Government Control of Railroads

“Now, therefore, I, Woodrow Wilson, President of the United States, under and by virtue of the powers vested in me … do hereby… take possession and assume control at 12 o'clock noon on the 28th day of December 1917 of each and every system of transportation… located wholly or in part within the boundaries of the continental United States…”

·         Congressional Serial Set-ID: 7329, Senate doc. 159, January 7, 1918.

With this proclamation, President Woodrow Wilson put the United States railroad system under the control of the federal government.  Some might argue this as a necessary reaction to the threat of World War I.  An interesting topic to consider for NHD 2012!  Primary and secondary resources abound at the Wyoming State Library (WSL) and through your local Wyoming library. 

As an example of a primary resource, students might consider searching through the Congressional Serial Set (the official collection of reports and documents of the United States Congress).  The Wyoming State Library houses print copies of the Congressional Serial Set through 1996. These are located at call number Y 1.1/2:. 
Digital versions are available through the Wyoming Libraries Catalog (WyldCat) or through Proquest Congressional, a database available through GoWyld.net.

Additionally, WSL houses numerous U.S. Department of Transportation documents, including a report titled The Railroad Situation: A Perspective on the Present, Past and Future of the Railroad Industry, call number TD 3.15/5:79-7.  This report contains an excellent historical overview of the U.S. railroad industry up to 1929.   Even more in depth research into this topic might include a 1916 War Department document titled Military Railways Professional Papers No. 32, which discusses the difference between war and peacetime railroad practice and service.  This volume is located at call number W 7.10:32/1916 at WSL.  

For further information research for NHD, contact the Wyoming State Library or your local librarian!