The origins of the Texas Railroad Commission

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dc.contributor.advisorHyman, Harold M.
dc.contributor.committeeMemberHyland, Richard P.
dc.contributor.committeeMemberHigginbotham, S. W.
dc.creatorFowler, Pamela McDougald
dc.date.accessioned2018-12-18T21:32:02Z
dc.date.available2018-12-18T21:32:02Z
dc.date.issued1982
dc.description.abstractThe political and economic structures of nineteenth-century Texas did not mirror fidelity to laissez faire ideology. Like their neighbors to the north and east, Anglo Texans sought to develop their state's economy by whatever means seemed practicable. Railroads provided the technological solution to Texas' formidable transportation problems. But the state did not have the resources to build a rail network. To attract private investment, Texas subsidized railroad corporations with land grants on the state level and tax-supported bond subscriptions as well as cash gifts on the county and municipal levels of government. From the beginning of subsidization, the state government regulated corporate activities. American courts developed three legal doctrines to legitimize subsidization and regulation. They were the common law doctrine of "public interest," the eminent domain power, and the state police power. As the economic clout of corporate business increased, majoritarian state governments undertook more stringent regulation. They delegated certain powers of sovereignty to agencies which could formulate regulations having the force of law. The agencies were empowered to enforce their regulations. The Texas Railroad Commission was a prime example of such an agency. Its creation represented a culmination of legal and political development over the course of the century.
dc.format.digitalOriginreformatted digital
dc.format.extent87 pp
dc.identifier.callnoThesis Hist. 1982 Fowler
dc.identifier.citationFowler, Pamela McDougald. "The origins of the Texas Railroad Commission." (1982) Master’s Thesis, Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/104803">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/104803</a>.
dc.identifier.digitalRICE2442
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/104803
dc.language.isoeng
dc.rightsCopyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.
dc.titleThe origins of the Texas Railroad Commission
dc.typeThesis
dc.type.materialText
thesis.degree.departmentHistory
thesis.degree.disciplineHumanities
thesis.degree.grantorRice University
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Arts
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