William Zebina Ripley's influential book explores the economics of the railroad industry, with a particular focus on the regulation of rates by government agencies. Ripley argues that the existing regulatory framework is inadequate and that railroads should be granted more autonomy in setting rates. He also offers a historical analysis of the industry's development and an assessment of its future prospects. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in the intersection of business, politics, and transportation.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.