Stephen B. Elkins of West Virginia, was to remain the chairman of the Committee for over a decade, and the most important single influence in Congress on matters pertaining to railroads during that time. Elkins was a classic example of a man who rose by exploiting political office for private gain. By 1875 he had climbed to the position of the largest landholder in New Mexico while serving as the U.S. District Attorney; and by a fortunate marriage to the daughter of Henry G. Davis, the coal, timber, and railroad magnate of West Virginia, he also became the largest mine owner in the Atlantic area. --Railroads and Regulation, 1877-1916, p. 91
Posted on: Mon, 03 Nov 2014 21:04:09 +0000
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