| 1886 |
Thomas Edison’s
light bulb is demonstrated in Seattle. Private companies began
supplying street lighting and power for the streetcars. Seattlites
didn’t like the monopoly being created by these companies. |
| June 6, 1989 |
Great Seattle Fire
Privately owned water supply mains lacked sufficient water
pressure and went dry, and 64 acres of downtown Seattle burned
to the ground. In July, the voters, still upset by the failure
of the privately owned water system, approve the development
of the city-owned water supply on the Cedar River. A pipeline
is built from the Cedar River to the reservoir at Volunteer
Park. Tapping the Cedar River for hydroelectric potential
was the next step. |
| 1902 |
Voters approved the
construction of hydroelectric plant at Cedar Falls. |
| 1905 |
Cedar Falls operational
and under the control of City Water Department. |
| 1910 |
Due to the increasing
demand for power, Seattle City Council created a separate
lighting department: Seattle City Light. |
| 1911 |
Superintendent J.D.
Ross envisioned harnessing the waters of the Skagit River
in a series of three dams. |
| 1914 |
City of Seattle completes
Masonry Dam to increase water capacity of Chester Morse Lake.
|
| 1918 |
Ross receives the
go ahead from the Federal Government for construction of the
dams. |
| 1924 |
Gorge Dam completed |
| 1930 |
Diablo Dam completed |
| 1940 |
Ross Dam completed
|
| 1951 |
Seattle voters approve
a buy-out of the privately owned competitors in Seattle territory. |
| 1961 |
High Gorge Dam completed |
