Street cars (omnibuses) first came to Detroit in 1847. Horses pulled them on
the plank or cobblestone roads. It was a rough ride. The first few companies
failed because people would rather walk than ride in good weather. Photo: Horse
cars wait along a Detroit street around 1880. (Archives of Michigan)
In 1863, the Detroit City Railway built a streetcar line on rails. Horses
pulled the cars more easily, and the ride was smoother. The cars had hanging oil
lanterns for light, but they were not heated in winter. It cost five cents to
ride. Beginning in 1886, the streetcar companies electrified their routes,
eliminating the need for horses and oil lanterns.
The electricity-carrying overhead wires and middle rail of the street railway
can be seen in this picture of Detroit, taken around 1903. (Postcard:
Archives of Michigan)
