San Antonio Street Around 1900

San Antonio Street Around 1900

The image shows San Antonio Street, El Paso, Texas probably in the beginning of 20th century. Coaches were still the way of transportation; no cars can be seen yet. However, the need for electricity in El Paso started around 1900, when El Paso grew from a small adobe village to a thriving city due to the arrival of the railroad in 1881. Electricity on a large scale was first used in transportation: The mule-drawn streetcar system was ended in 1900 and instead, electric cars were being used. Since then, electric streetcars did not only operate between El Paso and Juarez but routes were built in all directions; to Fort Bliss, Government Hill and to the Mesa Street route. In 1886, the first small direct generating plant had been established, providing current for a few street lights and stores. By 1890, the El Paso pioneer Zach T. White had assumed command of the electrical energy business and had new generating equipment installed at Third and Chihuahua Streets. The use of incandescent lamps began in El Paso stores and homes. Since then, electric systems grew and a larger generating plant was built (since 1910s). It supplied power not only to El Paso, but also to Juarez. El Paso Electric Railway Company was the largest electric company at that time.

Area: Central / Downtown

Source: C.L. Sonnichsen Special Collections, University of Texas at El Paso Library. Collection Name: Texas State Hist. Assoc-MS153. Photo ID: San Antonio Street.jpg.

Uploaded by: UTEP Library Special Collections

Comments

Add a comment
Thank you for your comment

Report this entry

Choose the most important reason for this report

Your name

Your email address

Optional detail

Thank you for your report

More from the same community-collection

Babe and i

Love u - photograph of couple downtown El Paso, Texas.

William Lee Petroff - 1965 - El Paso, Texas

Bill Petroff - police officer who retired in 1977 - rank was ...

"Walk to the Past"

The Consulate General of Mexico and Centro Cultural Mexicano ...

Lulac Sweetheart Charity Ball - 1971

Adela (Lily) Lerma - Mercado contestant for Lulac Sweetheart ...

Pedro Lerma Sr. - 2000

Pedro Lerma Sr. during a wedding at the hotel El Camino Hotel.

Wedding - El Camino Real Hotel - 2000 - El Paso, Texas

Wedding at the El Camino Real Hotel - left to right - Pedro ...

"Infinite" by Alejandro Briseño

The Consulate General of Mexico and Centro Cultural Mexicano ...

"Classic" by Alejandro Briseño - El Paso, Texas

The Consulate General of Mexico and Centro Cultural Mexicano ...

Edward J. McVay and worker - Paving the Roads of El Paso, Texas

Edward J. McVay spent his life working in many different ...

Edward J. McVay Paving the Roads of El Paso, Texas

Edward J. McVay spent his life working in many different ...

Edward J. McVay Paving the Roads of El Paso, Texas

Edward J. McVay spent his life working in many different ...

Neon paint party 2k15

Neon paint party in downtown El Paso, Texas.

San Jacinto Plaza Opening - 2016 - El Paso, Texas

San Jacinto Plaza Opening - 2016 Photograph during the San ...

San Jacinto Plaza Opening - 2016

San Jacinto Plaza Opening - 2016 Photograph during the San ...

San Jacinto Plaza Opening - 2016

Photograph during the San Jacinto Plaza Opening - 2016 Ashley ...

San Jacinto Plaza Opening - 2016

Photograph during the San Jacinto Plaza Opening - 2016 Ashley ...

San Jacinto Plaza Opening - 2016

Photograph during the San Jacinto Plaza Opening - 2016 Ashley ...

San Jacinto Plaza Opening - 2016

The mascot for the El Paso Public Library - celebrating opening ...

San Jacinto Plaza Opening - 2016

Mascot for the El Paso Public Library -- celebrating the opening ...

San Jacinto Plaza Opening - 2016 - El Paso, Texas

Photograph of the statue in the center of the plaza.

San Jacinto Plaza Opening - 2016

Photograph of the statue in the center of the plaza.

San Jacinto Plaza Opening - 2016

Members of the El Paso Fire Department at the opening for San ...

San Jacinto Plaza Opening - 2016

Members of the El Paso Fire Department at the opening for San ...

home.search_collection