So far as the author knows there is no published study which discusses in detail the important business problems connected with the history of the Southern Pacific Railroad lines. Most of the books which contain references to the Southern Pacific or to the Central Pacific limit themselves to a few chapters upon the romantic aspects of their construction. The few works which treat of the later period confine themselves chiefly to particular episodes in Southern Pacific history, often with t...

"Railroad Reorganization" by Stuart Daggett delves into the complexities of the American railroad industry during a pivotal time of transformation. The book examines the various factors that led to the reorganization of railroads, including economic pressures, regulatory changes, and the impact of technological advancements. Daggett provides a thorough analysis of the challenges faced by railroad companies and the strategies they employed to adapt to a rapidly changing environment. His ins...

In "Railroad Reorganization," Stuart Daggett offers a meticulous analysis of the pivotal structural transformations within the American railroad industry during the early 20th century. The book delves into the complex interplay between regulatory changes, economic pressures, and technological advancements that necessitated reorganization. Daggett employs a clear, analytical prose style, complemented by rich historical detail, making it both accessible to general readers and invaluable for ...

The Structure of Transcontinental Railroad Rates by Stuart Daggett and John P. Carter provides a detailed examination of how freight rate systems shaped—and constrained—the economic life of California during the mid-twentieth century. Drawing on published tariffs from 1943–1944 and comparative data supplied by carriers, the authors unpack the mechanics of rate-making, the geography of western rail routes, and the competitive interplay between railroads, highways, and intercoastal shipping....

What is the difference between gambling and speculation? This difficult question has posed a legal problem throughout American history. Many have argued that periodic failures by regulators to differentiate between the two have been the proximate causes of catastrophic economic downturns, including the Great Depression and the 2008 global financial crisis. In Speculation, Stuart Banner provides a sweeping history of how the fine lines separating investment, speculation, and outrig...

Award-winning author and historian Q. David Bowers explores the fascinating world of "obsolete currency" - the colorful, ornate paper money that first circulated in the 13 colonies and served American commerce up through the Civil War.

From bank bailouts and corporate scandals to the financial panic of 2008 and its lingering effects, corporate governance in America has been wracked by crises. Amid a weakening system of checks and balances in which corporate executives have little incentive to protect shareholder interests, U.S. corporations are growing larger and more irresponsible at the same time. But dependence on corporate profit was crucial to the early republic's growth, success, and security: despite protests that...

This book deals with the US history of banking in the 19th century. This volume is the continuation of the "History of banking in America - Vol.1", which dealt with the Beginning and Development of bank system in America (from 1630 to 1832). "If Jackson intended to open a war on the Bank, it is strange that he should have chosen a Pennsylvanian, Samuel Ingham, as Secretary of the Treasury. It fell to the lot of that gentleman to open the war on the institution, of which all Pennsylvanians ...

How the contentious world of nineteenth-century banking shaped the United States.Pieces of paper that claimed to be good for two dollars upon redemption at a distant bank. Foreign coins that fluctuated in value from town to town. Stock certificates issued by turnpike or canal companies—worth something . . . or perhaps nothing. IOUs from farmers or tradesmen, passed around by people who could not know the person who first issued them. Money and banking in antebellum...

The passage of the National Currency Act of 1863 gave the United States its first uniform paper money, its first nationally chartered and supervised commercial banks, and its first modern regulatory agency: the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. The law marked a milestone in the development of the U.S. financial system and the modern administrative state. Yet its importance has been largely overlooked.Banking Modern America aims to address that gap. With its unique multidis...

PULITZER PRIZE WINNER • WINNER OF THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD • NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A gripping, groundbreaking biography of the combative man whose genius and force of will created modern capitalism.In this groundbreaking biography, T.J. Stiles tells the dramatic story of Cornelius “Commodore” Vanderbilt, the combative man and American icon who, through his genius and force of will, did more than perhaps any other in...

A new, incisive history of the transcontinental railroads and how they transformed America in the decades after the Civil War.The transcontinental railroads of the late nineteenth century were the first corporate behemoths. Their attempts to generate profits from proliferating debt sparked devastating panics in the U.S. economy. Their dependence on public largess drew them into the corridors of power, initiating new forms of corruption. Their operations rearranged space and time, a...