Chapter 19

Section 2

Mining in the WestMining leads to settlement in the West1859 – Nevada

Comstock Lode gold and silver$300 million in silver and gold

Black Hills – 1874gold

Alaska – 1896gold

BoomtownsMiners arrive and build a tent cityMerchants arrive to supply minersWood frame structures replace tent

Boomtown

Gold or silver production fallsMiners move onStores close and merchants leaveTown is abandoned

Ghost Town

Problems caused by mining

Polluted streamsForests cut downNative Americans forced from landNo organized law enforcement

Transcontinental Railroad

Before Civil War30,000 miles of track was laid in the United Statesshort, unconnected linesmajority was east of the Mississippi Riverno standard track width

In 1862, Congress passed the Pacific Railway Act

Allowed the Union Pacific and Central Pacific Railroad to have the money and the land to build the first Transcontinental Railroad.