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Engineering Department Utility Franchise Records, 1896-1983

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Seattle (Wash.). Engineering Dept.
Title
Engineering Department Utility Franchise Records
Dates
1896-1983 (inclusive)
1908-1973 (bulk)
Quantity
8.2 cubic ft., ((21 boxes))
Collection Number
2623-02
Summary
Records of the Seattle Department of Engineering consisting of correspondence between the Department and grantees of utility franchises. Also included are agreements, maps, drawings, and photographs.
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 encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Historical Note

The Seattle Engineering Department (SED) maintained the City's streets and bridges, designed and oversaw construction of public works projects, provided traffic and transportation planning, and operated 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 and the Traffic Department.

In 1997, the water, solid waste, drainage, and wastewater utilities from the Engineering and Water departments were merged with the Engineering Services Division of SED and the Customer Service Call Center and Construction Engineering Sections of City Light to form Seattle Public Utilities. The traffic and transportation functions of the Engineering Department were consolidated in the Seattle Transportation Department.

Utility franchises grant permission to the grantee to use sidewalk, street, underground or air space owned by the City. Utility franchises are granted for tunnels, underground fuel tanks, pipes, overhead bridges, pipes, overhead wires, and bridges. Grantees are frequently businesses.

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Content Description

The records in the Utility Franchise Records date from 1896 to 1983 and relate to the granting and maintenance of utility franchises. Measuring 8.2 cubic feet, the bulk of the records date from 1908 to 1973, and consist of correspondence with the City's Engineering Department and the recipient or grantee of the franchise. They are arranged alphabetically, for the most part, by grantee or project. The folder titles give the name of the grantee, the number assigned by the Engineering Department when one exists, and the subject of the franchise. The grantees are most often businesses, such as the Bon Marche, Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company, or Seattle Gas Company.

The records also include correspondence between other City departments, such as City Light, Board of Public Works, and the Water Department regarding utility franchises. Franchise records also relate to large projects, such as the Alaskan Way Viaduct, the monorail, or I-5. The folders relating to railroads contain information relating to World War I, the relationship between the City and the railroad companies, and the state of Railroad Avenue. The monorail records contain detailed drawings of columns, tracks, and other parts of the monorail structure. Larger projects such as I-5 and the monorail make up a large proportion of the records.

In addition to correspondence, the records contain agreements, maps, and drawings, and a few photographs.

Of interest is the folder on public market franchises, which contains a description of Pike Place Market from about 1912, including detailed description of the lottery system and tension between Japanese and Caucasian farmers. In another folder on steam railroads, there is a drawing of the Pike Street Pedestrian Viaduct. In many folders, information not directly related to the franchise data provides information about the City, about businesses, and about changing technology. For example, a large number of folders relate to "Steam Railroads." The folder on Steam Railroad - Special Switching Permits contains the reasons why the permits were requested. For example, in 1911, eight carloads of flour for famine sufferers in China needed to be moved during evening hours when it was normally not allowed. Others requests including moving fish, bananas, livestock and troops. Other railroad related materials include correspondence back and forth about the state of Railroad Avenue, and whose responsibility it is to keep it cleaned up, as well as data relating to World War I.

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Use of the Collection

Preferred Citation

[Item and date], Seattle Engineering Department Utility Franchise Records, Record Series 2623-02. Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Records are arranged alphabetically by grantee or project.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Business enterprises--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Footbridges--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Markets--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Monorail railroads--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Municipal franchises--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Public utilities--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Railroads--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Tunnels--Washington (State)--Seattle

Corporate Names

  • Seattle (Wash.). Engineering Dept.
  • Seattle City Light
  • Pike Place Market (Seattle, Wash.)
  • Seattle (Wash.). Board of Public Works
  • Seattle (Wash.). Water Dept.

Geographical Names

  • Interstate 5
  • Seattle (Wash.)--Politics and government

Form or Genre Terms

  • Architectural drawings
  • Maps
  • Photographic prints

Finding aid prepared by Anne Frantilla
2004

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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