The completion of transcontinental railroads in the United States and Canada
General Zebulon Montgomery Pike (1779-1813) was a contemporary of Lewis and Clark and he was an early explorer of the territory of Louisiana and the area around the Arkansas and the Red rivers. He also trekked across the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains, and he published his findings in a book. Pikes Peak, in Colorado, was named in his honor, although he was not able to reach its summit.
I'd say they shut down, because most of the men enlisted as soldiers for the war. At that time/era, the workforce were mainly men, with the women staying home and taking care of the house.
