Franchises

Administrative records of Georgetown filed with the City Clerk. Includes bids and proposals, specifications, correspondence, city officials' reports, franchises, petitions, and oaths of office. The bulk of records relate to local improvements, extension of city services, and franchise administration.

Administrative records of West Seattle filed with the City Clerk. Includes contracts, bonds, correspondence, city officials' reports, franchises, oaths of office, petitions, resolutions, and bids and proposals. Filed alphabetically by subject or record type.

Correspondence and reports of the City Engineer or Franchise Inspector relating to the extension and operation of franchises in Seattle.

Correspondence, ordinances, agreements, and franchise statements relating to franchise granted by the City for street railways, railroad right--of-ways, and utilities. Includes some franchises of the City of Ballard. Arranged by file number. Index volume included with records lists franchise recipient, ordinance number when included, and file number.

Statements by franchise holders including name, character of franchise, length, date originally granted, original holder of franchise, date of franchise transfer (if applicable), officers of company or corporation, ordinance numbers granting franchise, and other information concerning the franchise. The bulk of reports relate to railroad and street railway franchises, but also include telephone and telegraph services, utilities, and fire alarm systems.

An ordinance granting a franchise to the Sunset Telephone & Telegraph Co.

An ordinance authorizing and empowering Henry J. Miller, his associates, assigns, successors and executors, to erect and maintain gas works and gas plant, and to lay down and use pipe and other accessories for the supply and distribution of gas in the City of Columbia, State of Washington.

An ordinance granting to the Seattle Electric Company, its successors and assigns, the right, authority and franchise to erect poles and cross-arms and stretch wires thereon, in, over and upon the streets, alleys and public places of the Town of South Park, for the transmission and distribution of electric currents for lighting, heating and power purposes, and to construct, maintain, operate, use and extend an electrical system for said purposes in the Town of South Park.

An Ordinance to prevent the obstruction of streets, alleys and public places, declaring such obstructions nuisances, providing for abating the same and fixing a penalty for the violation thereof.

An Ordinance requiring the maintenance of certain lights by The Seattle Electric Company along its street railway line in Georgetown, to comply with the terms of its railway franchise, and designating the locations of such lights.

An ordinance relating to the purchase, from the Columbia Home Company, of the water works, appurtenances, rights, privileges and the franchises appertaining thereto belonging to the said Columbia Home Company, and providing for the amount to be paid for the same, and the means of paying the same.

An Ordinance granting to the Independent Telephone Company the right and privilege or erecting, constructing, maintaining and operating telephone and telegraph system and apparatus in the Town of West Seattle.

An Ordinance amending Ordinance No. 29, entitled "An Ordinance granting to the Sunset Telephone and Telegraph Company, its successors and assigns, the right to place, erect and maintain poles, wires in, upon and under the streets, alleys in the Town of West Seattle," passed by the council July 22, 1902.

An Ordinance repealing Ordinance No. 27, entitled, "An Ordinance granting to the Independent Telephone Company the right and privilege of erecting, constructing, maintaining and operating a telephone and telegraph system and apparatus in the Town of West Seattle.

An Ordinance repealing Ordinance No. 29, entitled, "An Ordinance granting to the Sunset Telephone and Telegraph Company, etc., the right to place, etc., poles and wires, etc., for telephone and telegraph purposes in and under the streets in the Town of West Seattle.

An Ordinance granting to R. W. Bender, and O. M. Spear, their successors and assigns a franchise to construct, maintain and operate an Electric Light Plant in the Town of West Seattle.

An ordinance granting to The Seattle Electric Company, its successors and assigns, a franchise to construct, maintain and operate street railways in the Town of South Park.

An Ordinance granting a franchise to the West Street and North End Electric Railway Company, for an Electric Motor Street railway in the Town of Ballard.

An Ordinance granting to the Independent Telephone Company the right and privilege of erecting, constructing, maintaining and operating telephone and telegraph systems and apparatus in the Town of West Seattle.

An Ordinance granting to the Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railway Company, its successors and assigns, the right and authority to locate, lay down, construct, maintain and operate a railway, consisting of one or more tracks, in, along, upon and over Shilshole Avenue, and the street and avenues crossing said avenue, in the Town of Ballard.

An Ordinance granting to the Seattle and Montana Railway Company its successors and assigns, the right and authority to locate, lay down, construct, maintain and operate a railway, consisting of one or more tracks, in, along, upon and over Shilshole Avenue, and the streets and avenues crossing said avenue in the Town of Ballard.

An ordinance granting to William R. Crawford, his successors and assigns, a franchise to construct, maintain and operate street railways on and along certain streets in the City of Columbia.

An ordinance granting to the Seattle Electric Company, its successors and assigns, a franchise to construct, maintain and operate a street railway on and along certain streets, avenues, and places in the City of Columbia.

An ordinance granting to the Seattle Electric Company, its successors and assigns, a franchise to construct, maintain and operate street railways in the Town of South Park.

An ordinance granting to the Seattle Electric Company, its successors and assigns, a franchise to construct, maintain and operate a street railway along and upon certain parts of Brents Street, Columbus Street and other streets, avenues and places in the City of Columbia.

An Ordinance permitting the Sunset Telephone and Telegraph Company to erect poles and stretch wires thereon in the Town of Ballard.

An ordinance granting to the Seattle Electric Company, its successors and assigns, a franchise to construct, maintain and operate a street railway along and upon certain parts of Forty-second Avenue South (otherwise known as Milton-Noble Street) and other streets, avenues and places in the City of Columbia.

An Ordinance granting to the Seattle & San Francisco Railway & Navigation Co., its successors and assigns, the right and authority to locate, maintain and operate railway tracks in, upon, over and along certain portions of Railroad Avenue and connecting streets in the Town of West Seattle, Washington.

An ordinance granting to William R. Crawford, his successors and assigns, a franchise to construct, maintain and operate street railways on and along certain streets in the City of Columbia.

An Ordinance amending an ordinance entitled "An Ordinance granting to the Seattle and San Francisco Railway and Navigation Company, its successors and assigns, the right and authority to locate, maintain and operate railway tracks in, upon, over and along certain portions of Railroad Avenue and connecting streets in the Town of West Seattle, Washington", being Ordinance No. 53 passed January 20, 1903.

An Ordinance granting to the Seattle & San Francisco Railway & Navigation Co., its successors and assigns, the right and authority to locate, construct, maintain and operate railway tracks in, upon, over and along certain portions of Railroad Avenue and connecting streets in the Town of West Seattle, Washington.

An Ordinance granting to Jacob Furth, his successors and assigns, a franchise to construct, maintain and operate street railways in the Town of West Seattle.

An Ordinance granting to Charles A. Newton and Burt Clark and their assigns the right to erect poles and stretch wires thereon, and to construct a system of underground conduits and lay and maintain wires therein, for electrical purposes over and along the streets and alleys of the City of West Seattle, Washington.

An ordinance granting to the Columbia Transportation Company the privilege of erecting, constructing, and maintaining a wharf on "B" Street between Irving Avenue and Abbott Street of the plat of Maynard's Lake Washington Addition, and regulating the use thereof, and authorizing the opening of "B" Street, westward therefrom, by the grantee of this franchise.

An Ordinance granting to Charles D. Stimson and others the right to lay water pipes and water mains in certain streets of the City of Ballard.

An Ordinance granting to Fred E. Sander, Incorporated, its successors and assigns, a franchise to construct, maintain and operate an Electric Light plant in the Town of West Seattle.

An Ordinance repealing Ordinance No. 68, entitled "An Ordinance granting to successors and assigns, a franchise to construct, maintain and operate an electric light plant in the Town of West Seattle" passed and approved October 6, 1903, and published October 15, 1903.

An Ordinance repealing Ordinance No. 40, entitled, "An Ordinance granting to R. W. Bender and O. M. Spear, their successors and assigns, a franchise to construct, maintain and operate an electric light plant in the Town of West Seattle," passed and approved September 23, 1902, and posted October 10, 1902.

An Ordinance granting to the Northern Pacific Railway Company, its successors and assigns, the right and authority to locate, construct, maintain and operate by steam power, railway tracks in, upon, over and along certain portions of Railroad Avenue in the Town of West Seattle, Washington.

An Ordinance granting the right to erect poles and stretch wires thereon for electric light purposes.

An Ordinance requiring electric light companies to place their wires in conduits in the Town of West Seattle.

An Ordinance repealing Ordinance No. 56, entitled "An Ordinance granting to Jacob Furth, his successors and assigns, a franchise to construct, maintain and operate street railways in the Town of West Seattle."

An Ordinance granting to the Northern Pacific Railway Company, its successors and assigns, the right and authority to locate, construct, maintain and operate railway tracks in, upon, over and along certain portions of Railroad Avenue and connecting streets in the Town of West Seattle, Washington.

An ordinance granting to the Sunset Telephone and Telegraph Co. and assigns the right to erect, maintain and operate in the Town of Columbia, State of Washington, and in the streets, alleys, avenues and thoroughfares thereof, wires and conductors for the transmission of electricity for telephone and telegraph purposes and to carry on a telephone and telegraph business in said town.

An Ordinance to amend Ordinance No. 42, entitled "An Ordinance granting a franchise to the West Street and North End electric Railway Company, for an electric motor street railway in the Town of Ballard."

An Ordinance granting to the Seattle, Lake Shore & Eastern Railway Company, its successors and assigns, the right and authority to locate, lay down, construct, maintain and operate a railway consisting of one or more tracks in, along, upon and over Shilshole Avenue, and the streets and avenues crossing said avenue, in the City of Ballard.

An Ordinance providing for the revocation of the rights, privileges and franchise granted to the West Street and North End Electric Railway Company on certain streets in the City of Ballard, by Ordinance No. 42 of said city.

An Ordinance granting a franchise to the Seattle Consolidated Street Railway Company, for an electric motor street railway in the City of Ballard.

An ordinance granting to The Independent Telephone Company of Seattle, Washington, its successors and assigns, the right to lay and maintain underground conduits and wires and to construct necessary manholes, make house connections, and to erect poles and thereon to fasten wires on the streets and alleys, and to operate a telephone and telegraph system in the Town of South Park, State of Washington.

An Ordinance granting to the Seattle & Montana Railway Company, its successors and assigns, the right, privilege, authority and franchise to locate, lay down, construct, finish and maintain a railway, consisting of one or more tracks, in along over and upon Shilshole Avenue, and the avenues, streets and alleys that cross or interest the same, in the City of Ballard in the State of Washington.

An ordinance granting to Clarence Deserisy and John J. Agutter, their associates, heirs and assigns, a franchise to install and operate a plant for generating electric light and power to distribute the same by poles and wires in the Town of Columbia.

An Ordinance authorizing and empowering the Seattle & Montana Railway Company to assign and transfer to the Seattle, Lake Shore & Eastern Railway Company the rights, privileges and franchise granted to said company by Ordinance No. 46 of the City of Ballard.

An ordinance granting to the Snoqualmie Falls Power Co., a corporation , its successors and assigns, a franchise to install, maintain and operate a plant for generating electric light and power, to distribute the same by poles and wires in the Town of Columbia.

An Ordinance granting to The Seattle Electric Company, its successors and assigns, a franchise to construct, maintain and operate a street railway on and along certain parts of California Avenue and other streets, avenues and places in the City of West Seattle.

An Ordinance granting to The Seattle Electric Company, its successors and assigns, a franchise to construct, maintain and operate a street railway on and along certain parts of Railroad Avenue and other streets, avenues and places in the City of West Seattle.

An ordinance granting to Eugene A. Marsh, Van Rensselaer Peirson and Ralph D. Nichols, their executors, administrators, successor or assigns, the right to erect, maintain and operate in the Town of Columbia, State of Washington, and in the streets, alleys, avenues and thoroughfares thereof, wires and conductors for the transmission of electricity for telephone and other electrical purposes and to carry on a telephone and electrical transmission business in said town.

An ordinance granting to Eugene A. Marsh, his executors, administrators, successors or assigns, the right to erect, maintain and operate in the Town of Columbia, State of Washington, and in the streets, alleys, avenues and thoroughfares thereof, wires and conductors for the transmission of electricity for telephone, telegraph and messenger business in said town.

An Ordinance granting to King County, a franchise to lay and maintain a pipe line in, along and under the public streets of the City of Georgetown, for conveying water to the King County Farm, prescribing the manner of use and providing for the forfeiture thereof.

An Ordinance providing for the revocation of the rights, privileges and franchise granted to the Seattle Consolidated Street Railway Company for an Electric motor street railway in the City of Ballard, by Ordinance No. 122, of said City.

An Ordinance granting to The Seattle Electric Company, its successors and assigns, a franchise to construct, maintain and operate a street railway along and upon certain parts of Bateman Street and other streets and places in the City of Georgetown.

An Ordinance granting to the City of Seattle the right to lay down, use and maintain water mains along, upon and under certain streets in the City of Georgetown.

An Ordinance of the City of Georgetown extending the Time to the Oregon and Washington Railroad Company within which to construct the approach to Howard Street Bridge, as provided and required in Section 5 of Ordinance No. 409, approved November 11, 1908.

An Ordinance granting to J. W. Clise, his heirs, associates, successors and assigns, the right, privilege and authority to erect and maintain gas works, and to lay down, maintain and operate pipes in the streets, alleys, and public places in the City of Ballard for the transmission, supply, distribution and sale of heating and illuminating gas.

An Ordinance granting to the Seattle and Montana Railway Company, its successors and assigns, the right and authority to locate, lay down, construct, maintain and operate a railway, consisting of one or more tracks, in, along, upon and over Shilshole Avenue, and the streets and avenues crossing said avenue, in the Town of Ballard.

An Ordinance granting to The Seattle Electric Company, its successors and assigns, a franchise to construct, maintain and operate street railways in the City of Ballard.

An Ordinance granting to Jasper Compton, his associates, heirs and assigns, a franchise to construct, maintain and operate street railways in the City of Ballard.

An Ordinance granting to Fred E. Sander, Inc., and W. W. Delong, their successors and assigns, a franchise to build and operate a street railway in the City of Ballard, King County, Washington.

An Ordinance granting to the Seattle Electric Company, its successors and assigns, a franchise to construct, maintain and operate a street railway along and upon certain parts of "A" Street, Bateman Street Extended, and other streets and places in the City of Georgetown.

An Ordinance granting to The Seattle Electric Company, its successors and assigns, a franchise to construct, maintain and operate spur tracks on certain parts of Ballard Avenue.

An Ordinance of the City of Ballard granting to the Seattle and Montana Railroad Company, its successors and assigns, the right, privilege and authority to lay down, construct, maintain and operate sundry railway tracks along and across sundry streets, avenues and other public places within the City of Ballard, and granting to said company, its successors and assigns, a right of way for such tracks along and across all such streets, avenues and other public places of said city.

An Ordinance granting to The Seattle Electric Company, its successors and assigns, franchise to construct, maintain and operate spur tracks on certain parts of "C" Street in the City of Ballard.

An Ordinance granting to the Northern Pacific Railway Company, its successors and assigns, the franchise and right to construct, maintain and operate a railroad spur track over and across Shilshole Avenue and Main Street in the City of Ballard, King County, Washington.

An Ordinance repealing Ordinance No. 124, entitled "An Ordinance grading to the Seattle & Montana Railroad Company its successors and assigns, the right privilege authority and franchise to locate lay down construct, finish and maintain a railway consisting of one or more tracks in along over and upon Shilshole Avenue and the avenues streets and alleys that cross or intersect the same in the City of Ballard in the State of Washington.

An Ordinance granting to The Instantaneous Alarm Company, its successors and assigns, a franchise to connect an auxiliary fire alarm with the fire alarm system of the City of Ballard and to operate in connection therewith a district telegraph burglar and police alarm system in the City of Ballard, for a limited term of years.

An Ordinance granting to Louis V. Brewer his heirs, successors and assigns a franchise to install and operate electric appliances within the City of Ballard for the purpose of supplying electric light, heat and power, and to erect poles with cross-arms and to stretch wires thereon in over and upon the streets, alleys and public places of the City of Ballard for the transmission of and distribution of electric currents.

An Ordinance granting to Fred E. Sander, Incorporated, its successors and assigns, a franchise to construct, maintain and operate street railways in the City of Ballard.

An Ordinance granting to Fred E. Sander, Incorporated, its successors and assigns, a franchise to construct, maintain and operate street railways in the City of Ballard.

An Ordinance granting to The Seattle Electric Company, its successors and assigns, a franchise to construct, maintain and operate street railway extensions connecting with its present street railway system, and extending over certain parts of Railroad Avenue, Fourth Avenue, Crawford Street and other streets, avenues and places in the City of Ballard.

An Ordinance granting to Loyal Railway Company, Incorporated, its successors and assigns, a franchise to construct, maintain and operate street railways in the City of Ballard.

An Ordinance granting to Fred E. Sander, Incorporated, its successors and assigns, a franchise to construct, maintain and operate street railways in the City of Ballard.

Annual franchise statements required by Ordinance 4953. Includes name of franchise holder, character of franchise, length, date granted, to whom originally granted, date transferred if applicable, whether holder is person or corporation, owners/officers, ordinance granting franchise, and comments. Franchises include telephone and telegraph, railroads, electric street railway, water systems, electric power lines, gas lines, and fire alarm systems among others.