UNITED STATES ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY

UNITED STATES ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY. On the night of November 17, 1883, the United States Electric Light and Power Company turned on its two dynamos and a trial string of lights along Main from 5th to 6th STREETS was dimly lit.

The company was operated by Nicholas HANSEN, Bart E. LINEHAN and William J. Brown, a clerk in what was known as the HANSEN AND LINEHAN boat store. (1)

The first introduction of electric power in Dubuque did not bring immediate or wide-spread acceptance. One exception was the PLATT BROTHERS COMPANY which saw an opportunity. It welcomed some use of electricity and announced themselves as the "Renowned, Leading, Reliable and NOW Electric Clothiers." The company also advertised that with electric lights, customers could make their selections in the evening in safety.

In January, 1890 the company completed negotiations to become the exclusive user of the Edison incandescent lamp and were granted permission to erect lighting poles in certain alleys. During the same year, the city council decided to establish electric lights at street intersections. U. S. Electric then had competition from the DUBUQUE ELECTRIC RAILWAY, LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY and the DUBUQUE STREET RAILWAY COMPANY. All three businesses submitted bids for the contract which stated that 35-70 street lights would be installed within a given amount of time. United States Electric Light and Power won the bid, but when it failed to complete the job on time the work was turned over to the Dubuque Electric Railway, Light and Power Company which petitioned for the contract. (2)

On November 1, 1892 after winning a contract to supply 200 lights for the city, the company turned on a small current. This lit four lamps of the tower of the courthouse and several at street intersections. (3)

On December 24, 1892, the STAR ELECTRIC COMPANY was incorporated and purchased the plant and franchise of the U.S. Electric Company.

The 1884-1885 Dubuque City Directory listed Main in the Kistler Block as the company address.

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Source:

1. "Altman is Elected President U.E.C," Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, December 15, 1915, p. 5

2. "The City Council," Dubuque Daily Herald, July 8, 1890, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=_OG5zn83XeQC&dat=18900708&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

3. "Municipal Molecules," Dubuque Daily Herald, November 2, 1892, p. 4

"History of Dubuque and Dubuque County," Telegraph Herald, January 15, 1939, p. 5