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Show Independent Phone Company Awarded Franchise Here in 1905 'City, County, and school districts. dis-tricts. Evidently in the many years that Rocky Mountain Bell had operated in Park City they offered of-fered nothing to the Municipal Corporation, even though they had exclusive use of the streets for their equipment. And their yearly license fee was only $50.00 per year. The Utah Independent Company Com-pany made aproposaltotheCity Council that their company would supply twelve telephones free of charge, and also full use of all its toll lines within the State for the purpose of apprehending criminals. If a franchise was granted they would also pay the sum of $100.00 to the City Treasurer for the use and benefit of the City. THE COMPANY ALSO stipulated stip-ulated that the toll rates between Park City and Salt Lake City would not exceed fifteen (15) cents for each five minutes service ser-vice and the toll rate from Park City to Ogden, Utah would not exceed twenty-five (25) cents for five minutes service. After much deliberation of the Council members, a ballot would be cast whether a franchise fran-chise would be granted to this telephone company. Councilmen Fargo and Ras-band Ras-band voted that a franchise be granted. Councilmen Welsh and Daley were opposed to such a franchise as they voted negative on this franchise request. With a "tie" vote being counted, Mayor Wilson cast the deciding vote and this was for the franchise fran-chise to be granted to the Utah Independent Telephone Company. Com-pany. .After this company received . notification of their franchise, they immediately started signing sign-ing up customers for telephone service. Each resident would pay $24.00 per annum, while the business firms would pay $36.00 per annum for services rendered. It was necessary for this new company to select a vacant lot to construct a building for their telephone exchange. The lot north of MJ3. Ascheim Mercantile Mercan-tile store was selected. The building constructed by this company still remains today, to-day, just north of the present Veteran's Memorial building. Series 12, Part 5 By Joe J. Davich DURING THE YEARS that Rocky Mountain Bell had its exchanges in Park City, another an-other telephone company had been watching their operations and advancement very closely, and this company was the Utah Independent Telephone1 Company, Com-pany, And in due time this later company would seek a franchise in Park City to open their exchange ex-change there. The year of 1905 was a progressive pro-gressive year in Park City and during this time the following citizens would serve as leaders lead-ers in the community. Mayor, C. M. Wilson; Councilmen: John Welsh, Frank Daley, FredRas-band, FredRas-band, and Sherman Fargo. The officers of the Utah Independent In-dependent Telephone Company had requested a franchise and in order to satisfy the officers of Rocky Mountain Bell and the Utah Independent Company, both The officers of the Rocky Mountain Bell would petition against the franchise as they felt one telephone exchange in Park City was enough. GEORGE Y. WALLACE, President of the Rocky Mountain Moun-tain Bell, forwarded a complete report relative to the progress and advantages of his company. Also Mr. Fennemore, chief clerk of the operational department depart-ment followed in the same pattern. pat-tern. Then Ex-Governor Wells came forth with his view points stating the excellent service, solid financial standing which the Utah Independent Company had to offer; plu ae felt competition com-petition would prove most beneficial bene-ficial to the citizens of the citv. They contended their rates were lower and the City would benefit directly by the additional ad-ditional taxes and money that would be put into circulation. The business and townspeople had given great recommendations recommenda-tions in behalf of the Utah Independent In-dependent Co. and it was their hopes a franchise would be granted them. They felt their system was far superior to that of the Rocky Mountain Bell. AFTER MUCH DISCUSSION pro and con on this franchise, the majority report committee of the City Council favored the granting of a franchise to the Utah Independent Company. They leaned toward the fact that two telephone systems would result in improvement of services, additional employment employ-ment of local residents, an increase in-crease taxable property, and contribute to the revenue of the |
