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

El Paso, Texas Police Motorcycle Officers - 1975

Left to right: Captain Ron Edwards, Sgt. Frank Rago, Al Campos, ...

El Paso Police motorcycle officers - 1984

From the Left: Captain Tony Garganta, Severo Jimenez, Sgt. Dan ...

El Paso Police sergeants

Left to right: Clark, McKnight, Ott, Funk and Fitzgerald. Notice ...

Destruction of Evidence

Destruction of slot machines - 1945 Left to right: Chief L.T. ...

El Paso Police motorcycle officers - 1918

Capt. Joe Stowe and another officer inspecting new police ...

Ruth Schwartz Wedding Party - El Paso, Texas

Ruth Schwartz , daughter of Fannie & Adolph Schwartz ( Founder ...

Adolph Schwartz Family

Fannie and Adolph Schwartz ; daughter Ruth ; sons Ervin and ...

Ruth Schwartz Zork with Daughter Marian Eleanor Zork

Ruth Schwartz Zork , daughter of Adolph Schwartz with daughter ...

Luis Zork feb20,1899

Luis Zork son of Bertha Krakauer Zork and Gustave Zork of ...

Adolph Schwartz founder of Popular Dry Good Co

Adolph Schwartz with his grandchildren Marian Eleanor Zork ( ...

Fannie Amstater Schwartz

Fannie Amstater Schwartz with daughter Ruth Schwartz 1906

The Popular Dry Goods Co

In 1903 the Popular Dry Goods Co. store was founded by Adolph ...

Zork/Given Wedding

Marian Eleanor Zork weds Robert Harvey Given Oct 26,1946 ...

Amstater/ Schwartz Wedding

Fannie Amstater weds Adolph Schwartz Jan28,1894

El Paso Police Mounted Officers - 1974

left to right: Richards Edens, Karl Beasley, Al Kasten, Jim ...

El Paso Police Department - 1909

El Paso Police Department - 1909

El Paso Police Department - 1901 - El Paso, Texas

The El Paso City Police Department - 1901. A few short years ...

El Paso Police Department - 1921

El Paso Police Department - 1921 In front of 219 S. Campbell ...

Gustave Zork Family

Gustave Zork ( Krakauer,Zork & Moye ) Bertha Krakauer Zork Luis ...

Debbie Reynolds and Rick Kern

Photo: Rick Kern and Debbie Reynolds "This was Debbie at the ...

Krakauer,Zork and Moye, El Paso, Texas

Krakauer, Zork & Moye 117 San Francisco St. 1910( second ...

City Marshal Dallas Stoudenmire - 1882

This is now at the El Paso Museum of History.

home.search_collection