A Streetcar Franchise on the Line Over Naphtha Power

"George Marvin Savage seems to forget something in trying to run a naphtha motor through the streets of Olympia," said a well known citizen this morning. "Section 4 of the ordinance granting the Olympia street railway company its franchise says, 'said railways may be operated by cable, electricity and any other approved motive power, except that no steam motor shall be used without the consent of the city council, and the city of Olympia hereby reserves the right to compel said company to use safe and approved motive power and forbid the use of animal power upon the whole or any part of said railways.' No one will pretend to say that naphtha, used to propel a street car, is a 'safe and approved motive power.' Again, section 6 of his franchise says the owners or lessees of the said road shall plank outside of the rails for 18 inches and keep such planking in good repair. The company has failed to do this. It did put a ten-inch plank outside the rails. Section 3 says that the track shall be laid even with the established grade of the street. That has not been adhered to, notably at Fifth and Main streets. In fact, the franchise ought to have been forfeited long ago. It is now an obstruction and a nuisance in the path of progress."