Seattle’s citizenry was generally enthusiastic about building the new Alaskan Way Viaduct. However, its construction disrupted normal life in the work zone. In 1950, Ivar Haglund wrote to the city’s traffic engineer complaining that construction-related lane closures on Alaskan Way were limiting access to businesses on the water side of the street, leaving them no alleys for delivery and no parking areas. He asked that at least one additional lane be opened, as it would “be considerable help to the great volume of fish handling and shipping.”

Haglund wrote, “I feel that we should have some immediate and friendly consideration, and you will find us cooperative and also very seriously concerned.” In response to this letter, along with a similar one from the Washington Fish and Oyster Co., the city engineer wrote a dispatch to the Public Safety Committee in which he outlined traffic changes that he hoped would alleviate the construction difficulties.

Even in the midst of the inconvenience to his business, however, Haglund was quick to note that “we are all definitely pleased to see the Viaduct come and are interested in anything that will further its speedy completion.” This civic pride extended through the construction period and culminated in Resolution 16304, passed by City Council on April 6, 1953, to mark the occasion of the viaduct’s debut. The document expressed appreciation to the mayor and two city engineers who guided the project from conception through construction, and stated that “this magnificent thoroughfare stands out as one of the greatest structural achievements in the history of Seattle.”

See other Archives Finds of the Month here:

http://seattle.gov/CityArchives/Exhibits/finds.htm

For other interesting images and textual items, check out the Seattle Municipal Archives’ photostream on flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/seattlemunicipalarchives/

Spanish-American War veterans

One of Seattle’s earliest celebrations of its veterans came in 1899 upon the return of the First Washington Volunteer Regiment from the Spanish-American War. The 1200 volunteers fought around Manila for six months, with 129 killed and wounded. According to a City Council resolution, the soldiers “won a world wide reputation for bravery on the field of battle and have brought renown to the State of Washington.”

The resolution proposed that “some especial recognition should be given” to the soldiers as they were mustered out of service, calling for a committee to be formed to raise funds for a “suitable celebration” that included fireworks. Council designated the mayor, representatives from the three daily newspapers, the Board of Education, public school teachers, and the Chamber of Commerce to plan and fund this event. Ordinances were passed to pay for decorating and illuminating the streets for the celebration, as well as to ban streetcars from the area during the multi-day event.

The regiment arrived in San Francisco in November 1899 and from there made their way back to Washington. Dozens of boats greeted the Seattle contingent’s ship as it arrived in Elliott Bay, and tens of thousands of people cheered them in the streets. Celebrations continued for three days.

Seattle continued to look for ways to memorialize the veterans, and eventually decided to name a public space in honor of those who had died in the war. Of the two places eventually proposed – the “City Park” and a triangle at Yesler and Second Avenue South – a committee of veterans chose the former, which became Volunteer Park.

 

Chinese Exclusion Act

In 1882, Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act, which suspended most immigration from China for ten years and blocked Chinese residents from becoming citizens. During the difficult economic period of the mid-1880s, Chinese workers were seen as taking the jobs of white residents. Resentment spilled over into riots, as mobs first in Tacoma and then in Seattle forced their Chinese residents to leave the city. Clerk File 12298 contains a missive from the mayor of San Francisco urging Seattle to join in lobbying Congress to extend the law, “as the Pacific States are exposed to Chinese immigration… If Chinese coolies can freely come, it means the displacement of our white population.”

The Exclusion Act was renewed in 1892 for another ten years. As its 1902 expiration date began to loom, local governments on the west coast wanted to make sure the rules stayed in effect.

Enclosed with the mayor’s letter was an announcement of a California state convention to discuss ways to ensure the Act was extended, along with a “Call to Action” addressed to the citizens of California. This document warned that “should the bars be let down an enormous immigration of Chinese coolies would inundate this country and overwhelm its free working population. The standard of American civilization, our schools, churches, employment and family life, our greatness in peace and power in war are at issue.”

Seattle mayor Thomas Humes forwarded the San Francisco materials to City Council. In the transmittal letter, Humes wrote, “It is my opinion that the re-enactment of this law would prove of great benefit to the people of this city and state, and that the same is desired by the people generally. Any action that you may take, therefore, apprising Congress of the will and desire of the people of this State in reference thereto will meet my most hearty approval.”

The law was indeed renewed in 1902, and remained in effect until finally repealed in 1943.

See other Archives Finds of the Month here:

http://seattle.gov/CityArchives/Exhibits/finds.htm

For other interesting images and textual items, check out the Seattle Municipal Archives’ photostream on flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/seattlemunicipalarchives/

 A regular feature highlighting interesting, important, and odd items from the Seattle Municipal Archives’  collection, along with the stories they tell.

Air parks

In the 1940s, there was discussion of building one or more “air parks” in Seattle. Commercial traffic had Sea-Tac Airport, which opened in 1944 and had a civilian terminal by 1949. Meanwhile, private pilots and “air visitors” were looking for a place to land within the city limits.

Interestingly, women seemed to have been the most vocal in lobbying the City Council to build an air park in Seattle. A Mrs. Robert Wittig wrote to the council in 1946 expressing great disappointment in the lack of any plan for air parks. A Seattle native who had moved east of the mountains, she and her husband made frequent trips to the city for business and pleasure, and had bought a light plane for that purpose. She wrote, “As part of a vast number of people far from shopping and business sections, we are increasingly conscious of the value and inevitable progress of aviation, of which the average urban housewife (and a few city ‘fathers’) are grossly ignorant and totally unaware.” She argued that air parks were inevitable, and by delaying their construction the city would be spending more money in the long run. She also implored, “Please don’t let the unfortunate ‘buzzing’ of a few ‘screwballs’…sour you on anything as big as Aviation.”

The following year, Lorinda Miskell wrote to City Council on behalf of the Seattle chapter of the International Organization of Women Pilots, also known as the 99’ers. The group was concerned that Seattle was falling behind other cities “in opening its doors to private flying and progress. Many would be ‘air visitors’ now avoid our city because of the expense and inconvenience in transportation from one of the outlying private fields.” The letter closes by arguing, “Just as a few years ago, good highways brought growth to a city, now in this day and age, accessible Air Parks will bring Commerce.”

See other Archives Finds of the Month here:

http://seattle.gov/CityArchives/Exhibits/finds.htm

For other interesting images and textual items, check out the Seattle Municipal Archives’ photostream on flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/seattlemunicipalarchives/