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Simcha Blass Hydrology of Israel collection, M1438. Dept. of Special Collections, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.
Purchased, 2004 (Accession 2004-167)
Collection was sold to a rare books dealer by an individual purporting to be an intermediary between the dealer and the Blass Family. The collection was subsequently purchased by Stanford University from the dealer.
Hydrological engineer and entrepreneur Simcha Blass was born in 1897 in Warsaw, Poland, the second of five children. As a boy, his education consisted of both religious and secular studies, and early on he developed a strong interest in engineering and also became intent on settling in the Jewish homeland. At the age of 17 he began his studies at the Wawelberg-Rotband mechanical-technical institute. In 1919 he was drafted and spent 18 months as a private in the Polish Army. After his discharge, he completed his studies and obtained an engineering credential.
A gifted engineer with a talent for invention, Blass spent most of the 1920s perfecting an implement for planting wheat that eventually increased crop yields by 300 percent. He saw this new device as a key to Jewish settlers’ self-sufficiency. But he did not succeed in marketing his invention to investors and manufacturers and was particularly disappointed that it failed to take hold in Palestine. Eventually he came to realize that the main barrier to successful agricultural development and increased Jewish settlement in Palestine was the lack of a steady water supply, and his focus shifted to hydrological engineering.
Simcha Blass’s involvement with the development of water resources, first in Palestine and then in the newly established State of Israel, began on a small scale. In the late 1920s, he settled in Deganyah Bet, a small agricultural community on Lake Kineret, and served as a consultant to several neighboring communities who had obtained funds from the Jewish Agency to install a pumping station to use Jordan River water for irrigation. His success in this project sparked a passion that would endure throughout his career. In 1930, Blass brought his wife from Bialystok, Poland and relocated to Tel Aviv, where he established a hydrological engineering firm. Over the next 30 years, Blass and his associates were key participants in the planning and construction of hydrological projects all over Israel, including the National Water Carrier. This ambitious project, completed in 1964, consists of a series of underground pipelines, open canals, reservoirs, and tunnels, which carry water from Lake Kineret to the Negev.
Simcha Blass died in 1982, in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Sources:
Simhah Blas, Me merivah u-maas (Water in strife and action). Ramat-Gan: Masadah, 1973.
Dov Sitton, Development of water limited water resources: Historical and technological aspects. The American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise, 2005. Retrieved from http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Environment/water.html
Contains correspondence, maps, minutes, proposals and technical reports relating to the hydrology of Israel.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Statements, invoices, and brief correspondence regarding accounts for Simha Blas's company Tikhnun ha-mayim le-yisrael ba"m [Israel Water Planning Ltd.]. 1954-1956.
Statements, invoices, and brief correspondence regarding accounts for Simha Blas's company Tikhnun ha-mayim le-yisrael ba"m [Israel Water Planning Ltd.]. 1954-1956.
Statements, invoices, and brief correspondence regarding accounts for Simha Blas's company Tikhnun ha-mayim le-yisrael ba"m [Israel Water Planning Ltd.]. 1952-1953.
Official file folder cover: Medinat yisrael misrade ha-memshalah: Savage. J.L. Savage was an American water engineer and consultant to various hydrological projects in Palestine/Israel.
Memo to J.L. Savage from the Water Department with questions concerning 1. All-Palestine Irrigation Scheme; 2. Medium Schemes in North; 3. Medium Schemes in South; 4. Secondary conduits; and 5. Power development. August 18th, 1949.
Three sets of handwritten notes regarding visit of American hydrology consultant J.L. Savage to Israel in August, 1949.
Mapat ha-geshamim/Rainfall map: Palestine, Transjordan, Southern Syria, Southern Lebanon. D. Ashbel. Jerusalem: Hebrew University Press/Jewish Agency for Palestine. Ca. 1938.
Southern Palestine: geological map with explanatory notes. Shaw, S.H. Jerusalem: Government Printer, 1947. 42 p. with folded map.
Emek hefer drainage project: Site plan. Folded map too large for flat storage. Undated, ca. 1950s.
Three maps: Admot reshut ha-huleh (lands of the Huleh authority), undated; Emek ha-huleh: baalut ha-karka ba-helek ha-deromi (Huleh Valley: land ownership in the southern region), June 18, 1942; Water research bureau: Eretz Israel catchment areas of individual brooks and wadis, 1936.
Two maps: Emek yizrael ha-maaravi: skitsah li-virur haspakat mayim [Western Jezreel Valley; schematic to ascertain water supply]. Nov. 1935; Seker karkaot (ibud ve-hakhsharah) [land survey, Upper Galillee]. Jan. 1950.
Two maps: Map of Palestine; Map of Palestine, copy 2. Undated.
2 maps: Canal Jordan-KishonCanal Jordan-Kishon, copy 2. Undated.
Four maps. Cultivable land on the Jordan Valley terrace. Undated;Litani and Upper Jordan rivers rainfall map. Sept. 9, 1943;Sekharim bi-levanon [dams in Lebanon]. Feb. 5, 1942;Untitled [Huleh area]. 1955.
Five maps. Ezor ha-kevul [drainage area, Northern Huleh]. Nov. 20, 1955;Mapat ha-huleh [map of the Huleh area]. Undated.Mean annual rainfall. Undated.Palestine and adjoining territory. Oct. 9, 1943.Tokhnit yibush ve-nikuz shel ha-galil ha-elyon [plan for drainage and drying of the Upper Gallilee]. Undated.
Nine maps. Amendments to the I.P.C. corridors. Jun. 8, 1945.Amendments to the I.P.C. corridors. Jun. 1945.Lake Hula. Jul. 1950.Mapat mahaneh shel mifal yibush ha-huleh [Camp map of the Huleh drainage (drying) project]. Dec. 7, 1955.Palestine administration map. Aug. 1936.Tokhnit emek zevulun/Town planning scheme Emek Zebulun area. Oct. 1936.Tokhnit yibush ha-huleh/ha-yarden ha-deromi, daf 1 [Huleh drainage project/southern Jordan, page 1].Tokhnit yibush ha-huleh/ha-yarden ha-deromi, daf 2 [Huleh drainage project/southern Jordan, page 2].Tokhnit yibush ha-huleh [Huleh drainage project]. All undated, ca. 1950s.Yarmuk diversion canal/Alignment of main canal. Undated.
File folder cover: Misrad ha-haklaut/moetset ha-mayim: Mar [Mr.] Simha Blas.
Minutes and other materials from meetings of the Water Board of the Ministry of Agriculture, Dec. 1960 - Feb. 1963.
Minutes and other materials from meetings of the Water Board of the Ministry of Agriculture, Dec. 1960 - Feb. 1963.
Minutes and other materials from meetings of the Water Board of the Ministry of Agriculture, Dec. 1960 - Feb. 1963.
Minutes and other materials from meetings of the Water Board of the Ministry of Agriculture, Dec. 1960 - Feb. 1963.
Folder cover: Medinat yisrael misrade ha-memshalah: Vaadat ha-shiput [jurisdiction committee].
Meeting minutes and related materials of the water department's Jurisdiction Committee. 1950-1952.
Meeting minutes and related data for the water department's committee for planning of the national water plant. 1955.
Meeting minutes and related data for the water department's committee for planning of the national water plant. 1952-1954.
Meeting minutes and related data for the water department's committee for planning of the national water plant. 1950.
3 memoranda: From Denver, CO hydrology consultants H.W. Bashore, J.L. Savage, and Abel Wolman to David Ben Gurion regarding the master plan for development of water projects in the State of Israel. 12 p. Dec. 10, 1950; A. Trisht to Meshek Sede Nehamiah regarding their pumping station. Dec. 22, 1953; Y. Trisht regarding digging of a reservoir at Bet Hashita. Dec. 13, 1967.
Proposal and maps for collection basin drainage project, Nahal Haderah. 1956.
File folder cover: Medinat yisrael misrade ha-memshalah: Bet Shean.
Written proposals and data for Bet Shean valley water plant. 1950.
Blueprints for Bet Shean valley water plant. 1950.
Blueprints for Bet Shean valley water plant. 1950.
File folder cover: Medinat yisrael misrade ha-memshalah: Eilat.
Handwritten notes and data relating to water supply project for Eilat. 1951.
Notes and data relating to irrigation projects for the Jordan Valley. 1952.
Project proposal summary and blueprints for Masadah-Shaar ha-Golan and Helkat Tel Katsir water supply project: Connection to the Bet Zera reservoir. 1960.
Project proposal and blueprints for Masadah-Shaar ha-Golan and Helkat Tel Katsir water supply project: Connection to the Bet Zera reservoir. 1960.
Blueprints and written proposals relating to three Kevutsat Mesadah water projects. 1955-1956.
Blueprints and written proposals relating to four Meshek Ein Gev water projects. 1955, 1958, 1959, 1962.
Blueprint relating to Kevutsat Alumot pump installation project. 1955.
Blueprints, notes, and proposal relating to Kevutsat Kineret water projects. 1956, 1962.
Blueprint for Bet Gordon water supply project. 1955.
Blueprint for Kevutsat Afikim pump housing project.
Blueprint for Tel Katsir irrigation canal.
Blueprint and proposal for Ein Hahoresh water project.
Blueprints and proposals for two Bet Herut water projects.
Blueprints and proposals for four Kefar Vitkin water projects.
Blueprint and project cost summary for Emek Hefer Area Council water project.
Blueprint and memo regarding Kefar Hayim water project.
File folder cover for Ein Harod earth pool project proposal. Misrad le-handasah hidraulit: S. Blas.
Project proposal and blueprints for Ein Harod earth pool [reservoir] project.
File folder cover for Maayan Barukh irrigation project proposal.
Maayan Barukh irrigation project proposal and blueprint.
Two brown envelopes for Maayan Barukh irrigation project proposal; one has pencil schematic on back.
Notes, memos, and blueprints relating to Maayan Barukh irrigation project proposal.
Notes, memos, and blueprints relating to Maayan Barukh irrigation project proposal.
File folder cover: Mekorot: hevrat mayim ba"m: Mifal ha-galil ha-elyon. Upper Gallilee plant.
Project proposal and blueprint for Upper Gallilee water plant project.
File folder cover. Mekorot: hevrat mayim ba"m. Northern border water plant.
Water supply project proposal for settlements on the Lebanon border.
Agudat ha-mayim ha-shitufit be-emek harod: aspakat mayim la-tsafon: tokhnit kelalit. Documents pertaining to the cooperative water union of Emek Harod: general plan for water supply to the Northern region. 1967.
File folder cover. Ramat ha-galil ha-tahton haspakat ha-mayim. Lower Gallilee water supply project.
Lower Gallilee water supply project proposal and blueprint. Undated.
File folder cover. Tel Yosef berekhat adamah (Tel Yosef earth pool). 1935.
Proposal and blueprints for Tel Yosef earth pool construction. 1935.
File folder cover. Yarkon Faluja Conduit: Program of Development: Economic Analysis. File contents: project proposal, report, and blueprints. 1952.
Blueprints relating to Yarkon-Faluja conduit project. 1953.
Blueprints relating to Yarkon-Faluja conduit project. 1953.
File folder cover. Closed conduits in reinforced concrete, I. Olexinzer.
Closed conduits in reinforced concrete, part 1. I. Olexinzer. Jerusalem: Ministry of Agriculture, Water Department, Division of National Planning. .
Eng[ineer] Fuks file. Notes, data, and report on problems of development of water [resources] in Israel.
Bound typewritten volume. John S. Cotton, Interim report on master plan for development of irrigation and hydroelectric power in State of Israel, Vol. I.
Bound typewritten volume. John S. Cotton and James B. Hayes, Third interim report on master plan for development of irrigation and hydroelectric power in State of Israel, Vol. 1.
Bound typewritten volume. John S. Cotton and James B. Hayes, Third interim report on master plan for development of irrigation and hydroelectric power in State of Israel, Vol. 2.
Israel and its water resources: Facts and figures. Water Planning for Israel, Ltd.,
Mehir ha-mayim la-haklaut, me-et S. Blas. (The price of water for agriculture, by S[imha] Blas. ).
File folder cover. Medinat yisrael: misrade ha-memshalah. ha-Yarkon.
Handwritten notes and data on the Yarkon [river] water plant project. Undated.
Plan for the development and utilization of the water resources of the Jordan and Litani river basins, vol. 2, by John S. Cotton, consulting engineer. Bound maps and blueprints.
Litani river project: Qaraoun reservoir: Mass curves. Graph. Palestine Water Co. Ltd.,
File folder cover. Some Information on Lake Tiberias, report no. 2, by A. De Leeuw and M. Auerbach.
Some Information on Lake Tiberias, report no. 2, by A. De Leeuw and M. Auerbach. 58 p. and appendices.
File folder cover. Some Information on Lake Tiberias, report no. 2, by A. De Leeuw and M. Auerbach.
Some Information on Lake Tiberias, report no. 2, by A. De Leeuw and M. Auerbach.
The Water resources of Israel. A survey by S. Blass, director, Water Department.
The Water resources of Israel. A survey by S. Blass, director, Water Department. [This copy has typeset cover.]
Ten 3.5" x 4.5" black and white photographs taken in California, labeled Cucamonga [3]; Cucamonga spreading grounds; Sausage Dam Cucamonga spreading ground; San Gabriel [3]; Sierra Madre City of " "; Eaton Wash spreading grounds L.A.C.F.C.D. Undated.
Five 5" x 7" black and white photographs. One labeled Caesarea - Finished pumping installations, Sept. 1963. Four unidentified, undated.
Three 2.5" x 3.5" black and white photographs. Labeled Nahal Iron shitafon, sof november 1964, hutsfu: ha-sadot, kevishim u-gesharim. [Iron river flooding end of November 1964, flooded: fields, roads and bridges]
Four 3.5" x 5.5" black and white photographs. Labeled Huleh: karkaot ha-agam [Huleh lakebed]. Undated.
Six 3.5" x 5" black and white photographs. Five labeled Hulot Yavneh [Yavneh dunes], Feb. 1965.One labeled Nahal Adah - kevish Pardes Hanah Binyaminah shitfonot 1964/02 [Adah river Pardes Hanah-Binyaminah road flooded 1964/02.
Four black and white photographs (5 x 5", 3 x 3", 4 x 2", 3 x 2") of unidentified round six-story brick building (with Israeli flag flying on top) near railroad tracks. Stamp on back reads "de Graaf C572 Leiden." Undated. One 3.5 x 2.5" black and white photograph of girl posing on ice. Undated.
Five black and white photographs, 3.5 x 2.5", unidentified, showing concrete conduit construction.Two black and white photographs, 3,5 x 2.5", unidentified, showing retaining wall construction. All undated.
One black and white photograph, 7 x 9.5", showing lab technician conducting experiment. Sign on machine reads: Nekez hupi: nisui ms. 15 [Shore drainage, experiment no. 15].
Two black and white photographs. 8 x 6" shows worker standing on large drilling rig, undated.5 x 5" shows wetland, undated.
Six black and white photographs, 3.5 x 4.5" show a field being tilled. Undated.
Five black and white photographs, 3.5 x 2.5". Three show an unidentified body of water. Two show close and far view of the opening of a water conduit. Undated.
Six black and white photographs, 2.5 x 4", showing placement of concrete rings in ground using a crane. Photos numbered on back 6-11. Undated.
Fourteen black and white photographs, 2.5 x 4", showing unidentified area, poss. Caesarea. All marked "3" in pencil on back. Undated.