A Selective Chronology of the U.S.With particular emphasis on the State of Colorado,
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— COLOR KEY
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1817 |
Jul 4 - Construction begun on Erie Canal. |
1819 |
Fall - First section of Erie Canal—from Rome to Utica—opened . |
1825 |
Oct - Erie Canal formally opened. |
1827 |
First public municipal transportation: Abraham Brower
begins operating regular horse-drawn omnibus service up and down Broadway in
New York City, fare: 1 shilling. B&O Railroad chartered to build 350 mile railroad from Atlantic seaboard to Ohio River in western Virginia. |
1830 |
B&O Railroad inaugurates 1st regularly scheduled passenger trains in U.S. — coaches pulled by horses a distance of 13 miles! |
1832 |
First U.S. street railway: the New York & Harlem Railroad; rails laid on Bowery from Prince Street to 14th in New York City. |
1834 |
Federal government begins sending mail via railroad in closed pouches. |
1835 |
New Orleans inaugurates horse-drawn streetcar service. |
18361836 |
General - Land speculation is rampant. 634
banks in U.S. with loans of $525 million, backed by only $38 million of
“real” (specie backed) money. President Andrew Jackson and Second Bank of
the U.S. president Nicholas Biddle at war with each other. Jackson requires
lands purchased from government be paid only in specie or specie-backed
notes and distributes government revenues among state banks. Late - several important mercantile houses in England go bankrupt, cutting down on demand for U.S. cotton. |
1837 |
Mar 17 (Friday) - New Orleans’ biggest cotton houses go under with staggering losses due to combination of extended credit and cutbacks in demand for cotton. New Orleans’ banks stop payments. Wall Street crashes. Fearful crisis in money market. Bank failures mount. Silver and silver change disappear from circulation. Financial chaos engulfs the United States. Influx of capital from Europe ceases. The South goes bankrupt. |
1838 |
Congress declares all railroads to be postal routes. |
| 1839 |
Goodyear discovers how to "Vulcanize" rubber. But doesn't
patent idea until 1844. Samuel F.B. Morse makes first Daguerrotypes in America. Mormon headquarters moved from Missouri to Nauvoo, Illinois. |
| 1840 | 1840 census shows U.S. population exceeds 17 million. |
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1841 1841 |
First Oregon trail wagons cross Rockies. |
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Jun 20 - Morse patents telegraph. Aug 19 - Uniform national bankruptcy law enacted, allowing for voluntary declaration of bankruptcy. |
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1842 1842 |
First grain elevator built at Buffalo, New York. |
| Jan 2 - First wire suspension bridge opens across Schuykill River near Fairmont, Pennsylvania. | |
| 1843 |
Elias Howe invents sewing machine. Yellow Fever sweeps Mississippi River valley, killing 13,000. |
18441844 1844 1844 |
First use of anesthesia. Goodyear patents "vulcanizing" process for rubber he discovered in 1838. |
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Mar 24 - Morse makes 1st successful tests of telephone. Jun 8 - U.S. Senate rejects Texas Annexation Treaty. Jun 27 - Mob kills Joseph Smith Aug 8 - Brigham Young elected successor to Joseph Smith as leader of Mormons. Sep 15 - William A. Burt discovers Mesabi (Minnesota) iron mines. Oct 22 - William Miller fails to predict second coming of Christ. |
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1845 1845 1845 |
John L. O'Sullivan, editor of United States Magazine and Democratic Review, coins term "Manifest Destiny" describing belief United States should expand into and control entire North American continent. |
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Mar 4 - Democrat James Polk inaugurated 11th President
of the U.S. Mar 28 - Mexico severs relation with U.S. Aug 28 - Scientific American, founded by Alfred Beach, publishes first issue. Dec 29 - Republic of Texas annexed to United States as 38th state. |
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1846 1846 1846 1846 1846 1846 |
Eastern Hotel at Boston is first public building heated by
steam. Failure of potato crop sends thousands of poor Irish to the U.S. Mormon converts migrate to U.S. Samuel Colt, at Hartford, Connecticut, receives contract from U.S. government to mass-produce revolvers for Mexican-American War. |
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May 13 - United States declares war on Mexico after
its troops attacked American troops on territory south of the Nueces River
in Texas that both countries claim as theirs. Jun 15 - Britain relinquishes joint control of Oregon below 54'40" line. Jul 7 - United States claims California. Sep 24 - Gen. Zachary Taylor defeats large Mexican force at Monterey (Mexico). Nov 16 - Gen. Zachary Taylor captures Saltillo (Mexico) without a shot being fired. Dec 25 - U.S. wins "Battle" of Las Cruces. Dec. 28 - Iowa becomes 29th state. |
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1847 1847 1847 1847 1847 |
First steam-powered cotton mill opens at Salem, Massachusetts. |
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Jan 13 - Capt. John C. Fremont accepts surrender of
pro-Mexican registers, finalizing U.S. take-over of California. Feb 23 - Gen. Zachary Taylor's troops, outnumbered more than 3 to 1, win battle of Buena Vista. Mar 29 - Gen. Winfield Scott wins battle of Vera Cruz. Apr 18 - Gen. Winfield Scott defeats Santa Ana's best (12,000) at battle of Cerro Gordo. May 7 - American Medical Association founded. Jul 1 - U.S. issues first government-sponsored postage stamps. Jul 24 - Brigham Young brings his Mormons to Great Salt Lake. Oct 12 - U.S. takes Mexico City: Mexican-American War is effectively over. |
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1848 1848 1848 |
Jan 24 - First discovery of gold in California. Apr 24 - Chicago Board of Trade opens; nation's first futures exchange (for trading agricultural futures). Aug 2 - Treaty of Vera Cruz officially ends Mexican-American War; increases size of U.S. by 33%. Aug 14 - Oregon Territory organized. Nov 7 - Gen. Zachary Taylor elected President of the U.S. Dec. 5 - President Polk confirms presence of gold in California. California gold rush "officially" begins. |
1849 |
Gold rush fever grips nation! People moving westward spur interest in transportation and real estate. |
1854 |
Congress hires surveyors to locate possible rail routes to California. |
1857 |
The gold rush starting in 1849 has set off an era of prosperity that encourages speculation in mining schemes, railway enterprises, sugar, cotton and lead operations and numerous other things that would not have been considered in “normal” times: especially in railroads and in real estate. |
1857 |
Aug 24 - Ohio Life Insurance and Trust Company fails, precipitating financial panic. Runs on other banks. Mills close because no money to pay workers. Bank after bank suspends species payment until finally Bank of New York fails. Paper inflation of the country has been estimated at $2 billion. Almost 5,000 companies fail nationwide. Most railroad construction halted. |
185818581858 |
First stagecoach line from St. Louis to the West Coast. |
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Jun 24 - William G. [Green] Russell and party of
prospectors from Georgia discover Gold along Little Dry Creek near junction
of Cherry Creek and South Platte River
(present day Denver). Nov 6 - Auraria Town Company organized (Smiley) Nov 16 - Claim jumpers under General Larimer lay waste to townsite of St. Charles, organized the previous summer by the "Lawrence Company," rename it Denver City, and organize the Denver Town Company. Late - George A. [Andrew] Jackson, James “Blackhawk” Saunders and Thomas L. Golden make camp near present site of Golden, Colorado. |
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185918591859185918591859 |
Jan 7 - George A. Jackson discovers gold near the
mouth of Chicago Creek in Clear Creek County: the 1st lode gold of the
soon-to-be "rush." Mar 3 - Mechanics' Mining & Trading Company organized at Boston with George West as chairman, Mark L. Blunt as secretary and James McDonald as treasurer. Would go down in history as the "Boston Company." Apr 23 - Rocky Mountain News founded: Colorado Territory's first newspaper (even before it became a Territory). Apr 29 - David K. [King] Wall arrives at Arapahoe City from South Bend, Indiana. May 6 - John H. [Hamilton] Gregory, grubstaked by David K. Wall, discovers gold on the north bank of Vasquez Fork (Clear Creek), at what is now Gregory Hill between Black Hawk and Central City. 2nd lode gold: the "rush" is on! Jun 10 - The "Boston Company" arrives in Denver. Jun 12 - The "Boston Company" arrives at future site of Golden. Jun 20 - Golden City established. 1,250 acres would be secured, with 320 acres surveyed and laid out by end of June. Jun 22 - W.A.H. [William Austin Hamilton] Loveland arrives at Golden City with 12 wagons of merchandise. There he built the first house and the first commercial building, which housed a store and a print shop. Spring - F.J. Ebert of Denver surveys route from Denver via Golden and up Clear Creek canyon to Central City at behest of W.A.H. Loveland. May 7 - First stagecoach from the east - Leavenworth & Pike’s Peak Express Company. May 12 - Berthoud Pass discovered. Jul - between 20,000 and 30,000 people living in and around Gregory Gulch: Central City founded. Aug 27 - 1st successful drilling of commercial oil well at Titusville, Pennsylvania. Sep 17 - First steam quartz mill starts near Gregory diggings. Nov - Charles Darwin's The Origin of Species is published. Nov - Territory of Jefferson (Colorado) created by its residents but Congress fails to recognize it. Jefferson County created by Jefferson Territorial Legislature. Dec 7 - First newspaper, The Western Mountaineer, published in Jefferson County by George West. |
18601860 18601860 |
Many more placer gold discoveries
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Black sands make placer gold mining difficult. First "permanent settlement": Oro City (located about a mile northeast of what is now Leadville) sprang to life after an 1860 gold strike in nearby California Gulch -- so named when an elated miner declared he had "all of California" gleaming in his gold pan. (Query: Why was it "permanent" and others not?) |
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Jan 2 - Golden City elected county seat of Jefferson
County. Apr 5 - Denver City and Auraria "unified" as Denver City. Apr 6 - Post Office established at Golden City; weekly mail service begun. Nov 6 - Lincoln elected President. Nov 27 - Territorial capital of Jefferson Territory moved from Denver to Golden City. Dec 20 - South Carolina secedes from Union. |
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1861 |
Jan 29 - Kansas becomes state, dissolving "Kansas
Territory." Feb 28 - Colorado Territory organized, capital at Golden City; William Gilpin, Governor; population 25,371. Apr 14 - FT. SUMTER BOMBARDED -- CIVIL WAR BEGINS Loss of close to $300 million in southern debts to northern businesses launches depression. Numerous midwestern banks fail because of because of their intimate relations with the south. Sep 9 - First Colorado Territorial Legislature moves territorial capital from Golden City to Denver. Oct 11 - acquires rights to build railroad between Forks Creek and Gregory and Russell Gulches (would later be used by Colorado Central Railroad). Nov 7 - Denver incorporated. |
1861 |
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| Economy of north and west begins turn-around because of wartime spending. | |
1862 |
XXX - Evans becomes Governor of Colorado
Territory May 20 - Homestead Act signed Jul 1 - Congress passes 1st Pacific railroad bill. Aug 4 - Second Colorado Territorial Legislature returns territorial capital to Golden City from Denver. Nov 10 - Clear Creek & Guy Gulch Wagon Road Company chartered. Nov 19 - CC&GGWRC leases rights of Apex & Gregory Wagon Road Company (excluding right to build a railroad) |
1862 |
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1863Rising Prices 18631863 |
Economy of north and west becomes
inflationary as wartime spending continues and is financed by expansion of
currency. Brotherhood of Locomotive Trainmen (BLT) formed by twelve enginemen. |
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Jan 1 - Emancipation Proclamation signed. Mar 3 - Lincoln signs first draft law. Feb 25 - National banking system created Apr 19 - Denver burns - 70 buildings destroyed in the heart of the city. Jul 1 - First tax on personal incomes signed into effect. Jul 1 to 3 - BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG Oct 10 - Telegraph connects Denver to East Nov 20 - Lincoln delivers Gettysburg Address |
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1864
Period |
Boxcars, normally selling for $450-500,
reach $1,000-1,200. Colorado gold rush dries up as placer gold becomes mined out. First smelter set up (at Black Hawk) |
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May 20 - Cherry Creek attempts to wash away Denver Aug 28 - First experimental run of a railway post office (on Chicago & North Western, Galena Division, out of Chicago). Sep 16 - James Huff discovers silver about 8 miles north of Georgetown. Nov 8 - Lincoln re-elected. Nov 29 - Sand Creek massacre Dec - Railway Mail Service given the go-ahead. |
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1865 |
Yale patents cylinder lock. Effort to combine various craft unions into International Industrial Assembly of North America fails. First smelter in Colorado built at Black Hawk (“Rocky Mountain Smelter”) |
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Jan 4 - New York Stock Exchange opens its first permanent
headquarters. Feb 9 - Colorado & Clear Creek Railroad Company chartered to build standard gauge railroad "From Golden City up Clear Creek canon to Empire and Central City, and Golden City to Boulder, and via Denver to Bijou." Early - 1st shipment of crude oil via railway car. Apr 5 - LEE SURRENDERS AT APPOMATTOX COURTHOUSE — CIVIL WAR ENDS. Apr 15 - Lincoln is assassinated. |
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Post- war Reces- sion |
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18661866 |
Jefferson County has 1,782 people - Gilpin County has four times that. |
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Jan 20 - Colorado & Clear Creek Railroad Company
renamed Colorado Central & Pacific Railroad. Aug 20 - Civil War officially ends. |
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18671867 1867 |
Boston & Colorado Smelter built at Black Hawk. |
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Jun -
Colorado Central & Pacific reorganized with U.P. interests "practically"
in control but providing no funds for construction. Jun 8 - The Colorado Miner—Georgetown’s first newspaper—begins publication Nov - Denver interests incorporate Denver Pacific Railway & Telegraph Company. Dec - Territorial capital moved from Golden to Denver |
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18681868 1868 |
Adolph Coors immigrates to
U.S. to avoid service in Prussian Army. Janney patents design for knuckle couplers. |
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Jan 1 - Ground breaking
for the Colorado Central & Pacific Jan 14 - CC&P renamed Colorado Central Railroad—6 [11?] miles from Golden toward Denver graded by year end [ties laid and bridges constructed?] |
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1869186918691869 1869 |
Westinghouse Air Brake Company established. Battle of Summit Springs fought in northeast Colorado; last major confrontation with Plains Indians in Colorado. Wyoming Territory grants women the right to vote. (#1) |
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May 10 - Transcontinental railroad officially completed. Sep 24 - "Black Friday." President U.S. Grant orders Treasury to sell gold: defeats Jay Gould and Jim Fisk's attempt to corner the gold market -- price falls, Colorado economy shattered, but not the national economy, which continues its post-war boom. Dec - Denver Pacific—now under control of the Kansas Pacific—put into operation between Cheyenne, WY, and Evans, CO, 58 mi. (at Platte River crossing). |
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1870187018701870 1870 |
431,000 business firms in U.S. More than 30 national trade unions in existence. Unionism gathering strength from those whose skills are threatened by industrial progress or cheap immigrant labor. Population of Colorado Territory 39,864 - of Denver 4,760 - of Golden 587. Utah grants women the right to vote. (#2) |
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Jun 15
[June 22?] - Denver Pacific completed Cheyenne, WY, to Denver. Aug 15 - Kansas Pacific completed Kansas City to Denver. Sep 15 - Silver Plume “officially” named by Stephen Decatur, editor of The Colorado Miner. Sep 24 - Standard gauge track completed from Golden to DP/KP junction. 15.1 miles ("Jersey Junction," 3 miles north of Denver) Oct 27 - Denver & Rio Grande RR chartered. |
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1871187118711871 |
609,904 business firms in U.S. Speculation rampant on almost any kind of business venture. |
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Jan - Construction starts on Denver & Rio Grande RR Jan 2 - Golden City drops "City" from its name, becomes just plain Golden. Feb 28 - Clear Creek & Guy Gulch Wagon Road Company acquires additional right to run railroad along Clear Creek from its lessor, the Colorado & Pacific Wagon, Telegraph & Railroad Company May - Local interests wrest control of Colorado Central Railroad from the Union Pacific; 150 men at work on grading west of Golden by September Aug - Colorado Springs founded by Gen. William J. Palmer Oct 8/9 - GREAT CHICAGO FIRE / PESHTIGO (forest) FIRE Oct 27 - Denver & Rio Grande RR track reaches Colorado Springs |
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18721872187218721872187218721872 1872 |
Yellowstone becomes nation's first National Park. First smelter established at Golden: The Golden Smelting Works. [This is an offsite link.] Of 364 listed U.S. railroads, only 104 pay any dividend, and more than half of those pay less than 10%. Foreign investors becoming leery of investment in U.S. railroads. Victoria Woodhull becomes the first woman candidate for President; But only the women of Utah and Wyoming can vote for her! |
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Mar 11 - Colorado Central RR acquires,
for $100,000, the rights of the Clear Creek & Guy Gulch Wagon
Road Company to build a railroad up Clear Creek Canyon. Apr 1 - Colorado Central RR acquires the rights of the Apex & Gregory Wagon Road Company to build a railroad along Clear Creek. May 14 - Union Pacific interests regain control of CCRR Aug 1 - Denver & Rio Grande RR track reaches Pueblo Aug 19 - First CCRR locomotive -- "General Sherman, No. 2" -- received, followed a week later by "General Sheridan, No. 1." Both 0-4-0T Sep 1 - Track completed to Forks Creek. 13.30 miles. Oct - Golden Transcript reports Union Pacific Omaha shops "building a passenger train for the Western Division," and that one coach was now finished and "other parts of the train" were due soon. (Hauck-25) Oct 1 - Denver, South Park & Pacific Railway Chartered; $2.5 million capital Nov 4 - CCRR Coach #1 first used. Dec 11 - Track completed Forks Creek to Black Hawk. 7.77 miles. |
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18731873187318731873 |
Craft unions' attempt to set up Industrial Brotherhood fails due to
financial panic. Westinghouse perfects triple valve and automatic air brake. Adolph Coors opens brewery in former tannery building in Golden. |
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Jan -
Coach #2 and
baggage car #1
outshopped by Union Pacific. Feb - Inflation and credit reach unprecedented highs. Feb 24 - Track completed Forks Creek to Floyd Hill. 3.3 miles Gould & Union Pacific RR have big money in Colorado Central but Loveland controls Jun - Colorado Central RR shops turn out baggage car #2. Jun 14 - DSP&P Railway reorganized as DSP&P Railroad; capitalization increased to $3.5 million Aug - grade construction begun towards Morrison Sep - Golden shops turn out coach #3: the first passenger car built in Colorado. |
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Sep 8 - New York Warehouse &
Security Company fails. Sep 13 - Kenyon Cox & Company fails. Sep 17 - Bottom falls out of market - prices tumble. Sep 18 - Jay Cooke’s banking house—Jay Cooke & Co.— fails; Washington branch of First National Bank closes; other banks follow suit; credit paralyzed all over the U.S.; British-backed Drexel, Morgan & Co. quietly replaces Cooke as top of the banking heap. Sep 20 - New York Stock Exchange suspends trading. By the end of the year 5,000 businesses fail; 89 railroads default on their bonds; railroad building stops; businesses related to railroads grind to a halt. In the next three years 23,000 businesses—mostly small—would fail, but the big combines such as Standard Oil and Carnegie Steel would thrive by buying out their competition ... cheap! Nov - Golden shops turn out coach #4. Dec - 20,000 packinghouse and other laborers march in Chicago protesting wage cuts and unemployment. Three weeks later huge crowd marches in Manhattan: broken up by mounted police. |
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18731873 1873 18731873 1873 |
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18741874187418741874187418741874187418741874 |
Depression years - worst until 1830s. Capital hard to obtain.
5,800 business failures during the year; most
railroads go into bankruptcy. Jobless outnumber those working. “Territorial School of Mines” sold by Episcopal Church to territorial government. Will become Colorado School of Mines. |
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Mar 17
- Denver Daily Telegraph reports loco #1 Fairplay ordered
from Dawson & Baily Mar 18 - Denver Daily Telegraph reports order to Hallack for cars; 30 flat, 5 coal, 5 box, 1 first class passenger, 1 first class baggage Mar 29 - Locomotive #1 Fairplay delivered at Denver May 11 - Dawson & Baily ships 18 ton mogul to Colorado Central RR; will become loco #1 upon its arrival, replacing the Phil Sheridan. May 18 - Denver Daily Telegraph reports first rails laid on DSP&P May 21 - Fire blackens much of Central City. May 21 - Hallack Bros. receives trucks for 20 cars May 26 - Track to just beyond Platte Bridge (_ mi.) Jun 9 - Track to mouth of Bear Creek (7 mi.) Jun 16 - Hallack expects to deliver 4 "Dolly Varden" (excursion) cars soon Jun 20 Track reaches Morrison (7 mi. mainline, 9 mi. br.) Jun 23 - Hallack delivers 2 box cars and 4 excursion cars Jul 1 - official opening for business (Poor); 4 "passenger cars" (2 coaches "smokers" 2 as "ladies' cars.")??? Jul 3 - Scheduled train service begins to Morrison - 2 round-trip mixed trains per day Jul 4 - Denver & Rio Grande RR tracks reach Cañon City Jul 7 - First class coach-baggage car #1 Auraria delivered Aug 5 - Coach #2 Denver delivered Oct - CC standard gauge begins using more direct route into Denver than via KP/DP junction. Nov 3 - Locomotive #2 Platte Canyon delivered |
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18751875 1875 18751875 |
Depression years - capital still hard to obtain. 7,700 businesses fail during the year.
more
railroads go into bankruptcy. Jobless outnumber those working. Lead carbonate ores rich in silver found near Leadville Union Pacific RR. owns ¾ of Colorado Central RR stock. Jay Gould buying stock in New York's elevated railroads. |
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Mar 8 - Second construction company resumes
grading Apr -- Colorado Central RR and Kansas Pacific RR agree to consolidation with CC leased to KP. May -- Colorado Central RR Board of Directors repudiates agreement by voiding Union Pacific proxies on a technicality and elects Loveland President. Jun -- Wye at Forks Creek put into operation. Nov 9 - J.W. Nesmith of Golden—Master Mechanic of the Kansas Pacific's Denver Division who will eventually become General Superintendent of the Denver, South Park & Pacific RR—receives patent for spark-arrester smokestack. |
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18761876 1876 1876 |
Depression beginning to ease. Only 9,000 businesses
will fail during this year. Mark Twain publishes Tom Sawyer. |
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May - U.S. Centennial Exposition opens in Philadelphia May 21 -- Loveland's forces take physical control of KP property; U.P. sues. Jun 25 - Sitting Bull does Custer's Last Stand. Jul 1 - Denver & Rio Grande RR tracks reach LaVeta Jul 6 - Third construction company resumes grading Aug 1 - Colorado becomes 38th state Aug 12 -- Court appoints Receiver. Loveland hangs on through numerous court proceedings. |
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18771877187718771877187718771877187718771877187718771877 1877 1877 1877 1877 |
Edison invents the phonograph. Leadville founded. University of Colorado opens at Boulder. |
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“The Great Railroad Strike” June - Railroads have been paying dividends, but begin announcing wage cuts; Pensylvania RR, then Erie, Michigan Southern, Lake Shore, New York Central. Jul 16 - Baltimore & Ohio RR cuts wages 10%: firemen and brakemen protest, refuse to work. Through trains are stopped at Martinsburg, West Virginia. Jul 18 - Martinsburg strikers have 70 Baltimore & Ohio trains totaling 1,200 freight cars stopped. People side with strikers, Martinsburg militia refuses to interfere. Jul 19 - U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes sends federal troops into Martinsburg. They drive off Baltimore & Ohio strikers while scabs move two trains. Jul 19 - Pennsylvania RR employees protest their company’s wage cuts. Troops are called in. Shoot 20, wound several hundred, including women and children. Pittsburgh fairly blows up with violence. Coal & Iron Police brought in together with 3,000 more federal troops. Jul 20 - Troops and scabs move 13 Baltimore & Ohio trains out of Martinsburg. Strikers offer to negotiate with company. Company refuses. Strike spreads. More troops are called in. Jul 20 - Erie firemen and brakemen walk out at Hornellsville, protesting their company’s wage cuts. 1,000 militia and 1,800 regular army troops respond. Eight strikers killed. Jul 20+ - Firemen of the Lake Shore walk out at Buffalo. Troops march in: 1,600 militia, 1,800 regulars. Eight strikers killed. Jul 20++ - New York Central employees strike at Rochester, Syracuse and Albany. Jul 20+++ - Michigan Central workers walk out, beginning general strike. Police clash with mob, killing three, wounding seven. Jul 26 - Baltimore & Ohio strikers call on Maryland Governor with offer of arbitration. B&O management refuses. Increasing numbers of federal troops begin to break strike. Jul 26+ - Federal troops are called in at Chicago. Jul 31 - All strikes broken and “order” restored. More than 100 strikers and a number of strike-breakers have been killed, more than five times that number wounded, including women and children. |
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Feb -- U.P. capitulates; leaves CC in control of
Loveland. Jun 11 - CC tracks reach Idaho Springs Jun 13 - 1st regular service to Idaho Springs Jul 1 - Work resumed on line to Central City Jul 16 - Leadville gets Post Office Aug 14 - Clear Creek line reaches Georgetown from Floyd Hill: 18.13 miles Oct 12 - Track reaches Dean's Nov - CC reaches Cheyenne; Golden shops turn out CCRR coach-baggage car #5. Nov 7 -- CC standard gauge line extended from Longmont north to junction with U.P. four or five miles west of Cheyenne. 72.52 mi. Nov 24 - Fourth construction company resumes grading |
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187818781878187818781878187818781878187818781878187818781878 1878 |
Only 11,500 miles of new railroad opened since 1873. First telephones in Denver Cherry Creek again tries to wash away Denver W.A.H. Loveland buys the Rocky Mountain News. Boston & Colorado Smelter at Black Hawk moved to Argo. Knights of Labor (union) has 9,000 members. |
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Jan 14
- Leadville incorporated - rich silver strikes on Iron, Carbonate, and Fryer hills soon make it one of the world's greatest mining camps
- town business census listed 31 restaurants, 17 barber shops, 51 groceries,
4 banks, and 120 saloons. Feb - ATSF crews seize Raton Pass Feb - Colorado Central Golden shops build coach-baggage #6. Mar - Central City Opera House opens Apr - Royal Gorge battle between ATSF and D&RG Apr 22 - Contract signed with Barney & Smith for 2 medium passenger cars, 1 combination baggage-passenger car, 4 excursion cars, 10 box and 25 flat cars, plus trucks and iron work for 25 platform and 5 box cars May 4 - Track to mouth of Platte Canyon+ May 20 - First official train into Central City from Black Hawk. May 22 - Cherry Creek attempts to wipe Denver off the map! May 24 - Track to 2nd bridge in Platte Canyon May 31 - 2nd order of freight cars that year arrives from Barney & Smith Jun 1 - Track 12 miles above mouth of Platte Canyon (32 miles from Denver) Jun 2 - Locomotive #3 Oro City arrives (Mason-Bogie) Jun 10 - 8 pairs of passenger trucks arrive at Denver Jul - Colorado Central Golden shops turn out coach #7. Jun 17 - Track reaches Buffalo Creek (38.6 miles from Denver) Jul 29 - Coaches #3 Geneva, #4 Halls Valley, and #5 Leadville arrive from Barney & Smith Oct 11 - Railroad Gazette reports road open for business to Bailey's (53.7 miles from Denver) Oct 19 - Palmer reluctantly leases D&RG to ATSF Fall - Gould forced to sell large block Union Pacific stock Nov 20 - Locomotive #4 San Juan arrives (Mason-Bogie) Dec - Track at foot of Kenosha Hill Dec - Evans interests incorporate 2 railroad companies proposing to connect South Park with Leadville Dec - ATSF trying to negotiate alliance with DSP&P to finance Leadville extension; will be vetoed by D&RG stockholders in January Dec 31 - Track reaches Slaght's (58.1 miles from Denver) Late - Gould’s offer to finance Leadville extension is refused |
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1879187918791879187918791879187918791879 1879 1879 |
Edison creates first electric light. Gold discovered on Independence Pass between Leadville and Aspen. 148 narrow gauge railroads operate 4,188 miles of track. DSP&P outshops baggage cars #40 and #41. |
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Jan - Rio Grande stockholders veto ATSF's offer to
finance South Park's Leadville extension Jan 17 - Track reaches Halls Valley/Webster (70 miles from Denver) Feb - Gould sells more U.P. stock Feb 18 - Locomotive #4 Leadville delivered (Mason-Bogie) Mar 1 - Bankrupt Colorado Central leased to Union Pacific for 50 years. (One source says November.) Apr - Locomotive #6 Tenmile built. May 19 - Track reaches summit of Kenosha Pass (76 miles from Denver) Jun - DSP&P outshops coach-baggage #6. Jun 27 - Track reaches Hamilton/Como (88 miles from Denver) Summer - Gould buying South Park stock Aug 17 - ATSF lease of D&RG nullified; receiver appointed Sep - Gould acquires half interest in D&RG; loans it money for construction toward Leadville Sep - DSP&P outshops coach #7 Como and B-M-X #42. Sep - Meeker Massacre Oct - Pullman Palace sleeping car South Park assigned to DSP&P Oct 1 - At behest of Jay Gould, DSP&P and D&RG sign "Joint Operating Agreement:" DRG to build from Buena Vista to Leadville, DSP&P to build from Buena Vista to Gunnison, each to have operating rights over other's trackage Nov - Gould buys DSP&P stock from Arapahoe County Nov - Pullman Palace Cars Bonanza, Leadville and San Juan assigned to DSP&P Nov 25 - Contract let for construction of Alpine Tunnel, work to begin immediately and be finished by 1 July 1880! Dec - DSP&P outshops chair car #8. Late - DSP&P track reaches Trout Creek Pass (___ miles from Denver) |
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188018801880188018801880188018801880188018801880188018801880 |
Gould continues buying DSP&P stock Population of Denver tops 35,000. Golden vicinity has 5 smelters, 3 brick works, 6 coal mines, 3 flour mills, 2 breweries, 3 lime kilns, 2 quarries and 1 paper mill. Work begins on Highline extension to Leadville (WHEN?) D&RG decides to build its own line to Gunnison via Marshall Pass New York state grants women the right to vote. (#3) |
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Jan - U.P., K.P., D.P. merged into U.P. Railway Co. Jan 8 - Coach #2 Denver burns at Buena Vista Mar 3 - DSP&P tracks reach Buena Vista. Mar 8 - Six coaches received from NYERR; #11 - 15, second #2. Mar 27 - Tri-Partite Agreement signed by ATSF, D&RG and U.P.; ATSF in effect leaves mountains to D&RG and U.P. (DSP&P) Mar - D&SP tracks reach Buena Vista (136 mi.) Apr - DSP&P outshops coaches #9 and #10. May - Denver shops begin work on officer car #050 and paycar #051. Jun - D&RG tracks reach Buena Vista Jun - Coaches #18-21 and baggage-mail cars #43-44 received from Pullman; Coaches #16-17, #22, #24 and coach-baggage cars #23 and #25 received from ATSF. Coach-baggage car #26 received about this time, either with the ATSF cars or directly from the Ohio Falls Car Company. Jun 14 - Rocky Mountain News report on DSP&P contains following roster: 32 locos, incl. 19 Masons, 5 Dawson & Bailey, 8 Baldwin. 26 first class coaches, 5 baggage cars. 260 flat cars, 30 coal cars, 250 box cars (and how many waycars???) Jul - DSP&P outshops baggage car #45 and paycar #051. Jul 2 - DSP&P begins operating daily passenger trains between Denver and Malta (3 miles short of Leadville) Jul 20 - First D&RG train into Leadville Jul 21 - DSP&P schedules daily passenger service from Leadville to Denver Aug 19 - Silver Plume Incorporated Oct - DSP&P outshops officer car #050. Oct 30 - DSP&P begins grading toward Boreas Pass from Como Nov - Gould interests gain control of DSP&P Dec - Union Pacific outshops three coaches for the CCRR, coaches #8, #9 and #10, together with three baggage-mail-express cars, #3, #4 and #5. |
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188118811881188118811881 1881 |
Ute tribes are removed onto reservations |
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Jan 25 - Gould sells his DSP&P stock to U.P.; U.P. announces DSP&P will henceforth be operated as its
South Park Division; raises freight rates Jul 26 - Alpine Tunnel holed-through! Jul 26 - Denver Union Station completed. Jul - President Garfield shot Aug - Gould acquires control of Western Union Aug 6 - First D&RG train into Gunnison via Marshall Pass Aug 11 - South Park rails reach east portal Sep - Pullman Palace car San Juan burns Sep 5 - H.A.W. Tabor opens Tabor Opera House opens in Denver Oct 15 - Grade from Como reaches Boreas Pass Nov 19 - Work on Alpine Tunnel abandoned for winter Dec - Tracks barely through Alpine Tunnel |
|
|
1881- 1882 |
Colorado Central acquires chair cars #11 and #12 from the Ohio Falls Car Manufacturing Company. |
1882188218821882 |
DSP&P Denver to Leadville mail contract commences |
|
Apr
- Work resumed
on Alpine Tunnel. Jul 12 - Tracks reach Pitkin (175 mi.). Jul 13 - First passenger train to Pitkin; regular train service begins. Sep - Alpine Tunnel finished; tracks reach Gunnison; Tracks reach Breckenridge (110 mi.); Pullman Palace cars Hortense and Kenosha assigned to South Park. Sep - Gould acquires control of Manhattan Co. (NY elevated railroads). Oct - Sleeper service begun between Denver and Gunnison. Dec 7 - First train enters Dillon (119 mi.). |
|
188318831883188318831883 |
First electric lights in Denver. DSP&P Buena Vista to Gunnison mail contract commences Gunnison mining boom beginning to decline. D&RG tracks reach Grand Junction. Stone engine house built atop Boreas Pass Gen. Palmer resigns Presidency of D&RG. |
|
Jul - In anticipation of tourist business over the Georgetown loop, the
Union Pacific builds 6 “excursion cars”
for the CCRR; they are added to the roster as
Excursion #13 - #18. Aug 3 - DSP&P begins construction at Dillon of its own line to Leadville. Nov 18 - Railroads divide u.s. into four "standard" time zones. Government wON't make these "official" until 1918, but common people quickly adopt them. Nov 25 - Devil's Gate Viaduct (Georgetown Loop's "High Bridge") officially completed (but acceptance refused because north and south columns were reversed and riveting was poor in some places). Winter - Westinghouse automatic air brakes applied to all DSP&P rolling stock. |
|
18841884 |
Wage reductions due to depression precipitate wave of strikes. Knights of
Labor (union) membership rises to 100,000. DSP&P Buena Vista to Gunnison mail contract ends DSP&P Como to Gunnison mail contract commences Second woman candidate for President: Mrs. Belva Lockwood. (And most women still can't vote!) |
|
Jan 23 - Devil's Gate Viaduct (Georgetown
Loop's "High Bridge") accepted by CCRR. Feb 5 - First DSP&P train into Leadville (151 mi.) via the Highline. Mar 10 - Woodstock snow slide Mar 10 - CCRR tracks reach Silver Plume Mar 29 - Georgetown Loop opens May - Union Pacific and Pullman form Pullman-Union Pacific Association to own former Pullman sleepers and share the profits. May 6 - The Banking house of Grant & Ward collapses - 15 stock exchange firms fail - Jay Gould forced out of stock market! Jul 12 - D&RG goes into receivership Sep 30 - Leadville service begins over Highline Oct - Union Pacific outshops CCRR coaches #19 and #20. Nov 4 - Silver Plume business district destroyed by fire. Late - Denver, South Park & Pacific revenue traffic down to almost nothing -- Union Pacific management dispatches locomotives and freight cars to Utah & Northern, where mining-related traffic is booming. Later - Union Pacific has to loan money to DSP&P to pay interest on its bonds. |
|
|
1884 1884 1884 |
|
|
1884 1884 1884 |
|
188518851885188518851885 |
George Eastman markets first box camera. Canadian Pacific completes Canada's first transcontinental line. Knights of Labor (union), undisputed leader of labor unions, wins strike against Erie RR, forcing rescission of several wage cuts. Membership soars to more than 700,000. Railroads slash rates in effort to survive; buy no new cars. Many car builders go under. |
|
Jan - Heavy snows block Boreas Pass for 3
months Feb 20 - Coach #14 (outfit car?) burns Jun 1 - Union Pacific renumbers all locomotives and cars Aug - DSP&P tests Janney knuckle coupler; finds it takes curves as sharp as 24 degrees (but won’t give up link-n-pin until 1903). Colorado Railway Commission reports Miller automatic coupler is standard on all DSP&P passenger equipment. Dec 25 - Coach #10 (now combine #709) destroyed near Alpine Tunnel Late - Union Pacific has to loan money to DSP&P to pay interest on its bonds. |
|
1886188618861886 1886 |
Statue of Liberty dedicated by President Grover
Cleveland. Narrow gauge mileage peaks about this time, with 210 railroads operating 12,116 miles of track, representing about 9.2 percent of total U.S. trackage. Colorado Midland begins construction at Colorado Springs. Outfit cars #50, #51, #53 and #54 (former coaches #11, #12, #13 and #15) dropped from roster. |
|
Mar through May - Snow blocks Boreas pass. May - 200 of DSP&P's 322 miles have almost no local business - Officer car #025 (former #050) transferred to OSL&UNRR -- Second #025 created from former box car. Jul - D&RG reorganized as D&RGW. Late - Union Pacific has to loan money to DSP&P to pay interest on its bonds. |
|
1887188718871887 1887 |
Record total 12,876 miles of track laid in U.S. - never to be
surpassed. Doc Holliday dies at Glenwood Springs (with his boots off ). D&RG tracks reach Glenwood Springs and Aspen. Coach #62 (former #24) dropped from roster. |
|
Feb 4 - President Grover Cleveland signs Interstate
Commerce Act. Aug 30 - Colorado Midland tracks reach Leadville. DSP&P Como to Gunnison mail contract ends Apr 5 - INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION MEETS FOR THE FIRST TIME. Dec - Coach #55 (former second #2) dropped from roster. DSP&P earns $19,563 - owes U.P. more than $2.65 million. Fall - Union Pacific refuses to loan more money to DSP&P to pay interest on its bonds! |
|
18881888 |
World-wide price of silver begins to drop Cave-in at Alpine Tunnel, east of apex; Hancock becomes end-of-track. Gunnison and Baldwin through traffic rerouted to D&RG Marshall Pass line. This lasts for seven years. |
| May - DSP&P goes into receivership | |
1889188918891889 |
Denver-Leadville telephone line over 13,000 foot Mosquito Pass completed. Water becoming serious problem in Colorado mines as they have to go ever deeper. |
|
Jul 6 - Denver, Leadville & Gunnison organized by Union Pacific officials and others. Jul 17 - DSP&P bought at foreclosure by committee of bondholders for $3,000,000. Jul 27 - Oregon Short Line & Utah Northern Ry (OSL&UN) organized by merging Utah & Northern Ry, Utah Central Ry, Utah & Nevada Ry, Salt Lake & Western Ry and Ogden & Syracuse Ry (all in Utah), Oregon Short Line Ry and Idaho Central Ry (both in Idaho), and unbuilt Nevada Pacific Ry in Nevada. Aug 29 - DSP&P property transferred to DL&G. |
|
1890189018901890189018901890 |
Most workers down to 10-hour workday. Notable exceptions are women in
sweatshops and children tending looms in factories. Freight car production begins to decline. Little new narrow gauge railroad construction after this point. Population of Colorado 413,249, of which 106,713 are in Denver. National wealth stands at $65,037,091,197 [more than $1.3 trillion in today's money]. U.S. has 63 million people of whom only 17 million live beyond the Mississippi River. |
|
Feb 14 - Alpine Tunnel
shut down “for the winter” - stays shut 5 years. Apr 1 - 12 railroads owned by U.P. are combined into Union Pacific, Denver & Gulf Railway (DL&G [South Park] continues separate: Poor-282 calls it the "tail to the UPD&G kite"). Apr 16-18 - Great Alpine Snowplow Trial: “Leslie Rotary Steam Shovel” vs. “Jull Centrifugal Snow Excavator.” Jul 2 - Sherman Anti-trust Act passed. Congress responds to the growing clamor over monopolies and “the money power.” Jul 14 - Sherman Silver Purchase Act passed — government begins buying silver to support price: 4,500,000 oz. per month — greatest part from Colorado mines. Prosperity seems assured. |
|
1891 |
Gold discovered at Cripple Creek. Pikes Peak Cog Railroad begins operation. Railway Mail Association (union and benefit society) formed. |
18921892 18921892 1892 |
Grover Cleveland elected president. Easy money sets stage for over-speculation. Silver panic begins. Brown Palace hotel opens in Denver. Denver Post newspaper established. DL&G coach #57 (former DSP #9) converted to combine. |
|
Mar - Former Pullman
sleepers
Advance (U&N),
Security (U&N),
South Park
(DSP&P),
Bonanza
(DSP&P),
Rambler (U&N)
and
Leadville
(DSP&P) are sold by the Pullman-Union Pacific Association to the Union
Pacific Railroad for conversion to coaches. Sep - Union Pacific sells the six former Pullman sleepers, now converted to coaches, to the UPD&G as coaches #174, #175, #176, #177, #178 and #179 [in same order as named above]. |
|
|
1893 1893 1893 |
Railway Safety Appliance Act enacted, making Westinghouse air brakes and
Janney automatic couplers mandatory -- almost 25 years after their
invention! Colorado becomes second state to let women vote (Wyoming was first). DL&G coach #58 (former DSP #10) converted to combine. |
|
Early - General Electric introduces its "Class K"
controller for trolley cars. May 1 - World's Columbian Exposition opens in Chicago. May 4 - New York Stock Exchange begins severe contraction - foreign trade has already declined, wheat and iron prices have already turned down, and business activity has been slowing. May 6 - Philadelphia & Reading Railroad and National Cordage Company fail. Jun - Western and Southern banks withdraw more than $20 million from New York banks. Jun - Newly established Interstate Commerce Commission reports 192 railroad companies with almost 41,000 miles of track are in receivership. Jun 20 - American Railway Union (ARU) founded - 1st industrial union of railway workers. Jun 26 (28?) - Mints in India -- world’s most important silver market -- are closed by Great Britain. Jun 27 - Stock market crash begins a depression - ATSF, Erie, Northern Pacific, Reading, Union Pacific et al. forced into bankruptcy. Car orders evaporate. 6 car builders closed for entire year. 15,000 commercial firms, 600 banks and 74 railroads will go down before this depression is over. Jul - Three Denver banks close, nine suspend business. Oct 13 - U.P. forced into receivership: owes $470 million. Nov 1 - Sherman Silver Purchase Act repealed -- Colorado economy devastated (price of silver has gone from $1.29/oz. down to $0.50/oz.) -- mines cease operation, smelters close, banks fail -- thousands out of work. Dec - London’s Baring Brothers Bank collapses. Dec 18 - Denver coal man Frank Trumbull appointed separate receiver for UPD&G. |
|
|
1893 1893 1893 1893 1893 1893 1893 |
|
1894189418941894189418941894189418941894 |
President Grover Cleveland vetoes silver bullion bill. Colorado follows Wyoming's lead and becomes 2nd state to let women vote. Coach #176 (former Pullman sleeper San Juan) is rebuilt as a business car, and becomes UPD&G Business Car #1. |
|
“Pullman Strike” Pullman—like like many other industries—has cut workers' wages, but Pullman's company store has not cut prices nor has his company town reduced rents. Mar/Apr - Pullman workers join American Railway Union (ARU). Apr 11 - Pullman fires three members of a union grievance committee protesting Pullman's reduction in wages; union local votes to strike. May 11 - Pullman works closed. Jun 26 - ARU begins nation-wide boycott of Pullman cars, affecting 24 lines and 41,000 miles of track. Estimated 50,000 rail workers join protest. Jul 4 - 14,000 federal troops enter Chicago to support 3,600 private guards in putting down Pullman strikers and sympathizers. Within days, a number of workers will die and scores will be wounded Aug 3 - Strike broken - Pullman works reopen. |
|
|
Mid-Year - 192 railroads in receivership; 41,000
miles of railway insolvent Aug 4 - Bankrupt Denver, Leadville & Gunnison placed into receivership Aug 7 - Denver coal man Frank Trumbull appointed separate receiver for DL&G: from here on Union Pacific, Denver & Gulf and Denver, Leadville & Gunnison will be operated almost as if they were one railroad (to the betterment of both!) Dec 17 - W.A.H. Loveland dies. |
|
18951895 18951895 |
B&O installs first railway electrification (in Baltimore). Sigmund Freud founds psychoanalysis. Molybdenite identified (source of Molybdenum at Leadville). Best year for Leadville since 1880 |
|
Spring - separate receiver named for
Oregon Short Line & Utah Northern (OSL&UN). May - Alpine Tunnel reopened - traffic between Denver and Gunnison resumed. (Frank Trumbull just "happens" to have interest in Kubler Mines northeast of Castleton.) Winter - The Ice Palace in Leadville, covering 5 acres, completed. |
|
189618961896189618961896 |
William McKinley elected President. Business and stock market pick up “smartly.” Standard gauge mail car #1162 is exchanged for U&N coaches #131 and #140. U&N #140 becomes UPD&G coach #189. U&N #131 becomes UPD&G coach #192. Four first-class coaches are ordered from the St. Charles Car Company. They will become UPD&G #194, #195, #196 and #197. Former tourist sleeper #466 is bought from Pullman and converted to UPD&G coach #193. |
|
Jan 1 - Leadville Ice Palace opens. Jan 2 - Highest Post Office in U.S. (11,493') opened at Boreas Pass. Jul 24 - Clear Creek flood kills several people in the Golden/Morrison vicinity, takes out much of CCRR between Golden & Beaver Brook Sep - Reading Railroad emerges from bankruptcy. |
|
18971897 |
Gold pouring out
of Leadville; Gilpin, Park, Lake & Summit counties DL&G operates four passenger trains a day between Denver and Leadville; one morning, and one evening (mixed), train from each end. |
| Feb 23 - property of OSL&UN Ry sold to just incorporated OSL RR | |
189818981898 |
Apr 25 - Spanish-American War (over Cuba's
right to independence) begins. Nov 18 - With U.P. in bankruptcy, DL&G sold to representatives of bondholders at foreclosure for $1.5M. Nov 19 - UPD&G sold to representatives of bondholders at foreclosure for $6.25M. Dec 19 - Colorado & Southern Railway Co. chartered by securities-holders of the two: capital of $48M. Dec 25 - DL&G coach-baggage #709 (former DSP coach #10) destroyed near Alpine Tunnel. Dec 28 - Assets of DL&G conveyed to C&S Dec 28 - Assets of UPD&G conveyed to C&S |
18991899 |
Jan 11 (Midnight) - Colorado & Southern assumes control
of DL&G and UPD&G. (Frank
Trumbull is President) Jan through Apr - Winter one of the worst on record! Nov 17 - Union Depot and Railway Company formed to own and operate Denver Union Station. Fall - C&S shows profit in excess of $1 million. |
1900190019001900 1900 |
William McKinley re-elected President. Casey Jones make his last run. Population of Colorado is 539,700. Gold production reaches peak of more than $20,000,000 annually at Cripple Creek, the second richest gold camp in the world. C&S 7th Street yards and shops constructed -- U.P. shops evacuated 30 November. |
|
Jul 2 - C&S and RGW acquire control of Colorado Midland - will
stay independent. (Frank
Trumbull is President) Aug 8 - Union Depot and Railway Company writes off $55,000 of debt owed by C&S Coaches #74, 75 and 76 delivered from ACF? |
|
19011901 |
May 9 - Stock market
takes largest single-day break since 1803. Dec 3 - Pres. Theodore Roosevelt warns of “real, grave evils” in rapidly spreading trusts; calls for federal supervision of interstate trusts. |
19021902 |
Street railways carry 5 billion passengers nationwide. Denver has 200 automobiles. C&S coaches #74, 75 and 76 delivered from ACF(?) Control of C&S purchased by Edwin Hawley interests |
1903 |
Wright Brothers fly their first airplane. C&S converts to Janney knuckle couplers under pressure of Colorado law. |
| 1904 | |
19051905 |
Jan - C&S acquires control of CS&CCD. Jan 30 - Supreme Court decides against “beef trust” in holding for government in Swift & Co. v. the United States. Aug 10 - Argentine Central incorporated. Oct 27 - C&S loco #422 rear-ends a passenger car |
1906190619061906 |
Railroads go on car-buying splurge,
ordering 250,000 cars. First coins issued by Denver mint. |
|
Feb - Fire in C&S 7th Street shops destroys
coach-mail #115, and
Pullmans Advance and Security which were
awaiting conversion to coach-mail cars. Coach-mail (second) #115 delivered from Pullman Feb 2 - Argentine Central runs first passenger train. Feb 13 - Argentine Central hauls first freight. Apr 18 - San Francisco earthquake. Aug 1 - Argentine Central completed to top of Mt. McClellan. |
|
19071907 |
Mar 14 - Values on
Wall Street take sharp drop Oct 16 - Charles W. Morse and F. Augustus Heinze try and fail to corner United Copper and spark a run on the Knickerbocker Trust Company and the Trust Company of America. Nov 4 - ` |
19081908 |
Ford introduces the Model "T". |
|
Aug - Trout Creek floods -- washes out
full mile of track -- line relocation completed 10 Oct. Dec 21 - Hawley interests sell C&S to the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy. |
|
19091909 1909 |
Milwaukee Road joins the ranks of transcontinental railroads. |
|
Jan -
Hawley interests buy Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad. Feb 23 - Frank Trumbull elected C&O Chairman of the Board. Apr 18 - Passenger train derails west of Golden. Jun 16/17 - Argentine Central sold to Gray's Peak Scenic Development Company - continues under former name |
|
19101910 |
First airplane flight into Denver. Penn station opens in New York. |
| Oct 10? - Cave-in at Alpine Tunnel; Gunnison service discontinued "permanently." Hancock to Quartz abandoned (but not dismantled until 1923). | |
1910
|
National economic
conditions at low ebb. Feb 6 - New York Times article is headlined "A BILLION LOSS IN STOCK VALUES." |
19121912 |
Gray's Peak Scenic Development Company—owner of Argentine
Central—reorganized as Gray's Peak Railway Company. Lloyd-LaFollette Bill enacted, establishing right of government workers to organize for their own benefit. |
| Aug 17 - Denver Union Terminal Railway Company formed to own and operate Denver Union Station | |
| 1913 | |
1914 |
Railroads not buying cars; car building industry in slump. |
|
Apr 1 - Denver Union Terminal Railway
Company takes over assets of Union Depot & Railway Company Jun 6 - First vessel through Panama Canal Jul 28 - War begins in Europe - American economy declines. |
|
1914 |
|
19151915 |
Einstein develops General Theory of Relativity. |
|
Jan 12 - Rocky Mountain National Park created by Congress. May 8 - Lusitania sunk. Late - Railroads in trouble. Costs (especially labor) are rising, taxes have been increased, but government is holding down rates. 1/6th of all railroad trackage in U.S. belongs to railroads in receivership. |
|
19161916 |
War in Europe - prosperity in U.S.
(Except for railroads.) Peak year for U.S. railroad mileage (254,037) and employment (1,701,000). First mechanical home refrigerator marketed. Colorado goes dry and nearly 17,400 gallons of beer is "liberated" into Clear Creek. Coors Brewery waits out prohibition making malted milk, near beer, pottery and porcelain. |
1917191719171917 |
Car builders have excess capacity because railroads cannot afford new cars. Railway Mail Association issued charter by American Federation of Labor (AFL). C&S Denver to Como mail contract commences. C&S sells its half interest in Colorado Midland to Albert E. Carlton. Rebuilding of Denver Union Terminal completed. |
|
Apr 6 - U.S. enters war in Europe. December - Rail unions threaten strike: want 40% wage increase. Dec 28 - Federal Government takes control of all railroads. U.S. Railway Administration (USRA) established. |
|
19181918 |
U.s. government makes railroads' four time zones the "official" time of the nation. |
|
Early - More than 100,000 railroad cars and
1,930 locomotives are ordered at a cost of $380 million, all to be built to
new standardized designs. Oct 24 - Gray's Peak Railway Company applies for abandonment of line to Mt. McClellan (former Argentine Central) Nov 11 - Armistice ends 1st World War |
|
| 1919 | |
19201920 |
Prohibition begins nationally. Car orders shrink as railroads begin building their own cars. Employment in car building industry down to 75,000 from its wartime high of 385,000. |
| Mar 1 - Railroads returned to private ownership | |
1921 |
Aug 21 - C&S granted patent on Ridgeway (“beartrap”) spark arrester. |
| 1922 | First commercial radio license issued in Colorado. |
|
1922- 1923 |
Railway car building begins to pick up as economy expands. |
| 1923 | Most Canadian Railways are merged into government-controlled Canadian National Railways. |
| 1924 | |
| 1925 |
First commercially successful diesel-electric locomotive enters service:
Central of New Jersey #1000. Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters established; 12,000 Pullman employees are prospective members. |
1926 |
Railway Labor Act enacted; gives railroad employees right to organize without reprisal. |
| August 10 - C&S petitions for abandonment of Clear Creek line | |
1927 |
1st CTC goes into service. |
|
Feb 18 - Moffat Tunnel is completed at cost of $18,000,000. May 21 - Lindbergh makes first solo non-stop flight from New York to Paris. Jun 4 - Last passenger train over Clear Creek line. |
|
| 1928 | |
| 1929 | First color TV demonstrated |
|
1929 1929 |
Jan 13 -
Wyatt Earp dies at age 80. Oct 24 - “Black Thursday” stock market crash begins the Great Depression: railroad traffic drops immediately. |
| 1930 | Eight cities in Colorado have population of 10,000 or more. |
19311931 |
C&S Denver to Como mail contract ends. |
|
Mar 27 - C&S applies for abandonment of
Central City line. Jul 29 - Removal of Colorado Central track from Black Hawk to Central City completed. |
|
19321932 |
Great Sand Dunes National Monument created. |
| Jul 19 - Final passenger run to Black Hawk to carry celebrants to the reopening of the Central City Opera House. | |
1933 |
Prohibition repealed. Coors goes back to brewing the good stuff. Cherry Creek floods cause substantial damage in downtown Denver. |
1934 |
Bonnie & Clyde killed in police ambush. |
1935 |
World's first parking meter at Oklahoma City. |
1936 |
Spanish civil war begins. Feb 28 - C&S applies for abandonment of line from Golden to Silver Plume and Forks Creek to Black Hawk. Dec 11 - Last "Denver & Leadville RPO" cancel applied as PO switches to trucks |
| 1937 |
C&S Denver to Leadville mail contract ends |
19371937 1937 |
Apr 8 - Last freight Denver to Leadville
(Locos #75, 8, 76, 537). Apr 9 - Last passenger train to Leadville left Denver Union Station as Train 70 (Loco #60, RPO #13, coach #75) (#60 was replaced at Como by #9) Apr 10 - Last passenger train to Denver left Leadville as Train 71 (Loco #9, RPO #13, coach #75) Apr 11 - Last train on Alma branch (Locos #8, 69) down to Garos and on to Como. Apr 25 - Last regular freight to Como (Loco #68). Apr 26? - Last regular freight from Como (Loco #68). |
1938 |
Summer - Scrapping operations begun on C&S. Sep 2 - Flood wipes out track around Beaver Brook - line closed for over a month |
19391939 |
Jan 31 - Georgetown Loop closed down Mar 21 - Removal of Colorado Central track from Silver Plume to Idaho Springs completed. Apr 30 - New York World's Fair opens. Jul 1 - USRA abolished. Sep 30 - Nazis invade Poland. |
1940 |
Mar 27 - C&S applies for abandonment of remainder of
Clear Creek line: Idaho Springs to Golden, Forks Creek to Black Hawk. May 4 - Last freight train over Clear Creek line. (Loco #70) Oct 29 - First draft number drawn |
1941 |
May - Remainder of Colorado Central's Clear Creek line
dismantled. Jun 30 - Nazis attack Russia. Dec 7 - Japan attacks Pearl Harbor. |
| 1943 | Aug 23 - Last narrow gauge train over Leadville-Climax line. |
| 1983 | May 2 - Ground-breaking ceremonies for rebuilding of Devil's Gate Bridge on new Georgetown Loop line. |
| 1984 |
Jun 1 - First official
run across rebuilt Devil's Gate Bridge. Aug 1 - Rebuilt Georgetown Loop officially opened. |