Mühlbach and the telephone

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To the left, just above the path, is the Scheidegg basin, a large water reservoir from which water was diverted for the turbine power plant Mühlbach. On December 9, 1909, the first power plant went into operation in Mühlbach am Hochkönig. Once again, mining brought modern developments to the region.

Mühlbach was one of the first places in the state of Salzburg to have a telephone system. In 1901, the first private telephone system was installed for the "Mitterberger," connecting, among other locations, to the smelting plant in Außerfelden (municipality of Bischofshofen, now Mitterberghütten). Along the factory road, completed in 1852 and rebuilt in 1879 after a severe thunderstorm, a total of 250 telegraph poles were erected. Four wire lines allowed for two simultaneous conversations.

The private telephone system was also connected to the Ruperti-Berghaus (later Rupertihaus), the canteen (now Mandlwandhaus), the office of the duty supervisor, the timber yard, the central office in Mühlbach am Hochkönig with house connections for the accountant, cashier, and forester, and a separate hotline in the Alpine inn on Mitterberg (now Arthurhaus).