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^^<j-L<.y' 0. D. Brown, Supervisor Central Files 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.