Cascade Tunnel Association records

Collection

Identifier: 1000-013

Scope and Contents

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.

Dates

Creation: circa 1916-1928

Creator

Cascade Tunnel Association (Wash.) (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open and available for use.

Conditions Governing Use

Biographical / Historical

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.

Full Extent

.21 Linear Feet (1 box)

Language of Materials

English

Metadata Rights Declarations

License: This record is made available under an Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International Creative Commons license.

Additional Description

Abstract

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.

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.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Collection was purchased in 2015.

Processing Information

Acknowledgement of Harmful Content
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