Photographs of the Skagit River Hydroelectric Project constructed between 1918-1961.
<p>In 1919, City Light began planning for a dam at the Rip Raps below Ruby Creek, and construction of Ruby Dam began in September 1937. The building of the dam was done in three steps. The first step was performed by contractors General-Shea-Columbia beginning in September 1937 with completion to a height of 305 feet in March 1940, at which time the lake and dam were renamed for Seattle City Light Superintendent James Delmage Ross (1872-1939). The second and third steps was built by contractors General-Shea-Morrison with work starting February 1943 and completion to height of 540 feet finished in August 1949.
</p><p>"Rip raps" is not only a physical location, as in this case, but also a general term meaning "Loose stone thrown down in water or on a soft bottom to form a foundation for a breakwater or other work. More widely, loose stone used for revetments, embankments, or the like; also, a structure made of this." [Source: Oxford English Dictionary, <a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://dictionary.oed.com/cgi/entry/50207239">http://dictionary.oed.com/cgi/entry/50207239</a>?]
</p><p>Caption on image: Skagit River at Rip Raps. 6-28-19, 5028.
</p><p>PH Coll 1124.25
</p>
<ul><li>Subjects (LCTGM): Rivers--Washington (State); Rapids--Washington (State)</li>
<li>Subjects (LCSH): Skagit River (B.C. and Wash.)</li></ul>
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Unknown author<span style="display: none;">Unknown author</span></div>
Taken on 28 June 1919
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://content.lib.washington.edu/ww-spwsweb/index.html">Seattle Power and Water Supply Collection</a>