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

First Presbyterian Church Postcard

Notation on card: First Presbyterian Church, El Paso, Texas.

Alligator

Postcard of large reptile in unknown location, with back of card ...

J. J. Newberry Company - El Paso, Texas

Notation on postcard-665-Newberry's Corner, Texas and Stanton ...

San Jacinto Plaza Postcard

"Glimpse from San Jacinto Plaza, El Paso, Texas" Information on ...

View of El Paso from the Sky

A dirigible fling over El Paso.

Heart of EL Paso, Texas

"Business Section. The Heart of El Paso Texas." Newspaper ...

San Jacinto Plaza

Glimpse of San Jacinto Plaza, El Paso, Texas. A beautiful ...

Kress Building, Hotel Hilton and Mills Building

The image shows parts of the downtown area at San Jacinto Plaza, ...

Street Scene

In this photograph, the beautiful streets of El Paso are shown. ...

O. T. Bassett Tower

This postcard shows the O. T. Bassett Tower, probably in the ...

Downtown

The image shows Mesa Street at San Jacinto Plaza. The building ...

Washington Gardens

Washington Gardens, is now the location for El Paso Zoo. On Jan ...

Street Scene

A Scenic View post card of Rio Grande Ave El Paso TX.

Martin Building - El Paso, Texas

The Martin building, located at the corner Mills and Stanton ...

Kress Store

The Kress building is located at 100 E. Millls Ave. Perhaps the ...

Walking downtown

street photos; downtown on mesa St. and Texas between; Manuel De ...

Bathroom interior

Shows part of toilet, sink and bath tub. Industrial grade ...

Father walking down El Paso Street

Father walking downtown - Rodriguez Sanchez Family.

Downtown El Paso- El Paso Street

Cousin and Uncle - business in background maybe Casa Cotera that ...

Downtown El Paso

Ana and her Parents. Possibly near State National

Farah Strike - El Paso, Texas

Graciela "Chela" worked for Farah on Paisano. Remembers people ...

Street Photos

on El Paso St. downtown (names are listed).

El Paso County Courthouse

The image shows the sign of the new El Paso County Courthouse. ...

home.search_collection