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The Engineering Department maintains the City's streets and bridges, designs and oversees construction of public works projects, provides traffic and transportation planning, and operates the sewer and solid waste utility. The position of City Surveyor was created in 1873 to survey the City, establish boundaries and street grades, and administer condemnation processes. This position was renamed City Engineer in 1890. In 1931 the Engineering Department absorbed part of the Department of Public Utilities and in 1936 it assumed the responsibilities of the Department of Streets and Sewers.

Annual report of department activities including statistical reports on construction projects and financial recapitulations.

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Correspondence, estimates of expenses, payroll statements, and various reports by the City Engineer. Includes correspondence of Albro Gardner and Reginald H. Thomson.

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Memoranda to and from the City Engineer relating to department policy and projects.

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Correspondence, reports of work completed, bid tabulations, payroll distributions, local improvement summaries, and other reports relating to department activities.

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Correspondence, notices of appointment, requests for classification, employment and separation reports, and other personnel actions. Arranged chronologically.

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Correspondence, memoranda, and reports relating to Engineering Department projects and activities. This series is essentially the Department's central subject file.

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Specifications, estimates of work completed, correspondence, notices, certificates of completion, ordinances, contracts, and sketches relating to local improvement districts in Ballard, Georgetown, Columbia, West Seattle, and South Park. These are LID projects that were completed under the administration of the Engineering Department after the communities were annexed by the City of Seattle.

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Register of amount and cost of fruits, vegetables, and hay purchased by the department. Also includes register of purchases by the City Hospital, stockade, and City Stables with the purpose of identifying rancid produce.

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These spread sheets show the numbers and locations of various types of businesses throughout Seattle in 1938. Also includes recapitulations comparing information from 1909 and 1938.

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Correspondence, bid sheets, reports on majority petitions, notices to commence work, and completion notices relating to local improvements. Arranged chronologically.

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Project plans, property descriptions, condemnation ordinances, judgments and awards of compensation documenting the condemnation of private property by the City for public works projects. Includes drawings of improvements and some files include photographs. Arranged by condemnation ordinance.

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Includes correspondence, reports, ordinances, claims, court documents, patents, deeds, contracts, blueprints, maps, and photographs relating to court cases brought either against or by the City of Seattle concerning property damage due to natural causes, street grading, or construction projects. Case topics include railroads, waterways, bridges, parks, libraries, and streets. Arranged numerically by case number.

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Memoranda, correspondence, meeting minutes, maps, blueprints, newspaper clipping and presentational material concerning various traffic control topics. Subjects include traffic planning, street closures, civil defense, traffic safety, and traffic control. The bulk of material relates to the World War II period.

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Reports, surveys, studies and correspondence relating to traffic and transportation planning in Seattle. Subjects include Central Business District Exclusive Transit Lanes, METRO, Seattle Center, West Seattle Bridge, and World War II planning among others.

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Annual reports from Traffic Engineering, arranged chronologically.

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Minutes, correspondence, and reports of Commission established to coordinate activities of departments with jurisdiction over traffic problems. Issues include parking, congestion, street lighting, speed limits, and traffic flows.

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Maps, plans, and profiles. Maps include topographical, plat, annexation, precincts and wards, and various types of districts. Plans include architectural drawing for municipally owned buildings and structures, and site plans for construction and improvement projects. Profiles are generally of water and sewer pipelines and street grades.

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Drawings and engineering calculations relating to construction of the Ballard and Twelfth Avenue South (over Dearborn) bridges.

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Original tracings of land use and zoning district maps and mile square charts including types of occupancies, occupancy and street acreage, and zone distributions of acreage. Also includes Kroll Map sections of zoning districts. The Sanitary Survey was a Works Progress Administration project (#5638) to collect data on the "health, welfare and comfort of citizens" to assist in planning for "the proper, orderly and economic development of this region." This series represents only the land use data of the survey.

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Daily time books for departmental survey crews. Entries include date, weather conditions, names of crew and job, work order and ordinance numbers, resolution and LID numbers, name and nature of job, survey book used, page, time on survey, name of street or avenue, and nature of work (levels, cross sections, footings, etc.). Also notes whether job is a Work Progress Administration project.

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Building, sewer, watermain, curb, and intersection grades including address or location, a drawing with grade, calculations and dimensions, and remarks. Also includes ordinances and LID numbers where applicable. This records series has been sampled by selecting one volume every fifth year.

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Slides related to public works projects, designs and reports. Includes paving, bridge maintenance, landslides, water supply, and Public Utility Department materials. Some slides were produced for planning workshops. Also includes images from the Municipal Plans Commission "Bogue Plan" and a tour of Egypt to study irrigation.

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Photographic negatives shot by the Seattle Engineering Department photographers documenting public works, municipal facilities, damage to streets and buildings by earthquakes and slides, and natural features. Includes images of the Cedar River Watershed, Skagit River power development, bridge construction, sanitary landfills, Seattle's waterfront, and pipeline construction, among others. Of particular interest are images of the Smith Tower construction and general shots of the Firland Sanitorium.

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Miscellaneous slides produced from historical photographs. Includes images of downtown streets, the waterfront, damage after the Great Fire of 1889, Pike Place Market, the old public library building, Seattle Hotel, and Cedar Falls Municipal Light Plant.

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Motion picture film primarily of various engineering and public works projects. Includes footage from the construction of Ross and Diablo Dams, the Tolt River Watershed, the first and second Denny Hill Regrades, and many traffic control and streets projects. Also included are films of community celebrations.

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Reports, correspondence, and surveys concerning construction and maintenance of the First Avenue South Bridge. Includes records related to bridge approaches, surface work, lighting and testing. Material arranged alphabetically by subject.

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Correspondence, memoranda, and reports on the West Seattle Freeway. Material covers condemnations, landscaping, construction and roadway maintenance. Arranged alphabetically by record type.

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Correspondence, memoranda, and specifications for the Sixteenth Avenue Southwest Bridge. Arranged alphabetically by record type.

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Reports, surveys, correspondence, meeting minutes and presentational material concerning various aspects of R. H. Thomson Freeway construction. Subjects addressed range from earthquake studies to the site of the interchange. Folders are arranged alphabetically by type, bound reports and surveys are arranged alphabetically by subject. The freeway was begun but never finished.

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Correspondence, memoranda, engineering notes, reports, logs, photographs, blueprints, maps, and accounting notes relating to the construction of the Tolt River Dam. Construction correspondence is arranged chronologically and includes a rudimentary index.

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Correspondence, reports, estimates, specifications, and testing data concerning bridge construction, planking, and grading. Records relate almost exclusively to the bridges spanning the Lake Washington Ship Canal.

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Bid proposals, correspondence memoranda, and monthly estimates of work completed relating to excavations and construction of a new Municipal Building (Yesler Building). After completion, the building housed the city jail, municipal court, and emergency hospital.

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Register of labor and materials used by the Engineering Department to complete construction and improvement projects for the Parks Department.

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Records of the construction of the Cedar River Watershed facilities and subsequent repair and replacement of pipelines. Materials also relate to the West Seattle, Beacon Hill, and Volunteer Park pipelines. Includes correspondence, agreements and contracts, specifications, maps, test results, grade sheets, and work estimates.

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Correspondence, specifications, estimates, and drawings relating to the construction of the aqueduct, pipelines, chlorinating plant, and dam at Lake Youngs.

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Correspondence, contracts, work estimates, drawings, and notes relating to construction of Landsburg Dam. The project was financed by Water Bonds purchased by the Reconstruction Finance Corporation.

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Records relating to the development and construction of the Cedar Falls Power Plant. Includes correspondence, specifications, contracts, reports, estimates of work completed, maps and drawings, and test results.

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Construction records for the Tolt River Watershed including correspondence, reports, test results, specifications, contracts, and work estimates relating to dams, pipelines, and reservoirs.

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Drawings, correspondence, agreements, legislation, certificates of completion, and estimates relating to private agencies granted contracts to develop areas at their own expense. Arranged by street or plat.

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Correspondence, memoranda, cost estimates, specifications, agreements and contracts, and maps for non-local improvement district public works projects.

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Estimates of work completed on local and miscellaneous improvements. Includes date, contractor, project name, progress to date, progress required by contract, contractors estimate of expenses, previous estimates, amount paid. Arranged chronologically.

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Bids to supply rock crushers and screens to the City.

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Inspectors' reports to either the City Engineer or Board of Public Works. Includes recommendations on construction and improvement permits, and inspections of work. Four Volumes contain indexes to streets.

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Correspondence and notices to contractors and vendors regarding repairs of streets and sidewalks. Includes inspection reports on conditions of streets. Contains an index by name of contractor and vendor.

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Reports on condition of bridges with recommendations of maintenance and repair work needed. Includes correspondence to the Mayor, superintendents of Utilities and Streets and Sewers, franchise operators and contractors.

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Correspondence and reports of the City Engineer or Franchise Inspector relating to the extension and operation of franchises in Seattle.

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Correspondence, working papers, reports, environmental impact statements, studies, testimony, conference presentations, and recommendations relating to research on converting solid waste to methanol or ammonia. Included is material concerning siting of a conversion plant. Correspondence includes input from government agencies and officials, community organizations, and the scientific community.

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The Department of Streets and Sewers was responsible for the planning, construction, repair, and cleaning of the City's streets, sidewalks, and sewers. City Council appointed the first Street Commissioner in 1875. The position came under the jurisdiction of the Board of Public Works in 1890. The position of Superintendent of Streets, Sewers and Parks was established in 1896. Authority over parks was removed in 1904. The Department was abolished in 1936 and became the Maintenance Division of the Engineering Department.

Correspondence and memoranda to and from the Superintendent of Streets and Sewers relating to improvement, street and sewer conditions, construction projects, personnel issues, and other department matters. Arranged chronologically.

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Reports of Chief Inspector and District Foreman concerning street and sewer conditions, construction and improvement project work, and accidents. Each volume contains a subject index.

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Monthly summaries of operating costs for vehicles in the department fleet. Includes daily account of gasoline and oil used, miles and hours driven, size and type of loads, location of use, and cost per mile for operation.

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Summary of materials and labor costs for improvement projects. Includes project location and type of improvement.

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Name, job title, and monthly pay for Street and Sewers Department employees.

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Annual report of departmental finances and activities.

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Correspondence, memoranda, and reports from the Superintendent of Streets to paving contractors, businesses, and individuals regarding maintenance and repair of streets and sidewalks. Most of the directives are routine orders for repairs. Also includes lists of Independent Asphalt Paving Company contracts, report of construction and operation of the Municipal Asphalt Plant, and information regarding City assumption of paving contracts.

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Daily balance book showing appropriation for various accounts, balances available each day, amounts paid to vendors, and daily and monthly recapitulations. Includes summaries of labor, materials, and miscellaneous expenses for cleaning and repairing water troughs, drains, sand boxes, sewers, streets, sidewalks, and street crossings. Also includes expenditures and labor hours by ward.

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Primarily incoming correspondence including requests and complaints relating to streets and sewers improvements and construction. Arranged alphabetically by correspondent.

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The Streets and Sewers Committee was a standing committee of the City Council. It studied, deliberated, and legislated on issues relating to maintenance of streets and sidewalks and the sewer system. The Department of Streets and Sewers maintained a reference record of Committee proceedings and actions.

Proceedings maintained by the department of meetings of City Council's Streets and Sewers Committee. Includes detailed information regarding actions on LID assessment rolls, resolutions, and Council Bills; petitions filed; and claims and awards of jury in condemnation proceedings.

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Log of petitions filed with the City Council's Streets and Sewers Committee. Includes petition number (Clerk File number), date, and subject.

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Correspondence, estimates of work completed, notices of laying pipelines and power lines, notice of final payment, etc. relating to construction of electric power plant. Primarily correspondence of the City Engineer.

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Correspondence and contracts relating to construction, maintenance, and specifications for watermains, pipelines, standpipe, and reservoirs in the Cedar River Water System.

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Correspondence of City Engineer and Water Supply Engineer relating to construction, stress tests, claims against trespassing, and maintenance in the Skagit River Power System.

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Correspondence related to the construction, extension, and maintenance of Seattle's water system. Includes information on reservoirs, watermains, and pipelines. Volume 1 contains correspondence and calculations of Benezette Williams who conducted the first survey of the Cedar River Watershed and issued the City's first water system plan. Records are missing for years 1913-1919.

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Correspondence, bids and specifications, and grade sheets relating to Seattle's water distribution system. Correspondence deals with extension of fire service, laying of watermains, and general extension of water to the City. Grade sheets provide elevations, grade, fill amounts, and remarks for various station points along distribution routes.

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Reports, studies, and correspondence concerning Seattle's Tolt River Watershed. Includes geologic reports, foundation condition, design studies, and a history of the Tolt River.

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The Lake City Sewer District served the community north of 85th Street. Seattle annexed 60 percent of the District area in 1953. The City assumed maintenance for the system while the District continued to provide service in the annexed area. In 1974-1975, the City purchased the remaining District assets.

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Lake City Sewer District Minutes
1953-1971
1.0 cubic foot

Agendas, meeting minutes, notes and financial statements of Lake City Sewer District. Subjects include sewer district expansion, sewer maintenance, and accounts management.

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The North Beach Sewer District served the sewer needs of north end residents until 1953 when the area it covered was annexed by the City of Seattle. The City's sewer utility assumed control of the District property and system, and connected it to the Seattle sewer system.

Proceedings of the District's Board of Commissioners. This outlying system was taken over by the City when the northend annexations occurred in the 1950s.

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Administrative and subject files relating to construction, financing, maintenance, and policy in the district. Specific topics include waste treatment, railroads, schools, fire protection, and district elections.

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