Lake, Weber, and Davis counties. 103 LICTLB COTTONWOOD WAOTL^ POWER & ELEffmiC COMPANY The Little Cottonwood Water, Power & Electric Company played a very small part in the history of power development in Utah. Its holdings were transferred to the Union Light a Power Company on November 12, 1897, before it could enter the competitive field. Frank K. Gillespie located various water power rights in Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons as early as June 14, 1893. and in 1895 was quarreling with organizers of the Utah Power Company over certain rights in Big Cottonwood Canyon where it planned to build a plant. Sometime between the end of 1895 and 1896, the Little Cotton wood Power Company was incorporated under the laws of Great Britain and filed, incorporation papers in the State of Utah, March 16, 1896, On May 18 1896 Mr. Gillespie appeared before the County Commissioners of Salt Lake County to ask for a 50-year franchise in case the Company strung wires and set poles along county roads. The franchise was granted, which provided for rates as follows: 16 candlepower incandes cent lamps, lr; per hour; #9 per month for 12 o'clock arc lamps, $12 per month for all-night arc lamps, and the cost of power was to be at least 10 per cent less than the cost of steam for the same purpose. Sometime before November 1897. the Company was named defendant in a suit which involved water rights in Little Cottonwood Canyon, and E. A. King was appointed Receiver and Liquidator by the court. 104 UTAH LIGHT & POWER COMPANY The Union Light & Power Company had been formed in 1897 to consolidate several power and gas companies which operated in Ogden and Salt Lake City but by 1899 found itself in such a financial tangle, -which it inherited along with the consolidation, that it was forced to reorganize. New Company Organized The Utah Light & Power Company was created for this purpose on December 30, 1899 by Lorenzo Snow, George Q,. Cannon, John R. Winder, Joseph F, Smith, all of Salt Lake City; John R. Bannigan, Executor of the estate of Joseph Bannigan of Providence, Rhode Island; and W. J. Curtis of New York City, Bonded Peht Reduced It was agreed to capitalize the Utah Light & Power Company for $3,500,000, of which $2,000,000 -was 8 per cent preferred stock and $1,500,000 was common stock, each with a par value of $25. per share. This capitalization was $1,500,000 less than that of the predecessor company, and reduced the bond interest of the Company about $120,000 annually. It was hoped that by reducing the bonded indebtedness, the Company would be in much better financial condition. According to a prearranged agreement, the entire property of the new Company was sold under foreclosure proceedings brought by the Farmers' Loan and Trust Company of New York City, which wiped out old incumbrances, and permitted financing under a simplified plan. The bonded indebtedness was reduced about one-third, and interest charges changed from 6 to 4 per cent. 105 Operating Problems Although the financial structure of the Company was somewhat simplified by reorganization, the Utah Light & Power Company inherited an equally great problem of operation. During the four years that the Company existed, it was faced with the problem of uncertain water with which to run its only big plant, the Pioneer plant in Ogden, water shortage in Big Cottonwood Canyon where it had another plant, steam plant inflexibility, and labor troubles, including a strike and efforts to wreck one of its plants. Also it was to contend with peak demand for power, which was beyond the generating capacity, poor load factor problems, crude operating methods, opposition from customers, and about all the troubles a pioneer company might have. Plants Inadequate This operating problem began two years after the Utah Light & Power Company was formed. At first the Company had no power connec tion with the Telluride Power Company, nor the power from Wheelon station. The Pioneer plant in Ogden Canyon was its main power source. The operation of the other hydroelectric plant in Big Cottonwood Canyon was hampered by low water and ice. The main steam plant was cumbersome and could not be thrown on the system on a moment's notice. Tunnel Damaged The first major trouble began January 13, 1901, when a county bridge at the mouth of Ogden Canyon was swept away from its pier and badly damaged by a huge wall of water which resulted from a leak in the overflow shaft of the Utah Light & Power Company's pipe line. The leak damaged the tunnel badly. Water had to be shut off several times with 106 resultant outages in Ogden and Salt Lake. About two weeks later another break in tho pipeline necessitated shutting down the plant. Lawsuit Settled The Utah Light & Power Company had inherited a lawsuit which was filed against tho old Salt Lake & Ogden Gas & Electric Company years before by H. L. Driver over delivery of gas to Salt Lake from natural gas wells at Farmington. Driver & Company had an agreement with that Company to supply gas for 15 cents per thousand cubic feet to a pipe line which the Salt Lake & Ogden Company agreed to maintain. Leakage be came so great, however, that the Driver Company was unable to operate because of lost revenue, and Driver sued and won judgment. Action was then brought to quiot title to the property sold under execution and for possession but the court held that the property sold was not personal property, but attached to the realty of the Utah Light & Power Company. This case was appealed to the supreme court, but in May, 1901, a com promise settlement was made. The Utah Light & Power Company paid tho Driver interests $14,000, and became possessed of about 2,000 acres of gas territory on tho oast shore of Groat Salt Lake. The wells had supplied as much as 15,000,000 cubic foot a day, but had become coked up since they were closed. The Utah Light & Power Company announced that tho pipe line would be removed, and no attempt would be made to rejuvenate the wells. Power Purchased From Telluride During the summer of 1901, the Company experienced a water shortage in Ogden River, and in January, 1902, negotiated with L. L. Nunn for a power connection with the Telluride Power Company. The Telluride Company had plants at Logan and Provo and threatened to compete with the 107 Utah Light & Power Company in Ogden and Salt Lake. The Utah Company hoped the connection would furnish the extra power needed. However, during the time that the connection was maintained, the relationship between the two companies was not too friendly. The agreement was not consummated until June of 1902, but it included, when completed, an agree ment for division of business in the territory. The Utah Company complained of Telluride service as regulation was unsatisfactory and took continual study by engineers. Project Abandoned In the meantime farmers near Ogden and Company officials were working on a plan to construct a dam in Ogden Canyon to store water and equalize the flow of the river for power and irrigation purposes. Many meetings were held and various plans were proposed. It was suggested that a company be formed to buy a site owned by the Power Company, and build a dam. Farmers were to subscribe for all the stock they desired and the Power Company would take the remainder. Negotiations were carried on as late as 1903, but plans did not materialize and the project was finally abandoned. More P owe r S ought Continued difficulty in meeting power demands led the Company to open negotiations with the Utah-Idaho Sugar Company to connect the system with a new power plant it was huilding on Bear River. By connecting the 2,000 horsepower generator with a transmission line to Ogden, the Company hoped its demand could be met. Work started that fall. Merchants Dissatisfied In November, 1903, merchants of Salt Lake City presented a written protest to The Board of Governors of the Commercial Club, 108 claiming that the lighting service was inadequate to meet demands of their business and in view of the approaching demand for the Christmas trade, they asked the Club to use its influence in remedying the trouble. "Manager R. S. Campbell said this morning that to the best of his knowledge and belief the trouble complained of was but temporary and practically passed," The Deseret News of November 6, 1903, reports. "It was due largely to the equalization of the water plants, and to the fact that the Company is standardizing plants all through for the perfection of any quality of service, which will result in an equalized and much improved service as soon as the work is completed. Moreover, arrangements have been perfected with the Boar River sugar people for the entire use of their power for about 10 months of the year, which means an additional 2,000 horsepower. This was to have become avail able July 1, but owing to unforeseen delays for which the light and power company was not responsible, there have been several postponements. Mr. Campbell holds that there was no occasion for apprehension as to the Christmas trade and there will be all the voltage that can be used by the complainants and everyone else. The increase of consumption by the street railway has been a source of some anxiety to the Power Company, but that has been taken care of; the decreasing water supply has caused some trouble. Whoa the water plants were first established there was plenty of water to run the plants in full for five years, but the supply has steadily decreased. "Mr. Campbell called attention particularly to the fact that within the last few years the Company has expended $500,000 for building up and developing its present groat combination of plants. The Company is now using 6,500 horsepower, and when the Bear River connection is made 109 and the new local plant established, the total horsepower will be nearly 10,000." Steam Plant Built In August, 1903, a steam plant was added to the system at a site on the Jordan River, west of Salt Lake City. The engine had been used at the Chicago World's Fair for lighting, and when installed in Utah "looked large enough to pull the world." It had a drive wheel 24 feet in diameter with a six-foot face, and was connected to a 750 kw generator. The plant could furnish 700 kw if it was crowded. As early as November, 1903, there was talk of consolidating the Utah Light & Power Company and tho Consolidated Railway & Power Company. The power agreement between those two companies was about to expire, and directors of both companies thought that consolidation was a wise move. The Pox'/er Company was slowly improving its power supply, and distribution system, and the future looked promising. The Consolidated Railway Company in the two and a half years of its operation had devoted its efforts to building up transportation facilities in Salt Lake City and also felt optimistic over the outlook. Consolidation Favored Preliminary steps were taken by the Utah Light & Power Company when directors unanimously voted to enlarge the powers of the Company to permit the purchase of any street car line operated by electricity, to con solidate with or sell to any such line. Tho directors of both companies agreed to a consolidation on a basis of share for share, and a new company was to be formed to effect the deal. On December 30, 1903, directors of the Utah Light & Power Company ratified tho consolidation agreement, and the Utah Light & Railway Company 110 was organized. Articles of incorporation were filed January 2, 1904, with a capital of $10,000,000, both old companies ceasing thoir corporate existence on the same day. Ill UTAH LIGHT AIT), RAILWAY COMPANY Most great figures of railroad history had definite character istics around which their success was built. One was a colonizer, ano ther a speculator. One built up his empire and obtained a stranglehold on a state for political purposes. It can be said, however, that E. H. Harriman, President of the Union Pacific Railroad Company, was essentially a builder, deriving satisfaction from perfection of machinery and equip ment. He demanded quality in his product and service. Harriman Active In Utah A full length book could be written on his activities as a builder in Utah which would be packed with drama of plans which succeeded and plans which never materialized. His brief span of work in Utah has left an indelible imprint on this State's history, but has received little public notice. Planned To Electrify Railroad Utah's State capitol building stands as a monument to his accumulated wealth, for it was largely built by money collected on his estate. The state-owned power plant at Logan also was constructed from inheritance tax funds. There are, however, stories of many of his dreams which did not materialize. One which was buried at the time of his death was to electrify the railroad from Ogden to San Francisco, Los Angeles and return. About three years before his passing he employed the Telluride Association to investigate all possible undeveloped hydro-electric power that would be available for such a line, also to determine what power could be obtained from plants already installed. A map showing the data obtained was drawn by A, E. Buckler, still in the employe of the Utah 112 Power & Light Company. Plans In Salt Lake However, another of his dreams has a direct bearing on the history of the Utah Power & Light Company. He planned to build a traction system in Utah which would be a world model and in 1906 he purchased 60 per cent of the Utah Light & Railway Company, which at that time operated the street car system in Salt Lake City and furnished gas and electricity in Salt Lake City and in Ogden. Seventeen companies had preceeded the Utah Light & Railway Company in the 32 years prior to its organization on January 2, 1904. It, too, might have existed for a short time and succumbed except for Harriman. W. H. Bancroft, Harriman's representative in the Rocky Mountain region and Vice-President and General Manager of the Oregon Short Line, made a complete inventory of the company at the time Harriman became interested, and presented his findings to him in New York, "If you purchase this traction company of Salt Lake City, you are really to regret it," Bancroft is quoted as saying, "To rehabilitate it, to place it in condition of your other investments in the mountain country will necessitate an expenditure of from four to five million dollars, and this will be in addition to the money you spend to purchase it." "All right, Bancroft. I have the utmost confidence in you. Go ahead and buy the system; the money to make the necessary repairs will be forthcoming," Harriman replied. 113 Resume _of _Accomplishment_s Remnants of predecessors were discarded and Harriman began building his model traction system. To continue the service of his predecessors and to furnish motive power for the street cars a system of generation, transmission, and distribution facilities was modernized. Harriman was financially able to sacrifice immediate return on enormous investment to assure stability and permanence, on the theory that earnings would accrue in the future. The tragedy of his theory was the excusable inability to predict a revolution in trans portation methods, the fantastic development of the motor car, truck and modern gasoline bus lihe3 which made his traction system in Salt Lake City obsolete and threw the burden of his heavy investment on others to work out. Rebuilt System The electric system that he constructed as a by-product, how ever, remains as an integral part of the Utah Lightand Traction Company and represents millions of dollars in invested capital. A part of the dis tribution system in the business district was removed from the old wood poles and placed underground in conduit. He added a new hydro electric plant at Devil's Gate and as a safeguard against failure of hydro electric power built the Jordan steam plant, which, at the time of its construction, was one of the most efficient in the west. To rehabilitate the street car system he tore out flimsy, light-weight rail and replaced it with 65-and 80- 114 pound rail, rebuilding about 80 miles. Double tracks were laid through out. Old style equipment was replaced and fifty modern cars were order ed immediately. "let By Work. Go to* Shortly after the work began Harriman made a trip to Salt Lake City to look over his properties with Bancroft, He saw a great army of men at work on rebuilding the street car lines and underground distribution system. Bancroft, according to the Salt Lake Tribune of September 9, 1907, quotes Harriman as saying: "It's all right, Bancroft. It costs something, of course, but it makes a city. It builds up a state. Let the good work go on." Company Organized The foregoing is only a brief resume of the activities of the Utah Light & Railway Company after Harriman took it over*, which was two years after the Company was organized. The history of the Utah Light & Railway Company, however, began on January 2, 1904. Articles of incorporation were filed on that date by Joseph F, Smith, John R. Winder, W. S. McCornick, Joseph S. Wells, W. p. Read, Thomas G. Webber, Anthon H. Lund, Lewis S. Hills, and Charles L. Rood. Joseph Smith became its President. Resume of Predecessors As stated before, seventeen companies preceded it in 32 years, an average of one each two years, beginning in 1872 when the first street car was hauled through the streets of Salt Lake City by a little mule. The first gas company was organized the same year and the first electric light company followed in 1880. Gradually through the years other companies came and were absorbed. The gas and electric industry 115 in Ogden became a part of this evolution during the gradual process of growth. Although there was a definite relationship among all seventeen companies the history of each was a record of inability of the companies to meet growing needs, poor operating conditions and crude equipment which invited competition. Properties inadequately financed were faced with a problem of making a profit and investors were reluctant to supply money. Following were the companies and dates of their corporate history up to the time the Utah Light & Railway Company was organized. These were only the companies in Salt Lake and Ogden which went directly to make up the Utah Light & Railway Company, and the list does not include others which were operating in Utah at the same time and within a comparatively small radius of Salt Lake City: Salt Lake City Railroad Company 1872--1901 Salt Lake Rapid Transit Company 1890-1901 The Popperton Place & Ft. Douglas Rapid Transit Company 1890-1901 East Bench Street Railway Company 1890-^.901 Utah Power Company 1895 : Consolidated Railway & Power Co. 1901-1904 Salt Lake City Gas Company 1872-1893 Salt Lake Power, Light & Heating Co. 1880-1893 Ogden City Electric Light Company 1881-1891 Citizens' Electric Light Company 1890-1891 Ogden Gas, Light & Fuel Company 1889-1893 Salt Lake & Ogden Gas & Electric Light Co. 1893-1897, Salt Lake Citizens' Electric Light Co. 1895-1897 Little Cottonwood Water, Power & Electric Col895-1897 Big Cottonwood Power Company 1893-1897 Pioneer Electric Power Company 1893-1897: Union Light & Power Company 1897-18,99 Utah Light & Power Company 1899-1904 Purpose of New Company The street railway system in Salt Lake City and the gas and elec tric business in both Salt Lake and Ogden had become so entangled and inter mingled that the Utah Light & Railway Company was organized to consolidate 116 the field. Most of the electrical industry was represented at that time by the Utah Light & Power Company and the street car system in Salt Lake, plus a small hydro plant, by the Consolidated Railway & Power Company. The Utah Light & Railway Company was capitalized at $10,000,000.- Directors of the new Company authorized a $10,000,000 bond issue and a consolidated mortgage covering all its property was executed and delivered to the Bowling Green Trust Company. Consolidation Undertaken During the first year the task of consolidating operations of the street car property and gas and electric systems was undertaken. Positions were created, personnel was rearranged and a general plan was outlined for improvement. The new Company faced a serious problem of operating a large number of plants and scattered distributing stations which had come into its possession under the consolidation. These power plants had been designed at different times for different purposes. It was a difficult task to lay out and rearrange the whole system so each unit would perform its share. Obsolete equipment had to be discarded. Power houses were shut down, arrangement of distribution stations was simplified and control of the system placed in the hands of a chief engineer. At the beginning of the year when the new Company began it owned three water power plants, five steam plants and several scattered substations and transformer houses. During the year the Company contracted for additional power from a plant owned by the Utah Sugar Company on Beat- River. In Salt Lake City two of the steam plants were entirely dismantled and it was planned to dismantle two more. Transformer and substation equipment was concentrated into two main stations. The task of carrying out this work without interfering with the operation of the system was 117 undertaken with great difficulty and officials found that a new plant could have been built much easier. However, service was improved about 50 per cent. Increased capacity, it was hoped, would meet the rapidly increasing demand. Franchises^and Financing Near the first of the year, 1905, the Company contemplated issuing some long term bonds. The franchises which the Company took over at the time of the consolidation were of various character and different terms as practically each of the seventeen companies which had gone before had obtained franchises in one form or another. Before the long term bond issue was negotiated Company officials attempted to simplify the franchise problem, The Sale Lake City Council was asked to transfer all franchises, consolidate them and extend the life fifty years. PjLan Opposed This petition met with a howl of protest. From February 16, 1905, when the franchise problem was first presented and for almost a year this issue held the spotlight of public attention and the heat generated from the ensuing battle gave life to fertile seeds of animos ity which had been planted during the post years. Franchise Granted The fight, which appeared to be one of a few weeks, drifted in to months. Many revised forms of the franchise were drawn up by the opposing sides and each time they were presented one side or the other objected to one or more of the clauses. Finally the city drew up a 118 franchise which was acceptable and contained a forfeiture clause. Many improvements were promised and rate reductions assured. The franchise was granted August 4, 1905, consolidating the 22 franchises held by the Company and set the term of the consolidated franchise at 50 years. Proposed Dam Opposed In the meantime improvements were comparatively at a stand still. To increase its generating capacity at the plant in Ogden Canyon the Company planned to construct a dam and filed petitions requesting permission. Numerous protests were received from residents below the proposed site as well as from residents above. Farmers objected because it meant inundating their lands. Many feared that the dam would be a menace and would affect i-eal estate values. Others complained that the dam would ruin Ogden Canyon as a pleasure resort. The plan was aban doned . Meanwhile the Sale Lake Company reduced its electric rates in keeping with the franchise agreement and adopted a new schedule for street car fares. Harriman Buys System The Tribune published an announcement that E. H. Harriman would probably purchase the system. On October 27, 1906, W. H. Bancroft, Vice President and General Manager of the Oregon Short Line, confirmed the report and on November 1, 1906, announced the reorganization of the Board of Directors of the Utah Light & Railway Company. Mr, Bancroft was named President; p. L. Williams, First Vice President; W. S. McCornick, Second Vice President; Heber M. Wells, W. W. 119 Riter, Everett Buckingham, T. G. Weber, D, E. Burley and L. S. Hills, Directors. New Equipment Ordered The new Board of Directors placed orders for 8000 tons of heavy steel rail to replace about 80 miles of light track and when equipment started to arrive a large number of men were employed in replacing the old system. Double tracks were laid throughout the city. This work took over two years to complete. At the same time the directors approved an expenditure to reconstruct the gas plant and increase the daily output from 300,000 cubic feet per day to 1,000,000 cubic feet. A block of property bounded by Sixth and Seventh East and Fifth and Sixth South Streets was purchased from David Keith and a large expenditure was authorized to build car barns and repair shops for the system to replace inadequate quarters in the residential section of town. The old Salt Lake Tribune building on West Temple Street was purchased and completely re novated for office quarters. Offices were built on the first floor for the treasurer, commercial agents, superintendent of car service, super intendent of roadway, superintendent of power stations, superintendent of electrical lines, collection counter and lamp sales room. The general manager and auditing department occupied the second floor and the third floor was turned over to the engineering department. While work pro gressed on the tracks, an order for fifty cars was placed with the St. Louis Car Company. The cars were to seat 46 persons and were the latest type, equipped with air brakes. Before the cars could be operated, however, it was necessary to remove wood poles from the center of the streets and work on Salt Lake City's underground distribution system was begun. Steel poles replaced wooden poles and supported the trolley wire* 120 More than 500 men were employed during 1907 on the reconstruction work. Amended Franchise Sought Before work could begin on the car barns the street car franchise had to be revised. The franchise under which the Company operated was the one which caused so: much bitterness before the Harriman interests took over the property. In April, 1907, the Company asked for nineteen amendments to the existing franchise which would give it right of way over numerous streets of the city and carry the lines to the city limits in all directions and also allow the Company to haul freight over its line from the Oregon Short Line to the site of the new car barn. A concession also was asked that the Company be given the right to trans port mail and express oh all of its lines ahd that it be allowed to haul freight on all its lines between midnight and 6 A.M. Dispute EnsUes The franchise question became the center of dispute and another year was devoted to bickering over the terms. Eight months later Mr. Bancroft, President of the Company, announced that terms had been agreed upon. The franchise gave the Company the right to extend its lines to the city limits; gave it the right to haul freight and building materials on its cars and reaffirmed and reenacted the franchise granted in 1905. The legality of the old contract was still before the court. The reenaction of the old franchise brought an end to the suit. Concessions Made In return for these concessions the Company agreed to grade all streets over which it desired to make extensions and agreed to furnish arc-lamp street lighting for $60 a year instead of $72. 121 Notwithstanding there was unappropriated water in Ogden River an attempt by the Utah Light & Railway Company to secure it to increase the capacity of the Pioneer plant met with much opposition. Chief op position was that the river would become dry in summer months. The plan was abandoned when the opposition became serious and it was an nounced that a new hydro plant would be constructed in Weber Canyon at the Devil's Slide site which the Company owned. Weber. Plant BuJ^Lt Construction started on the Weber plant in the spring of 1908, and was completed in 1910* A reinforced concrete dam was constructed in the Canyon and a wood stave pipe 6 feet in diameter was laid for 7200 feet* The flow line also included a reinforced concrete aqueduct, seven feet in diameter and 2000 feet long. A brick power house was built and equipped with the latest machinery and steel tower transmission line was constructed from the plant to the Salt Lake-Ogden line. Gas Mains Leased In June, 1908, the Utah Gas & Coke Company leased the Salt Lake gas mains of the Utah Light & Railway Company and the transfer was favor ably accepted by the public, jELeojbrlc^^Sgstem Improved In addition to improvements to rolling stock and track extensions the Company undertook many other improvements during If08. A new flume and concrete dam and head works was put in at Cottonwood Canyon and new transformers, oil switches, switchboard panels, controllers and regulators were installed both at Cottonwood and West Temple stations. Lines were rehabilitated by resetting many old poles. Added transformer capacity 122 was installed at the Jordan substation and Granite station. A new motor generator was purchased and installed In the West Temple station. The poles on Main Street were removed and with the exception of the trolley wires all circuits were placed underground. Work started on a luminous arc system to replace the old carbon lights. .Inbe^rcoj-nection Proves Valuable The value of an inter-connected system of transmission lines was conclusively proven early in 1909 when an excessive flow of water down Ogden Canyon caused flood conditions and badly damaged the pipe line and plant of the Pioneer station. Although the plant was thrown off the system, service was maintained by interconnection with the Wheelon plant of the Utah Sugar Company on Bear River, the Telluride Power Company plants and the Cottonwood plant. Continued trouble with this pipeline from landslides and wash outs forced the Company to devise a system to protect the line and assure continued operation of the Pioneer station. Large concrete piers spaced 150 feet apart were built on which steel cables were strung and from which the pipeline was suspended. Gas Plant Enlarged By 1910 the Utah Light & Railway Company had inaugurated the renovation of its street car system and had the work well under way. Attention was then turned to the gas and electric business. Increased demand for gaa for both lights and fuel necessitated enlarging and ex tending the Ogden plant and construction of a storage tank capable of holding 250,000 cubic feet. 123 Jordan Plant Bu11t To supplement its hydro power facilities the Company announced plans for construction of a steam plant on the Jordan River. Bids were called for on May 10 and the contract was let on June 1. Excavation started July 1, the foundations were completed in October and the build ing was finished November 26. Boilers were under steam the following February and the plant was ready for operation in March, 1911. The com pleted unit was the most modern west of the Mississippi River and was rated at 11,000 horsepower. Steel Towers Erected Plans were also made to cut the transmission system over to 40,000 volts and steel towers were designed to replace about 50 miles of wood pole structures. The steel towers were to be 60 feet high, spaced about 600 feet apart and conductors were to be carried on sus pension type insulators. The old wood pole line was to be converted to distribution purposes in Davis County, where the Company planned extensive improvement. This work was started in 1910 but was not com pleted until the end of 1911. ien Substation Built The Twenty-third Street substation in Ogden was built and the distribution system there was redesigned. Poles were removed from the center of the streets and placed in the middle of the blocks and the system modernized. Virtually a double Circuit had to be built to main tain service during the course of construction. In many districts the old line was maintained until the new system was installed and was then salvaged. Service leads were changed from the front of the buildings to the rear. 124 Building of the steel tower transmission line and increase of voltage from 28,000 to 40,000 made alterations at the Pioneer station necessary. The steel tower transmission line was tested and put in service in November 1911. Merchants Company Formed During the time that the Utah Light a Railway Company was re building its street car line in Salt Lake City and devoting its attention to building up its generation and transmission system the people of Ogden had been discussing the feasibility of establishing a municipal power plant. Many plans were advanced to acquire a water site and put in a plant to furnish street lighting. Many Ogden business men were dis satisfied with existing service and the mayor and city council, too, were complaining of exhorbitant rates for street lights. About the time that the Company announced its plans to build the Jordan steam plant a group of prominent Ogden business men organized the Merchants Light & Power Company primarily to compete with the Utah Light & Railway Company and promised a 25 percent reduction of existing rates. In January, 1911 this Company applied for and was subsequently granted a franchise for 50 years providing it constructed five miles of line each year until the city was amply supplied with lighting facilities. The franchise further provided for a three-year street lighting contract and an option whereby the city could purchase the plant after ten years. For the next few years the Merchants Company and the Utah Light & Railway Company com peted for business in Ogden. Salt Lake City officials also granted the new Company a franchise but its business in Salt Lake City was negligible. 125 Jordan Plant Enlarged During 1912, the Pioneer dam in Ogden Canyon was raised four feet. The Company enlarged the plant and installed new and improved equipment. In April of that year General Manager Joseph S. Wells announced that work would begin on an addition to the Jordan steam plant which would double its capacity. It was completed and ready for service August 20, and raised the capacity of the plant to 22,400 horsepower. Davis County Commissioners granted the Company a franchise which permitted the extension of the railway system from the Salt Lake county line to the south city limits of Farmington. A transmission line was built from Salt Lake City to Bingham, where it served the Ohio Copper Company. In Cottonwood Canyon a storage reservoir was installed above the upper or Stairs station, with an equalizing reservoir below to be used during the hours when the demand for lighting and power were heaviest. The Twenty-third Street substation in Ogden was finished. ?i-9Jleg-a.?.lant_jaooded Early in 1913 the Company acquired title to a tract of land southwest of the Pioneer Power house on which it planned to construct a reserve reservoir. The surplus flow was to be stored until such time as the xvater in the main dam had reached a low stage when the water from the new reservoir would be diverted to the farms below the power house. The reservoir in Ogden Canyon was cleaned out. During the shutdown, new machinery was installed in the plant and on October 26, all was in readiness. An order was given to turn on the water, but inadvertently a valve was left open which let the water pour through an open nozzle with disastrous results which were reported by the Evening Standard as follows: 126 CITY THROWN IN DARKNESS BY THE WRECKING OF CANYON POWER PLANT "Damage which may reach $125,000 resulted last night when the Twelfth Street hydro-electric plant of the Utah Light & Railway Company was flooded by the accidental opening of a large valve on one of the turbine generators. Water poured through the large building like a mill race and the flow continued preventing an inspection of the mach inery, until the six foot feed pipe from the dam in Ogden Canyon had been emptied, "While a score of men were making the necessary connections, six employes were tugging at the valve which cuts off the flow of water from the six-foot pipe line at the Ogden Canyon dam. The closing of this large headgate required one hour and forty-five minutes and was not accomplished until after 7 o'clock last evening, "Up to that time there was a 300 foot perpendicular pressure of 200 pounds to the square inch pouring from the six foot conduit through a 26 inch nozzle into the building containing more than $200,000 worth of machinery. **L, L. Dagron, Chief Engineer of the Utah Light & Railway Company, C, A. Conn, Superintendent of Stations and other officers and engineers of the company are in Ogden today investigating the cause of the trouble last evening and also estimating the damage to the pioneer plant. It was said today that it will require two days at least to figure up the damages as the dynamos must be tested to learn whether or not they have been burned. The officials said today that it would be hard to estimate whether the damages would be $25,000 or $100,000. "Additional troubles came today when the big pipe line collapsed in three places between the Hermitage and Idlewild. The collapse of the line resulted from the sudden shutting off of the water causing vacuums which with the pressure of the air outside caused the collapse. It is believed that the Pioneer plant will not be used for at least a week. In the meantime the power is secured from the steam plant at Jordan, On September 18, 1914 the Utah Light & Railway Company was consolidated with the Salt Lake Light & Traction Company to form the Utah Light and Traction Company. 127 SALT LAKE LIGHT & TRACTION COMPANY The Salt Lake Light a Traction Company was incorporated August 8, 1914, under the laws of the State of Utah by 0. J. Salisbury, S. A. Whitney, C. W. Johnson, A. H. Parsons and J. B, Walker. Capital stock was $1,000,000. There is no record of the company having conducted any opera tions during its forty-two days of existence. The only known property owned by this company was a franchise for electric service in Willard, Utah and an option to purchase the Willard hydro plant and distribution system. On September 18, 1914, the Salt Lake Light 5: Traction Company was consolidated with the Utah Light & Railway Company to form the Utah Light and Traction Company. 128 THE UTAH POWER COMPANY (UTAH CORPORATION) On April 30, 1895, A. W- McCune, Francis Armstrong, R. C. Chambers, John E. Dooley, R. Mac Intosh and 0. P. Arnold organized the Utah Power Company, appropriated water in Big Cottonwood Canyon and started construction of a plant 13 miles east of Salt Lake City and a transmission line to furnish power for operation of the Salt Lake City Railroad Company street cars. Although the Company was formed in 1895 the plant and transmission line were not completed until 1897. Prior Rights Questioned Frank H. Gillespie claimed prior rights in Big Cottonwood and considerable rivalry existed between him and the Utah Power Company at the time the Company built its dam. Gillespie went so far as to construct a flume over the dam but this was torn out by sledge hammers and axes wielded by Power Company workmen under the supervision of Mr. Armstrong, who stood guard with a shot gun to see that they weren't interrupted. The Utah Power Company was capitalized at $1,000,000, divided into 10,000 shares at $100 par value. The seven incorporators sub scribed for 1000 shares and the remaining 9000 were held for future use. Mr. Armstrong was named President, Mr. McCune, Vice-President and Mr. Dooley, Secretary and Treasurer. Plant and System The plant and electrical equipment included a dam, intake and a flume to the power house, a brick and concrete structure, in which two Pelton water wheels and two Westinghou.se generators were installed. Steel poles carried the transmission line to the city. This property was mortgaged February 28, to the U. S. Mortgage Company to secure prompt payment of $200,000 in 30-year bonds. 129 Service Irregular Street cars were operated for the first time using energy from the Big Cottonwood plant in February, 1897, but service became so ir regular during the next two years that the railway company was forced to overhaul its steam plant and put it in good working condition for standby service. The Cottonwood plant had proven unreliable. Street car service was interrupted from a fexv hours to several days when the stream froze or slides in the mountains dammed off the water. The steam plant had to be fired on a number of occasions, entailing double expense. System Leased Although the plant was built primarily to furnish power for the Salt Lake City Railroad Company the Utah Power Company had obtained a fran chise granted to Fred S. Walker in 1893 and was using it to enter the electric light and power field in Salt Lake. The Company obtained a franchise, which was never used, to furnish Salt Lake City street lights, and on December 24, 1898, agreed to furnish the Pennsylvania Smelting Company 400 horsepower at $50 per horsepower year. The Company also contracted to build a transmission line to the Smelter's property in Sandy. A few months later, March 3, 1899, the above contract together with the power and transmission lines were leased to John E. Winder and five days later Mr. Winder assigned this contract to the Union Light & Power Company. On January 18, 1902, the Utah Power Company leased its system to the Utah Light & Power Company. Constructed primarily to furnish power for the street cars and although controlled by various companies from 1901 on, the Utah Power Company kept its corporate identity until it conveyed its property to the Utah Light and Traction Company on July 22, 1935. 130 UTAH LIGHT AND TRACTION COMPANY 131 UTAH LIGHT AMD TRACTION COMPANY Organization The Utah Light and Traction Company was incorporated September 18, 1914, under the laws of the State of Utah to consolidate the holdings of the Utah Light & Railway and the Salt Lake Light & Traction Company. The new corporation was capitalized at $10,000,000 divided into 400,000 shares of $25 par value. Original officers of the Utah Light and Traction Company were 0. J. Salisbury, President; C. W. Johnson, Vice-President; R. C. Gammell, Vice-President; C. E. Grosbeck, Vice-President; S. A. Whitney, Treasurer; A. H. Parson, Secretary; J. M. Bidwell, Assistant Secretary, and Lawrence W. Osberne, Assistant Secretary. At the time the new corporation was formed the Utah Power & Light Company had been operating for about two years and was proceeding with its program of consolidating and interconnecting the power properties in northern Utah and Southeastern Idaho. Salt Lake and Ogden were served by the Utah Light & Railway Company which owned and operated plants, transmission and distribution lines. At this time the traction business and the power business were being operated as one unit although they were two distinct operations requiring different types of training and experience. This arrangement had developed at a time when there was no power company large enough to supply traction needs. The plan of the organizers of Utah Power & Light Company contemplated complete integration. XtJ fy The most important company in the territory was the Utah Light & Railway Company which served the two largest cities of the State, The other two large predecessor companies, the Telluride Power Company, and the Knight Consolidated Power Company, depended principally upon mining. It was important that the Utah Light & Railway Company with a large percentage of residential load, and other diversified industrial and municipal loads, should be obtained to help balance this highly specialized load of the Telluride and Knight Companies. Separation of the Electric Utility From the Street Railway Business Shortly after the Utah Light and Traction Company was trganized a lease agreement was negotiated with the Utah Power & Light Company. T3ie electrical property was leased to the Utah Power & Light for 99 years on terms guaranteeing the bonds, both principal and interest, outstand ing against the Utah Light and Traction Company. This included the Pioneer plant at Ogden, Devil's Gate (Weber Plant) on Weber River, Stairs and Granite plants in Big Cottonwood Canyon, Willard hydro plant and the Jordan Steam plant, transmission lines between the various plants, substations in Ogden, Bountiful, Salt Lake City and Murray and distribution systems in both Salt Lake and Ogden. The lease agreement was dated January 2, 1915. Subsequent developments in the Street Railway Business On September 18, 1914, when the new company was formed the railway system consisted of franchises and rights of way, four substations and necessary overhead and underground distribution systems, 192 pieces of passenger rolling stock, necessary service equipment, and yards, shops and 133 barns of sufficient size and capacity to properly maintain and provide inside storage for all passenger equipment. Street cars were operated within the city limits of Salt Lake City and on interurban lines extending from Murray, Midvale and Sandy on the south to Bountiful and Centerville on the north. The street cars were all of the Paye (Pay-as-you-enter) type, this model having been introduced in 1913. This system was regarded as one of the finest in the countrs'-. The cars were large and modern and tracks were heavy and well ballasted. In 1914, before the age of the modern automobile, over 38 million passengers were hauled. Over 5.25 million passenger car miles were operated and an average of 6 revenue passengers ?/ere obtained for each mile operated. Gross revenue amounted to $1,482,143 in 1914, At this time the fare was 5 cents cash, 25 regular tickets for $1.00 and 50 student tickets for $1.50. Between 1914 and 1926, the program of track abandonment and removal began on unprofitable outlying lines. The maximum single mile trackage was reached in 1918 and 1919 when the total was 146.12 miles, a net increase of only 0.9 miles over the total at the time of acquisi tion. However, during this time the paved trackage increased about 17 miles. The history of the Utah Light and Traction was influenced al most from its beginning by a series of conditions, local and world wide, which completely altered its business. Beginning with the World War, market conditions for materials and labor were completely upset. Fol lowing the chaotic readjustment of the post-war period the automobile 134 made its appearance and ushered in a new era in transportation. The gasoline bus entered the picture and operations became geared to entire ly new conditions. During the first few years after the Company was formed the oldest and least desirable equipment was scrapped and the more desirable cars were rebuilt and modernized. In 1922, 1923, and 1924 the two-man cars were rebuilt for one-man operation. In 1923 the first gasoline bus was purchased to give experimental service to the outlying Mill Creek territory. This initial experiment was conducted in a district whieh was considered a feeder to the main system and was the only bus opera tion until 1926 when the tracks to Bountiful and Centerville were removed and additional buses x»;ere purchased for that district. In 1927 addi tional buses were purchased to give stub service from Murray to ^idvale and Sandy after the removal of the street car tracks to these towns. The start of gasoline bus operation spelled the doom of elec trically operated street cars and relegated to the scrap heap all the rails and cars of an outmoded era which represented years of planning and millions of dollars in investment. Systematic scrapping of the street car line has been carried out from 1926 until the present time. This modernization program calls for elimination of the last street car line and substitution of gasoline buses for the old cars by the middle of 1941. First Electric Coach Salt Lake was the first city in the United States to intro duce the trackless trolley. The "Electric Coach" made its appearance in 1928 when eleven of the pneumatic tired electrically driven units were purchased. These first coaches operated on the Fourth East line 135 through the center of town on Main Street and continued up the hill to the State Capitol. These coaches were the first of this particular type to be placed in operation in the world. By taking the initiative in adopting this coach, which embodied the best features of the gas bus, the elec tric bus and the electric street car, the Utah Light and Traction Com pany ushered in a new era in transportation history. In 1929 fifteen similar units were added to the fleet and the territory served by them was enlarged. Change To Present Day Gas Bus Operation The first lightweight rear engine gasoline bus was introduced on this property in 1933. These buses seated txventy-one passengers and were especially designed for rapid acceleration and deceleration, with low operating cost which would justify shorter headways than previously had been possible. Twenty of these units were placed in service between November of 1933 and March, 1934. They were immediately successful and from that date to the present time the successive steps in the moderniza tion program have been carried out by substituting lightweight automo tive buses for street cars. This wider use of the more flexible gas bus has made it pos sible to alter routes and gear transportation to meet constantly shift ing needs of a modern city. This complete revolution in transportation has not only alter ed the physical property of the Utah Light and Traction Company but has presented a baffling economic problem. Fare and Financial History_ As stated in the beginning, over 38 million passengers were 136 hauled in 1914. Under a 5-cent fare, gross revenue amounted to $1,482,143. However, increases in prices of material and labor brought about by the World War made it more and more'difficult to make ends meet and in 1917 it became necessary to ask for an increase in the fare. The Public Utilities Commission ordered discontinuance of the sale of 25 regular tickets for $1.00 and in lieu thereof 20 regular tickets were sold for $1.00. In 1918 the cash fare xvas raised to 6 cents. Revenue passengers dropped from 34,400,000 in 1917 to 30,800,000 in 1918. As this decrease came during the time the United States was ac tively engaged in war and during the influenza epidemic in all parts of the country it is extremely difficult to gauge the effect of the price change on revenue passengers. With the increased fare still in effect in 1919 the Company hauled 33,900,000 revenue passengers, almost back to the 5-cent figure. But with increased passengers came increased operating expenses. Expen ses, particularly wages, continued to increase and in 1920 it again be came necessary to increase fares. On July 3, 1920, the rates were raised to 7 cents for cash fares, 16 regular tickets for $1.00 and 50 student tickets for $2.00. Under the new rates the Company experienced its peak in 1920 both in revenue passengers and gross revenue. In round numbers a total of 34,700,000 passengers were carried and gross revenue was $2,069,483.27. Expenses, too, continued to rise. The post-war depression set in during 1921 and both passengers and revenue declined. The number of revenue passengers shrank from over 34 million in 1920 to 28,200,000 in 1923. However, in 1924 the weekly pass was introduced which, in effect, was a rate reduction and passengers 137 increased to 29,700,000. In 1925 revenue passengers increased to 30,200,000 but revenue decreased almost $12,000 as compared to 1924. The present fare of 10 cents was made effective May 23, 1926. This schedule also provides for the sale of three tokens for 25 cents, 13 for $1.00 and 50 student tickets for $2.00. The weekly passes vary according to three zones from $1.25 to $2.25. This increase in fare resulted in a slight increase in revenue but a decrease in the number of passengers. The decrease in paying cus tomers continued through 1927, 1928 and 1929. The private automobile was made available to the average citizen at a cost undreamed of a few years before and lost its standing as a luxury item. During this period the laborer became an automobile owner and drove his car to and from, work. What had once been a rich man's possession became the common man's property, In 1930 the depression brought a continued period of declining revenue and decrease in customers. Only by reductions in operating ex penses was it possible to continue operation. The low point was reach ed in 1933 when gross revenue fell to $928,788.61, less than half of that in 1920 and revenue passengers fell to 13,680,960. Since that time these figures have varied slightly with general business conditions and in 1938 the gross was again slightly over $1,000,000 and revenue passen gers carried amounted to 17,932,095. Within a comparatively short span of years the traction busi ness has undergone a complete change. The old fashioned street car has taken its place as a relic along side the old mule car and although the modern bus has taken its place the public tendency is to seek more and more the independence of individualized transportation offered by pri- 138 vately owned automobiles. Beset by this condition, plus increasing cost of operation, the traction business faces a new era which offers a challenge to administration and management. f 1