Engineering College: Highway Research Section Papers 1947-1967
Archives 60

Summary Information

Repository
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries
Title
Engineering College: Highway Research Section Papers
ID
Archives 60
Date [inclusive]
1947-1967
General Physical Description note
approximate 2900 items  7 linear feet  5 containers
Abstract
Includes correspondence, road and bridge inventories, cost estimates, gas factor adjustment forms, gas tax survey maps and studies for 1965-1968 and additional research for other years, including Riedesel's report. A second series contains bridge and street data for 83 Washington cities, 1957-1960 and for Washington counties, 1949-1961. Also contains county maps and photographs, including some from the Columbia Irrigation Project from the mid-1930's through 1950.

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Agency History:

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.

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Arrangement note

The records of the College of Engineering, Highway Research Section are arranged in three series: Gas Tax Allocation Survey, 1952-1968; Highway, Street, and Bridge Survey, 1947-1960; and Photographs, 1935 -l964.

The first series, Gas Tax Allocation Survey, dates from 1952 through 1968 and is divided into two subseries: County-by-county survey, 1953-1965; and Gas Tax Survey, 1952-1967. The first subseries, County-by-county survey, is arranged alphabetically by county, and 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. It is divided into three subseries: Cities, 1957-1960; County Survey, 1949-1961; and County Maps and Construction Cost Estimates, 1947- 1960. 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 and are dated from 1957 through 1960. 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 individual county data dates from 1949 through 1961 and is arranged alphabetically by county. The third subseries, County Maps and Construction Cost Estimates, 1947-1960, consists of oversized material arranged alphabetically by county. 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, has been divided into two subseries: Highways and Roads, 1950-1964; and Columbia Basin Irrigation Project, 1935-1950. 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.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

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

http://www.wsulibs.wsu.edu/masc
Terrell Library
P.O. Box 645610
Pullman, WA, 99164-5610
509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu

Conditions Governing Access note

The Collection is open for research use.

Immediate Source of Acquisition note

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 Information 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.

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Controlled Access Headings

Corporate Name(s)

  • Columbia Basin Project (U.S.)--Photographs
  • Washington State Highway Commission. Highway Planning Survey.
  • Washington State University. College of Engineering. Highway Research Section--Archives
  • Washington State University. College of Engineering. Highway Research Section--Records and correspondence

Geographic Name(s)

  • Grand Coulee Dam (Wash.)--Photographs

Personal Name(s)

  • Riedesel, G. A. (Gerhard A.), 1904- road administration aids for Washington counties--Archives

Subject(s)

  • Bridges--Washington (State)--Research--Archival resources
  • Colleges and Universities
  • Highway research--Washington (State)--Archival resources
  • Irrigation
  • Maps
  • Photographs
  • Roads--Washington (State)--Research--Archival Resources
  • Transportation
  • Washington (State)

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Collection Inventory

 I Gas Tax Allocation Survey 1952-1968 
Box Folder

County-by-county survey 1953-1965   765.0 items

 1 1-39

Gas Tax Survey: 
Box Folder

Allocation Study 1954-1967 

 1 40-44

Research Data for 1965 Study, 1952-1964   15.0 items

 1 45

Studies 1954, 1956, 1961, 1965, and 1967   48.0 items

 1 46

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 II Highway, Street, and Bridge Survey 1947-1961 

Cities 1957-1960 
Box Folder

East Redmond 1958-1960   5.0 items

 2 47

East Stanwood 1958-1960   4.0 items

 2 48

East Wenatchee 1958-1960   4.0 items

 2 49

Eatonville 1958-1960   4.0 items

 2 50

Edmonds 1958-1960   17.0 items

 2 51

Elberton 1960   3.0 items

 2 52

Electric City 1958-1960   6.0 items

 2 53

Ellensburg 1958-1960   25.0 items

 2 54

Elma 1959-1960   5.0 items

 2 55

Elmer City 1958-1960   5.0 items

 2 56

Endicott 1959-1960   8.0 items

 2 57

Entiat 1958-1960   4.0 items

 2 58

Enumclaw 1958-1960   6.0 items

 2 59

Ephrata 1958-1960   8.0 items

 2 60

Everett 1958-1960   30.0 items

 2 61

Everson 1958-1960   6.0 items

 2 62

Fairfield 1959-1960   12.0 items

 2 63

Farmington 1959-1960   10.0 items

 2 64

Ferndale 1958-1960   10.0 items

 2 65

Fife 1958-1960   5.0 items

 2 66

Firecrest 1958-1960   8.0 items

 2 67

Forks 1958-1960   7.0 items

 2 68

Friday Harbor 1958-1960   2.0 items

 2 69

Garfield 1958-1960   5.0 items

 2 70

Gig Harbor 1958-1960   5.0 items

 2 71

Gold Bar 1958-1960   6.0 items

 2 72

Goldendale 1957-1960   12.0 items

 2 73

Grand Coulee 1958-1960   2.0 items

 2 74

Grandview 1958-1960   15.0 items

 2 75

Granger 1958-1960   15.0 items

 2 76

Granite Falls 1959   1.0 item

 2 77

Hamilton 1958-1960   5.0 items

 2 78

Harrah 1959-1960   10.0 items

 2 79

Harrington 1957-1960   5.0 items

 2 80

Hartline 1959-1960   4.0 items

 2 81

Hatton 1958-1960   13.0 items

 2 82

Hoquim 1958-1960   15.0 items

 2 83

Houghton 1960   3.0 items

 2 84

Hunts Point 1958-1960   5.0 items

 2 85

Index 1958-1973   3.0 items

 2 86

Ilwaco 1958-1960   3.0 items

 2 87

Ione 1958-1960   4.0 items

 2 88

Issaquah 1958-1960   8.0 items

 2 89

Kahlotus 1958-1960   6.0 items

 2 90

Kalama 1958-1960   3.0 items

 2 91

Kelso 1958-1960   7.0 items

 2 92

Kent 1958-1960   15.0 items

 2 93

Kennewick 1958-1960   20.0 items

 2 94

Kettle Falls 1957-1960   4.0 items

 2 95

Kirkland 1958-1960   12.0 items

 2 96

Kittitas 1960   7.0 items

 2 97

Krupp 1958-1960   5.0 items

 2 98

LaCenter 1960   3.0 items

 2 99

LaConner 1958-1960   3.0 items

 2 100

LaCrosse 1959-1960   3.0 items

 2 101

Lamont 1959-1960   8.0 items

 2 102

Langley 1959-1960   7.0 items

 2 103

Latah 1960   1.0 item

 2 104

Leavenworth 1958-1960   8.0 items

 2 105

Lind 1958-1960   6.0 items

 2 106

Long Beach 1958-1960   5.0 items

 2 107

Longview 1958-1960   10.0 items

 2 108

Lyman 1959   3.0 items

 2 109

Lynden 1958-1960   10.0 items

 2 110

Lynnwood 1959-1960   8.0 items

 2 111

Mabton 1960   4.0 items

 2 112

Malden 1960   3.0 items

 2 113

Mansfield 1959-1960   3.0 items

 2 114

Marcus 1958-1960   4.0 items

 2 115

Marysville 1958-1960   7.0 items

 2 116

Mattawa 1959-1960   8.0 items

 2 117

McCleary 1959-1960   2.0 items

 2 118

Medical Lake 1959-1960   10.0 items

 2 119

Medina 1958-1960   4.0 items

 2 120

Mesa 1958-1960   8.0 items

 3 121

Metaline 1957-1960   7.0 items

 3 122

Metaline Falls 1957-1960   8.0 items

 3 123

Millwod 1958-1960   4.0 items

 3 124

Milton 1958-1960   6.0 items

 3 125

Monroe 1959-1960   5.0 items

 3 126

Montesano 1958-1960   3.0 items

 3 127

Morton 1958-1960   4.0 items

 3 128

Moses Lake 1958-1960   12.0 items

 3 129

County survey 1949-1961: 

General County Information: 
Box Folder

Comparisons 1957-1959   2.0 items

 3 130

Construction Costs 1958-1959   335.0 items

 3 131-136

Maintenance Costs 1956-1959   43.0 items

 3 137

Individual County Information: 
Box Folder

Adams-Yakima 1949-1961   475.0 items

 3 138-176

County maps and construction cost estimates 1947-1960: 

General note

(Oversized Folders)
Box Folder

Adams, Asotin, Benton 1947-1960   8.0 items

 3 177

Chelan, Clallam, Clark, Columbia, Cowlitz 1954-1960   13.0 items

 3 178

Douglas, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield 1965-1960   8.0 items

 3 179

Grant, Grays Harbor 1959-1960   8.0 items

 3 180

Island, Jefferson, King 1949-1960   9.0 items

 3 181

Kitsap, Kittitas, Klickitat 1954-1960   9.0 items

 3 182

Lewis, Lincoln, Mason 1953-1960   9.0 items

 3 183

Okanogan, Pacific, Pend Oreille 1953-1960   12.0 items

 3 184

Pierce, San Juan, Skagit 1949-1960   12.0 items

 3 185

Skamania, Snohomish, Spokane, Stevens 1955-1960   14.0 items

 3 186

Thurston, Wahkiakum, Walla Walla, Whatcom, Whitman 1954-1960   15.0 items

 3 187

Yakima 1960   2.0 items

 3 188

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 III Photographs 1935-1964 

Highways and Roads 1950-1965: 
Box Folder

County roads and bridges, ca. 1964   105.0 items

 4 189

Junctions and intersections ca 1964   20.0 items

 4 190

Culverts and drainage 1953-1954   35.0 items

 4 191

Road cuts and soil profiles 1953   30.0 items

 4 192

Soil profile charts and maps 1953   6.0 items

 4 193

Landforms and topography 1953   11.0 items

 4 194

Aerial photographs, ca 1950s   14.0 items

 4 195

Traffic loads 1950-1960   10.0 items

 4 196

Road Damage 1960   30.0 items

 4 197

Equipment, pavement, grading and curves, snow on roadways 1950-1960   105.0 items

 4 198

Columbia Basin Irrigration Project 1935-1950: 
Box Folder

Long Lake Dam 1947-1950   6.0 items

 5 199

Columbia River Wasteway 1950   5.0 items

 5 200

Land development farms 1949-1950   5.0 items

 5 201

West Canal 1949-1950   14.0 items

 5 202

East Canal 1950   15.0 items

 5 203

Pasco 1950   5.0 items

 5 204

Grand Coulee Dam and vicinity 1940-1950   8.0 items

 5 205

Hell's Gate on Columbia River 1936   3.0 items

 5 206

Equipment 1947-1950   5.0 items

 5 207

Concrete inspection 1940   5.0 items

 5 208

Magnified sand and gravel samples 1948   16.0 items

 5 209

Core samples 1938 and 1950   4.0 items

 5 210

Landforms, excavation, cut faces, and soil profiles 1935-1947   33.0 items

 5 211

Unidentified 1935-1948   6.0 items

 5 212

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