Olympia's Streetcar Franchise Shell Game
A franchise extension granted on a promise of negotiations turns out to be empty—and the editor wants electric cars for the capital.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Another evidence that the people of Olympia are being trifled with in the street railway franchises came to light yesterday. Mr. Russell asked for an extension of time on his franchise, which was granted by the city council on Tuesday night, on the ground that he was negotiating with Mr. Savage, of the Olympia Street Railway Company. Mr. Savage now says that there are no negotiations pending between Mr. Russell and his company, but that the former made the company a proposition some time ago which was declined, and the matter was dropped. It appears that the city has been pretty well “dropped” so far as rapid transit is concerned. There is work for the new city council next year to give this city lines of electric cars. Such lines will do more to stir up business, start new sales of real estate and bring people to the capital of the state, than any other enterprise, except perhaps manufacturing establishments. Rapid transit is what built up Seattle and Tacoma in a great measure. Let us have it in Olympia without any more jugglery.
“Let us have it in Olympia without any more jugglery.”
In 1891, Olympia's boosters saw streetcars as the key to real estate values and civic growth, much as transit-oriented development is sold today. The episode shows how city councils can hand out valuable franchise extensions on promises that later evaporate. The call for 'no more jugglery' is a familiar demand for accountable transit planning.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.