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Cascade Tunnel Association records, circa 1916-1928

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Cascade Tunnel Association (Wash.)
Title
Cascade Tunnel Association records
Dates
circa 1916-1928 (inclusive)
Quantity
.21 linear feet, (1 box)
Collection Number
1000-013
Summary
The collection includes correspondence, speech transcripts, clippings, brochures and pamphlets, notes, endorsements, editorial reprints, and other documents related to a campaign to construct a tunnel through the Cascade Mountains.
Repository
Seattle Public Library, Special Collections
1000 Fourth Ave.
Seattle, WA 98104-1109
Telephone: 206-386-4636
specialcollections@spl.org
Access Restrictions

Collection is open and available for use.

Languages
English
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Historical Note

The Cascade Tunnel Association was formed in 1925 to promote the construction of a tunnel through the Cascade Mountains. The tunnel was eventually constructed by the Great Northern Railway and opened in 1929. This tunnel replaced the original, opened in 1900, which not only had fume problems but was plagued by snow slides in the area. The Wellington avalanche disaster on March 1, 1910, prompted the discussion to replace that original tunnel. Washington Superior Court Judge Austin E. Griffiths (1863-1952) held the leadership position for the Cascade Tunnel Association. He was additionally involved in numerous civic and charitable causes, including the Seattle Chamber of Commerce, Young Men's Christian Association, and the Seattle Charity Organization Society. Prior to serving as Superior Court judge from 1921 to 1929, Griffiths served on the Seattle City Council, ran unsuccessfully for mayor, was appointed chief of police, and served on the Seattle School Board.

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Content Description

The collection includes approximately 110 total items, with 14 pieces of correspondence relating to the Cascade Tunnel Association. The correspondence includes letters from the Cascade Tunnel Association to newspapers and local organizations promoting the new tunnel, and letters of endorsement. The collection has two letters written by Judge Austin E. Griffiths. The Cascade Tunnel Association by-laws and articles of incorporation are included, as well as numerous newspaper clippings, bulletins, pamphlets, speech transcripts, and hand-written notes, likely taken during meetings of the Association. There are promotional materials produced by the Cascade Tunnel Association and by others, as well as a reprint of a 1916 report by Hiram M. Chittenden, A 30-Mile Railway Tunnel under the Cascade Mountains. An interesting item is a script, dated 1928, used as an introduction to a debate on the merits of the tunnel.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Copyright restrictions apply.

Preferred Citation

[ITEM DESCRIPTION], Cascade Tunnel Association records. Seattle Public Library, Seattle, WA.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The collection is arranged by material type. Correspondence is divided by its source and intended audience. Promotional materials are divided by items produced by the Cascade Tunnel Association and those produced by others. Administrative documents are divided into articles of incorporation, by-laws, and endorsements. The "Meetings and presentations" folders hold the hand-written notes and the debate script. The reports folders include the Hiram M. Chittenden report.

Acquisition Information

Collection was purchased in 2015.

Processing Note

Acknowledgement of Harmful Content
The Seattle Public Library Special Collections Department is committed to creating an inclusive archive that documents the history of our diverse communities in a respectful manner. Our collections include historic materials that may contain images and outdated language which can be harmful due to issues such as racism, colonialism, sexism and homophobia. This content can provide important insight into the creator and context of the historic materials but can also reveal hurtful biases and prejudices.

We may decide to use or retain harmful language in our description when the terms have been used by the creator(s) of the materials to describe themselves or their community; when we have reused description created by the donor; when we have transcribed information directly from the materials; and when using national standards such as Library of Congress Subject Headings, which allow for standardized searching and retrieval of records. When including language from the original material in our finding aids or descriptions, we will indicate that this material comes directly from the original item by putting the language in quotes or prefacing it with a note that says the description is transcribed from the item or provided by the creator.

We will continually review our finding aids to identify harmful language and encourage you to contact us at specialcollections@spl.org if you find language that causes concern.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

  • Description: Clippings
    Dates: circa 1925-1936
    Container: Box 1, Folder 1
  • Administrative documents

  • Correspondence

    • Description: From Cascade Tunnel Association: letterhead
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box 1, Folder 6
    • Description: From Cascade Tunnel Association: editorial letters
      Dates: circa 1926
      Container: Box 1, Folder 7
    • Description: From Cascade Tunnel Association: meeting arrangements
      Dates: 1927-1928
      Container: Box 1, Folder 8
    • Description: From Cascade Tunnel Association: to local organizations
      Dates: circa 1926
      Container: Box 1, Folder 9
    • Description: To Cascade Tunnel Association
      Dates: 1927
      Container: Box 1, Folder 10
    • Description: Correspondence of Judge Austin E. Griffiths
      Dates: 1925-1926
      Container: Box 1, Folder 11
  • Meetings and presentations

  • Promotional materials

    • Description: Produced by Cascade Tunnel Association
      Dates: circa 1928
      Container: Box 1, Folder 15
    • Description: Produced by other organizations
      Dates: 1925-1928
      Container: Box 1, Folder 16
  • Reports

    • Description: Written by Hiram M. Chittenden
      Dates: 1916
      Container: Box 1, Folder 17
    • Description: Miscellaneous
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box 1, Folder 18

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Electric railroads--Cascade Range--History
  • Railroad tunnels--Cascade Range--History
  • Tunnels--Washington (State)--History

Personal Names

  • Griffiths, Austin E. (Austin Edwards), 1863-1952

Corporate Names

  • Cascade Tunnel Association (Wash.)--History
  • Cascade Tunnel Association (Wash.)--Records and correspondence

Geographical Names

  • Cascade Tunnel (Wash.)--History
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