Utah Centennial County History Series - Morgan County 1999

power system was granted to the Morgan Electric Light Company."'

Little is known about this company. No records are available to substantiate whether or not such a plant was ever constructed, although the book Mountains Conquered states that a power plant was located just east of Como spring^."^ On 18 May 1908, Morgan City Council approved having lights installed in the courthouse, but this was not likely acc0mp1ished.l~~ A power plant in Weber Canyon had been started by Utah Light and Railway Company in October 1909 and was nearly completed by July 1910. This company was unwilling to build power lines into the county unless it would be allowed to serve the cement plant at Croydon as no agreement was reached the lines ~ Light and Railway weren't constructed into M ~ r g a n . "Utah Company merged with Salt Lake Light and Traction Company in 1914 under the name Utah Light and Traction Company. Utah Light and Traction Company's holdings were purchased by Utah Power and Light Company on 2 January 1915.148 Several parties were interested in developing a power plant at Hardscrabble. Morgan County Commission on 10 January 1910, granted a franchise to L.B. McCormick to build and maintain an electrical system throughout the county.149 This proposed venture was never accomplished. L.B. McCormick wanted Morgan City Corporation to invest in this venture or agree to a long term contract to buy power; neither was accepted.

The city council was then petitioned by C.F. Holding and F.A. Bean for a franchise to operate an electric light system within the city limits; this was granted 18 April 1911.I5' Holding and Bean sold water rights to generate power in Hardscrabble plus a fifty-year city franchise and a fifty-year county franchise to Como Light and Development Company on 8 September 1911.I5'On 28 February 1912, the electric power operation was sold to the Como Light and Power Company. Officers and incorporators of this company (CL&P Co.) included W. A. Buchanan, J. C. Lynas, W. D. Ball, Fred Lehaman, Elmer C. Brain as president, and Charles F. Holding as manager. Also mentioned in the articles of incorporation was a powerhouse situated on four acres of land in Hardscrabble, said land having been part of the Joseph Taylor homestead."'

Under the direction of Elmer C. Brain and Charles Holding,