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

Operation Hold the Line 1993

The image shows the U.S. Border Patrol during Operation Hold the ...

SP Passenger Train

SP Passenger Train on Main st. next to Plaza in the 1930's or ...

Santa Fe Railroad Crew

Santa Fe Railroad freight crew on steam engine 1918

Ernst Kohlberg 1881

The image shows Ernst Kohlberg in 1881. Ernst Kohlberg ...

Kohlberg Cigar Store

The image shows the inside of the Kohlberg cigar store, which ...

Kohlberg Brothers Tobacco Company

The image shows workers making cigars at the Kohlberg Brothers ...

Kohlberg Brothers Tobacco Company

The image shows female workers putting cigars into boxes at the ...

Let's Go - advertisement for La Internacional cigar

The image shows advertisement for La Internacional cigar - the ...

Woman on Bicycle in 1892

The image shows a woman on a bicycle at the corner of El Paso ...

El Paso Museum of Art

Entrance to the El Paso Museum of Art with the sculpture, ...

SP Steam Engine 3420

SP Steam Engine @ 4 centuries celebration

SP Engine 3420

Boarding SP Steam Engine 3420 at 4 Centuries Celebration

Downtown El Paso Night View

A view of the downtown El Paso cityscape at night as seen from ...

El Paso County Courthouse

View of the El Paso County Courthouse against a cloudy blue sky.

Downtown El Paso (2014)

Aerial view of downtown El Paso, including the recent addition ...

Rock On

Fans raise their hands during a performance by the rock band ...

The Plaza

Daylight view of the Plaza Theatre neon sign with the Plaza ...

Shoes on a Wire

A pair of high-top sneakers hang from a power line with the ...

El Paso Chihuahuas Stadium

Raul Duran first visit to our beautiful stadium

Alligators in San Jacinto Plaza at Christmas

Celebrating the lighting of the Christmas tree on December 5, ...

SP Steam Engine 3420 Cab

Boarding To see cab of 1904 steam engine 3420 @ 4 centuries ...

Henry O. Flipper, 1856 - 1940

Henry Ossian Flipper, engineer, the first black graduate of West ...

Pancho Villa and Ice Cream - Video

Elite Confectionary 201 N. Mesa St. Pancho Villa would visit the ...

home.search_collection