Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Seattle Water Department Reports and Writings, 1903-1948
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Seattle (Wash.) Water Dept.
- Title
- Seattle Water Department Reports and Writings
- Dates
- 1903-1948 (inclusive)19031948
- Quantity
- .2 cubic foot, (1 box)
- Collection Number
- 8200-16
- Summary
- Reports and writings regarding Seattle's Water Department.
- Repository
-
Seattle Municipal Archives
Seattle Municipal Archives
Office of the City Clerk
City of Seattle
PO Box 94728
98124-4728
Seattle, WA
Telephone: 2062337807
Fax: 2063869025
archives@seattle.gov - Access Restrictions
-
Records are open to the public.
- Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- Funding for processing this record series was provided through a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
Historical NoteReturn to Top
A public waterworks was created by City Charter amendment in 1875. However, Seattle was served primarily by small private water companies for the next decade-and-a-half. Following the Great Fire of 1889, citizens voted to fund creation of a municipally owned water system. The City purchased the private systems and began development of the Cedar River Watershed, and since 1891, has owned and operated a municipal water system. The system was administered by the Superintendent of Water under the auspices of the Board of Public Works. In 1905 the Department of Lighting and Water Works was created. Five years later, the Water Department became a separate entity. Most of the water used by the Seattle Water Department came from the Cedar River Watershed property, which also provided income for the department through the selling of logging rights. Several timber companies including Weyerhaeuser Company, Scott Paper Company and Pacific States Lumber Company, all had contracts with the Water Department. In the 1950s, Seattle voters chose to add fluoride to the city's water supply and charged the Water Department with the task of fluoridating. The election was a close one, however, and debate over the policy lasted into the '70s. In 1997 the Water Department was consolidated with the utilities of the Engineering Department to form Seattle Public Utilities.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Miscellaneous reports, writings and statistics regarding the Water Department’s history, water system, system safeguards, Cedar River watershed and finances. Also included is a list of lots to be sluiced for the 2nd avenue and Pine street regrade.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Preferred Citation
[Item and date], Seattle Water Department Reports and Writings , Record Series 8200-16. Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
8200-16: Water Department Reports and Writings , 1903-1948Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1/1 | Financial Records |
1903-1912 |
1/2 | Reports - Cedar River
Watershed |
1932-1940 |
1/3 | Reports and Writings - Water
Department History |
1913-1939 |
1/4 | Reports - Water
System |
1925-1927 |
1/5 | Municipal Water Safeguards in
the City of Seattle |
1931 |
1/6 | Safeguarding Seattle's Water
Supply |
1930-1948 |
1/7 | Statement of the Condition of
the Municipal Lighting and Power Plant |
1909 |
1/8 | Water Works
Statistics |
1904-1911 |
1/9 | Luther B. Youngs Biography
and Obituary |
1909-1923 |
1/10 | Regrade List, 2nd Ave and
Pine St |
undated |
1/11 | Board of Public Works
Proceedings List |
1926 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Cedar River Watershed (King County, Wash.)
- Municipal water supply--Washington (State)--Seattle
- Water utilities--Washington (State)--Seattle
Corporate Names
- Seattle (Wash.) Water Dept.
- Seattle (Wash.). Dept. of Lighting and Water Works
Geographical Names
- Seattle (Wash.)