functions; and that they will not
serve their real purpose until they become in fact what they are in
theory, highways to be controlled by the government as thoroughly and
effectually as the common road, the turnpike and the ferry, or the
post-office and the custom-house.

This book has been written at such odd hours as the author could snatch
from his time, which is largely occupied with other business. He is
under obligations to many of our ministers and consuls abroad for
statistics and other valuable information concerning foreign railroads,
as well as to a number of personal friends for other assistance,
consisting chiefly in rendering the railroad literature of Europe
accessible to him.

WILLIAM LARRABEE.
_Clermont, Iowa, May, 1893._

CONTENTS.

I. HISTORY OF TRANSPORTATION 17

II. THE HISTORY OF RAILROADS 46

III. HISTORY OF RAILROADS IN THE UNITED STATES 76

IV. MONOPOLY IN TRANSPORTATION 90

V. RAILROAD ABUSES 124

VI. STOCK AND BOND INFLATION 163

VII. COMBINATIONS 189

VIII. RAILROADS IN POLITICS 205

IX. RAILROAD LITERATURE 231

X. RAILROAD LITERATURE--_Continued_ 273

XI. RAILROADS AND RAILROAD LEGISLATION IN IOWA 319

XII. THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE ACT 349

XIII. THE RATE QUESTION 370

XIV. REMEDIES 389

APPENDIX--TABLES AND STATISTICS 459

LIST OF AUTHORS AND WORKS CONSULTED AND QUOTED

ACWORTH, W. M. The Railways of England

ADAMS, C. F., JR. Railroads, Their Origin and Problems

ADAMS, H. C. Public Debts

ADAMS, HENRY History of the United States

ATKINSON, EDWARD The Distribution of Products

BAGEHOT, WALTER The English Constitution

BAKER, C. W. Monopolies and the People

BEACH, CHARLES F., JR. On Private Corporations

BLACKSTONE, W. Commentaries on Laws of England

BOISTED, C. A. The Interference Theory of Government

BOLLES, ALBERT S. Bankers' Magazine

BONHAM, JOHN M. Railway Secrecy and Trusts