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City Light provides electricity and electrical and conservation services to its public and private customers. It is the largest public utility in the Pacific Northwest. City Light`s origins date to 1890 with creation of the Department of Lighting and Water Works. A City Charter amendment in 1910 created the Lighting Department. Under the direction of Superintendent John D. Ross, the department developed the Skagit River hydroelectric project which began supplying power in 1924. In 1951, the department purchased the private electrical power supply operations in Seattle, making the Lighting Department the sole supplier. The Boundary Project in northern Washington began operation in 1967 and currently supplies over half of City Light's power generation. Approximately ten percent of City Light's income comes from the sale of surplus energy to customers in the Northwest and Southwest. The current name of the agency was adopted in 1978 when the Department was reorganized.
Personal records of J.D. Ross including correspondence, speeches and writings, legal documents, and financial records. Also includes funeral arrangements for Ross and memorial tributes. The bulk of the records date from 1936-1939.
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Copies of approximately 26,500 pieces of correspondence sent by Lighting Department staff. Arranged chronologically.
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Memoranda between departmental offices. Approximately half is directed to J.D. Ross. Divided by memoranda to Ross and "Other," and then arranged chronologically.
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Correspondence received by the Lighting Department from City departments, federal regulatory agencies, other utilities, contractors, railroad companies, and vendors. Of particular interest is material relating to public ownership of utilities and Depression era projects. Arranged alphabetically by correspondent.
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Folder List
Affidavits, certificates of inspection, contracts, court papers, legal opinions, ordinances, resolutions, and subpoenas. Arranged alphabetically by record type.
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Inventory
Reference copies of Federal and State legislation relating to utilities, specifically concerning regulation and public power.
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Reference copies of minutes of the Board of Public Works (1918-1938) and the Lighting Department Safety Commission (1920-1921).
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Report of departmental activities and finances presented annually to City Council.
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Reports generated by outside consultants, other utility companies, civic organizations, financial institutions, other departments, and City Light. Arranged alphabetically by author.
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Inventory
Reports generated by City Light divisions for internal use.
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Inventory
Correspondence, news cllippings, brochures and pamphlets, reports, typescript histories, and photographs relating to the agency's history. The major topics include the Cedar Falls Power Plant, public power, energy in the Pacific Northwest, the Skagit River power project, and biographical material on John D. Ross, the department superintendent from 1911 to 1939.
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Primarily efficiency reports and job descriptions. Also includes applications, Civil Service recommendations, employee lists, union materials, organization charts, and wage schedules.
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Inventory
Newspaper and magazine clippings relating generally to City Light. Includes information on public power, railroads, construction projects, the Skagit River power development project, and public utilities. Also included are press releases, pamphlets, and miscellaneous publications. Approximately one-third of the clippings are organized by subject and the remainder are arranged chronologically.
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Speeches, writings, and radio scripts relating to Bonneville and Grand Coulee Dams, public ownership of utilities, the Skagit River project, the Tennessee Valley Authority, technical aspects of power generation and transmission, and other general electrical utility subjects. Approximately one-third are speeches or articles by superintendent, John D. Ross.
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Inventory
Agency newsletter of the City Light Department.
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Summary personnel information for City Light employees. Includes name, job title, pay rate, dates of personnel actions, and address. Arranged alphabetically.
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Bids and proposals, applications for licenses, inventories, invoices, purchase orders, specifications, estimates, and work orders for City Light projects and activities. Arranged chronologically by record type.
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Inventory
Bid tabulations, bond data, financial statements, estimates, cost comparisons and statements, monthly financial reports and revenue and rate data. Included are records relating to the Diablo Dam Project.
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Inventory
Microfilm of City Light's general ledgers.
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Reports and studies relating to construction, power generation projections, and cost of City Light projects and regional utilities. Included is material concerning the Bonneville Power Administration, Cedar River, Skagit, Ross Dam, and the City Light operated steam plant.
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Inventory
Statistics relating to power generation, transmission, and consumption by state, especially for the western states.
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Statistical reports and compilations relating to amount of generated and purchased power, load data, service interruptions, transmission lines, and kilowatt capacity and estimates. Includes generated power reports submitted to the Federal Power Commission.
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Inventory
Correspondence, memoranda, studies, tax records, utility interconnection data, and purchase plan reports and information concerning the proposed merger of Puget Sound Power and Light Company with City Light. The bulk of records date from 1934-1937.
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Inventory
Thirty-one items relating to the 1936 World Power Conference held in Seattle.
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Minutes, correspondence, and employee lists.
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Correspondence, reports, studies, financial records, draft legislation, contracts, specifications and construction documents relating to City Light operations and activities. Includes correspondence with City departments, regulatory and government agencies, and suppliers and contractors. A large portion of the records relate to the Skagit.
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Container List