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

Christmas - 2016 - San Jacinto Plaza

The public fill the San Jacinto Plaza for the Christmas ...

Christmas - 2016 - San Jacinto Plaza

Savannah Appelzoller and Annalyse Appelzoller at the San Jacinto ...

Christmas - 2016 - San Jacinto Plaza

This year’s celebration features a traditional Holiday ...

Christmas - 2016 - San Jacinto Plaza

This year’s celebration features a traditional Holiday ...

Christmas - 2016 - San Jacinto Plaza

Photograph taken at the San Jacinto Christmas Celebration. Left ...

San Jacinto Plaza - 2016

San Jacinto Plaza – after the Celebration of Lights parade. ...

San Jacinto Plaza - Christmas 2016

San Jacinto Plaza - December of the year 2016. Two children are ...

San Jacinto Plaza - Christmas 2016

San Jacinto Plaza during the lighting of the plaza.

San Jacinto Plaza - Christmas 2016

Lighting of San Jacinto Plaza in downtown El Paso, Texas.

San Jacinto Plaza - Christmas 2016

Lighting of San Jacinto Plaza in downtown El Paso, Texas.

San Jacinto Plaza - Christmas 2016

Lighting of San Jacinto Plaza in downtown El Paso, Texas.

San Jacinto Plaza - Christmas 2016

Lighting of San Jacinto Plaza in downtown El Paso, Texas.

San Jacinto Plaza - Christmas 2016

Lighting of San Jacinto Plaza in downtown El Paso, Texas.

San Jacinto Plaza - Christmas 2016

Lighting of San Jacinto Plaza in downtown El Paso, Texas.

San Jacinto Plaza - Christmas 2016

Lighting of San Jacinto Plaza in downtown El Paso, Texas.

San Jacinto Plaza - Christmas 2016

Lighting of San Jacinto Plaza in downtown El Paso, Texas.

San Jacinto Plaza - Christmas 2016

Lighting of San Jacinto Plaza in downtown El Paso, Texas.

San Jacinto Plaza - Christmas 2016

San Jacinto Plaza - downtown El Paso, Texas during the lighting ...

San Jacinto Plaza - Christmas 2016

San Jacinto Plaza during the lighting of the plaza-- December of ...

San Jacinto Plaza - Christmas - 2016

Lighting of San Jacinto Plaza in downtown El Paso, Texas.

San Jacinto Plaza - Christmas - 2016

Lighting of San Jacinto Plaza in downtown El Paso, Texas.

San Jacinto Plaza - Christmas - 2016

Annalyse Appelzoller and Savannah Appelzoller during the San ...

San Jacinto Plaza - Christmas - 2016

Downtown El Paso, Texas during the Christmas celebration in San ...

home.search_collection