ABSTRACT
ThecitizensoftheUnitedStates,whohaddonemuchbetween 1830and1870toinsurethemselvesanadequatesupplyof railroads,whohadoftenwildlyinvestedtheirownfundsin railroadsandwhohadpressedtheirgovernmentstoofferthe carrierssubsidiesandencouragementofallsorts,foundafter 1870thattherailroadswereamixedblessing.Manysupposedlyperniciouspracticeswerevisible,butmostofthem hadacommoncore:railroadschargedratesthatmanyshippers,andparticularlythesmallerones,consideredexorbitant. Amovementdevelopedforstatutoryregulationoffreight charges,andt h i s movement,whenaugmentedbythemomentarypoweroftheGrangerorganizationduringtheearly 187os,ledtopassageofmanysuchstatutes,especiallyby themidwestemstates.
