Decline of the Railroad
The railway expansion in Park County was short lived, especially for central depot towns like Como. While it flourished in the late 1800s coinciding with the mining trade, the railroad industry was over by the late 1930s. In addition to its close ties with mining, the railroads were also hampered by harsh weather conditions, perilous terrain, and advancements in the transportation field.
Many settlers had been enticed by mining prospects in Colorado’s mountain towns. The Sherman Silver Purchase Act passed by Congress in 1890 guaranteed that the federal government would purchase 4.5 million ounces of silver a month, seemingly securing the occupations of miners throughout the country. This was great news for the mountain mining communities in Colorado who were dependent on this boom. Unfortunately, this prosperity did not last long, and the Act was repealed three years later. This led to the great Silver Panic of 1893 and even though farming, ranching, and other mineral mines were growing trades, it was this economic crash that devastated the state.[1] In its wake, the rail lines had a difficult time remaining afloat. While they tried to remain solvent in Park County, they industry gradually fell to its demise, leading to the end of railroads in the late 1930s.[2]
