Annual Report
📖 Summary
The Annual Report published by the Railroad and Warehouse Commission of the State of Minnesota in 1887 serves as a comprehensive, voluminous record documenting the intricate state of transportation, commerce, and regulatory oversight during a pivotal era of American industrial expansion. Spanning over six hundred pages, this historical document captures the immense growth of the rail network and grain storage industries that fueled the development of the American Midwest. As the United States rapidly urbanized and connected distant markets through iron and steel tracks, regulatory bodies faced unprecedented challenges in managing corporate monopolies, ensuring public safety, and establishing fair freight and storage rates for farmers and merchants alike. The core focus of the volume revolves around the collection of meticulous data, including detailed financial statements from various railroad operating companies, accident reports, evaluations of physical infrastructure, and records of grain warehouse inspections. Rather than presenting a narrative story, the text functions as an exhaustive ledger and administrative overview of how government oversight began to take a formal, institutional shape during the late nineteenth century. Readers gain deep insight into the economic tensions of the period, particularly the friction between powerful railroad corporations and the agrarian populace dependent upon them to bring crops to market. The report details the mechanics of rate-making, the operational logistics of maintaining thousands of miles of track across challenging terrain, and the legal frameworks established to protect public interest without completely stifling private enterprise. Furthermore, the inclusion of warehouse commission records highlights the critical importance of grain grading and storage in an era when Minneapolis and surrounding areas were emerging as major global grain capitals. Through its exhaustive tables, legal interpretations, and official correspondence, the volume offers a fascinating window into the bureaucratic machinery of the Gilded Age. It illustrates the origins of modern economic regulation, showing how state governments attempted to balance the needs of rapid technological progress with the protection of everyday citizens. For anyone interested in the foundational history of American transportation infrastructure and administrative law, this primary source document provides an invaluable look at the challenges and triumphs of nineteenth-century governance.
🎯 Key Lessons
⚖️ Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
Offers authentic primary source data from the nineteenth century
Provides deep insight into early American administrative law and regulation
Includes thorough financial and operational records of major railroads
Documents the crucial intersection of agriculture and rail transport
⚠️ Cons
Dense, administrative format lacks a traditional narrative flow
Exhaustive tables and reports may be too technical for casual readers
❓ FAQ
What is the primary subject of the book? +
The book covers the operations, finances, and regulatory oversight of railroads and grain warehouses in Minnesota.
Who authored the publication? +
It was compiled and published by the Railroad and Warehouse Commission of the State of Minnesota.
When was this report published? +
The report was published in the year 1887.
What kind of information can be found in the 656 pages? +
It contains financial statements, accident reports, infrastructure evaluations, and warehouse inspection records.
Who would find this historical document useful? +
Historians, researchers, and those interested in nineteenth-century transportation and economic regulation will find it valuable.
