Railway Problems, Vol. 1

In this survey of transportation economics, many of the problems encountered by the railroads are examined.

William Zebina Ripley was born Oct. 13, 1867, in Medford, Mass., U.S. American economist and anthropologist. Ripley was trained in civil engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and in political economics at Columbia University, New York City (Ph.D., 1893). He spent most of his career as professor of political economy at Harvard University (1902-33). During World War I he served as administrator of labour standards for the U.S. War Department. In 1920-23 he drew up for the Interstate Commerce Commission the Ripley Plan for the regional consolidation of U.S. railways. In 1931-32, while testifying before the U.S. Senate, he advocated close federal restraint on investment trusts and on the financial practices of large business corporations.

He died Aug. 16, 1941 in Boothbay, Maine.

Other Beard Books by William Z. Ripley
Railroads: Rates and Regulations