State promotion and regulation of the telegraph industry, 1845-1860

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Allegheny College
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC HISTORY
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0022-0507
• DOI: 10.1017/S0022050701025025
• 发表日期: 2001
• 页码: 19-36
• 关键词: institutions; CHOICE; ACT

摘要

Construction on the first commercial telegraph line in the United States began in 1845. Over the next 15 years, states promoted and regulated the industry through a variety of statutes. This article explores the patterns of telegraph legislation over time and across states. The patterns of telegraph legislation are shown to fit general regulatory patterns of economic activity during the nineteenth century.