can't load my own properties file using tomcat

[Keith Vance]

I am having a difficult time getting Velocity to read my properties file
using tomcat.
<!DOCTYPE web-app PUBLIC "-//Sun Microsystems, Inc.//DTD Web Application
2.2//EN"
 "http://java.sun.com/j2ee/dtds/web-app_2_2.dtd";>

here is my web.xml file for the SampleServlet
<web-app>
  <servlet>
    <servlet-name>Velocity Sample</servlet-name>
    <description>Sample</description>
    <servlet-class>SampleServlet</servlet-class>
    <init-param>
      <param-name>properties</param-name>
      <param-value>velocity.properties</param-value>
    </init-param>
  </servlet>
</web-app>
END web.xml

my velocity.properties file which is located in
/usr/local/jakarta-tomcat/webapps/kiowa

file.resource.loader.path = /usr/local/jakarta-tomcat/webapps/kiowa/templates
runtime.log=/usr/local/jakarta-tomcat/webapps/kiowa/logs/servlets.log

END velocity.properties


Basically the only place the I put my sample.vm file is
/usr/local/jakarta-tomcat/bin

Any tips to troubleshoot why tomcat is not processing the init-params?


-- 
K E I T H  V A N C E
Software Engineer
n-Link Corporation