ELECTRIC POWER

ELECTRIC POWER. The use of electric power in Dubuque developed slowly. Reflecting the distrust Dubuque residents felt toward the dependability of electricity, many homes were equipped with combination electric and GAS LAMPS. The many electric companies competing for business did little to reassure a doubting population.

On August 2, 1881, the City Council granted the Edison Electric Company a right-of-way. There is no record, however, of the company being granted a franchise to supply electric power to the community. The U.S. Electric Light and Power Company, incorporated on Apri1 17, 1883, had moderate commercial success establishing contracts with several Main Street merchants, the Julien House and the NOVELTY IRON WORKS. It also had a three-year contract with the city for two hundred arc lights used for street illumination. Wires were strung for incandescent lights, and machinery to operate it was in their powerhouse or under order. Fifty miles of wires were strung within the city limits.

Dubuque residents saw the first use of electricity on November 17, 1883, when the Platt Brothers Clothiers was lit for five hours in light compared in brightness to noon day.

By November 7,1884, it was reported that the U.S. Electric Light and Power Company, finding that its stock was valued at only ten cents on the dollar, was going to discontinue business. This action was averted on March 15, 1890, when the company was awarded a street light contract for one hundred twenty 2000-candlepower lamps. These lights were to be operated on the Philadelphia Moonlight Schedule- when the moon shown brightly the lights were left off.

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

The Dubuque Electric Light Company, granted a franchise by the City Council on September 11, 1883, merged with the DUBUQUE STREET RAILWAY COMPANY in 1890. People's Electric Company was organized by several local businessmen in 1889, but never developed into a major power supplier.

The Allen-Swiney Company began operations in 1890 with a power plant located on 6th and Iowa STREETS. On August 4, 1890, the company signed a contract with the city to supply seventy 2,000 candlepower arc lights for one year and thirty 2000 candlepower arc lights for three years at a cost of $75.00 annually. Curiosity about the financial backers of the company was settled when W. K. Richardson, a wealthy Boston lawyer, and E. Prebles Motley, a Boston millionaire, met with Allen and Swiney and urged them to extend the company lines. The KEY CITY ELECTRIC COMPANY, started in 1889, sold out to the 8th Street and West Dubuque Railway Company, part of the Allen-Swiney Company. The Dubuque Electric Railway Light and Power Company, the Allen-Swiney company, went into receivership in 1892 and was sold to the Old Colony Trust Company of Boston

In 1893 for $225,000 the DUBUQUE LIGHT AND TRACTION COMPANY purchased the Dubuque Street Railway Company. Almost immediately the new company developed financial problems that sent it into receivership. Dubuque Light and Traction was succeeded in 1899 by the HOME ELECTRIC COMPANY. This company was followed in 1900 by the UNION ELECTRIC COMPANY.

In July 1916, residents found that the entire holdings of the Union Electric Company, Dubuque's largest public service utility, had been purchased by the Dubuque Electric Company, incorporated in Delaware. This company was in operation until 1924 when it became part of INTERSTATE POWER COMPANY.