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

6th to 8th Grade Class - 1923 - El Paso, Texas

The picture shows the Sacred Heart class from grades 6 to 8. It ...

Family Tschantié's Car

This picture features the children of the family Tschantié ...

City Hall, El Paso, TX 1899-1959

This picture shows the El Paso City Hall during the Second World ...

Popular Dry Goods Building

The Popular Dry Goods Building was part of the Popular Dry Goods ...

Hotel Hussmann

Hotel Hussmann during the winter (now Cortez building). San ...

Overview Shot of El Paso

Overview shot of El Paso Downtown area, facing east. On the ...

Stagecoach in Parade

A stagecoach is joining the parade pulled by four mules. A sign ...

Indians in parade

Young men holding a flag (1693-1800). Parade near Hotel ...

Indians in Parade

The images shows Indians in parade in downtown El Paso in 1930. ...

Parade in Downtown El Paso

Parade in Downtown El Paso

Parade near the Pioneer Plaza

The image shows a parade near Pioneer Plaza, led by a ...

Parade near Hotel Sheldon

Parade near Hotel Sheldon (opened in 1900), going down Mills ...

Parade on South El Paso Street

Parade in front of 528 South El Paso Street (La Esmeralda store)

Railroad work crew

Men working hard at the Railroad station. Image ...

Unknown Asian Family - El Paso, Texas

Unknown Asian family--image taken in downtown El Paso, Texas.

Unknown Lady - El Paso, Texas

The image of this unknown lady was taken by the photograph ...

W.E. Race and family

W.E. Race worked for the International Water Co. at the turn of ...

Unknown woman

Unknown woman in oval picture frame, dressed in dressy attire ...

Edgar Race

This is a Bushong & Feldman Photograph from El Paso.

Unknown Woman - El Paso, Texas

Unknown woman in oval frame in dressy attire. Image ...

Unknown children

Unknown children playing in front of their house in El Paso, ...

A.W. Dutton

This F. Parker photograph was taken April 28th, 1887

Unknown man and child

Unknown man playing with his child in El Paso.

home.search_collection