Archives West Finding Aid

The records in the Utility Franchise Records date from 1896 to 1983 and relate to the granting and maintenance of utility franchises. Measuring 8.2 cubic feet, the bulk of the records date from 1908 to 1973, and consist of correspondence with the City's Engineering Department and the recipient or grantee of the franchise. They are arranged alphabetically, for the most part, by grantee or project. The folder titles give the name of the grantee, the number assigned by the Engineering Department when one exists, and the subject of the franchise. The grantees are most often businesses, such as the Bon Marche, Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company, or Seattle Gas Company.

The records also include correspondence between other City departments, such as City Light, Board of Public Works, and the Water Department regarding utility franchises. Franchise records also relate to large projects, such as the Alaskan Way Viaduct, the monorail, or I-5. The folders relating to railroads contain information relating to World War I, the relationship between the City and the railroad companies, and the state of Railroad Avenue. The monorail records contain detailed drawings of columns, tracks, and other parts of the monorail structure. Larger projects such as I-5 and the monorail make up a large proportion of the records.

In addition to correspondence, the records contain agreements, maps, and drawings, and a few photographs.

Of interest is the folder on public market franchises, which contains a description of Pike Place Market from about 1912, including detailed description of the lottery system and tension between Japanese and Caucasian farmers. In another folder on steam railroads, there is a drawing of the Pike Street Pedestrian Viaduct. In many folders, information not directly related to the franchise data provides information about the City, about businesses, and about changing technology. For example, a large number of folders relate to "Steam Railroads." The folder on Steam Railroad - Special Switching Permits contains the reasons why the permits were requested. For example, in 1911, eight carloads of flour for famine sufferers in China needed to be moved during evening hours when it was normally not allowed. Others requests including moving fish, bananas, livestock and troops. Other railroad related materials include correspondence back and forth about the state of Railroad Avenue, and whose responsibility it is to keep it cleaned up, as well as data relating to World War I.