Sunset Telephone Company
Named in 21 stories. Back to all names
- May 25, 1892Whispering Wires: The High-Tech Telephone LineEngineers build a metallic copper circuit to link Seattle and Portland, hoping to eliminate 'induction' and allow for quiet conversation.Seattle, WA
- May 22, 1894The Mayor Moves to Shut the Dives and Gambling RoomsA sweeping message from the mayor demands that the council revoke the licenses of saloons and music halls where girls sell liquor and gamblers run their games—passed in full by the aldermen even as auditors report a $27,000 hole in the street-improvement funds.Seattle City Hall, Seattle, WA
- Jun 12, 1894The Fight for Cheaper CallsCity council debates regulating telephone rates and forcing lines underground in a push to modernize Seattle's infrastructure.1st Ave and 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA
- Jan 14, 1895The Telephone Monopoly to Seattle: Don’t Print ThisSeattle’s phone company keeps billing the old rates after the city council orders a cut, and its manager asks the press to keep quiet about it.Seattle, WA
- Mar 14, 1899The Price of Fortification: Seattle Landowners Win Big Jury Verdict Against Federal GovernmentA federal jury in Port Orchard has valued land for a new military fort at $185,000—nearly double the government's appraisal. Officials warn the deal may collapse if the price is too steep.Port Orchard, WA
- May 28, 1904The Great Telephone Monopoly DebateTacoma’s business elite weigh in on whether a second telephone franchise will bring healthy competition or just more tangled wires.Tacoma, WA
- Jun 4, 1904The City's Telephone Monopoly DebateTacoma’s business community remains divided over whether to welcome a second telephone provider to break the Sunset company’s grip on the city.Tacoma, WA
- Jun 6, 1904South Tacoma’s War on the MonopolyCitizens revolt against the Sunset Telephone Company’s discriminatory rates and poor service, calling for competition to break the city's grip.Tacoma, WA
- Jun 13, 1904The Fight to Break the Phone MonopolyBusiness leaders and residents rally against Sunset Telephone Company's grip on the city, calling for competition and accountability.Tacoma, WA
- Jun 28, 1904The Great Telephone Wars of TacomaA rival phone company manager staged a bizarre arrest of his competitor to derail a franchise bid—only for the plot to unravel at the police station.Pantages Theater, Tacoma, WA
- Jul 1, 1904City Council Faces Telephone Monopoly FightLocal committee pushes decision on a new telephone franchise to the full city council, triggering debates over corporate financial backing and competition.Tacoma, WA
- Jul 20, 1904A Push for Independent Telephone Lines to Vashon IslandAn independent operator seeks a foothold in Tacoma to break the grip of existing monopolies.Tacoma, WA
- Jul 26, 1904Tacoma’s Telephone War: A Council Gridlock Over ModernizationA deadlocked city council clashes over an automatic telephone franchise, pitting progress against the fear of a 'double service' nuisance.Tacoma, WA
- Jul 29, 1904The Shadowy Fight Over Tacoma's Telephone MonopolyCouncilmen accused of catering to the Sunset Telephone company while ignoring constituent demands for fair rates.Tacoma, WA
- Aug 4, 1904The Price of a Telephone FranchiseA City Councilman publicly alleges he was offered shares in exchange for his vote, then refuses to follow through on the accusation.Tacoma, WA
- Aug 11, 1904The Shadowy Franchise FightAfter accusations of a $132,000 bribe, the Tacoma City Council is forced into a formal inquiry over the Independent Telephone Company’s franchise bid.Tacoma, WA
- Aug 11, 1904The Bribe That Killed the Telephone FranchiseA Tacoma councilman reveals a $132,000 bribery attempt, blowing up a major deal to challenge the local telephone monopoly.913 Commerce Street, Tacoma, WA
- Aug 15, 1904The Telephone Bribery ScandalAccusations of bribery within the City Council threaten to boil over as councilmen attempt to backpedal on their support for an investigation.Tacoma, WA
- Aug 23, 1904The Great Telephone Bribery ScandalTacoma councilmen testify before an investigative committee regarding allegations that a telephone franchise promoter offered cash and stock to secure their votes.City Hall, Tacoma, WA
- Sep 7, 1904A Case of MisspellingDr. Royal A. Gove files suit against the Sunset Telephone Company for losing him business after they misspelled his name in the directory.Tacoma, WA
- Mar 10, 1909City Moves to Challenge Sunset Telephone Company's MonopolyAssistant City Attorney F. R. Baker argues that the telephone provider's franchise has lapsed, creating a potential opening for city regulation.Tacoma, WA