Olympia’s Main Street to be Ripped Up for Electric Rails
A long-standing conflict between local transit companies is resolved, clearing the way for new track construction and pole installation.
The Olympia Light & Power company held a meeting today. The contract which finally does away with the conflict between the two companies has been signed by Mr. Maxwell, of the Olympia street railway. As soon as the iron arrives, the present track in the center of Main street will be torn up, and work will also be commenced on the line from Puget and Fourth street to north Olympia. Men are now engaged in planting poles along Main street.
“As soon as the iron arrives the present track in the center of Main street will be torn up.”
The transition from horse-drawn or early transit to electric streetcars was the 'boom' technology of the 1890s. Today, Olympia’s Main Street (now Capitol Way) remains the central artery of the city, though the streetcars have long since been replaced by buses and cars.
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