The Cable Car Scheme: How Seattle’s Council Blocked a Franchise to Save Front Street

When the application of the Seattle Electric Railway Company for renewal of its Front street franchise was denied a few weeks back it was openly charged that certain members of the council were in collusion with a cable road syndicate and that their real purpose was not to protect the streets, but to reserve them for the cable company.

The Post-Intelligencer has no means of knowing whether this charge is true or but. In connection with it the application for a cable franchise made last Friday night seems suitably suggestive. This application was referred to the regular street committee, which is comprised of Councilmen T. W. Lake, R. K. Russell and Charles Reitano, and upon these gentlemen rests the responsibility of full and careful examination of all the considerations involved.

There is not to be any failure to see the disadvantages of this proposition for they are very plain. Front street is already heavily loaded with business. It is too narrow already and to lay a or even a double new track in it, would seriously obstruct and injure it. Its value as a popular street must be damaged seriously by anything that would be a hindrance to traffic. On the other hand, the proposition offers no advantage to the public which it may not have through improvement (which it may enforce if it chooses) in the street car service on Second street.

Every consideration cries out against the application. It is a scheme wholly for private advantage. It cannot be allowed without damage to the public interests.