Washington State University College of Engineering Highway Research Section Records

Washington State University College of Engineering Highway Research Section Records, 1947-1967

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Washington State University. Highway Research Section.
Title: Washington State University College of Engineering Highway Research Section Records
Dates: 1947-1967 (inclusive)
19471967
Quantity: 7 Linear feet of shelf space, (5 Boxes)
Collection Number: Archives 60 (collection)
Summary: The collection contains correspondence and reports of the Washington State University College of Engineering Highway Research Section. Topics include gas factors and tax allocation surveys, bridge and street surveys, and photographs.
Repository: Washington State University Libraries' Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Terrell Library Suite 12
Pullman, WA
99164-5610
Telephone: 509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu
Access Restrictions: This collection is open and available for research use.
Languages: English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

The Research Division of the College of Engineering was originally the Division of Industrial Research, established at Washington State University in 1946. The D.I.R. conducted studies and research leading toward the economical use of material resources of the Northwest and the broad, well-balanced development of the state. The Highway Research Section was the unit which conducted research on the construction and maintenance of highways, roads, and bridges. The papers in this collection consist primarily of the research and reports written by members of the Highway Research Section on road construction and maintenance. Professor G. A. Riedesel prepared the Gas Tax Allocation Survey for the Washington State Joint Committee on Highways and the Highway Commission. This work was done under contract by the College of Engineering and the project was headed by Riedesel. The material contained in Series II was also compiled by Riedesel as part of a survey prepared for the Legislative Fact-Finding Committee on Highways, Streets, and Bridges. The survey was completed in the early 1960s.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection contains correspondence and reports of the Washington State University College of Engineering Highway Research Section. Topics include gas factors and tax allocation surveys, bridge and street surveys, and photographs.

The first series, Gas Tax Allocation Survey, dates from 1952 through 1968 and is divided into two subseries.

The first subseries, County-by-county survey, 1953-1965, consists of materials such as, correspondence, road and bridge inventories, cost estimates, gas factor adjustment forms, and maps relating to county participation in the gas tax surveys.

The second subseries, Gas Tax Studies, 1952-1967, consists of the published results (County Gas Tax Allocation) for the years 1954, 1956, 1961, 1965, and 1967, as well as, the Gas Tax Studies for 1965 through 1968, and the research data for the 1965 Gas Tax Survey (1953-1964).

The second series, Highway, Street, and Bridge Survey, 1947-1961, was compiled by Professor Riedesel as a survey for the Legislative Fact-Finding Committee on Highways, Streets, and Bridges and is divided into three subseries.

The first subseries, Cities, 1957-1960, contains materials such as correspondence and bridge and street data, relating to 83 Washington cities. These materials are arranged alphabetically by city. This is only part of the original survey that was completed; only "E" through "M" in the alphabetical list of cities has survived.

The second subseries, County Survey, 1949-1961, consists of correspondence and highway and bridge data related to Washington counties. This material includes general country information--statistical data, constructions costs, maintenance costs--for the years 1956-1959, and data on individual counties.

The third subseries, County Maps and Construction Cost Estimates, 1947-1960, consists of oversized material. This material, county maps and construction cost estimates, covers the period from 1947 through 1960, but bulks largest in the mid to late 1950s.

The third series, Photographs, 1935-1964, is divided into two subseries.

The first subseries, Highways and Roads, 1950-1964, consists of photographs of various aspects of highway and road maintenance and construction, such as road damage, highway loads, soils charts, topography and land forms, and aerial surveys of specific regions, culverts and drainage, and intersections.

The second subseries, Columbia Basin Irrigation Project, 1935-1950, consists of photographs of various aspects of the irrigation project during the period from the mid-1930s through 1950.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Preferred Citation

[Item description]

Washington State University College of Engineering Highway Research Section Records, 1947-1967 (Archives 60)

Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The records of the College of Engineering, Highway Research Section are arranged in three series.

Series 1, Gas Tax Allocation Survey, 1952-1968, is divided into two subseries: County-by-county survey, is arranged alphabetically by county; Gas Tax Studies, is arranged chronologically.

Series 2, Highway, Street, and Bridge Survey, 1947-1961, is divided into three subseries: Cities, 1957-1960, are arranged alphabetically by city; County Survey, 1949-1961, is arranged alphabetically by county; and County Maps and Construction Cost Estimates, 1947- 1960, arranged alphabetically by county.

Series 3, Photographs, 1935 -1964, is divided into two subseries: Highways and Roads, 1950-1964; and Columbia Basin Irrigation Project, 1935-1950, both arranged by subjects.

Acquisition Information

The records of the College of Engineering Highway Research Section were transferred to the Washington State University Libraries by John C. Cook on two occasions: September 1977 (UA 77-27) and February 1978 (UA 78-03).

Processing Note

In March 1979, the photographs from the collection were processed by David Smestad; Patricia Graham Pidcock processed the papers in March and April 1979.

Related Materials

Washington State University College of Engineering Research Division Reports, 1936-1987 (Archives 266)

A number of other Engineering Publications are held in MASC's Washington State University Publications, 1891-2018, (WSU 001-999) collection, including most of their Bulletins, Circulars, and Technical Reports (WSU 158-159).

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series 1. Gas Tax Allocation Survey, 1952-1968 Return to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
1	1-39	County-by-county survey 765 items	1953-1965
		Gas Tax Survey
Box	Folder
1	40-44	Allocation Study	1954-1967
1	45	Research Data for 1965 Study 15 items	1954-1964
1	46	Studies 48 items	1954-1967

Series 2. Highway, Street, and Bridge Survey, 1947-1961 Return to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
		Cities, 1957-1960
Box	Folder
2	47	East Redmond 5 items	1958-1960
2	48	East Stanwood 4 items	1958-1960
2	49	East Wenatchee 4 items	1958-1960
2	50	Eatonville 4 items	1958-1960
2	51	Edmonds 17 items	1958-1960
2	52	Elberton 3 items	1960
2	53	Electric City 6 items	1958-1960
2	54	Ellensburg 25 items	1958-1960
2	55	Elma 5 items	1959-1960
2	56	Elmer City 5 items	1958-1960
2	57	Endicott 8 items	1959-1960
2	58	Entiat 4 items	1958-1960
2	59	Enumclaw 6 items	1958-1960
2	60	Ephrata 8 items	1958-1960
2	61	Everett 30 items	1958-1960
2	62	Everson 6 items	1958-1960
2	63	Fairfield 12 items	1959-1960
2	64	Farmington 10 items	1959-1960
2	65	Ferndale 10 items	1958-1960
2	66	Fife 5 items	1958-1960
2	67	Firecrest 8 items	1958-1960
2	68	Forks 7 items	1958-1960
2	69	Friday Harbor 2 items	1958-1960
2	70	Garfield 5 items	1958-1960
2	71	Gig Harbor 5 items	1958-1960
2	72	Gold Bar 6 items	1958-1960
2	73	Goldendale 12 items	1957-1960
2	74	Grand Coulee 2 items	1958-1960
2	75	Grandview 15 items	1958-1960
2	76	Granger 15 items	1958-1960
2	77	Granite Falls 1 item	1959
2	78	Hamilton 5 items	1958-1960
2	79	Harrah 10 items	1959-1960
2	80	Harrington 5 items	1957-1960
2	81	Hartline 4 items	1959-1960
2	82	Hatton 13 items	1958-1960
2	83	Hoquim 15 items	1958-1960
2	84	Houghton 3 items	1960
2	85	Hunts Point 5 items	1958-1960
2	86	Index 3 items	1958-1973
2	87	Ilwaco 3 items	1958-1960
2	88	Ione 4 items	1958-1960
2	89	Issaquah 8 items	1958-1960
2	90	Kahlotus 6 items	1958-1960
2	91	Kalama 3 items	1958-1960
2	92	Kelso 7 items	1958-1960
2	93	Kent 15 items	1958-1960
2	94	Kennewick 20 items	1958-1960
2	95	Kettle Falls 4 items	1957-1960
2	96	Kirkland 12 items	1958-1960
2	97	Kittitas 7 items	1960
2	98	Krupp 5 items	1958-1960
2	99	LaCenter 3 items	1960
2	100	LaConner 3 items	1958-1960
2	101	LaCrosse 3 items	1959-1960
2	102	Lamont 8 items	1959-1960
2	103	Langley 7 items	1959-1960
2	104	Latah 1 item	1960
2	105	Leavenworth 8 items	1958-1960
2	106	Lind 6 items	1958-1960
2	107	Long Beach 5 items	1958-1960
2	108	Longview 10 items	1958-1960
2	109	Lyman 3 items	1959
2	110	Lynden 10 items	1958-1960
2	111	Lynnwood 8 items	1959-1960
2	112	Mabton 4 items	1960
2	113	Malden 3 items	1960
2	114	Mansfield 3 items	1959-1960
2	115	Marcus 4 items	1958-1960
2	116	Marysville 7 items	1958-1960
2	117	Mattawa 8 items	1959-1960
2	118	McCleary 2 items	1959-1960
2	119	Medical Lake 10 items	1959-1960
2	120	Medina 4 items	1958-1960
3	121	Mesa 8 items	1958-1960
3	122	Metaline 7 items	1957-1960
3	123	Metaline Falls 8 items	1957-1960
3	124	Millwod 4 items	1958-1960
3	125	Milton 6 items	1958-1960
3	126	Monroe 5 items	1959-1960
3	127	Montesano 3 items	1958-1960
3	128	Morton 4 items	1958-1960
3	129	Moses Lake 12 items	1958-1960
		County survey, 1949-1961
		General County Information
Box	Folder
3	130	Comparisons 2 items	1957-1959
3	131-136	Construction Costs 335 items	1958-1959
3	137	Maintenance Costs 43 items	1956-1959
		Individual County Information
Box	Folder
3	138-176	Adams-Yakima 475 items	1949-1961
		County maps and construction cost estimates, 1947-1960 (Oversized Folders)
Box	Folder
3	177	Adams, Asotin, Benton 8 items	1947-1960
3	178	Chelan, Clallam, Clark, Columbia, Cowlitz 13 items	1954-1960
3	179	Douglas, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield 8 items	1954-1960
3	180	Grant, Grays Harbor 8 items	1959-1960
3	181	Island, Jefferson, King 9 items	1949-1960
3	182	Kitsap, Kittitas, Klickitat 9 items	1954-1960
3	183	Lewis, Lincoln, Mason 9 items	1953-1960
3	184	Okanogan, Pacific, Pend Oreille 12 items	1953-1960
3	185	Pierce, San Juan, Skagit 12 items	1949-1960
3	186	Skamania, Snohomish, Spokane, Stevens 14 items	1955-1960
3	187	Thurston, Wahkiakum, Walla Walla, Whatcom, Whitman 15 items	1954-1960
3	188	Yakima 2 items	1960

Series 3. Photographs, 1935-1964 Return to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
		Highways and Roads, 1950-1965
Box	Folder
4	189	County roads and bridges, 105 items	ca. 1964
4	190	Junctions and intersections 20 items	ca 1964
4	191	Culverts and drainage 35 items	1953-1954
4	192	Road cuts and soil profiles 30 items	1953
4	193	Soil profile charts and maps 6 items	1953
4	194	Landforms and topography 11 items	1953
4	195	Aerial photographs, ca 14 items	1950s
4	196	Traffic loads 10 items	1950-1960
4	197	Road Damage 30 items	1960
4	198	Equipment, pavement, grading and curves, snow on roadways 105 items	1950-1960
		Columbia Basin Irrigration Project, 1935-1950
Box	Folder
5	199	Long Lake Dam 6 items	1947-1950
5	200	Columbia River Wasteway 5 items	1950
5	201	Land development farms 5 items	1949-1950
5	202	West Canal 14 items	1949-1950
5	203	East Canal 15 items	1950
5	204	Pasco 5 items	1950
5	205	Grand Coulee Dam and vicinity 8 items	1940-1950
5	206	Hell's Gate on Columbia River 3 items	1936
5	207	Equipment 5 items	1947-1950
5	208	Concrete inspection 5 items	1940
5	209	Magnified sand and gravel samples 16 items	1948
5	210	Core samples 4 items	1938 and 1950
5	211	Landforms, excavation, cut faces, and soil profiles 33 items	1935-1947
5	212	Unidentified 6 items	1935-1948

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Bridges -- Research -- Washington (State)
Highway research -- Washington (State)

Corporate Names

Columbia Basin Project (U.S.) -- Photographs.
Washington State University. Highway Research Section -- Records and correspondence.

Geographical Names

Grand Coulee Dam (Wash.) -- Photographs.

Other Creators

Personal Names
- Riedesel, G. A. (Gerhard A.), 1904-1996. -- Road administration aids for Washington counties. (creator)
Corporate Names
- Washington (State). Highway Planning Survey. (creator)

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