Street Grade Notebook

Series — Volume: 1

Identifier: 2618-06

Scope and Contents Note

Notebook recording grades of streets in Seattle, organized from most level to steepest. The book is undated but estimated to have been created in the 1920s. Each page notes a specific grade (e.g., 1.35%) and then lists any street sections with that grade. The steepest street section recorded in the notebook was 3.98% on Terry Avenue from Terrace to Alder.

Dates

Creation: circa 1925

Creator

Seattle (Wash.). Engineering Dept. (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

Records are open to the public.

Historical Note

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The 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.