The largest and busiest fleet of cable cars in America were in Chicago. Most large American cities had one or more cable car lines by the year 1890. Frank Sprague installed a complete system of electric streetcars in Richmond, Virginia, in 1888.This was the first large scale and successful use of electricity to run a city's entire system of streetcars. Sprague was born in Connecticut in 1857.he largest and busiest fleet of cable cars in America were in Chicago. Most large American cities had one or more cable car lines by the year 1890. Frank Sprague installed a complete system of electric streetcars in Richmond, Virginia, in 1888.