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Seattle Municipal Archives Finding Aids

2625-00. Department of Streets and Sewers

 Record Group
Identifier: 2625-00
The Department of Streets and Sewers was responsible for 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.

Found in 11 Collections and/or Records:

Department of Streets and Sewers Superintendent's Correspondence

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: 2625-01
Scope and Contents note

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. Letterpress books arranged chronologically.

Dates: 1904-1926

Street and Sewer Inspection Reports

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: 2625-02
Scope and Contents note

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.

Dates: 1912-1919

Department of Streets and Sewers Monthly Vehicle Use Summaries

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: 2625-03
Scope and Contents note

Monthly summaries of operating costs for vehicles in 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.

Dates: 1916-1919

Street and Sewer Improvements Summary

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: 2625-04
Scope and Contents note

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

Dates: 1912-1914

Department of Streets and Sewers Payrolls

 Series — Box 1
Identifier: 2625-05
Scope and Contents note

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

Dates: 1911-1912

Department of Streets and Sewers Annual Reports

 Series — Box 1
Identifier: 2625-06
Scope and Contents note

Annual report of departmental finances and activities.

Dates: 1920-1934

Pavement Maintenance Correspondence

 Series — Box 1
Identifier: 2625-07
Scope and Contents note

Correspondence, memoranda, and reports from the Superintendent of Streets to paving contractors, businesses, and individuals regarding maintenance and repair of streets and sidewalks. Mostly routine orders to repair. 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.

Dates: 1910-1912

Department of Streets and Sewers Daily Account Book

 Series — Box 1
Identifier: 2625-08
Scope and Contents note

Daily balance book showing appropriation for various accounts, balance 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 crossings. Also notes expenditures and labor hours by ward.

Dates: 1895-1897

Department of Streets and Sewers Superintendent's Incoming Correspondence

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: 2625-09
Scope and Contents note

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

Dates: 1903-1912

Department of Streets and Sewers Photograph Collection

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: 2625-10
Abstract

Images document public works projects, including sewer construction, and document a large number of landslides within the City.

Dates: 1916-1936

Department of Streets and Sewers Annual Reports

 Series
Identifier: 1802-I7
Scope and Contents note The Streets and Sewers Annual Reports date from 1895 to 1931, although there is not report for every year in this series. the earliest report, for 1895, is an itemized list of new construction for the year. The next report, for the year 1903, is a breakdown of costs for the department, including dollars spent for repairing, cleaning, and supplies, for paved streets, planked streets, dirt streets, and other areas. The 1904 report includes both narrative and statistics, and includes reports of...
Dates: 1895-1931