When the streetcar arrived in the city of Rio de Janeiro, the adaptation process was gradual. Initially, the pace imposed by the novelty barely changed the reality then in place – apart from the installation of tracks, which forced citizens to always keep their paths clear, since the streetcar could not make detours. On the narrow streets where it ran in both directions on the same tracks, there were situations in which it became necessary to use the whistle to signal its presence and avoid mishaps.
Image description: This is a historic black-and-white photograph of an urban square. On the left side, we see buildings with balconies and decorative windows. In the center, there is a large palm tree and a building with a tiled roof. On the right, there is an open area with people and equipment, possibly a fair or market. In the background, there are more buildings and a hill with trees. In the lower right corner, there is a structure with a peaked roof and a horse-drawn carriage.Vista geral da Estação Central da Carris Urbana – Fotógrafo não identificado – 1905
As the number of trams grew, and with the arrival of electric trams, the competition for space on the streets intensified. There were carriages, buggies, and cabriolets, all animal-drawn. Carts and bicycles. Gradually, the presence of automobiles was also intensifying, and quite a lot. Which led to the creation of legislation to impose a new order. Ox-carts were the first to stop circulating on the roads. In the cities, obtaining a driver's license became mandatory. Later, pedestrians were educated on how to cross the streets, and traffic signals appeared, etc. etc... and to think that all of this happened in the first half of the 20th century! In the previous image - followed by its detail - and in the next six - 5 of them also accompanied by details - we emphasize the striking presence of animal-drawn vehicles that remained indispensable, making coexistence with trams and other vehicles in the city's traffic inevitable. This is, still, our tribute to the coachmen for their long and brave contribution to the life and history of this city.
Image description: This is a historic photograph of an industrial building. The image shows a structure with several windows and open doors, possibly a factory or warehouse. On the right, there is a structure with arches and large windows. On the left, there is a tall, rectangular tower. In the foreground, there is a carriage pulled by two horses, with a person seated at the front. The ground is paved with stones, and there are a few objects scattered around.Usina Light - Vila Isabel – 11/08/1907 – Augusto Malta
Rua Larga Car house - Avenida Marechal Floriano – 03/11/1911 – Mortimer
Image description: This is a historic black-and-white photograph of an urban street. The image shows a series of classical-style buildings with balconies and decorative verandas, arranged parallel to the roadway. On the left, there is a building with a simpler façade, while on the right stands a large building with columns and elaborate architectural details. In the central part of the image, there is a large structure with arches and large windows. The street is busy, with people walking and carriages moving about. In the background, there are more buildings and a tram line. The date "Nov. 3-1911" is written at the bottom of the image, along with "Rua Larga Carhouse."Photographer E. A. Mortimer took this photograph to document the pole that held up the telephone cables. But he left us with a perfect picture of Rua da Carioca at that time, where pedestrians, "burros-sem-rabo" trams, street vendors with their carts, bicycles, automobiles, and streetcars all mingled together – as can be seen in the detail of the image below.
Image description: This is an old black-and-white photograph of an urban street. On the left, we see a carriage numbered 98, parked at the sidewalk. In front of it, there is a bicycle and a person walking. In the center of the image, there is a road with tram tracks, where a public transport vehicle is in motion. On the right, there is a row of buildings with balconies and open windows, some with plants on the balconies. People are walking along the sidewalk, and a handcart is near the buildings. In the background, other buildings and a tower are visible.Telephone Line – Rua da Carioca – 24/07/1911 – Mortimer