pg 2, The Carbon County News
Price, Utah, Thursday April 30, 1914
Seated one day at the organ
I was weary and ill at ease,
And my thoughts are wand'ring idly
Upon how hard I have to squeeze
To pay my county taxes
Which oppress me more and more;
When I fell into slumber,
And, perhaps, began to snore.
I know not if I were snoring,
But I dreamt that close at hand
I saw upon some tombstones large,
In bold letters, clear and grand,
The following inscriptions,
Which herein I will quote;
THEN IS STRUCK ONE CHORD OF MUSIC,
Which certainly got my goat.
It flooded the Crimson twilight
Like a Salvation Army drum,
And it scared me so completely
That I swallowed my chewing gum,
It may be that only in Heav'n
I shall hear that sound again,
But I jolly well know if I do
It will give me an awful pain.
It may be this dream I speak of
Is naught but a false alarm;
It may be a bit of buncombe,
Like the close of an angel's psalm.
It may be that Death's bright Angel
Will call us before it comes true;
But how the deuce "can" I help it?
I would if I could wouldn't you?
WHAT THE TOMBSTONES SAID
Here burn the remains of a dealer in coal,
Which traded, also, in the working man's soul.
It ruined a county by paying a bounty
On misuse of office and graft as a whole.
But, swollen with power, it sought to devour
The whole State of Utah - and was put in this hole.
Here rots what is left of the city of Price
Whose officers never would take good advice.
"Twas a haven of riches for all sons of witches,
Who raveled in crime and flourished in vice.
When George Frandsen, the newly appointed religious leader for the fifteen families who lived up and down Price River, arrived in April 1882, church services were held in the settlers' crudely constructed shacks or dugouts, and in good weather beneath a bowery.
As the number of settlers increased, a townsite was surveyed with one block designated for civic buildings. This block was from first east to second east, and main street to first north.
During January 1884, the construction of the log meeting house began. Seren Olsen, Caleb Rhodes, John De Leigh and other men cut and hauled logs from the mountain area known as Miller Creek now Hiawatha. Construction began for the ww by 40 foot structure. Money was scarce, so other materials were donated, Fred E. Grames the double doors to the south, other men donating shingles, windows, lumber and nails.
By the latter part of April, the twelve foot high structure was finished. The logs were chinked an mortared, the doors and windows put in, the rough floor laid and a stand built in the north end.
May day was soon approaching, and it would be a time to celebrate in the new log meeting house.
The Sun Advocate - Oct. 9, 1941 pg 4
When the telephone made its appearance in Price, there was no such thing as a wrong number. Where the operators, then infallible? No, it's just that there weren't any operators. (This is not a demean the "number please" sorority, for after all, it's human to err). Telephone service in Price when first introduced comprised only a direct line between the home of the late Alpha Ballinger and the Price Trading company, in which he was then interested.
This was several years before the general service inaugurated after the formation of the Eastern Utah Telephone company in 1905, R. G. Miller was president of the concern, and among the others who took a prominent part in organizing this pioneer communications institution were A. W. Horsley, Ernest S. Horsley, John Pace, Dr. F. F. Fisk, H. G. Mathis and O. T. Harmon, The first manager was Mr. Harmon.
At first the toll line extended only to Castle Dale, but connection with the Bell System was effected in 1907 through the building of a line between Castle Gate and Thistle Junction, Supervision of its construction was delegated by the Bell firm to the Eastern Utah Telephone company. The extension to Thistle Junction was completed on November 26, 1907 according to Albert Horsely, who was identified with early telephone activities here for many years, serving as lineman, "trouble shooter" and construction worker, among others.
The Eastern Utah Company, then serving 642 telephones, was purchased in 1924 by the Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph company part of the Bell System. There are over 1200 telephones in Price now, while the plant investment was increased from $35,000 in 1925 to $161,366, as of September 1940. There are seven private branch exchanges today, which is high for a city of this size.
Eastern Utah Telegraph - 26 March 1891
Is kept by J.B. Milburn. Mr. Milburn has been in business as long as any man in our town, and the "Oasis" has always been conducted in a careful manner. Outside of his business Mr. m. is always ready to lend a helping hand to every enterprise, either in the town or the country.
Eastern Utah Telegraph - 26 March 1891
Next in the hotel line is the Milburn, south of the railroad track. At the Milburn the stranger as well as those acquainted are always sure of good accommodations.
Eastern Utah Telegraph - 26 March 1891
Is kept by F. B. Lang. As with the "Oasis," so with the "Magnet," but few men have made more friends than F. B. Lang. We know that many people are prejudiced against the liquor trade but we doubt if any town in Utah can furnish better and more popular men that the proprietors of the "Oasis" and "Magnet".
Eastern Utah Telegraph - 26 March 1891
Mr. Lyman is prepared to accommodate the traveling public, and will board by the day or week. He takes great care to make his guests comfortable.
Eastern Utah Telegraph - 26 March 1891
Mrs. Gibson as the corner of Church and North streets, accommodates a few day boarders. Her table is always supplied with the best.
Eastern Utah Telegraph - 26 March 1891
David Williams, Sr. - This is the next oldest house in our place, now under the management of David Williams Jr. This old firm occupies a large two story building with a basement under the entire house. While Mr. Williams does a strictly ready pay business, his pleasant deportment has won for him many friends throughout this county. He carries a general supply of everything wanted by farmers, mechanics or stockmen, and always sells at bottom prices, and his business is such that it would be called large in other towns.
Eastern Utah Telegraph - 26 March 1891
The City Meat Market is kept by J. M. Whitmore. Mr. Whitmore kills his own beef for the market. Being a large cattle owner he is better prepared to furnish good fat beef, than any other butcher along the railroad. Parties from a distance can always buy of Mr. Whitmore at very low figures, and prompt attention given to orders.
Eastern Utah Telegraph - 26 March 1891
George A. Fausett, whose name heads the list of two year councilman candidates, is a native son of Utah. He was born in Juab county, but has lived in Price so long that most people think he was born here. While he claims to be a farmer and owns a good farm, he has had considerable business experience, having been one of the founders of the Price Trading company and assisted for several years in conducting that business. He is a present engaged as a clerk in the Farmers' & Stockgrowers' store, where his services are highly appreciated by his employers. Mr. Fausett's knowledge of Price's mistakes of the past would be a guide to the future and he should by all means be elected.
The Sun Advocate - Oct. 9, 1941, sec 4, page 3
Right from the inception of local government the growth of Price has been favored by the policies and achievements of the forward looking men who have served the city in official capacities. This is graphically illustrated by the following summary of outstanding events during each administrative period:
1893-97 (J.M. Whitmore, town president) - Establishment of first governmental facilities; passage of first town ordinances; construction of the first city hall, financed by public subscription.
1898-99 (E.S. Horsley, president) - Tree planting in principal streets of the town; accommodations proved in city hall for newly established district court; patriotic activities supporting the United States in the Spanish-American war; stage in city hall equipped with scenery.
1900-01 (L.M. Olson, president) - Extensive program of health measures formulated and adopted and regulatory ordinances approved.
1902-03 (Reuban G. Miller, president) - Reservoir site purchased; camp ground for freighters established, chairs purchased for town hall auditorium; north addition (area above Price canal) purchased.
1904-05 (A. J. Lee and J. W. Loofbourow, presidents) - General improvement of municipal departmental facilities; construction of reservoir to provide community with culinary water.
1906-09 (A.W. Horsley, president) - First water system finished; street sprinkling equipment placed in service; first modern apparatus fo fire protection acquired.
1910-13 (W. F. Olson, president and mayor) - Price incorporated as city of the third class; municipal lighting system established; corporate limits extended and defined; second reservoir for water system built; city park laid out; sidewalks laid; plans outlined for first sewers.
1914-15 (Carlos Gunderson, mayor) Carnegie library erected and public library board formed; lighting and meter system installed; additional sidewalks' laid; ordinances revised and published in book form.
1916-17 (A. W. Horsley, mayor) Ordinance governing regulation of water use approved; street and traffic ordinances established; fire department formed and motor fire truck purchased.
1918-19 (George A. Wooton, mayor) - Operation of private plant under city control discontinued, and purchase and distribution of power undertaken by the city; Colton Springs pipeline project formulated, bonds sold and line constructed to bring water; sewer system enlarged; open-air dance pavilion erected in City Park.
1920-21 (L.A. McGee, mayor) - Additions and improvements made to pipeline from Colton Springs; city cooperation extended to state and federal governments in paving Main Street in connection with Price-Castle Dale highway concreting project; houses numbered to meet requirements for carrier service from Price post office, city hall remodeled and enlarged. First white way planned and supplies for its installation purchased.
1922-23 (W. W. Jones, mayor) - Electric distribution lines rebuilt; white way installed on Main streat, Park Dale reservoir purchased; city water mains relaid with cast iron pipe; Colton Springs pipeline improved and strengthened; paving of Main Street financed; ordinances revised.
1924-25 (J. W. Loofbourow, mayor) - Projects started previous to this admistration carried forward; general improvements of city properties and facilities.
1926-27 (C. H. Madsen, mayor) - Extensive street improvements undertaken, including large amount of work on curbs and gutters; pipeline replaced for considerable distance with cast iron pipe; first concrete swimming pool constructed; perpetual care system installed in Price cemetery.
1928-31 (W. F. Olson, mayor) - Entire electrical distribution system in city rebuilt; first use of asphalt for street paving purposes undertaken; park, facilities enlarged and developed; improvements and new construction on water line; advertising of Price's attractions as a convention city started.
1932-33 (Rolla E. West, mayor) - General expansion of municipal departments; maintenance facilities increased; streets improved; beautification of city.
1934-35 (B. W. Dalton, mayor) Construction of $100,000 municipal hospital completed and operation of the institution started; new units added to park system; revision of city financial system outlined and started.
1936-41 (J. Bracken Lee, mayor) - New $2,000,000 municipal building completed and occupied; taxes decreased and wages of city employees increased; one-meter electrical system installed and power rates revised; Fourth East street extended from Third to Fourth North to provide approach to Carbon Junior college campus and the thorough fare paved; numerous other streets asphalted and others graveled; necessary ground appropriated for college location; city exhibition grounds reconstructed, lighted and sodded; free garbage system installed; sewage facilities extended to accommodate all previously unserved areas, new white way established on Main street and Price business district provided with best lighting of any similar community in the state; final steps in reconstruction of water line taken with result that the entire system is now built of steel and cast iron; water storage accommodations greatly enlarged, featuring erection of huge steel tank; building of new sanitary swimming pool to replace present natatorium approved; many special improvement districts for streets, sidewalks and sewers organized.
The Sun Advocate - January 2, 1941 pg 2
This is our golden anniversary.
Fifty years ago in Price appeared the first issue of the Eastern Utah Telegraph from which grew, in time the present publication, The Sun Advocate.
It took a lot of nerve to start a newspaper in what was then known as Castle Valley, but in 1891, a hardy gentleman named S. H. King embarked upon a publishing career by starting the Eastern Utah Telegraph. Conducting a law business on the side, he managed to squeeze out a pretty fair living, for a while at least.
In those early days, a great many newspapers were established purely for political reasons, and pioneer editors were considered weaklings if they did not stand positively for or against some things. Sometimes an editor had difficulty in convincing his "gentle readers" that he was their leader or spokesman, but he kept trying, and to freely interpreted editorial opnion often led to the demise of these ambitious men of the press.
It was not long before the first publisher here ran right down the lane of his editorial column into a libel suit. Mr. King sold out.
During Kings' publishing career, a rival paper was started and from then until 1932 when the News Advocate and The Sun joined to form the Sun Advocate there were two papers published in Price. From the first, one was Democratically inclined, while the other upheld the doctrines of the Grand Old Party. If the Republicans won the county elections, which happened occasionally a few decades back, that paper fell heir to all of the county printing, tax lists, and other such printing. The other paper "starve" until the Democrats got into office.
The scheme of things caused some bitter fights, often leading to physical encounters featuring revolvers, fists, and horse whips. It was quite the thing to horsewhip an editor for real or fancied wrongs, and often an editor left suddenly for parts unknown until things cooled off a bit. Early editors wore well enough, considering everything.
Men really took their politics seriously, their whiskey straight, and the fairer sex was generally excluded from the masculine job of printing a newspaper.
The best remembered names in the early newspaper field locally were the Crockett brothers R. W. and John A., and Harry and Mrs. Grace A. Cooper. The Crocketts published The Sun and the Coopers the News Advocate, a combination which eventually went into the formation of the present publication.
These papers differed politically as well as in other fields, causing the people a lot of amusement, for righteous editorial indignation became the usual order of affairs.
R. W. Crockett possessed the peculiar ability of being able to write a whole lot of meaning into a little space. He was the last of the old school, and one of the best and most picturesque.
He really enjoyed carrying an arguments through his paper, to which he always referred as "the great Moral and Religious," and often went out of his way to spice things up a bit. His feud with the county's richest man, the late Dr. F. F. Fisk, grew to be a classic of invective, shrewdly applied over a period of 20 years. For instance Crockett refused to capitalize any letters in Fish's name, printing it "f.f. fisk," and never compliment him with the prefix of "Dr.".
The first newspaper published here had for its motto, "Dedicated to the people of Eastern Utah, upon whom in the main, it depends for its support and in whose interest its influence will at all times be exerted."
Regardless of party affiliation, personal animosities or weaknesses, this continued throughout the years to be the substance of the purpose of all Price publishers.
The Sun Advocate, settled in maturity, has tried to keep the force of the motto always in operation. At the present time, this newspaper claims the distinction of being the largest weekly newspaper in the entire inter mountain area, carrying nothing but home news, printed entirely in its own shop, and dedicated, as always to the people of the area which it tries to serve.
The pioneer days with editorialized news are over. Editorials are kept on the editorial page, where they may be read or left alone, as the subscriber may choose. Principal objective of the newspaper no longer is to influence people politically or otherwise, but rather to present the news with as much accuracy as possible, as well as to publish advertising that benefits both advertisers and readers.
The News Advocate - July 11, 1918 pg 1
Price saw a new kind of Fourth of July celebration last Thursday. The noise of firecrackers and kindred explosives was absent and there was a feeling of seriousness throughout the morning program which has not been customary in former years. Not much effort was made to have a large parade but scores of citizens had their autos gaily decorated and the parade was a most decided success from an artistic standpoint. The surgical dressing class of the Red Cross carried a Red Cross flag into with $17.50 was thrown by spectators. While the oration of Alfred Saxey touched upon former achievements of American arms and the results of the Revolution and the Civil suits of the revolution and the Civil war, not only on our own history but on the history of the entire world, his main theme was the present crisis and the great part that America must play if liberty and democracy are to live. All those who heard it were inspired to more and greater things. A particularly pleasing part of the program was the series of five minute addresses by Americanized Price citizens who were born in the various allied nations; messages of loyalty and co-operation were brought by E. F. Chatlin for France, R. J. Turner for England, A. F. Giovanonni for Italy, and Stylian Staes for Greece. Each one fittingly referred to the glory and strength of his native land and pledged unstinted support of his countrymen now in America to their adopted land in its part in the great struggle. Other features of the program were also greatly enjoyed, chief among which was the flag drill by a dozen girls under the command of Sergeant Brooks and with miss Cornelia Stevenson as standard bearer. The afternoon sports provides much enjoyment. The little folks could hardly wait until 2:30 when their races began. The supply of nickels and dimes was liberal but the rivalry was keen and business in ice cream cones at the Sunday School stand picked up noticeably after the races began. Price defeated Kenilworth 10 to 5 in the ball game. In the evening the high school gymnasium would scarcely accommodate those who wished to dance. The playing of the Sunnyside band throughout the program in the morning and at other times during the day was a big feature. The boys were most liberal with their music and they now have a repertoire of which any such organization might be proud. The playing of the national airs of the various allied nations represented by speakers immediately following the speech was a feature deeply appreciated by the natives of the country represented and added much to that part of the program. The concert on the courthouse lawn at 5 o'clock was enjoyed by a huge crowd. The day passed without incident, there being but one or two drunks seen on the streets and there were no arrests. Every camp in the county was represented in the crowds, many coming to Price in the evening after their own celebrations were completed.
The starting of this mill is due in the first instance to the good offices of the farm bureau. At the present time it is controlled by an organization of farmers and stock growers of Carbon county and Emery counties. It is of the latest type, short system mill, called the Midge Marvel, with a capacity of fifty bushels in twenty-four hours.
The elevator has been recently constructed with reinforced concrete at a cost of $2,000. It has a capacity of 14,000 bushels of wheat. In the near future there will be added a large warehouse.
If business is as satisfactory in the future as it has been in the past there is no doubt in the minds of the farmers that the capacity of this mill and elevator will be increased. The co-operation of about sixty Carbon-Emery county farmers has made this mill a success.
27 Mar 1902
The freighting outfit of the Gilson Asphaltum company reached Price Friday morning, bringing about sixty thousand pounds of gilsonite, having made the trip to the mines, loaded the wagons, made the return trip to Price and placed the gilsonite on board the cards for shipment to the East all inside of twelve days. The outfit started on another trip to the mines last Saturday.
News Advocate - 4 Feb 1916 pg 3
That the Greek colony of Carbon county would prefer to have a plot in the cemetery set aside for the burial of their countrymen and that the same is true of the Italian residents was the statement of Undertaker C. W. Tingley at the council meeting Tuesday evening and the cemetery committee was instructed to take action on the matter at the earliest opportunity. New ground was being surveyed as soon as practicable and here after all the bodies of persons of these nationalities will rest in separate plots.
At present the graves are scattered and friends visiting the cemetery do not know where to find them. The new plan will not only offer many advantages but will give the people so far from their homeland a feeling of having a place of their own where their departed friends are all together.
Eastern Utah Telegraph - 25 Dec 1891 pg 4
Price has one bank, a dentist, two saloons, three hotels, a shoemaker, two carpenters, a good market, one attorney, a barber shop, one newspaper, two daily stages, a physician, two meat markets, one livery stable, four general stores, 500 people, two school teachers and two blacksmith shops.
Eastern Utah Telegraph - 22 Jan 1891
County Court met on the 15th inst. And adjourned the 17th to meet again March 2nd. A large amount of County business was transacted. The old jail, with lot, at Price, was ordered sold and notice issued that sale would take place at march term of court, an excellent move on the part of the court as the property is of no value to the county and is valuable to Price as it gives more attainable business property and thereby assists in the growth of our city. A jail has no business in the center of the city, as our Provo neighbor can testify.
Eastern Utah Telegraph - 19 Mar 1891
Sold to Mr. J. B. Milburn for $202.00
Eastern Utah Telegraph - 19 Feb 1891 pg 4
The dam for the new reservoir will be 350 feet long, 80 feet wide at the bottom and 15 feet wide at the top, the reservoir costing between $1,500 and $2,000. On the upper side there will be two layers of stone to strengthen the dam and prevent washing. Several men and teams are at work and will soon have the reservoir completed. H. E. Atkeson is supertending the construction of the reservoir and will push it to completion as rapidly as possible.
Eastern Utah Telegraph - 8 Jan 1892
- The shoemakers wife goes barefooted and Price without water. When Price was a candidate for the _________, the railroad was promised water. Would it not be a benevolent act on the part of the people of Price if they would be as generous to themselves as they were to the rail road?
Price Ward Golden Jubilee, Nov. 1932
A stalwart, Scandianavian born May 31, 1834, came to Utah September 19, 1856, a successful farmer and sheepman. He was called to the Bishopric Nov. 20, 1882. Ward population at that time being 215. During the time of his office the Townsite was surveyed into city lots. A log meeting house was built and the canal completed. School district organized, adobe school house built and city hall completed. His residence was the most attractive place for many years. He entertained many of the apostles of the church. In later years he filled a mission to Denmark. Died May 21, 1898.
Eastern Utah Advocate - 4 Feb 1897
A. Ballinger came in Sunday night from Salt Lake City where he has had some business before the United States district court.
The timber cutting case against the Price Trading Company was up in the United States district court at Salt Lake City during the week. The result was that the government took judgement against the company for something less than $25.00.
Eastern Utah Advocate - 15 Jan 1891
D. J. Williams has been remodeling his store building and now has one of the finest rooms in town. The show windows in front presenting a metropolitan appearance.
William's Store - opposite of R. G. W. Depot, Price, Utah. General Merchandise & Produce at cash Bargains and Low Prices.
Mrs. Sarah Williams of Salt Lake arrived in town on yesterday's train and will visit a few days with her son.
Eastern Utah Telegraph - 22 Jan 1891 pg 4
Mr. David Williams children have been quite sick for the last week, but are improving now.
David Williams will receive a large lot of boots and shoes in a few days, direct from Boston, which will be sold at his rock prices.
Carbon County News - 18 Jun 1915 (picture)
The above picture will recall fond memories to many of the young and middle-aged people of Carbon County, for it is a picture of the house in which many of them began absorbing book knowledge. It is a likeness of the old adobe school house, recently torn down to make room for a new and modern building. The building was started in 1885 and completed the following year, by A. W. and E. S. Horsley and E. H. Branch. The first school of Price was held at the home of Matthew Simmons in 1883, with Sally Ann Olsen as teacher. The following year Price school district was organized, with W. H. Branch, C. W. Eldridge and John D. Leigh as trustees. This year school was held in the L.D.S. log meeting house, with William J. Tidwell and Isabella Birch (Bryner) as teachers. After the adobe school house was put up, E. S. Horsley, G. W. Eldridge and h. J. Stowelll served a term as trustees. Carlos H. Valentine taught the first term in the new building, and H. G. Mathis, Mrs. Ella Haymond (now of Salt Lake), Joseph W. Davis and Henry Fiack were among the early day teachers. In 1900 the building was sold by the school trustees to the L.D.S. Relief Society and here were held the society meetings and Sunday school for several years. In 1909 the school trustees again purchased the lot and building and since the first of the year the "old adobe" has again seen service as a school house, this step being made necessary by the burning of the public school building on the night of Jan. 3rd last. The work of tearing down this dear old landmark was started ten days ago and today little remains of a building that has done a most commendable service for the community. Peace to its old mud bricks.
Carbon County News - 22 Jul 1910 pg 1
BIG GANG OF MEN HASTENING THE WORK TO COMPLETION IN PRICE
POLES ABOUT ALL UP
Some of the Skilled Men are Real Experts Who are on the Work for City
Work on the electric light and power plant for the city has now been in progress about three weeks. Mr. C. E. Knemeyer of the Capital Electric company of Salt Lake City coming here with two young men Frank Seal and J. C. Goodspeed, mechanical electricians, have been found to be experts in their line. Both these young men have been with this company some time and have worked in many places over the state and have given satisfaction in every instance. The skill of these men have expedited the work materially. These men have, during the past ten days been assisted by a gang of workmen who have been preparing the placing the poles.
The first thing the men accomplished when they came to Price was to make a survey of streets and locate the places for the poles, the holes were dug; and during the digging of holes the more skilled men were barking and placing the arms on the poles, while other men were treating the poles with a compound which preserves the poles from rotting in the ground.
Next came the placing of the poles in and along the streets. There are 200 poles of which are all up except about a dozen.
The placing of the poles was accomplished with unusual rapidity, in many instances a pole was lifted from the ground and placed in the ground and tamped in six minutes.
The poles being up and work thus far having gone well under the able management of C. E. Knemeyer, he will now begin to string the feed wires and place the street lamps on the poles in their respective places.
Mr. Frank Seal, the young, large, strong man takes exceptional pains in his work. By conversing with him we have discovered that he has a very active mind in the electrical field. He is not only skilled in the placing of poles string wire, making electrical connections but we find he is skilled in setting up and manipulating almost every sort of electrical machine, generators, dynamos, testers, grinding, milling, hoisting, and mining electrical machinery. Is familiar with trouble work on telephone lines, gas and electric engines. He is familiar with almost every branch leading from or touching electricity. He has now under consideration an aroplane which he hopes to be able to put into operation in the not far distant future. To be short Mr. Seal is about 22 years old and has in his mind the coming machinery and is living in the thought of the future electrical and aerial enterprises.
The work from the beginning has gone with a snap and when finished it will be a splendid piece of work.
The building for the plant is well under way and we may have light and power in the next few weeks.
Carbon County News - 10 Nov 1910 pg 1
NEW ELECTRIC PLANT IN OPERATION
City Streets and Business Houses Now Lighted by electricity and metropolitan Appearance Presented.
The electric lights were turned on for the first time in Price last Saturday evening and the streets were beautifully lighted for the Republican rally, Governor Spry, who was the principal speaker, stated that we were in possession of one of the best lighting systems in the state. Mayor Olson and the present board of trustees have only been in office about ten months and deserve a great deal of credit for having given Price one of the most complete electric lighting plants in Utah.
The plant was formally accepted by the town board Tuesday, and it will be run by David John Thomas as chief electrician and Ben Mangum assistant.
Carbon County News - Oct 10, 1912 pg 6
George Ryland returned Sunday from Green River, where he has been overseeing the dismantling of the ice plant recently purchased there by Price people. The plant was loaded on the cars Monday and will be set up here as soon as the building to house it is completed. Work on this building is being rushed as rapidly as possible.
Carbon County News - Oct. 24, 1912 pg 8
George Ryland is making excellent progress in the erection of the structure to house the artificial ice plant.
Carbon County News - 21 Nov 1912 pg 1
New Company Formed Monday
At a meeting held in this city Monday there was organized a company that promises to be of inestimable benefit to the people of Price in general, for it will have a beneficial effect on the health of the entire community.
The company is organized under the name and title of the Price Ice & Cold Storage company, and will, within the next fifteen days be putting on the market pure artificial ice, made from distilled water, and also provide for all having use therefore, cold storage for meats, fruits, vegetables and other commodities which it is desire to preserve by this economical and sanitary method. The officers of the company are: J.M. Whitmore, President, B. R. McDonald, Vice President, A. W. McKinnon, Secretary and Treasurer, Joe Magerl, Manager.
George C. Whitmore of Nephi and C. Stanley Price of this city, together with the above named officers, constitute the directorate.
The work of preparing for business has been in progress for the past six weeks, and the company has a main building 40 X 80 feet, with boiler room annex 20 X 32 feet, already erected and the machinery is almost ready to begin work. The plant is located in the western part of town, near the Whitmore residence, and has a manufacturing capacity of 10 tons of pure ice per day. The storage capacity of plant is in the neighborhood of 10 car loads.
In Addition to the cold storage and ice making business, the new company expects to put on the market pure distilled water for drinking and medicinal purposes at a cost that will not justify people in drinking impure water.
Artificial ice, made from distilled water, is know to the men of science as the only strictly pure ice, and the new company should have no trouble in disposing of all its output from the beginning.
Carbon County News - 19 Dec 1912 pg 1
New Ice Plant nearly finished
The large plant of the Price Ice & Cold Storage Company is nearing completion, and about the first of the new year will be ale to furnish ice, made of pure distilled water, in any quantity desired.
This ice is absolutely pure and it is impossible for it to contain disease germs of any kind, as the water from which it is made is converted into lived steam, leaving all impurities behind it and then condensed into water again. This is frozen by the ammonia process, into beautiful clear cakes of ice weighting in the neighborhood of 300 pounds each.
The installation of this plant in Price does away with the necessity of anyone storing ice this winter, made from surface water necessarily more or less impure, and customers will not have to pay for shrinkage on stored ice which often amounts to 50 per cent.
The capacity of the plant, as has been mentioned before, is about 10 tons for every 24 hours, but the directors of the company, with an eye to the future growth of Price and the increased demands that will be made upon them, have provided a boiler capacity of 270 horse power, sufficient to make 50 tons of ice per day with little addition to the rest of the equipment.
The cold storage department has been given special attention, and rooms are being built for all kinds of fruits, egg and meat storage.
Meat and poultry will be kept at a temperature of about 20 above zero, after it has been thoroughly frozen, at which temperature it will keep for years, if necessary, without deterioration.
Butter will be stored in a room at zero temperature, while eggs and apples will be kept at a temperature of 33, or one degree above freezing.
The large force of employees employed in construction the plant are making every effort to have it in running order by the first of the year, and when it is completed the management earnestly desire the public to come and inspect it and see for themselves, what really pure ice is and how it is made.
The plant, ground, etc., represent an investment of $20,000, and it is to be hoped and citizens of Price will support liberally the enterprising proprietors, who have provided them with an ice and storage plant rarely seen in towns three times the size of Price.
Carbon County News - 27 Feb 1913 pg 1
The Price Ice and Cold Storage company is at last in a position to furnish ice to all who wish it. Their plant is complete and in running order, and they have already turned out about 15 tons of crystal clear ice, made from distilled water, the cakes weighing about 300 pounds each.
Carbon County News - Dec. 19, 1912 pg 4
Advertisement for the Price Ice & Cold Storage Company
Our plant will be in operation not later than Jan 1st and we are now in a position to contract ice with all business houses.
During the summer we will run wagons to the business and residence sections
For the benefit of those who patronize soda fountains and other "thirst parlors" we will carry in our advertisements the names of those who are users of Distilled Water and Distilled Ice.
We have immense cold storage rooms and will be prepared to handle all kinds of perishable produce.
Germ-infested water is responsible for three-fourths of the ills of the human race. We use only distilled water and our ice is absolutely pure.
The News Advocate - 31 Mar 1916
Ice Plant Overhauled
The local ice plant is now running in good shape all the minor difficulties having been overcome by D. E. Fisher, the lessee who has been working like a Trojan for the past six weeks. There will be no ammonia in the ice this summer and it is of splendid texture. Mr. Fisher is an experienced man having operated various plants and having put in many of the largest plants in the intermountain country. Up to the time of coming to price to remain he was in charge of the refrigerator plant of Newhouse Hotel. He is ______ the ice to Joe Henry who will _______ to care for the local trade.
News Advocate - 24 Jul 1930 pg 6
Place made on program for Pioneers of Carbon County
All living pioneers who came to this section between 1879 and 1885 have been invited to attend the celebration at Price. All who attend will be introduced from the stand at the program.
Following is a list of the living pioneers as obtained from the Price City ordinance copy: Charles Grames, William Davis, Sarah J. Powell, Gilbert Peterson, George Downard, William Downard, Albert J. Grames, Isabelle Birch Bryner, Ann Birch McIntyre, Margaret F. McIntyre, Guivits, Brabra McIntyre, B. Frank McIntyre, Ad. T. Stewart, Susan K. Steward, Peter I. Olson, Sally Ann Olson, Erastus Olson, Preston D. Nutter, Lydia Simmons, Emmat Mathis, Albert Bryner, C. Harmon Bryner, George Robb, Mary Ann Robb, Seren Olson, Emily F. Olson, Herman Horsley, Henry G. Mathis, E. S. Horsley, A. W. Horsley, Jane Branch, E. E. Branch, Jr. Irmen Branch, Olive Branch Milburn, Susie Branch, Lilly Branch, John E. Bryner, James Bryner, Enid C. Bryner, Margaret A. Horsley, Frank B. Horsley, Minnie Halverson, George C. Mead and Amanda Horsley.
The complete list of pioneers and the year in which they came to Carbon County is as follows: (end of page.)
The Sun - 26 Feb 1931 pg 1
EPSILON SIGMA ALPHA ORGANIZES LOCAL CHAPTER
Local B. P. W. Head is First Member
Mrs. Virginia Norton, field secretary of Epsilon Sigma Alpha, is in Price this week organizing the first Utah chapter of that sorority.
According to Mrs. Norton, the sorority is a national organization for business and professional women and is a national educational sorority. The purpose of the sorority is to give to business and professional women the advantage of selected reading course. The course covers the choicest material in the field of literature, history, art, drama, science and religion and is so arranged to include sufficient biographical, historical, explanatory and critical information to make the reading and learning delight.
The Price chapter will be the Lambda Alpha chapter. Mrs. S. Marion Bliss is first Utah member of the sorority. Mr. Bliss is president of the local, Business and Professional Women's club. The chapter to be installed in Price is limited to twenty-five members. Date of the installations of the local chapter has been set for Wednesday evening, March 4, according to Mrs. Norton. The ceremonies and dinner will be held at Rinette & Capitolo restaurant at 7 o'clock that evening.
Epsilon Sigma Alpha was founded three years ago by Mrs. Adelia Prichard, former national president of the Business and Professional Women's club. The two organizations have been working together since that time. Mrs. Helen Bell, director of public relations for the Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph company, is regional sponsoress.
Under the plan of adult education outlined by this sorority, the business and professional woman's given the equivalent of a three year's art degree in a university or college. The first year's study is more or less basic work. Miss Lamont Poulter, primary supervisor, has been selected educational director for the chapter.
Mrs. Norton, field secretary, is a free lance journalist and says that she will write feature stories of Utah mining while in this state. Associated with her will be Miss Margaret Annis whose profession is publicity and advertising. Miss Annis arrived in Price Thursday morning.
The Sun - 5 March 1931 pg 1
BUSINESS WOMEN'S SORORITY INSTALLS PRICE CHAPTER
Local Organization the First in Utah
Utah's first chapter of Epsilon Sigma Alpha, national sorority for business and processional women was installed in Price Wednesday evening by Mrs. Virginia Norton. Miss Ruth Metz of Helper was elected president.
Dinner was held at Rinette & Capitolo restaurant. Tables were arranged in the shape of an "A" with the speakers at the apex. Individual post of jonquils and yellow candles in blue holders carried out the decorative scheme. The cross bar of the "A"; held a centerpiece of jongjils and blue sweet peas.
Miss Lamont Poulter, primary supervisor and education director of the sorority, gave the address of welcome, which was followed by singing of the Epsilon Sigma Alpha song. Miss Poulter introduced the members and guest.
Mrs. Virginia Norton gave a talk on the purpose of the sorority which was followed by a reading of the constitution and by-laws. The charter was signed with the name of Mrs. S. M. Bliss, first Utah member, leading the list.
Officers were elected and are Miss Ruth Metz, Helper, president; Hazel Aplanalp, vice president, Price; Josephine Fiach, Price, corresponding secretary; Edra Aplanalp, Price, recording secretary; Elma Oman, Price the treasurer; May Bliss, Price, publicity director and Miss Lamont Poulter, Price, educational director.
Following a vocal solo by Mrs. Carl Saxey came the emblem charge when each woman took her emblem from the jonquil bowl. Another solo by Mrs. Saxey, accompanied by Mrs. John Harmon and a short business meeting concluded the exercises. The Price chapter will meet again the third Monday in march. The chapter, Lambda Alpha, will go to Provo in two weeks to assist in installing a chapter there.
by Ray Powell as a 7th grader 1922 as given by Ernest S. Horsley
In 1883 the first school was held at the home of Mathew Simmons with Sally Ann Olsen as first teacher. The Price school District was organized in 1884. The teachers were William J. Tidwell and Isabell Bryner. Logs, planks and slabs were used for desks and tables. The students all sat at one long table to do their writing. Slates were used principally in the school. The blackboard was made of knotty boards colored with a mixture, grey old blue milk and soot.
In 1885 the first adobe school house was built in the northeast corner of the block where the Harding School now stands.
Eastern Utah Advocate - 3 Apr 1902 pg 7
Price People Get Together
Waterworks and Lighting Plants for the Town to be Looked Into-Railroad Committee Named
There was an enthusiastic and also a well attended meeting of citizens, taxpayers and residents generally at Town Hall last Friday evening in response to the call of President Reuben G. Miller of the town board to consider the matter of building a water system for Price and to inquire into other things of vital importance to the community. On motion of Mr. Miller, J.A. Young was chose chairman of the meeting and J.A. Crockett, secretary.
President Miller explained the object of the meeting. The town board desired to know the sentiment of the people in the matter of public improvements, and also how best to proceed in such matters. R. W. Crockett spoke on the waterworks question and his motion that a committee of three be named to consult with some engineer or others, and then submit a plan for waterworks, prevailed. The committee named consists of R. G. Miller, A. J. Lee and Hyrum Frandsen, who are to report to the May meeting of the town board.
J.M. Whitmore addressed the assemblage on the railroad situation an thought the meeting should consider the question, which was done by the naming of himself, A. J. Lee and L. Lowenstein, who are to confer with the railroad people and ascertain if any bonus might be offered by Price to have the Emery county branch go out from there instead of from Mounds. In the meantime Mr. Lee said he knew of his own knowledge that the branch was to be built.
After some discussion by Joseph Jones, George Fausett and Thomas Nichols, the waterworks committee was instructed to also investigate the cost of an electric light plant separately or in connection with the water system. Trustee Mathis also spoke very entertainly and intelligently on the railroad situation.
Eastern Utah Advocate - 10 Apr 1902 pg 2
Waterworks might come a little high at the start, but there isn't a piece of property in the town but what would be increased 25 per cent in value if waterworks were constructed.
We believe the railroad people would think more of Price as a junction point if a waterworks system were put in. Good water would attract the company here as it would also a desirable class of citizens.
When the Price railroad committee visited General Superintendent Welby of the Rio Grande Western at Salt Lake City last week, that gentleman incidentally called attention to the fact that it was high time the people here quit quarreling among themselves and law aside their petty differences for the good of all. Mr. Welby has the thing down about right.
Bingham Bulletin - Still another view
Arguing for local waterworks, the Price Advocate says it would be the part of wisdom to go into debt for the improvement and let the next generation help pay for it, adding that those who are now growing up "will become the owners of the real estate and improvements of today." How about present improvements if they are wiped out by a big fire-a probability so long as Price has no water to fight fire with? If the town were to put in waterworks, in twenty years it would save the cost in reduced insurance and the kids would not have to dig up.
Eastern Utah Advocate, - April 10, 1902. pg 7
Proposed Reduction In Liquor License Turned Down By Unanimous Vote
Ordinances Being Considered.
Tuesday evening's session of the town board was devoted mostly to the consideration of a number of ordinances, but one of which was passed, the others being deferred till a later date, when the board will meeting in committee of the whole and get several ready for final passage, chief among which will be the ordinance governing the town cemetery. The proposed amendment to the saloon ;ordinance, creating two classes of retail liquor dealers, one to pay $400 a year and the other $600, was defeated, and the retail license therefore remains at $600 to all dealers.
The matter of hearing the report from the railroad committee, which went to Salt Lake City and acting upon the recommendations made by the members there of, was postponed for a joint meeting of the citizens, of the town and the trustees at the town hall next Tuesday evening, when it is hoped there will be a large crowd out.
The usual number of small bills were passed and reports from officers of the town read and approved.
VERY MUCH ENCOURAGED
Price Railroad Committee Has Conference With General Superintendent Welby of the Rio Grande Western
Messrs. Whitmore, Lee and Lowenstein, the committee named at a meeting of citizens of Price a few evenings ago to go Salt Lake City and confer with the officials of the Rio Grande Western in reference to having the Emery county branch leave the main line at Price instead of at some point further east, are back home, having made the trip to Zion last week.
The committee has made its report in writing, which was submitted at the meeting of the town board last night. The report cites that a conference was held with Mr. Welby, general superintendent, April 14th, and that he has promised to take the matter up with General Manager Herbert. The committee had nothing definite to offer, but took it upon themselves to guarantee that the company could have such rights of way through the town as it might want.
The committee further assured Mr. Welby that the people here appreciated the benefit such a junction would be and were willing to make or grant any concession which are in reason. The fact was elected from him that no permanent survey has as yet been adopted, though a number have been run to such points as Green River, Farnham and Mounds. These, however, might be changed.
The committee returns home very much encouraged by what they heard and in the report to the town board recommend that a permanent committee be named to keep in touch with the railroad people, which recommendation will no doubt be adopted by the trustees. It has developed that the Emery county branch will not, for a certainty, be constructed to the main line on the north this year. It may, however ye built a ways into Emery county from Salina.
The railroad committee will meet with citizens and the members of the town board at a meeting called for next Tuesday evening. Every citizen of the town is invited to be there.
p.4, The News Advocate, Price, Utah, July 8, 1927
E. R. Covert Visits Price City for First Time in Past Sixteen Years.
Recollections of Price when the tree lined Main street was bordered principally by corrals and large open spaces, lien the first automobile to be seen in this part of the country was owned by Dr. F. F. Fisk, and when groups of miners from the Carbon coal camps frequently indulged in the old rough and bloody game of English rugby, were brought back this week when E. R. Covert, the first photographer ever to come to this region, visited Price.
My first impression of Price when I saw it this week for the first time in sixteen years was that it was an entirely strange city." recounted Mr. Covert. "I looked in vain for the tall poplar trees, which used to line Main street from the Fist National bank corner to the court house, separated from the vacant lots and corrals and the few squat, frame buildings only by a dirt walk. The old Fitzgerald saloon, the Henry Wade and Thomas Fitzgerald homes on Main street, the
telegraph poles in the center of the street, all had vanished. it was hours before I could locate any of the familiar faces, and practically every one of the old landmarks are gone. The Price Co-op and Dr. Fisk's office building are about all that is left to remind me that Price once appeared more like an isolated hamlet than like the thriving little city it now is."
Mr. Covert came here in 1907, and the chief source of work in photography then was from the coal companies, whose mines in Carbon count were busy and prosperous. Mr. Covert grew reminiscent of the days when the Price baseball team could be at everything that came its way. One of the greatest enjoyments then was to load up about half a dozen Studebaker wagons and go off to the ball games, he said. it was at that time, nearly two decades ago, that Carl Mays, who later became a famous picturer in the major leagues, was "discovered." Mays was a trapper in those days and with his partner was brought in one time to work out with the stars on the local nine. He showed ability, pitched two years in the league here and then advanced rapidly until he was among the foremost players of the day.
An account of a hair raising automobile trip down Willow Creek canyon Tuesday night,
across caving a narrow dirt ledges and through the rocky creek bottom, was told by the former
Price resident. Since leaving here, Mr. Covert has been in the advertising business in Salt Lake.
He was connected with the R. L. Polk directories for year and is now working on the Mountain
States Telephone & Telegraphy company directories in the territory.
News Advocate - 4 Feb 1916 pg 8
The brilliantly lighted sky about 2 o'clock Thursday morning awakened many light sleepers even before the whistle called the attention of Price to one of the biggest blazes it has witnessed in many months. The fire was under strong headway in the old frame across the tracks occupied by George Saradakis and Mike Klapakis with a pool hall and lunch room. In spite of the cold weather water was quickly playing on the ruins and the fire was kept from spreading.
The building was a landmark in the old town standing a few doors west of the old courthouse. In was used in the early days by A. J. Lee as a warehouse when Mr. Lee was first a resident of this city. It was later the home of the Advocate when the paper was under the management of R. W. Crockett.
Both the building and contents were well insured.
The News Advocate - 2 Jun 1916
The building of a dam to store water for some of the valuable land in Carbon county is now the most important problem that faces the business men of Price, according to C. R. Marcusen, who brought the matter forcibly to the attention of the directors of the chamber of commerce tonight. Either the Mammoth dam must be rebuilt before the close of another year or a small dam must be built in Pleasant Valley, which can be enlarged as finances permit. The latter plan is a new idea but seems perfectly feasible. The railroad will have to be moved only a short distance up the side of the hill and but a little work will have to be done to put in a six or eight foot dam which will hold back more water than was in the Mammoth reservoir. This dam can be enlarged gradually as money is secured and additional acreage watered. The question was informally discussed and left until the meeting next Wednesday night for further action.
Plans Advance for Organization of Baseball Loop
The Sun - 5 Mar 1931
Plans continue to go forward for the organization of an Eastern Utah baseball league. A meeting was held in the Eastern Utah Electric Company building Tuesday evening with representatives of various towns in attendance, and a motion was passed that the league be organized and a meeting called for Sunday, March 15, in Price to elect directors, Sam Shortino, business manager of the Price team, presided at the session.
Strong sentiment in favor of using only home talent was expressed by the delegates, who gave assurance that their communities would enter if a ban was placed on imported players. Although not represented at the session, leaders of the baseball movement in Hiawatha and Mohrland advised Shortino by telephone that a team from players of those two communities would enter.
Dr. C. R. Fahring of Helper reported that the railroad town contemplated entering the Central Utah league again this year, but thought that there was enough material available to enter a second team in the eastern loop as well. Kenilworth, Columbia-Sunnyside, Price and Emery county are almost assured entrance. Latuda is also taking interest in the sport, and have communicated with Shortino regarding entering a team from there.
Use of home talent is expected to be a big factor in developing younger players of the county and when the teams are organized the youngsters are urged to make a bid for places.
The Sun Advocate, Price, Utah - pg l, August 26, 1937
Federal Funds Now Available; State's Portion Ready For Some Time.
Definite steps in the direction of construction of Utah's newest higher educational institution and the first school of its kind to be placed in Eastern Utah, Carbon college, are expected to be taken within the next few weeks.
Word to President 0. H. Guymon of the Carbon school board from the state building commission early this week indicated that Utah was soon to start action of the project authorized by the state legislature at its last session, the communication being received directly from the office of Charles E. Skidmore, state superintendent of education.
On Wednesday word was received from Senators King and Thomas to the effect that the federal funds in the amount of $123,211 had been made available now for construction work on the new school. It is understood that the state's portion has been ready for some time, that the waiting has been entirely due to the definite receipt of the national government's appropriation.
Work of actual construction should be under way in the very near future as the original plans called for opening of the college for the 1938-39 term. It is probable that work on the buildings will be rushed after a start is made in order that the school will be in readiness for the originally scheduled opening.
TAKEN FROM THE "SUN", PRICE PAPER FOR 1924
Carbon County News, Price, Ut - pg 1, December 23, 1910
W.H. Pace, Secretary, and Treasurer of the Acme Collapsible Umbrella Co., will leave about the first of the year for Chicago and other eastern cities to arrange for the manufacture of the invention and to put it on the market. The directors of this company are very enthusiastic over the prospects of success with their umbrella, and they have several letters of encouragement from inventors, also from factories offering to manufacture the goods. The directors are well known business men of Price and we feel sure will made a success of it. They are J. C. Callaway, President; J. Arthur Thomas, Vice-President; W. H. Pace, Secretary and Treasurer; Erastus Peterson, J. W. Gentry, James Peterson.
The capital stock is fifty thousand dollars or 2,000,000 shares at 25 cents a share James Peterson is the inventor, and his genius will make all the directors of the company rich.
The Carbon County News, Price, Utah - pg 1, Sept 16, 1910
A GREAT ENTERPRISE
The Golden Rule Store is Conducting Mammoth Dry Goods Business
BIG NEW BRICK BUILDING
Corps of Attentive Sales People With L. W. Thompson Manager
The Golden Rule Store in Price is one of the largest enterprises in this part of the country. And while a large enterprise for this part is only one of nineteen such enterprises.
At Price the business is conducted in a splendid brick building, just completed. The store occupies the entire first floor which is 25 x80 feet as well as the splendid basement which is large and commodious. The first floor is used as a store room while the basement is used as a store room for incoming boxes and bales of goods.
The system of buying goods for the nineteen stores is the stronghold of the Golden Rule company. This company has a staff of buyers in the eastern market, whose business it is to buy goods for these nineteen stores and who are skilled in buying merchandise which enables them to buy far more favorably than any party with a single mercantile establishment or two. The large purchases made by this system puts all ordinary merchants at disadvantage. This system is unsurpassable, because goods well purchased are easily sold at a bargain to both the people and the merchant. The Golden Rule people claim that they make a profit on every sale, and at the same time sell goods cheaper than any other merchant. The store is kept well supplied with all the goods handled by a store that keeps up with the styles and seasons. The goods are never permitted to become shelf worn. Everything is new and right from the factory. The reason goods are never shelf-worn is because the management keeps the goods moving. Therefore there is scarcely an article on hand for a greater length of time than thirty days.
The Golden Rule people are noticeably enterprising. When you enter the store you are promptly shown the goods. You are politely waited upon in such a way as to have you know that your patronage is appreciated and you feel like returning and making another purchase. Every sales person is wide awake and always polite to all customers and really pleased to show you the goods in the store because they know as well as you will know when you make a purchase that the goods are worth the price and more as compared with the competition of the Golden Rule stores.
Mr. L. W. Thompson, the manager of the Golden Rule at Price is an exceptionally courteous gentlemen. He is always pleased to see his many friends as they enter the store or when he finds them along the way on the street, and this is a valuable asset to the business of any commercial establishment.
There is no waiting when you go to the Golden Rule to make your purchases. The minute a salesperson has supplied the wants of one customer another customer is
immediately approached and looked after. It matters little what you want or what grade you car to select you will find it at the Golden Rule store. All the goods are pleasantly displayed and every article is marked in plain figures. Every person gets the same price on the same article . Children may buy as well as adults and that with the same treatment and same price.
The Golden Rule people handle only such things as properly come within the
scope of dry goods and this in their store here consists of clothing, hats, caps, ladies' and gentlemen's wearing apparel of every sort, rugs, curtains, yard goods, trunks, valises and a thousand and one things kept in a splendidly supplied dry goods store. When you consider, the stock carried by the Golden Rule people and figure that its turned over every thirty days you have some idea of the volume of business carried on during the twelve months.
The News Advocate, Price, Ut - p. 2, February 17, 1921
J.C. PENNEY TELLS HIS STORY OF HOW BIG CHAIN OF STORES GREW SO FAST
J.C. PENNEY TELLS IN THE FEBRUARY SYSTEM, A MAGAZINE OF BUSINESS,
His idea of conducting a business and to what he attributes the success of the Penney chain of stores. As the Price store and some of the men who have worked here figure prominently in the article, a small part of it is here reproduced that readers may see the Penney side and draw their own conclusions:
"Nineteen years ago out in Kemmerer, a little Wyoming town, stood on the mainstreet a roomy, sturdily built store. The proprietor was well rated and carried stock which on an average, he took pride in saying, was worth $100,000. He sold on credit-mostly long credit-and was known to do a business running to $150,000 a year.
"He bought entirely from salesmen and never bothered to visit the big city markets. He bought also on credit- mostly long credit. His half- dozen or more clerks had been with him a long time; they were experienced and they intended to stay on as clerks; they knew the stock and the high and low prices for each item. They knew something of human nature-enough, anyway, meticulously to bargain.
"It was the custom in those parts then to dicker over all prices. That was an established store, one of the few landmarks of Kemmerer. Anybody who was anybody for miles around owed the proprietor money.
Around the corner from the big store there stood a weatherbeaten old one and one-half story shack with a twenty-five foot front and a depth of forty feet. It strikingly resembled a none too carefully put up construction camp. Into it one day came a man and his wife and set up a general dry goods store with a stock of staple goods that were worth about $6000. The couple slept in the bare half-story room over the main floor and their furniture was wholly made from packing boxes a and crates. They were itinerants in property but residents in intention. What little they had they kept very clean and not only was their sales stock fresh, new and good, but also their prices were far below those of the big store. They had bought it directly in the big markets and for cash. However, they sold only at one price and for cash; they would not shade a price for a large buyer or give credit to the richest man in the country.
"The people did not like that way of doing business; their intelligence was insulted by the notion that the newcomer expected them to pay the first price asked and their integrity was assailed by his refusal to open books. But the prices were attractive and so whenever they had money to spare they bought at the new store. When they needed time they bought at the old store. The shack did a business of $29,000 that first year.
"The big store is still there but it is no bigger than when the little store started. The little store is now a big store, but it is guided by exactly the same principles as was the shack. It is known as the "mother store" of a chain of 312 stores that last year did a business of about $5,000,000.
"My wife and I were the couple who started that little store. We honeymooned cheerfully among packing cases. I was the manager and she was the clerk. Out of that store grew other stores and out of them grew still other stores, and out of them grew more stores, until we have the many stores of today. But I did not start all of the stores and do not own them. I did not start that first store on my own money; I had only a third interest at the beginning-two other men held shares. My third interest had been gained by work and saving.
"Just as I was a partner in that store, so other men became partners with me in later stores and then they in turn took partners. All of them gained their interests by work and saving. No man ever came in because he had money to invest. The only money that ever counted with us was that which represented the margin of earning over spending by men who worked so hard that their time for earning was great and their time for spending was small. Thus the chain made its own links and they were human, no money links.
The story of how it all happened- and why it all happened- is a human story. It has nothing to do with financial genius or financial giants, and never has dwelt in marble halls. It is essentially a story of small, hard wrking western towns and hard working men pioneers in their way and as willing as the men who walked beside the prairie schooners to fight on short rations one day in the hipe that they might win better rations on the morrow,
"We have now a great organization, but it is great only because the number of units is great. The units themselves are all small and we differ from the man with a small or moderate sized business only in having a large number of these businesses. There is nothing in any of our methods that calls for unusual human or financial resource. It is just that today we are a bundle of fagots; yesterday we were only a single fagot. The cords that bind the bundle together are work and the traditions of work.
"In my own family work has been a tradition and at times an obsession. My father used to tell me how his father kept the youthful mind from going shallow and the youthful hands from going soft by interesting exercise with a stone pile in what might have been idle moments. When no other task could be found, my father carried stones from the yard out into the road and when he had them all out and neatly piled, then straightway he turned about and carried them back again. That mound of broken rock was the family monument to work.
"My father, who was a preacher, grew up in an atmosphere of work, but with something of a prejudice against work as an end in itself. He never put me on a stone pile. But whatever useful work was to be done, had to be done and as quickly as possible. At 19 I was clerk in the country store at $25 a year; it was an ordinary country store, which means that it was a combination of club, warehouse, and loan association
We bought from salesman in large lots at infrequent intervals; we sold for what we could get, and, as usual in a farming community, carried all the customers on our books. They cleared up partially once or twice a year. In the second year the owner advanced me to $200 and for the third year he promised me all of $25 a month.
"But I saw no chance ahead and, leaving home, found a job with Johnson and Callahan in their store at Evanston, Wyoming. Those men were merchants; they sold for cash at a fixed price and kept their expenses down. What is more they kept their goods up and twice a year went all the way to New York to buy directly from the manufacture and for cash. I did not then comprehend all that meant; I had an idea that perhaps they went for the trip as well as for the goods. But I did notice, that the prices in the store were unusually low and that the owners always had cash on hand.
"I had entered their store merely as a clerk. Over me was a chief clerk or manager; on the first day I went out to lunch with him. We had an hour for lunch but we were through with our meal in less than half an hour. I went back to the store, but the clerk sat down in the hotel lobby to smoke a cigar and read the paper. The second day we went out again and then he suggested that if I kept getting back too quickly it might reflect upon him. He was right. It did. In less than a month he was fired and I was put into his place.
"Then I began to comprehend why Johnson and Callahan went to New York. I learned for the first time that buying was something different from sitting in a store and letting a salesman sell to you. The partners shopped around, and having cash in their pockets, they bought at the lowest prices.
"I was astonished at what goods could be bought for by this method, for the prices they paid did not average one-half of what we had been charged in the old store. They taught me that borrowing goods was more expensive than borrowing money and that the way to buy was to go to the place where the article is for sale at first hand and there to offer cash. That, I think, is the first principle of merchandising.
"After three years the partners began to consider opening a store in Kemmerer. By that time I have save $500. The store was planned to start with a capital of $6000 and they offered me a third interest if I could raise the money; I borrowed $1500 and took their offer. I wanted a chance to work on my own account. We agreed that I was to have a salary of $75 a month, while my wife was to have $25 for her work.
"They thought it was a good thing to have a husband and wife work together. So do I. It teaches values and curbs extravagance. Today we like to have the wives of our men work with them whenever the care of children does not prevent. In most of our stores the wives, if they do not work regularly, come in as extra help on Saturday nights. Our business is not done in limousines.
"Within five years I had paid off my loan and bought out my partners. We, however, continued our joint buying trips to the East until my buying was large enough to gain the quantity advantage. I never bought from a salesman and never asked for credit. In those days I did not even borrow from the bank. Everything was on a cash basis and i bought and sold only staple lines of dry goods and notions. They sold quickly because the price was low, the quality was high, and the guarantee of satisfaction was absolute. I found that I had to make more than two trips a year to market and also I found that buying frequently permitted me always to dispose of my stock on the buying price. My sales expense never exceeded 10 per cent and was usually lower. I could make a good profit at prices the other stores could not touch and so I never had to hold a mark-down or bargain sale. That has since become a policy.
"Needing a clerk, I hired a young man E. C. Sams. That was in 1907. I hired him because he said he wanted to work and I kept him because he did work. The panic of 1907 had not touched me; it had only enabled me to buy at very low prices for cash and hence gave me a still greater advantage over competitors who wanted to buy on credit - when credit was hard to get. I wanted to start another store - my surplus money could not all be employed in Kemmerer.
I opened a store in Cumberland, Wyo. And put in Sams as manager to try him out. He proved more than capable; both the stores were doing as well that a third store seemed feasible. Then started the partnership idea on which our system of today is founded. I offered him a third interest in the new store which we decided to open in Eureka, Utah; he had the money and he took the interest, thus assuming with me the same relation as I had held with Johnson and Callahan. That store to became a success and out of it he opened a branch store at Price, Utah, in which I also had an interest.
"In Eureka, Sams had a good salesman named Kendall. Just as I had sent Sam to Cumberland to try him out, so Sams send Kendall to Price. Having proved himself, he was offered a partnership in a new store that he was to start at Trinidad, Colorado. In that store I had a third, Sams a third and Kendall a third interest.
"From this store a branch was opened as a tryout store for men trained by Kendall. Next came Watland; he was trained at Eureka under Sams. When Sams came on to the New York headquarters, he took charge. Then he went to work for Kendall at Trinidad. Having made good, he went out to founda store at Fort Morgan, Colorado as a partner. In this store the partners were Sams, Kendall and Watland.
"There I dropped out; I am still interested in Eureka and Price with Sams and in the stores that start our from these stores; I am interested in Trinidad and the trout store but not in the stores started out of Kendall's stores. Thus with successive men has the chain developed; the operation seems complicated in telling, but it is simple enough in practice.
"There you have the idea behind what is now a great chain of stores. They are not stores they are individually owned distributing stations formed on the power of human association and in the exposition of these broad policies.
Grand Junction, Colo. To Salt Lake City, Utah
Price: Kozy Restaurant on right; good meals, prompt service, Savoy Hotel on left at ninth and main Sts.; good hotel, splendid rooms.
This is the eastern foot of the famous Wasatch range. It is especially interesting from here to Salt Lake City. It is seven miles to the town of Helper over almost level canyon road. From there up the Price River Canyon through the clean, attractive coal mining town of Castle Gate the road is good but narrow. Then begins the real climb to Soldier Summit over easy winding dugway road. This road should not be attempted when wet. It dries quickly; sound horn frequently.
The road down Mill and Spanish Fork Canyon on the wester slope is good. Turn left at mouth of canyon, following Midland Trail markers to Spanish Fork. From here to Salt lake City the roads are good in all kinds of weather.
Leaving Price (corner Ninth and Main Sts., 189.3) go north on Ninth St. one block turning left jog right with R. R., crosing at 189.7; turn right along R. R. 195.4, past power house on left; past Kenilworth, 195.6 to Helper.
Eastern Utah Telegraph - 15 Jan 1891 pg 4 Among the many questions of public interest to the citizens of Price, and one we would like to see agitated, is the incorporation of the town. The expenses of a city government would be light, the revenue now derived from the business represented being more than ample to afray them if judicially applied. Schools The vision of the early settlers extended over the field of education. The first public school was established in the home of Matthew Simmons in 1883, with Sally Ann Olsen as the instructor. Price school district was organized in 1884, with William H. Branch, George W. Eldredge and John D. Leigh as trustees. School was held in the log meetinghouse of the L.D.S. church with William J. Tidwell teaching in the fall of 1884, and Isabella Birch (Bryner) in May, 1885. From the humble beginning through a period of years the schools of Price have developed to a system composed of more than a thousand children housed in three elementary school buildings and one high school, which was constructed in 1912, and working under a teaching crops of more than forty instructors. To accommodate out of town pupils of the Carbon High a system of dormitories was established in August, 1917. This, maintained as it is by the Carbon County school district is unique in that it is one of the few of its kind in the United States. The buildings that house the pupils were purchased from the Methodist church, which organization founded the Price Academy. Tabernacle This modest structure has given place to the magnificient tabernacle which was built at a cost of more than ninety thousand dollars. This building has now (1924) been in use for ten years, but was not dedicated until July 1, 1923. The ward authorities of Price from the Latter-day Saints standpoint have been reorganized several times. On July 12, 1896, Ernest S. Horsley became Bishop, with Albert Bryner and Henry G. Mathis as counselors. Again the ward had new leaders when on May 2, 1909, Albert Bryner was made bishop with Oliver J. Harmon and Joseph T. Barton as counselors. Albert Bryner was released on January 8, 1921, and George A. Wootton, Orson H. Guymon and W. E. Stoker were set apart to preside. Bishop Wootton having removed to Salt Lake City, William E. Stoker was called as bishop, January 7, 1923, and together with his counselors presides at the present time. Park Dale Addition to Price A new residence district will be opened north of the City park at Price this year. This is the Park Dale townsite tract and lots are being sold only to bona fide home builders. No home will cost less that $2,500, and only residence will be permitted. This...