Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
DUBUQUE ELECTRIC RAILWAY, LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY
DUBUQUE ELECTRIC RAILWAY, LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY.
Dubuque Electric Railway, Light and Power Company was started in 1889 by the Allen and Swiney Company. In 1890 the company entered a three-part bidding contest with the UNITED STATES ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY and the DUBUQUE STREET RAILWAY COMPANY for a contract to place between 35-70 electric lights at intersections within the city limits of Dubuque. Although U.S. Electric won the bid, it was unable to complete the work within the set amount of time and the work was given to Dubuque Electric.
On October 25, 1890 the first permanent electric lights were turned on at fifty traffic intersections. These replaced the gas lamps that had been used since the 1860s. Electric lights became increasingly popular and the number of lights around the city expanded.
While lighting was a priority of the company, so was the construction of streetcar lines. The Dubuque Electric Railway, Light and Power Company brought electric streetcars to Dubuque. On May 23, 1890, the Dubuque Herald reported that the man who goes to bed in the vicinity of Main and Fifth used language "last night which nullified his path to glory." Allen & Swiney's men were cutting steel rails to put in their crossing and "the deep notes strolled quite a distance in the night air." (1)
The first car to operate on the Allen & Swiney line made the trip from the power house to the race track on May 27, 1890. Passengers on that historic trip were T. O. Swiney, partner in the firm; Dan McGugin, track contractor; a reporter from the Dubuque Herald; and five workmen to clean rock off the track. The objective of the trip was to test the automatic switches; they all performed perfectly. All that remained was to complete the track from the power house to 8th Street and the installation of the insulated crossing. Both of these were scheduled for completion on May 28th. The electricity was to be turned on with transportation possible for everyone in one week. (2)
The Dubuque Electric Railway, Light and Power Company purchased the Key City Electric in 1893 and was reorganized as the DUBUQUE LIGHT AND TRACTION COMPANY.
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Source:
1. "Local News in Brief," Dubuque Daily Herald, May 23, 1890, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=_OG5zn83XeQC&dat=18900524&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
2. "The Trial Trip," Dubuque Daily Herald, May 28, 1890, p. 4.
See: UNION PARK
See: STREETCARS
See: ELECTRIC POWER