Guide to the Great Northern Railway Company, Seattle General Agent Records 1900-1948
Cage 398

Summary Information

Repository
Washington State University Libraries, Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Creator
Great Northern Railway Company, Seattle General Agent
Title
Great Northern Railway Company, Seattle General Agent Records
ID
Cage 398
Date [inclusive]
1900-1948
Extent
12 containers., 11.8 linear feet of shelf space., 18,000 items.
Language
Collection materials are in English.
Abstract
Correspondence, memoranda, rate schedules, Joint Freight Tarriffs, waybill corrections, lists of businesses, car locations, car movements, circulars, publicity, rate changes, building plans, and marketing information, principally from 1903 to 1923.

Preferred Citation

[Item Description]. Cage 398, Great Northern Railway Company, Seattle General Agent Records. Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

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Biography/History

The Great Northern Railway had its beginnings in 1878 when James J. Hill and his associates purchased the St. Paul and Pacific Railroad; it was then reorganized and renamed the St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba. In September of 1889, Hill organized the Great Northern Railway Company around the charter of the old Minneapolis and St. Cloud Railroad Company and leased the Manitoba for 999 years. The lease stayed in effect until November 1, 1907, when the Great Northern officially purchased the St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba along with the Montana Central, Seattle and Montana, and many other subsidiary companies. In 1890, shortly after the incorporation of the Great Northern Railway, the directors of the Great Northern requested Hill to extend its lines westward from some suitable point in Montana to Puget Sound.

The discovery of Marias Pass by John F. Stevens in 1889 facilitated this extension which was completed in 1893. From that date until 1905, the General Agent operated out of the terminal buildings of the Seattle and Montana, a subsidiary company which had constructed the line eastward from Seattle to the Cascades. The construction of a new terminal was delayed by a long and bitter fight between the Great Northern and the Northern Pacific. In 1905, the new terminal was completed (along with a tunnel under Railroad Avenue) and housed both lines including the office of the General Agent of the Great Northern. The Burlington Northern was formed in 1970 by the merging of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy, the Great Northern, the Northern Pacific, and the Spokane, Portland and Seattle railroads.

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Arrangement

The records of the Seattle General Agent are divided into two series: Correspondence and Ledger. The Correspondence Series consists mainly of in-house communications from the main office in St. Paul, Minnesota, and from various freight agents along the line to the General Agent or his staff regarding movement of and rates on commondities shipped on the Railway. It consists of correspondence, memos, telegrams, rate schedules, Joint Freight Tariffs, waybill corrections, lists of businesses, car locations, car movements, circulars, publicity, rate changes, building plans, loading plans, meetings, some clippings, and information on the creating and exploiting of markets. The bulk of the Correspondence Series dates from 1903-1923.

The Ledger Series consists of one bound ledger which contains tariffs, joint tariffs, ammendments, lists of general agents, rules and regulations of the Great Northern and associated railroads and the Transcontinental Freight Bureau, an independent regulatory body which governed the freight charges of its twenty-six member railroads. Although the series is dated from 1903-1911, most of its material is from 1903.

The description on each archival folder is an abstract of a longer description on the original folder (which has been retained); in addition, the original filing number of the Great Northern's filing classification system appears on both the original folder and the archival folder, although not in this container list. This system has determined the order of each file, the logic of which may be more fully revealed through perusal of the files.

There are approximately 18,000 individual items in the first series; these items are grouped into 910 bundles of one or more items attached with a brass staple.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections  © 2012

http://www.libraries.wsu.edu/masc/

Terrell Library

P.O. Box 645610

Pullman, WA, 99164-5610 USA

509-335-6691

mascref@wsu.edu

Restrictions on Access

This collection is open for research use.

Acquisition Information

The records of the Seattle General Agent of the Great Northern Railway were donated to the Washington State University Libraries by Bruce Stewart in November 1977 (77-64).

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Names and Subjects

Corporate Name(s)

Creator(s) :
  • Great Northern Railway Company (U.S.). General Agent --Archives

Personal Name(s)

Donor(s) :
  • Stewart, Bruce. waps

Subject(s)

  • Railroads -- Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Railroad companies--Washington (State)--Seattle--Records and correspondence
  • Transportation

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Detailed Description of Collection

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

Series 1: Correspondence 1900-1948 

box folder

Laws 1905-1919  8 items.

1 1

Lists (Customers) 1905-1921  46 items.

1 2-7

Cars, American Trading Co. 1920-1921  1 item.

1 8

Cars, Excessive Dimensions 1903-1917  1 item.

1 9

Mining & Dump Cars 1906-1914  1 item.

1 10

Flat Cars 1905-1916  2 items.

1 11

Cars, Northern Pacific 1907-1910  1 item.

1 12

Cars,Stokes Steel 1907-1914  1 item.

1 13

Street Cars 1912-1913  1 item.

1 14

Cars, Loading 1913  1 item.

1 15

Cars, Logging Service 1916-1917  1 item.

1 16

Cars, Stealing 1917-1918  1 item.

1 17

Cars, Southern Pacific 1917  1 item.

1 18

Cars, Double Loading 1917-1918  1 item.

1 19

Cars, Rules 1918  1 item.

1 20

Cars, Rates 1921  1 item.

1 21

Divisions (Charged) 1904-1920  7 items.

1 22-23

Tonnage 1906  1 item.

1 24

Car Supply 1905-1907  4 items.

1 25

Car Shortage 1906  2 items.

1 26

Empty Cars 1906-1911  2 items.

1 27

Car Delay 1907  1 item.

2 28

Complaints 1907-1908  2 items.

2 29

Car Supply 1907  2 items.

2 30

Refrigerator Cars 1908-1910  1 item.

2 31

Equipment for Loading Ship 1909  1 item.

2 32

Union Tank Line Cars 1909  1 item.

2 33

Car Supply 1909  2 items.

2 34

Car Supply 1911-1911  3 items.

2 35

Rates 1903-1909  11 items.

2 36-46

Western Pine Manufacturer's Assn. 1907  1 item.

2 47

B.C. Distillery Spur 1904-1907  1 item.

2 48

Trans-Continental Rates (Changes) 1904-1907  1 item.

2 49

Inspections 1903-1905  2 items.

2 50

Inspections 1904-1909  2 items.

2 51

Switching 1906-1907  2 items.

2 52

Wharfage 1910-1913  1 item.

2 53

Railroad Passes 1907-1908  1 item.

2 54

Asiatic Imports 1905-1907  2 items.

2 55

Coal & Briquettes (Utah) 1934-1937  4 items.

2 56-59

Coke 1937-1941  5 items.

2 60-61

I.C.C. Docket 1930-1937  27 items.

2 62-63

Complaints 1932-1948  12 items.

3 64-69

Kettle Valley Lines 1905-1906  1 item.

3 70

Spokane International Railroad 1906  1 item.

3 71

Chicago, Milwaukee & Puget Sound Railway 1910  1 item.

3 72

Chicago Telephone Supply Co. 1909  1 item.

3 73

Pacific Coast S.S. Co. 1904-1909  3 items.

3 74

American Hawaiian S.S. Co. 1908-1912  2 items.

3 75-76

Great Northern S.S. Co. 1911  1 item.

3 77

Nipon Yusen Kaisha 1906  2 items.

3 78

Boston S.S. Co. 1906  2 items.

3 79

Trans-Continental Docket 1907-1914  1 item.

3 80

Kosmos Line 1905-1919  1 item.

3 81

Monthly Reports 1909  1 item.

3 82

Frank Waterhouse & Co. 1909  1 item.

3 83

Vancouver General Agent 1905-1906  1 item.

3 84

Standard Oil Co. 1905-1907  1 item.

3 85

Spokane General Agent 1905  1 item.

3 86

Tariffs 1905-1920  10 items.

3 87-89

Postings 1907-1908  2 items.

3 90

Tariffs 1907-1914  4 items.

4 91

Tariffs (Canada) 1909-1918  1 item.

4 92

Tariff Distribution 1913-1914  1 item.

4 93

Duty, Payment of 1914-1915  1 item.

4 94

Tariffs 1915-1917  2 items.

4 95-96

Concurrences in Canadian Tariffs 1915  1 item.

4 97

Joint Tariffs 1906-1919  1 item.

4 98

Bills 1902-1919  2 items.

4 99

Distribution of Cars 1910-1911  1 item.

4 100

Expense Accounts 1905-1919  3 items.

4 101-103

Vouchers 1906  1 item.

4 104

Telephone 1905-1918  25 items.

4 105-107

Telegraph 1902-1918  3 items.

4 108-110

Merchandise Cars 1908  1 item.

4 111

Service 1906-1911  1 item.

4 112

Washington State Railroad Commission 1905-1908  12 items.

4 113-116

Interstate Commerce Commission 1906-1914  8 items.

4 117-119

Embargoes 1916-1918  1 item.

5 120

Lumber 1914-1917  1 item.

5 121

Agricultural Implements 1905-1920  11 items.

5 122-123

Alaska Engineering Commission 1915  1 item.

5 124

Rate Basis 1907-1913  2 items.

5 125

Bowers' Hotel 1911  1 item.

5 126

Alum 1910-1916  1 item.

5 127

Ammonia 1904-1914  3 items.

5 128

Logs 1935-1938  1 item.

5 129

Brattice Cloth 1902-1903  1 item.

5 130

Brick 1905-1908  7 items.

5 131

Cable 1909  1 item.

5 132

Potash 1902-1906  1 item.

5 133

Calendars, Almanacs 1906  1 item.

5 134

Canned Goods 1905  1 item.

5 135

Calcium Carbide 1907-1916  1 item.

5 136

Calcium Cloride 1904-1915  1 item.

5 137

Caskets 1911  1 item.

5 138

Routing 1903-1915  2 items.

5 139-140

Equalizing Rates 1906-1907  1 item.

5 141

Routing 1906-1921  11 items.

5 142-143

Celluloid 1910  2 items.

5 144

Cement 1900-1913  7 items.

5 145-147

Grain 1903-1906  3 items.

5 148-149

Hay & Grain 1905-1906  1 item.

5 150

Grain 1905-1909  9 items.

5 151-157

Grain & Hay Rebates 1907-1908  1 item.

5 158

Grain 1901-1930  10 items.

6 159-166

Milling in Transit 1901-1907  6 items.

6 167

Claims 1901-1908  1 item.

6 168

Coal 1908-1911  6 items.

6 169

Coke 1905-1907  6 items.

6 170

Coffee 1909-1910  1 item.

6 171

Conduits 1907-1911  2 items.

6 172

Confectionary 1905  1 item.

6 173

Refrigerator Material 1910  1 item.

6 174

Copper 1904-1911  3 items.

6 175

Cotton 1906-1909  5 items.

6 176

Creosote 1903-1909  2 items.

6 177

Crow's Nest Pass Coal Co. 1903-1907  1 item.

6 178

Fruit 1905-1910  14 items.

6 179-180

Reshipped Goods 1904-1906  1 item.

6 181

Diversion of Shipments 1904-1909  4 items.

6 182

Diversion of Cars 1906-1911  3 items.

6 183

Drugs 1906  2 items.

6 184

Buchu Gin 1907  1 item.

6 185

Tariffs 1903-1906  1 item.

6 186

Hosiery 1907-1908  1 item.

6 187

Crockery 1905-1906  4 items.

6 188

Butter & Eggs 1909  1 item.

6 189

Electrical Appliances 1910  2 items.

6 190

Emigrant Movables 1905-1915  1 item.

6 191

Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition 1909  1 item.

6 192

United States Land Irrigation Exposition 1909-1911  1 items.

6 193

National Apple Show 1910  1 item.

6 194

Canadian Apple Show 1910  1 item.

6 195

National Apple Show 1911  1 item.

6 196

Saddle Felt 1907  1 item.

6 197

New Lines 1913-1922  4 items.

7 198-201

Fish 1914-1925  2 items.

7 202

Fire Extinguishers 1905-1917  1 item.

7 203

Chinese Firecrackers 1919-1923  1 item.

7 204

Flax 1916-1924  1 item.

7 205

Ties, China 1906  1 item.

7 206

Forest Products 1903-1929  61 items.

7 207-257

Forest Products 1923-1925  12 items.

8 258-269

Logs 1903-1923  41 items.

8 270-309

Furniture 1903-1913  4 items.

8 310

Stamped Ware 1906-1922  1 item.

8 311

Glass Bulbs 1911  1 item.

8 312

Washington Water Power Co. 1904-1907  1 item.

8 313

Confectionaries 1903-1909  1 item.

8 314

Government Freight 1906-1911  3 items.

8 315

Glycerine 1907  1 item.

8 316

Sand 1906-1914  7 items.

8 317

Axle Grease 1904-1908  1 item.

8 318

Cigars 1906-1911  1 item.

8 319

Metal Sash Carriers 1909  1 item.

8 320

Smoke House, Appliances 1909  1 item.

8 321

Harness 1905-1909  2 items.

8 322

Hay 1905-1910  4 items.

8 323

Refrigerator Cars 1905-1911  8 items.

8 324

Hemp 1907-1908  2 items.

8 325

Hides 1903-1910  7 items.

8 326

Hops 1904-1905  2 items.

8 327

Ice 1905  1 item.

8 328

Steel Products 1906-1911  8 items.

8 329-330

Ballard Business Conditions 1908-1911  1 item.

8 331

Vancouver, Help 1906  1 item.

8 332

Charcoal 1906  1 item.

8 333

Lumber to Orient 1906-1908  1 item.

9 334

Slack 1906  1 item.

9 335

Siding 1908-1909  1 item.

9 336

Lyman Papers 1906  1 item.

9 337

Slag 1906-1908  2 items.

9 338

Poles 1903-1906  1 item.

9 339

Ale and Stout 1906  1 item.

9 340

Bog House Dross 1907-1911  1 item.

9 341

Leases 1906-1909  2 items.

9 342

Wenatchee Valley & Northern RR 1909  1 item.

9 343

Harriman Line 1911  1 item.

9 344

Express Charges 1909-1910  1 item.

9 345

Terminal Service 1904-1906  1 item.

9 346

Crushed Steel 1906  1 item.

9 347

Olds Wortman & King 1909  1 item.

9 348

Lands 1906-1908  4 items.

9 349-350

Steamer Victoria 1905-1906  1 item.

9 351

Peanuts 1906-1910  2 items.

9 352

Ferro-titanium 1911  1 item.

9 353

Commercial Organizations 1906-1907  3 items.

9 354

Canadian Railway Commission 1909  1 item.

9 355

Lead 1902-1910  3 items.

9 356-357

Leather 1905-1909  2 items.

9 358-359

Liquors 1902-1908  1 item.

9 360

Livestock 1903-1910  19 items.

9 261-276

Machinery 1904-1911  4 items.

9 377-380

Sugar 1905-1911  3 items.

9 381

Marble 1902-1908  2 items.

9 382

Stone 1905-1915  6 items.

9 383

Rock 1911  1 item.

9 384

Matting 1905-1906  1 item.

9 385

Packing House Products & Fresh Meat 1905-1911  11 items.

9 386-390

Condensed Milk 1905-1911  2 items.

9 391

Mill Rollers 1907  1 item.

9 392

Moulding 1911  1 item.

9 393

Powered Musical Instruments 1908-1910  1 item.

9 394

Builder's Scaffolds 1910-1911  1 item.

9 395

Salad Oil 1906  1 item.

9 396

Oil & Grease 1906-1908  

9 397

Terabentine 1906-1907  1 item.

9 398

Kleenatine 1906-1907  1 item.

9 399

Salad Oil, Westbound 1907  2 items.

9 400

Ore 1905-1911  14 items.

9 401-414

Ore 1902-1911  20 items.

10 415-434

Seed 1904-1911  4 items.

10 435

Show Cases 1904-1910  1 item.

10 436

Claims 1908-1909  1 item.

10 437

Sash Doors 1905-1911  3 items.

10 438

Track Scales 1911  1 item.

10 439

Salt 1904-1911  4 items.

10 440

Salt Petre 1903-1907  1 item.

10 441

Rubber 1905  1 item.

10 442

Rulings 1906-1908  5 items.

10 443

Paper 1906  1 item.

10 444

Paving Blocks 1909  1 item.

10 445

Peas & Beans 1905-1907  1 item.

10 446

Penalty 1905-1906  2 items.

10 447

Marble Scrap 1905  1 item.

10 448

Wooden Pipe 1911  1 item.

10 449

Claim 1909  1 item.

10 450

Leatheroid 1910  1 item.

10 451

Grits 1910-1911  1 item.

10 452

Rice 1910-1911  1 item.

10 453

Roadmaking Machinery 1904-1905  1 item.

10 454

Candy Pails 1905-1906  1 item.

10 455

Paints 1904-1907  2 items.

10 456

Signs 1907-1911  2 items.

10 457

Soap 1905-1909  6 items.

10 458

Staves 1905-1906  2 items.

10 459

Construction, New Lines 1909-1911  2 items.

10 460

Chip Board 1905-1921  1 item.

10 461

Track Repair 1906  1 item.

10 462

Trackage 1906-1911  9 items.

10 463-466

Puget Sound Electric Co. 1906-1908  1 item.

10 467

Talc & Silica 1902-1910  2 items.

10 468

Tanks 1905-1917  1 item.

10 469

Trackage 1923-1924  1 item.

10 470

Vegetables 1922-1924  1 item.

10 471

Rental of Lots 1904-1908  1 item.

10 472

Box Shocks 1927-1930  1 item.

10 473

Flour 1905  1 item.

10 474

Leather Dressing 1902-1922  1 item.

10 475

Salmon 1905-1906  1 item.

10 476

Port Arthur 1907  1 item.

10 477

Seattle 1903-1904  1 item.

10 478

Vancouver, Washington 1908  1 item.

10 479

Vancouver, B.C. 1907-1908  1 item.

10 480

Claims 1906-1908  3 items.

11 481

Complaint 1920-1922  1 item.

11 482

Similkameen 1907  1 item.

11 483

Meetings 1909-1910  6 items.

11 484-489

Walnuts 1909-1910  1 item.

11 490

Yellow Metal 1904-1907  1 item.

11 491

Railway Commissioners for Canada 1911  2 items.

11 492-493

Demurrage 1910-1911  1 item.

11 494

Rules 1908-1910  4 items.

11 495-496

Hickory Dust 1908  1 item.

11 497

Randomite 1908-1910  1 item.

11 498

Bridges, Columbia River 1909-1911  1 item.

11 499

Wine 1908-1909  1 item.

11 500

Albers Brothers 1908  1 item.

11 501

Portland Railway 1908-1909  2 items.

11 502

Three Lakes Lumber Co. 1909  1 item.

11 503

Whiton Hardware Co. 1909  1 item.

11 504

George Carter & Co. 1906  1 item.

11 505

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Series 2: Ledger 1902-1911 

box folder

Ledger 1902-1911  1 item.

12 506

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