James W. Ely Jr. is Milton R. Underwood Professor of Law and professor of history at Vanderbilt University. His other books include The Guardian of Every Right: A Constitutional History of Property Rights and The Chief Justiceship of Melville W. Fuller, 1888-1910.

A monumental achievement - it should be on the shelves of every railroad, economic, and legal historian. Herbert Hovenkamp, Author of Enterprise and American Law, 1836-1937; ""Fills a large void in the field of legal history. There is nothing else available that covers this subject, or even comes close."" Lawrence M. Friedman, Author of A History of American Law; ""A unique and wide-ranging book on a relatively untouched subject that should appeal to anyone interested in the history of the American railroad."" John F. Stover, Author of American Railroads; ""An incredibly ambitious book from a master at writing about sweeping legal topics in a meaningful and readable way."" Paul Kens, Author of Lochner v. New York: Economic Regulation on Trial

James W. Ely Jr. is Milton R. Underwood Professor of Law and professor of history at Vanderbilt University. His other books include The Guardian of Every Right: A Constitutional History of Property Rights and The Chief Justiceship of Melville W. Fuller, 1888-1910.

A monumental achievement - it should be on the shelves of every railroad, economic, and legal historian. Herbert Hovenkamp, Author of Enterprise and American Law, 1836-1937; ""Fills a large void in the field of legal history. There is nothing else available that covers this subject, or even comes close."" Lawrence M. Friedman, Author of A History of American Law; ""A unique and wide-ranging book on a relatively untouched subject that should appeal to anyone interested in the history of the American railroad."" John F. Stover, Author of American Railroads; ""An incredibly ambitious book from a master at writing about sweeping legal topics in a meaningful and readable way."" Paul Kens, Author of Lochner v. New York: Economic Regulation on Trial