Posted on 06/08/2018 5:56:20 PM PDT by ProgressingAmerica
Railroads, like electricity and the telephone system were regarded as a "natural monopoly" that needed to be regulated, by cities and states if not by federal government.
I believe Enterprise Denied and Railroads Triumphant by Albro Martin were supposed to be good studies of the political economy of railroad regulation.
Martin shows that regulation ruined the railroads' ability to adapt to changing situations, particularly after road transport cut into their market.
More here.
+1.
Glen Beck used to throw TR under the bus a lot for his Progressivism.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.