Gladstone, located nine miles north of Silverton on Cement Creek, had a population of around 2000, and has now been a ghost town for probably thirty years. Chattanooga is northwest of Silverton on the Silverton to Ouray highway, established in 1878, and served by the Silverton Railroad—sometimes called the Red Mountain Railroad. The last school taught there was in 1902. Silverton remains unspoiled. Here, unbelievably preserved, you can live today in the romantic atmosphere of old, for it is as it was at the turn of the century. So perfect is the atmosphere of the town, particularly Blair Street with its two blocks of the original sporting houses and gambling dives, that film companies have used it numerous times. [Illustration: Setting The Scene For A “Take” On Blair Street.] Since the first, Silverton has run the gamut of hope and prosperity. Around it boom towns turned into ghost towns, but Silverton has gone on almost unchanged. The silver panic of 1893 and the national panic of 1907 wiped out many mining towns, but Silverton has become known as, “A Mining Camp that Never Quits”. TRAIN SAVED ON I.C.C. DECISION These were the headlines in the Silverton Standard, Silverton’s weekly newspaper on Friday, May 4th, 1962. The following is a copy of the article: The long awaited decision by the Interstate Commerce Commission, Washington D. C., was handed down Wednesday morning and assures continuation of the Narrow Gauge Line from Durango to Silverton for an undetermined time. A telegram from Senator John Carroll and Congressman Wayne Aspinall was received by the Silverton Standard early Wednesday morning, and read as follows: “Happy to inform you Interstate Commerce Commission this morning issued decision refusing to permit abandonment by Rio Grande Railroad of narrow gauge railway connecting Durango and Silverton. This preserves status of line as a common carrier.” While Silverton people were quite sure such a decision would be forthcoming it is gratifying to know that the action of the commission was final and in our favor. The narrow gauge line has been operating into Silverton since 1882 and is at present one of the last and oldest regularly scheduled passenger lines in the United States operating on a three-foot track. Business over the line has been growing steadily for twelve years. Last year the passenger figure hit near the 40,000 mark and an increase is noted annually. [Illustration: “Christ of The Mines Shrine”, Overlooking The Town From Anvil Mountain, Stands As A Symbol Of Faith.] This beautiful structure is 12 feet in height and was hand-carved in Italy out of Carrara Marble. Erected in 1959, the background niche is 24 feet high and spreads 40 feet along the mountainside. [Illustration: Locomotive.] Transcriber’s Notes —Silently corrected a few typos.