Selected Aspects of the Hepburn Investigation of the New York Railroads, 1879

The activities of the railroads in the United States, especially in New York, attracted much attention in the 1870s.There were serious railroad strikes in 1877 as well as protests.The struggle against the economic power of the railroads in New York State culminated in the creation of the Hepburn Committee to investigate the alleged abuse. The purpose of this study is to examine and analyze selected aspects of the Hepburn investigation of 1879 concerning abuses by railroads in New York. Also, the purpose and activities of the New York Board of Trade and Transportation shall be examined. What were the motives behind and effects of demanding government regulation of the railroads? Lee Benson is the only author who has done a significant study that includes this subject.He devoted chapters five and six of his book, entitled Merchants, Farmers, and Railroads, to the Hepburn investigation.The basic sources are the printed proceedings, reports, and exhibits of the Special Committee on Railroads Advisor: Charles J. Kenned